Rounael looked calmly at the figure that stood before him in his office. A fine figure certainly, if one was attracted to such alien beauty – and indeed he was, and she fitted in well with the décor of his office – it showed the aesthetic pride of the Elysians in finely sculpted marble and dark-wood furniture – murals of frolicking (and nude) Elysian maidens on the walls. Rounael himself was a fairly average Patrician, although that still meant that he was muscular, over seven foot tall and more attractive than someone really had any right to be. He was sitting behind his rather nice desk. He spoke smoothly, “We have granted you an audience under the impression that you had something for us, it would be good if you would elaborate on this a little.”
The figure sat down in the lush chair in front of his desk, Her arms moved forward slightly, pressing her breasts together under the white, low cut shirt she had on. Her legs neatly crossed just at her ankles, leaving her short white skirt to cover what was so constantly depicted in the figures adorning the walls of this chamber. She then reached to her side, pulling a small piece of paper out from a pocket. On it the words "Yarvex, Nepleslian ship movements, Nepleslian ground intelligence, Red Army movements on Nepleslia," among other things were written. She leaned forward slightly as she handed the paper to him. "Do you see something you would like?"
The senator took the paper slowly and looked over it, not showing an enormous amount of enthusiasm – to do so would grant her too much power over the conversation, and he feared that she had this simply due to her form. “If you were to provide us with even one of these it would be a considerable benefit too us. But what in particular do you want from us? I am of course assuming that you are not foolish enough to be altruistic.” He sat back in his chair and raised an eyebrow.
“Genetics Labs." She said with a smile as she leaned back even so slightly in her chair. She continued to keep her rear firmly planted on the edge of her seat while arching her back. "And modification codes to the NH series bioweapons produced by PNUgen."
“That is quite a demand, but yours is quite an offer. Before establishing a … contract, if you will, we will require some form of confirmation that this is not simply a ploy. I leave it to you to work out in what form this confirmation will come.” Rounael looked at her with a half-smile, his eyes drawn briefly to her chest. For a heathen she certainly had a pleasant form.
That particular form rose and fell a bit more noticeably as her breathing slowed a small amount. Her arms came forward again as she leaned in toward the desk, confident that she was a more pleasing view than the art in the room. "If you would let me use one of your computers I can give you the equations needed to calculate the necessary formation temperature and energy fields needed to form and regulate quark-gluon plasma. The first step in creating Yarvex."
Rounael tore his eyes of her rather more obvious assets after a few seconds and spoke to the room, “Facility, create an interactive volumetric screen for our guest.” He smiled as a screen shimmered into existence, “I hope that will be sufficient for your needs.”
Her fingers poked and prodded at the screen, slowly etching out the equations in her memory for a few minutes. Her speed in using the interface slowly increased until her hands were dancing across and inside of the display. Once completed she sent the image file to Rounael containing the equations she had promised.
he looked over it, although that was very nearly a formality – he knew nothing of advanced physics. However Rounael did get the computer to run through it quickly and it told him that it at least seemed consistent with what they might expect the equation to be – although they would require further testing to make sure, “It would seem that you are smart as well as attractive. This is enough confirmation for me. Now to discuss the nature of the contract – is there anything that you want from us immediately?”
"I will require a tour of your labs and a security deposit." She said simply.
“You can be provided with an escorted tour of our laboratories – although I am afraid that you will probably not be allowed to carry any form of recording equipment. I would even conduct it myself if you so wish.” Rounael smiled with a nonchalant flip of his wrist, “But what particular form of security deposit do you desire? I am sure we can make you particularly happy during your stay here.”
"A record of your genetic research over the past ten years will do fine." She said, her face becoming dead serious, "Its not that I don't trust you. I just require an assurance of your trust."
Roenael paused, “Given that our genetic research stretches into the military, a large body of it is classified. What level of detail do you wish to be in these records?”
"All of it." She said, "It will stay with me so long as I am not double crossed. I don't intend on waking up one day to find myself in a prison with a small army of serphs. Once our deal is complete I'll delete the entire record."
“I am afraid that for that I shall have to have considerably more confirmation – enough to offset many of our greatest military secrets being lost. Currently we have no way of knowing that you will not simply take the data to the Nepleslians or Yamatians.” Roenael said with a frown.
"I believe the risk is worth the rewards," She said with a smile, "You research data being lost would be a blow to your planet but not enough to destroy you. Odds are it will make some politicians angry and let them know what you have waiting for them but not much else yet it is far more painful than letting me have what I want. I can give you the rest of the Yarvex information once I have my own security in hand. That way even in the worst case you will have... broke even." She said, smiling afterward and once again leaning toward his desk, her hands resting in her lap and her arms pressing her chest together once more.
Roenael thought about this, his eyes primarily focused on her chest as his mind was elsewhere, “How about something of a compromise – we shall provide you with details on the Seraph series, but not to the degree of being able to replicate them. In addition I could do with something of a more … personal nature.”
"What good is that? The capabilities of the Seraph are quite well known."
“You misunderstand me. I mean we shall provide you with a full list of their capacity – and most of their genetic structure. However we shall … obscure … a portion of it. Thus ensuring that you are unable to make them for their own – while retaining enough information to act as a security deposit. We shall provide with you with the S11, S14 and even our new worker Seraph the S18. Is that more sufficient to you?” Rounael said. He certainly thought that this woman before him could serve as a useful agent – perhaps invaluable – but he would only be pushed so far. He could not endanger Elysian military technology much more than that in his current offer.
"Older Seraphs and worker models are not enough. Surely there is something else more valuable that you can offer?" She asked.
"Valuable? That would suggest you wish it for monetary gain." He responded.
"That suggest that I put more value on my life and knowledge than I do on worker drones." She replied.
"And how would knowledge of systems which the vast majority of our military is not aware aid your life?"
"It would be quite profitable for you to take what I know and not provide compensation. This way I am assured that it is more profitable for you not to do away with me rather than to pay up." She replied.
"Quite difficult given that the information you are offering will only be provided upon deliverance of the use of our labs and the codes. We would gain nothing from executing you - and don't let the Yamataian hype fool you, we do not value your lives quite so cheaply."
"I fully intend to hand over the yarvex information as a down payment." She replied. "I know full well that you won't put up with my request for the use of your labs for an undetermined amount of time if I don't give you something to start with." She replied
"And in return we shall provide you with the majority of information on one of the most dangerous organic fighting machines in the known universe, as well with what currently makes up the perfect worker. What more could you truly want?"
"Very well, I see that this will have to be the start of our contract." she replied.
He nodded, "Very well. It is growing late. If we provide you with accommodations would it be possible for us to give you the tour and information tomorrow?"
"That sounds acceptable," She said
"Very well. I look forward to seeing you in the morrow." He stood up and showed her to the door, "This Seraph will show you to your quarters. Have pleasant dreams."
JP with:
Zakalwe and THE SILENT PARTNER.
