Chapter 74 - Riella of Hyperion

The famed sister marine Riella of Hyperion was a favorite of Enya's.  She knew everything about her and emulated her same fighting stance when sparring with other students.  She yearned to be just like her, the greatest of battle maidens.

Riella fought in the battle of the Saturnian moons and rescued many of her sisters during that pitch brawl.  Riella sacrificed herself at a pivotal moment by latching onto an enemy star ship.  She had several belts of explosives wrapped around her body and she made herself into a large bomb.

Riella was also deemed a traitor who had maintained contact with the rogue sisters and with Anna Three's mother Diana.  The two were rumored to be lovers and they had hoped to restore the shattered bonds between the Houses of Anna and Olivia.  This did not come to pass and some even claimed the battle of the Saturnian moons was staged to simply find a suitable reason to execute Riella.  As much a traitor, she was held in high regard by many of the younger sisters and initiates and her death in glorious battle would prove more useful to reinforce the principles of the sisters than an ignominious death.

She had a son with a common man on Triton.  They named him Arlen and unbeknownst to him his heritage, only that he was always under the kind eye of Diana and later her daughter Anna Three.  This made him a target of opportunity for Pei, but when she learned who his famous mother was she swore off killing him.  She toyed with the thought of having a child with Arlen, while of no better bloodline than Linst, Riella was a famous sister marine and Naoka would not have disapproved.  Pei was star struck as he had his mothers eyes and auburn hair, while a more masculine build, he did pass a striking resemblance.

Although not expressly forbidden, no one was allowed to tell Arlen the truth about his mother.  He only was told that she had abandoned him as a baby, which was true, but did so to fight and die near Hyperion.

He had no regrets and his father had shared that she loved him and cared for him deeply.  She named him after her own grandfather who was a famous soldier in his day.  Alas, they did not have family names and Arlen was a popular name.

He did suspect that she was something special and not from Triton.  After Pei's death, he finally learned of Riella and his heritage.  A sister marine, carrying the banner and scabbard of the fallen Riella arrived at the Himetsu while bringing word of Pei's death.  It was a rare honor granted by madam Sophia.

Arlen was besides himself as he learned of Pei's death and at the same time of his famous mother.  All he could do was keep himself busy and continued serving customers until he closed the shop and sat alone on the roof top looking towards Vega.