The Forging of Ties

[Rygen storyteller]

The Arch Prince dismissed it with a hand wave. Ordinarily, he could only think of one reason that someone would want to be alone in the middle of a negotiation--and suffice it to say it was not to be friendly. But he had the feeling this woman was took gentlee and not of the malicious type. If nothing else, the Prince consoled himself in his vastly superior upgrades to her "soft skin" nature. One of the insults that the Thetians had for non-augmented indivuduals.

"Take all the time that you need," the Prince said with a wave of his hand, 'I have need to see to official matters anyway."

The doors opened, giving Kay a chance to find her way back onto the landing pad or to a side sitting room where she could have a large measure of privacy--at least conventionally. The entire castle was nothing if not electronic, and that included mechanical eyes and ears everywhere. No small level of paranoia had developed among their race, and for good reason. Thetians were treacherously malicious to each other, especially for gain. The Prince, like his predecessors, had learned a long time ago to stay on his toes and ahead of the game with wire tapping and bugging rooms.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

[member="Rygen storyteller"]

Kay was glad that there was no argument there. But if she had too, then she would have contacted James while he was there. It was more for James' benefit that she wanted it to be private.

She stepped out if the room and walked over to one of the sitting rooms. After taking a seat on a comfy chair, she pulled out her commlink and tried to reach her brother. "James? It's me, Kay. I'm on Theta and the Arch Prince here wishes to have a peace treaty with you. I have the terms if you'd like to hear them."

 

[James Justice]

The bottle hit the counter with a heavy slam--but its sound was lost in the crash of the body that hit the counter at the same time. James looked at the dead human with a critical eye before shaking his head. The galaxy didn't stay clean without the rotting of some. James was one of those souls doomed to rot. In exchange? His children would sleep well at night. Other people's children would. A city would be safer. Three cities, technically. He tossed a high denomination credit chip to the bartender, "Sorry about the Mess."

The man tucked it away in his pocket with a grunt, "Just glad that someone took care of Charlie the Chopper. He's--"

James held up a hand, "I know what he did. And to how many people." The spacer had been following the killer closely. Very closely for several weeks. He stood and made his way to the door.

"What's your name, Mister?" the bartender asked.

"Call me the Kingmaker," he said over his shoulder.

The moment the spacer was in the shadows the Force Illusion slipped and he was once again James. His worn comm chirped on his belt. Yes, he could afford a new one but it was a familiar friend, one that he was so used to he didn't want to lose it, like his leather jackets and booze, "Captain Justice Speakin."

He heard Kay's words and felt himself bristle. She was on Theta? What in the hells was she doing there? He looked at the datapad on his wrist. He had a small army of slicers, bounty hunters, and spies always keeping a vigilant eye on the ones he loved. Too many bad things had happened to them for him to not keep a precious eye on them. Yes, she was in the system, next door to Soceras. Damn, he should have been more on top of things.

He collected himself a moment before nodding, "Yeah, sis, I am game for that. Tell me what ye got."

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

It was good to hear her brother's voice. He seemed okay, but there was something hidden in his voice as well. No doubt [member="James Justice"] was doing something that he knew she wouldn't approve of.

She started to relay the terms to him. "The Arch Prince believes that they are constant victims of piracy and they'd like that to stop. Also they wpuld like Bankor Ultimata to remain their ally. And they want their trade agreement with the Bankor Counsel to remain grandfathered into the new agreement. Did you get all that?"

She chewed the inside of her cheek a bit as she waited.

 

[James Justice]

James listened before giving a nod, 'Aye, they were. Under the old regime. The old crime lords didn't have too much going for them except a desire to just kill everything in sight and take their woman and whatever the had valuable on hand. I'm workin' on still workin' on slashing out the few remains of their old powers. Tell 'em I will not have any of me own working on pirating them, and that I'll hunt out these pirates as best I can."

He swallowed before shifting his weight, "I took over Bankor with--er--someone else," he didn't dare say that he worked in a bloody coupe with Thraxis to take the city over in a fierce fight that had almost taken his life. "Anyway, point is we got the records and I ain't too dumb. I'll gladly keep that part about buyin' his tech, but the part about paying in intel against Dal'Bor is a no-go. I'll pay in cash and if he has a problem with that, well tell him the lad can kiss me bloody arse," he took a deep breath and sighed, willing himself to get that fierce temper of his under control. "I gotta go, paperwork to file that I been putting off for many a week," which was very true, "Keep ye head down, and be careful. Thetian's ain't one to play games with. They are vicious creatures who will devour you and see it their job to exploit ye every weakness." he lowered his voice, "Do I need to pick ye up?"

If he had to, he would slag the entire planet to get her out of there.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay was glad that [member="James Justice"] picked up. He seemed a little hurried, as though he was busy with something. More than likely, she wouldn't like it. He kept a lot of things from her, but it was her job to check up on him, as given by his late wife.

What he had said about the Thetians gave her a bit of cause for concern. Not for him, but for herself. Perhaps her visit will only be a short one. All that she had was warning signs ever since her arrival. But she was insignificant to them and it was within that perception that she had felt safe. Perhaps she was wrong to think that way.

"I will pass along your requests. Terrac and I shall be taking the Free Lady home soon. And James, you owe me lunch after this. We have much to talk about."

Kay ended her transmission and then got to her feet, heading back to the Throne room. Whether or not the Arch Prince was there, she didn't know. But she would wait in any case. Hopefully it all goes well.

 

[Rygen storyteller]

The Prince had moved into a side room to tend to his diva-like appearance--and also to pry in on Kay's conversation. He heard every word, thanks to his slicing capacities from the castle' state of the art surveillance and spyware. It took everything in the Arch Prince's body to suppress the snarl inside it and return with a placid, calm face. The drugs in his metallic carapace soon helped to return the Prince back to his sedated state.

"I hope your brother was well," he said cordially, his words slipping through his lips like a snake's hiss. "And that his people were well indeed."

The prince moved to his throne, the silence in the room was deafening, save for the clack of his metal feet on the stone flooring. He came to rest his body int he chair, like a god-king that he fancied himself to be.

"What was his answer, pray?" The Prince asked, his calm was so cool it was unnerving and almost sickening.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

[member="Rygen storyteller"]

Kay watched the Prince as he returned, bowing her head to him. When he called James her brother, she arched a brow as she had never given him that information. She remained silent while he sat in the throne, once again raising a brow as he mentioned the word 'pray'. Of course he probably meant to say 'pray tell', but with the way it came out, it sounded as though he was calling her prey, as though she was something to be hunted.

James' warnings echoed in her mind, but she shoved all of those feelings aside and smiled. "James agreed with most of your terms. However his one sticking point is that he pays you in credits for your technology, instead of trading for intel. Do you have a counter proposal? Or should I write up the agreement?" Kay of course hoped for the latter. It was the quickest option if she were to heed the warnings.

 

[Rygen storyteller]

The Prince's lips parted in a slick smile, one that breathed of darkness, and evil delight behind the calm vanieer. "Oh, of course that sounds reasonable," he said with a gentle voice.

Of course, inside he was nothing if not raging. The fool had been more through than anticipated in his research. The Prince even had a feeling that the the Spacer had killed off the informants. That was fine enough. He would find out what remained of the spy network and re-use it. Then he would go from there and mend the broken spots. In a matter of a few months he would have intel on Dal'Bor flowing back in. His people would see the city burn, the ashes would rise to the sky like a--like--

"I would love the agreement to be signed," the Prince extended his metal hand, 'I pray that the binding relationship between our planets be good for as long as the Dark Matter Generator glows," he said referring to the gift he had given her earlier. Or, at least until the time was right.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

[member="Rygen storyteller"]

His smile caused her more discomfort than putting her at ease. But she did her best to not make that so easily apparent.

As the Arch Prince held out his hand, she wasn't sure if he was wanting the contract now, or for her to place her hand in there. She assumed the former. That was the safer option. "Give me about an hour, Your Highness, and then I'll draw it up for you. Then I can go and get James to sign it and then you'll both have copies." Easiest excuse to leave. If all goes well, then she'll be safely away from here soon.

 

[Rygen storyteller]

She was squirming and the Prince could see it in her body language. The way she reacted, the way she seemed to want to find an excuse to get as far from him as possible. Kay had recognized that he was in control, and probably had realized that he had listened in on the conversation. Good, he wasn't exactly trying to hide it. Them more fear she had, the more fear she would give the others in the galaxy, the more they feared Theta... the less they were likely to try anything foolish. It was their divine right to be feared, and he wasn't about to shirk from that.

"Of course, Lady, you are very welcome to go," things had gone from cordial to terrifying, how things should be. The Prince always believed that things were only more terrifying when contrasted with something that wasn't. "I will be awaiting your return."

Of course, this was a fork-tongued lie. He fully expected her to "escape"--if one could call being allowed to leave that. Theta was a world unlike any other, no one and nothing got on or out without permission from a noble.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

[member="Rygen storyteller"]

She bowed her head to him. "Thank you, Your Highness" Kay turned and left. Though instead of 'escaping' to her ship, she went back into the room that she was in earlier. She sat down and brought out her datapad, getting to work on the contract. The language had to be perfect for both sides. There needed to be no room for error, no loopholes that could be made from it. It took the hour that she gave herself.

Kay returned soon after to the throne room. She wasn't quite sure if the Prince was around or had left to do other business. "I'm back...Your Highness?....."

 

[Rygen storyteller]

The Arch Prince took the liberty of the hour to do what he spent most waking hours of his day. Not making public appearances, not negotiations, not any manner of what most princes were thought of to do--rather instead he was combing through information. His enhanced brain could take in four to five times more info than the average human's. And he needed that edge to retain his leadership. He listened to tapes at quadruple the speed. Taps from tapped comms, bugged rooms, and the news. You never knew when the next bit of black mail was going to show up, and when it did, you had to spring on it or die in Theta.

He was slightly dissappointed when Kay returned to the throne room. He almost was looking forward to an excuse to crush the pathetic leadership of Soceras. Perhaps she really as trusting and as trust worthy as she seems, it dawned on him. He felt a rare feeling. Pity. This woman was a sheep walking in a lion's den. She was bound to be devoured and destroyed.

"I an here," he said coming in from the side room where he had been committing espionage. He looked over the agreement. It was good, neutral, and beneficial to both sides. While he would have rather seen a lopehole to exploit--something that he and his people were exceptional at--well it would do that they had no advantage to exploit either. He signed and handed it back to her with a snake-like smile, "Thank you, my good lady."

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

[member="Rygen storyteller"]

Kay was glad that there was nothing wrong with the contract. It had meant that she did her job well. She smiled a little and bowed her head as she took the datapad. "Thank you, Your Highness. I'll just go back now and get James to sign it and send you your copy."

She chewed the inside of her cheek a bit, thinking back on her journey into the Palace. The one that had escorted her earlier told her not to go anywhere by herself. And so she heeded that warning as she had no desire to be captured and sold. "If there is nothing else...Might I be escorted back to The Free Lady?"

 

[Rygen storyteller]

The Prince clapped his hands together, a few moments later Val'Row appeared, the same Thetian who had led her from her ship into the throne room. The Prince gave a wave of his hand, "Show the lady to her ship. Our business is completed."

The Prince gave her a smile, cold as ice, "I am glad that we have been able to conduct our business here. Have a safe trip."

With a wave of his hand he dismissed them both. Val'Row gave a soft bow and backed out slowly. As the walked down the halls he shrugged off the cold feel of Thetian politics. His synthetic lips turned upward in a winsome smile, arms swinging in a free, happy walk.

"I hope you had a good time here, in our great capital, and don't be afraid to come back some time too," he said cheerfully. The landing pad loomed before them, the Free Lady was there waiting for her to fly off into the sunset... or something like that.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

[member="Rygen storyteller"]


Kay bowed her head to the Arch Prince. "Thank you, Your Highness." She then turned and walked out of the throne room. That smile and look in his eyes gave her reason not to trust his words. More than likely, he was glad to see her leaving.

She walked alongside Val, putting on her own polite smile. "Yes, it was certainly an experience that I won't forget. He even gave me a present." Kay held out the small Dark Matter sphere and watched Val to gage his reaction. It was important for her to know if it was dangerous or not.

She was glad to see The Free Lady was safe too. More than likely Terrac couldn't wait to leave either.

 

[Rygen storyteller]

Val'Row smiled, genuinely pleased. As a man who was hoping to make a great deal of money off the tourism that he was hoping would spring out of the wider, more open boarders, it was almost like hearing a cash register ring. Sure, Theta didn't have much in the manner of natural beauty, and yes it took a certain type of person to fall in love with their women, however they had a few laxer laws then most when it came to drugs, alcohol, gambling, and such. And, of course the valley jungles could be quite lovely. "That is wonderful to hear, my good lady."

He didn't try to mask his surprise as he looked at the Ball of Eternity. "That is," he searched for the right words, "Something very rare you hold in your hands, Lady. There are not many in existence, the Prince truly values you."

Of course, knowing the Arch Prince that could have been only half true. He could have wanted to bribe her, or lull her into thinking he was a lot kinder and softer than he was. The Prince was not one to play games with or take for softness. He had never heard of the Prince making a non-political move. But he wasn't about to say otherwise, there were listening devices everywhere.

"I will leave you to your ship, good lady," he said with a winsome smile, 'I am sure you have family and friends ready to see you and are very busy. Please consider Theta for your next vacation, we truly do have some lovely, exotic jungles."

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

[member="Rygen storyteller"]

Kay slipped the sphere into her satchel. At least Val's reaction was a good one. But to be given something of such high value was a surprise. "I will be sure to take good care of it."

She smiled and bowed her head once she reached her ship. "Thank you, Val. I would love to visit the jungles some time. Perhaps you could be my guide? I trust that you'd never lead me astray."

Terrac was already having the ramp lowered upon her arrival. He wasn't fond of this place, nor what James' reaction would be should Kay get hurt or worse.