As sweet Polly Oliver lay musing in bed,
A sudden strange fancy came into her head.
Nor father nor mother shall make me false prove:
I'll 'list as a soldier and follow my love.
Sweet Polly Oliver (folk song)
Zeta was sitting on the bed in the Captain's room of ISC Crimson Kestrel. She was just looking at something at the datapad and waiting for Luca to join her. It was already pretty late. Zeta though it would be nice to just cuddle and fall asleep together. Since Luca was taking his time, she went and turned on the TV.
A large volumetric screen appeared on one of the walls. The ads were just one after the other. "MORE THRUST, MORE SPEED!" The TV shouted at her and Zeta could not help but to feel a bit thirsty. She did not have that particular energy drink in quite a while. Alas the ad was over and another was coming on. The Phoenix Man! ad.
"THEY ARE THE HEROES!" The jingle played as images from an animated cartoon were flashing on screen. Zeta could see her likeliness breaking apart Rippers with her right arm while Luca was Phoenix Punching them away. "Out now for InterNEP, Lazarus Public and SYNC - ISC Badassery Character Pack for NSS DeathWish and YSS ShiKaze."
An accurate three dimensional version of Luca's likeliness was seen in game, cracking his knuckles and using the Grapple Stunner to own everyone in a deathmatch game that was, in all likelihood staged. "Play as PHOENIX MAN!"
And then the door to the Captain's room slid open, and Luca walked in dressed in his pants, boots and singlet. He was missing his jacket, which was a mercifully rare occurrence when he was in public. He'd just finished tucking Vita into bed even he knew she'd leave the ship to sneak out and commune with the boys around Sargasso.
Zeta only had a pair of panties and her sleepy-tee on. A pink one with pile of guns portrayed at the front. A gift from Melissa. She looked at Luca and smiled, as she often do when he returned to her. Her hand then pointed to the TV where the Phoenix Man Ad was coming to an end.
"So," she said, asking a question simply out of curiosity. "How much do they pay you from the profits of that thing?"
"Come get some!" The Luca in the advertisement said before it closed and switched to normal programming. The voice wasn't anywhere close to Luca's.
Luca's eyebrow cocked somewhat. Ever since he got the whole 'coming back out of hiding' thing sorted, he always knew that he'd been neglecting something, but he never quite bothered to investigate. "I... don't get paid. The profits go to my parents now and they used to give half to me, but I haven't seen or talked to them since..." His words trailed off and he looked at the photo of Naoko he had on the dresser.
"Might want to check in with your pa and ma and see if they are not being ripped off," Zeta said always the realist and the most paranoid crewmemeber of ISC Phoenix. "Cause that merchandise makes a bucket load of money. It should be able to pay your folks enough to live in a castle."
Luca rubbed his chin. Even though he hadn't contacted his parents, nor did they contact him after he made his appearance public, he had to extend an olive branch to them for all they've done. "You're right. I don't know where the money goes any more. However." He held up his hand and made some gestures to the television to rewind the broadcast back to the advertisement.
"Pause it." He held up his hand, and then started reading the fine print in the advertisement. "I think I know where the money goes, and Kirin probably isn't seeing a big share of it either."
"Wait, how is that possible?" Zeta asked with a raised eyebrow. "Deathwish and those other games you play all the time are from Kirin right? So they should be getting the money from this and pay you your share? So who is the one putting your merchandise out there and not paying your or Kirin your share? Might wanna call a lawyer."
"Call a lawyer?" Luca chuckled and raised his eyebrow. "I have a better idea." He walked towards the bed, and knelt in and started whispering his plan to her.
Zeta's face drooped as more of the plan became apparent. "NO. BLOODY. WAY." Was Zeta's response. Of course, she knew it was going to go his way no matter what she says. And it was a good plan too. Unfortunately.
SOME TIME AND ORGANISATION LATER...
"My name is Penelope Lucia. We're here to see Jurgen Havelock on behalf of Kirin Games, I made an appointment three days ago." A woman in her mid twenties with a grey three piece suit with a faint silver pinstripe, black stockings and black high heels was querying the receptionist for a publishing company that was responsible for distributing some of Kirin Game's wares through the Nepleslias. She had a pair of orange-framed glasses, and her hair was in a bun.
Next to her stood a rather tall man. Longish drity-blonde hair was tied into a short pony-tail. His eyes were hidden behind a pair of sunglasses. His face was... like a stone. Not a single hint of emotion in it. He wore a black tuxedo that fit him perfectly and his hands were covered by stylish gloves. A small bulge under his shoulder easily shown that the man was packing heat. But who didn't pack heat on Nepleslia?
The clerk punched a few commands into his computer and nodded. "Oh, yes, Ms. Lucia. Take the elevator to Floor 15, and an escort will take you the rest of the way." He then got onto the phone and dialled a number as Penelope and her companion walked towards the elevator. She hailed it, and the two were inside it alone.
"I hate you right now," the man said with a gruff expression on his face. His hand then promptly went and fiddled with his crotch. "How do you live this bloody thing. So uncomfortable. Does not stay the way it is supposed to."
"One step at a time." Penelope chuckled. "Though, how the hell do you run in these things? They're so loud and impractical - but damn, if I kick someone in the shorthairs." The elevator was reaching Floor 15.
"They are not for running." The man replied. "They are for making you taller and making you look lovely. You love it when I wear them!" Should anyone hear this conversation it would set of few looks of wonder. Tall muscular men usually did not wear high-heels.
"I wish the thing in my pants was smaller," said the man finally with a sigh.
The elevator opened, and the two passed by someone whose eyesbrows raised somewhat. Another woman was waiting for them, similarly dressed to Penelope and with a clip board in her hands. "Ah, Ms. Lucia. Right this way." She escorted the two through the office and as they looked into the cubicles, they could tell that something wasn't quite right in the air here.
"So, what does Argent Entertainment do with Kirin Games anyway?"
"We provide a farm of dedicated servers here in Funky City as well as commissioning and distributing DLC content."
Luca had played on those servers once. It wasn't all that good. The dropouts were frequent, there were hackers everywhere and the playerbase was toxic. The Nepleslia Prime and Lorath servers were much more chilled out, better running and better policed.
The blonde man followed Lucia and the lady. He looked around, watching the cubicles. Men and women sat there typing something into their computers. Dreadful expressions on their faces. No one talked. They all just worked.
"Yes," he said finally, turning his had to the woman. "The DLCs and those servers are quite the concern for us miss...?"
"Turner." She replied tersely as she walked ahead, back turned. Penelope idly wondered if her name was ever morphed into 'Screwer', thanks to that rump of hers. However, she had to restrain herself and looked up at her companion, expression exasperated.
"It is a pleasure to meet you Ms. Turner," the man lied and put on a forced polite smile. "Please you can call me Zet. Now the thing is, we noticed that lot of DLC your people programmed was already programmed before the game actually went out? Don't you see that as a bit of a problem?"
"We collaborate with the developers to get their DLC release plans done ahead of schedule and they send us some basic templates and documentation." Turner replied, getting closer to Havelock's office since the door was in view. Penelope raised an eyebrow and couldn't help but wonder if Coerce and Collaborate were one and the same with these publishers.
"I see, so you're off to a running start so you can release something on the off season after the game ships?"
"Quite right. Our developers also..."
Penelope's mind switched off as she was listening to her. Kirin Games had a name, they weren't just another developer, and when they made something it worked right out the door, and felt like part of the game rather than an ad-hoc'd addition that stuck out. "I don't like this one bit, Zeta." Penelope told Zet via Yamataian telepathy. He just nodded in response. "Two bucks says she pulls a sword out from between her tits to cut up people she doesn't like."
"...synergy." They passed through the doors together. Ms. Turner followed them in and took her place next to the boss.
"Thank you for your time Ms. Turner," Zet said as they passed. It was time to talk with the important guy. This Havelock. A CEO and probably man who knew nothing about fun, people or games. He just wanted more money.
"Good day Mr. Havelock," Zet said, still keeping that un-honest expression on his face. Penelope found a chair in front of the desk and couldn't help but wonder if Havelock breathed fire to incinerate unruly employees or lawyers.
Havelock seemed to be in his fifties, greying hair and dull blue eyes. He had some liver spots on his face, and a suit that constrained his neck, making a roll of fat go over the collar. That ruled fire breath out, in Penelope's mind. "Ah, welcome. Ms. Lucia." Ms. Turner stood and watched them both from behind her employer. Perhaps a little too closely as she draped his arms around the chair.
Red flag. "Crap. Didn't see that one coming. I'm guessing she's his mistress."
Zet moved and sat on the other chair next to Lucia. He did not like the man at all. For one thing, he hated fat people. It was not that a big trouble to stay in shape nowadays. One did not have to be a muscular beach-boy, but he did not have to a ballooning tub of lard. A bit of a belly does not matter, but when you neck was trying to escape from your suit, something is very very bad, or your taste in clothes sucked so hard the rest of you wanted out.
"We are pleased to meet you Mr. Havelock," Zet said with strict voice. "Ms. Lucia has something important to discuss with you I am afraid."
Penelope cleared her throat and leaned in with a palm computer. "We need to renegotiate the current distributions and margins you're making. They're no longer acceptable to Mr. Ed." She was referring to Kirin's CEO.
"But you've been so good up to this point, and we've both profited." Havelock retorted cooly. There was a hole in that statement. 66% of the earnings went to Argent Entertainment, 23% went to Kirin, and the remaining 11% went to the Pavone Family.
"And we've only provided what is appropriate." Ms. Turner added, voice laced with subtle contempt for the two before them. Penelope couldn't help but wonder how much of that 66% went to the workers here.
Zet comfortably leaned back into the char. A very comfortable, cushioned chair he noticed. He then went and join his hands in front of him. One hand held around his balled fist. A frequent and normal thing to do. Hist posture was a bit different though. Stronger, harder. A wall of a man ready to take anything on.
"And what about people who buy our products Ms. Turner?" Zeta sked simply with a raised eyebrow. "Do you provide what is appropriate for them as well?"
"Servers and support." She replied. "We prov-"
Suddenly, there was a bump on the window, and a blonde-haired man could be seen flipping down the side of the building one bit at a time with sticky hands and feet. Thump, thump, thump, flipping over and screaming all the way down. Havelock and Turner turned around just to see what the hell was going on. Penelope nudged Zet.
Havelock's computer was left open as he turned around. Zet could hear his chair creaking as it tried to compensate for Havelock's ungainly frame. There was a port in the back of the laptop to plug something in.
It did not take much. Zet smiled a bit and silently like a cat, reached into his breast pocket with his right hand. He took out a small drive and swiftly inserted it into the port without making any sound whatsoever. Then he leaned back and assumed the position he had.
"Is anything wrong?" He then asked as if a man just did not run down by the side of a building.
"I ... er... No." Turner replied, flustered for the moment but adjusting her spectacles and turning back around. "Where were we?"
"Must be the unluckiest man in the world if he's doing that." Havelock added.
"Back to our topic of discussion then," Zet said with raised eyebrows. "Ms. Turner you mention servers and support. Well then please explain me this? Last week I attempted to play NSS Deathwish on one of your Funky City servers. I was being disconnected quite frequently. When I attempted to reach a tech support I did not get a response up to this very day."
"I did a bit of a research and you have only 2 large server rooms for whole Funky City. You know how many people live here? And how many of them are kids wanting to play their game?"
"We've been having some rough patches in our server. Vandals keep vandalising them and hackers keep getting right to the server."
"Well that's your problem, and it shouldn't be the player's problem too." Penelope spoke up. "But, I am willing to overlook all of this-" "Showtime." "-and look the other way." She had her legs crossed, and she uncrossed them.
Ms. Turner's eyes widened. The cheek of it was clear and her expression was clearly aggrieved with Penelope's conduct. Havelock, however seemed to be much more receptive to this.
Zet did not say anything. It was clear that all that had to be said was said. Now it was time to make an impression. His hands moved. The left touched the tip of index finger of the right one. Grabbing the tip of the glove she pulled it off. A metallic hand could be seen. Everyone knew that Luca Pavone's companion had a metallic arm.
"Why, Ms. Lucia, I'd be more than happy to oblige." He stood up and his desk chair groaned a sigh of relief as the weight was taken off of it. "Come with me, and we'll talk more in private."
His attempt at being seductive was failing, but Penelope had him eating out of her hands. Havelock lead her to another boardroom, and Ms. Turner tried to intervene. "Wait a second!-"
"Ms. Turner," Zet intervened himself. "If you would be so kind. There is still more to talk about. Ms. Lucia and Ms. Havelock have another matter to work out. I still need to remind you of few things."
"Don't you get in my-" Turner's calm attitude was beginning to erode, and she tried to push past Zet as Havelock and Penelope disappeared into the next room. Zet's metallic finger wrapped around her wrist, but he did not say anything.
"Now, let's discuss a deal..." Havelock grinned at Penelope as she put her hands behind her head and let her hair down. Long, luscious and shining bright. She turned around and as she was walking, she must've opened her shirt to reveal more of her lingerie.
"Ohh yes. I love you intern types. So supple and-" He grabbed her around the waist. "-athletic? Hm, you must work out."
"Indeed." She replied as he inspected her. There were worse situations for her to be in, and as the greedy man stuffed his face between her breasts and peeled her coat off, she took a pill that was hidden in her cuff. Five minutes was all she'd need. "That's right, touch me all over, ravage me..."
-
"What does she think she's doing?!" Ms. Turner finally lost her cool at the blonde man. "This isn't a business deal at all. This is a setup of some sort." She was clearly onto something that Havelock wasn't seeing.
"Do not be paranoid Ms. Turner," Zet replied and could not help himself to smile a bit. Once again his hand reached his pocket and took a white pill. Swallowing it he looked at the woman. "All will be clear in about... five minutes. Just sit down and let's talk. Unless you would want to do something else."
She sat on the desk, arms folded and clearly annoyed. She looked at the boardroom doors and she could hear something going on in there. "I do not envy your friend, frankly. Who would want to use herself as leverage in a business deal with..." She leaned in and held up her index finger and thumb, putting them only a couple of inches apart. "...him?"
"Ms. Lucia will be quite fine," Zet replied. His smile was actually honest now. He already could feel a warmth inside. "Now I have a question Ms. Turner. Me and my associate have a certain level of power and to say simply... we do not like how Mr. Havelock handles business in AE. We would like someone more competent to deal with us."
"So we need to get rid of him, which is being done. But you could help us too. It is clear that Mr. Havelock... did something to you as well, am I not mistaken? A simple yes from you will help us kick him out of this building and out of this business forever. Tell me, would you like his chair?"
Her expression was changing throughout the discussion from disgust to curiousity, to genuine interest as she leaned in and smiled. She looked once more at the boardroom doors and whispered. "I'm listening."
"S0 4M 1. 1 F0UND S0M3TH1NG TH4T B3L0NGS T0 F4T4RS3. H3H3H3..." The laptop spoke up. Ms. Turner jumped off of the desk in fright.
"Good work Ech," Zet said, his voice was now somehow a lot softer, same as his face. The drug was taking an effect. "I assume that if we use the files from that computer it might not be enough, but if you also say that you were sexually harassed and forced to... whatever that pig did to you we can get rid of him. We are willing to put you in his chair. With certain conditions of course."
"I wanna make him scream." She replied. "I want him and his delusions about business gone. He doesn't know entertainment."
"I am not sure if we can make him scream, maybe with anger. We can certainly sue the pants off him with your help. Even though I can punch him if it would please you. Now please excuse me a bit." The man... who quite clearly was not a man anymore squirmed. His hand went to his tuxedo as he unbuttoned it fast. It was just getting way too tight for him. Her. Zet was almost back to being Zeta and that mean her generous-sized breasts were back.
"Ahh much better," She said with her own voice back. She also enjoyed a lack of anything in her underwear. "I am sorry for the ruse Ms. Turner. Please call me Zeta. I am sure what comes next will be greatly enjoyable for you." She said and looked towards the doors, through which Havelock and Lucia walked out.
Ms. Turner was impressed. She was blinking. "Wait, I recognise you, you were supposed to release with the second DLC... Who was Penelope?"
-
"Ooohhh Havelock, let me take that blindfold off." Despite the oddities in her voice, Penelope had obliged Mr. Havelock to have his sense of sight temporarily deprived while she 'inspected' him.
"Ohh yes, I want to see your-" She flipped the blindfold up abruptly in the clearly lit room.
"Your." Havelock gulped. Where was Penelope? All he could see was this guy with a hairy chest wearing women's clothing, short spikey hair and huge sideburns. The saddest thing is, he was still kind of pretty looking. "You're..." He stammered again.
"MY NAME IS CAPTAIN PHOENIX AND I WANT MY BRAND BACK, MOTHERFUCKER!"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA."
-
"Holy shit."
AFTER THE DEAL WAS WORKED OUT 'PEACEFULLY'...
Zeta was happly walking with Luca, her arms wrapped around his. They swapped their clothing and even though the grey suit was a bit small for Zeta it fit. Zeta meanwhile thought that Luca was simply looking stunning in the Tuxedo. She expected him to want and keep the female-clothing for shits and giggles, but that would get him photographed and Zeta would never want Vita to see her father in woman clothing like that.
"Okay...." Zeta broke up the silence. "You were right. It was fun deceiving them like that. Even worth doing that. But you owe me now!"
"Owe you what?" Luca replied as he sipped a can of Phoenix Energy.
"Remember how we had those extra pills?" Zeta grinned, looking at Luca. "When we get back to the hotel we are gonna play with them a bit."
"I was told to lay off of them, but..." He grinned. "I guess I can make an exception. We can splurge on room service too!"
"You bet," She said, leaning a bit more into him. "We will make a one-night vacation out of this. But prepare yourself. I am going to make you my girl tonight." She laughed out loud.
"Oh you tease..."
A sudden strange fancy came into her head.
Nor father nor mother shall make me false prove:
I'll 'list as a soldier and follow my love.
Sweet Polly Oliver (folk song)
Zeta was sitting on the bed in the Captain's room of ISC Crimson Kestrel. She was just looking at something at the datapad and waiting for Luca to join her. It was already pretty late. Zeta though it would be nice to just cuddle and fall asleep together. Since Luca was taking his time, she went and turned on the TV.
A large volumetric screen appeared on one of the walls. The ads were just one after the other. "MORE THRUST, MORE SPEED!" The TV shouted at her and Zeta could not help but to feel a bit thirsty. She did not have that particular energy drink in quite a while. Alas the ad was over and another was coming on. The Phoenix Man! ad.
"THEY ARE THE HEROES!" The jingle played as images from an animated cartoon were flashing on screen. Zeta could see her likeliness breaking apart Rippers with her right arm while Luca was Phoenix Punching them away. "Out now for InterNEP, Lazarus Public and SYNC - ISC Badassery Character Pack for NSS DeathWish and YSS ShiKaze."
An accurate three dimensional version of Luca's likeliness was seen in game, cracking his knuckles and using the Grapple Stunner to own everyone in a deathmatch game that was, in all likelihood staged. "Play as PHOENIX MAN!"
And then the door to the Captain's room slid open, and Luca walked in dressed in his pants, boots and singlet. He was missing his jacket, which was a mercifully rare occurrence when he was in public. He'd just finished tucking Vita into bed even he knew she'd leave the ship to sneak out and commune with the boys around Sargasso.
Zeta only had a pair of panties and her sleepy-tee on. A pink one with pile of guns portrayed at the front. A gift from Melissa. She looked at Luca and smiled, as she often do when he returned to her. Her hand then pointed to the TV where the Phoenix Man Ad was coming to an end.
"So," she said, asking a question simply out of curiosity. "How much do they pay you from the profits of that thing?"
"Come get some!" The Luca in the advertisement said before it closed and switched to normal programming. The voice wasn't anywhere close to Luca's.
Luca's eyebrow cocked somewhat. Ever since he got the whole 'coming back out of hiding' thing sorted, he always knew that he'd been neglecting something, but he never quite bothered to investigate. "I... don't get paid. The profits go to my parents now and they used to give half to me, but I haven't seen or talked to them since..." His words trailed off and he looked at the photo of Naoko he had on the dresser.
"Might want to check in with your pa and ma and see if they are not being ripped off," Zeta said always the realist and the most paranoid crewmemeber of ISC Phoenix. "Cause that merchandise makes a bucket load of money. It should be able to pay your folks enough to live in a castle."
Luca rubbed his chin. Even though he hadn't contacted his parents, nor did they contact him after he made his appearance public, he had to extend an olive branch to them for all they've done. "You're right. I don't know where the money goes any more. However." He held up his hand and made some gestures to the television to rewind the broadcast back to the advertisement.
"Pause it." He held up his hand, and then started reading the fine print in the advertisement. "I think I know where the money goes, and Kirin probably isn't seeing a big share of it either."
"Wait, how is that possible?" Zeta asked with a raised eyebrow. "Deathwish and those other games you play all the time are from Kirin right? So they should be getting the money from this and pay you your share? So who is the one putting your merchandise out there and not paying your or Kirin your share? Might wanna call a lawyer."
"Call a lawyer?" Luca chuckled and raised his eyebrow. "I have a better idea." He walked towards the bed, and knelt in and started whispering his plan to her.
Zeta's face drooped as more of the plan became apparent. "NO. BLOODY. WAY." Was Zeta's response. Of course, she knew it was going to go his way no matter what she says. And it was a good plan too. Unfortunately.
SOME TIME AND ORGANISATION LATER...
"My name is Penelope Lucia. We're here to see Jurgen Havelock on behalf of Kirin Games, I made an appointment three days ago." A woman in her mid twenties with a grey three piece suit with a faint silver pinstripe, black stockings and black high heels was querying the receptionist for a publishing company that was responsible for distributing some of Kirin Game's wares through the Nepleslias. She had a pair of orange-framed glasses, and her hair was in a bun.
Next to her stood a rather tall man. Longish drity-blonde hair was tied into a short pony-tail. His eyes were hidden behind a pair of sunglasses. His face was... like a stone. Not a single hint of emotion in it. He wore a black tuxedo that fit him perfectly and his hands were covered by stylish gloves. A small bulge under his shoulder easily shown that the man was packing heat. But who didn't pack heat on Nepleslia?
The clerk punched a few commands into his computer and nodded. "Oh, yes, Ms. Lucia. Take the elevator to Floor 15, and an escort will take you the rest of the way." He then got onto the phone and dialled a number as Penelope and her companion walked towards the elevator. She hailed it, and the two were inside it alone.
"I hate you right now," the man said with a gruff expression on his face. His hand then promptly went and fiddled with his crotch. "How do you live this bloody thing. So uncomfortable. Does not stay the way it is supposed to."
"One step at a time." Penelope chuckled. "Though, how the hell do you run in these things? They're so loud and impractical - but damn, if I kick someone in the shorthairs." The elevator was reaching Floor 15.
"They are not for running." The man replied. "They are for making you taller and making you look lovely. You love it when I wear them!" Should anyone hear this conversation it would set of few looks of wonder. Tall muscular men usually did not wear high-heels.
"I wish the thing in my pants was smaller," said the man finally with a sigh.
The elevator opened, and the two passed by someone whose eyesbrows raised somewhat. Another woman was waiting for them, similarly dressed to Penelope and with a clip board in her hands. "Ah, Ms. Lucia. Right this way." She escorted the two through the office and as they looked into the cubicles, they could tell that something wasn't quite right in the air here.
"So, what does Argent Entertainment do with Kirin Games anyway?"
"We provide a farm of dedicated servers here in Funky City as well as commissioning and distributing DLC content."
Luca had played on those servers once. It wasn't all that good. The dropouts were frequent, there were hackers everywhere and the playerbase was toxic. The Nepleslia Prime and Lorath servers were much more chilled out, better running and better policed.
The blonde man followed Lucia and the lady. He looked around, watching the cubicles. Men and women sat there typing something into their computers. Dreadful expressions on their faces. No one talked. They all just worked.
"Yes," he said finally, turning his had to the woman. "The DLCs and those servers are quite the concern for us miss...?"
"Turner." She replied tersely as she walked ahead, back turned. Penelope idly wondered if her name was ever morphed into 'Screwer', thanks to that rump of hers. However, she had to restrain herself and looked up at her companion, expression exasperated.
"It is a pleasure to meet you Ms. Turner," the man lied and put on a forced polite smile. "Please you can call me Zet. Now the thing is, we noticed that lot of DLC your people programmed was already programmed before the game actually went out? Don't you see that as a bit of a problem?"
"We collaborate with the developers to get their DLC release plans done ahead of schedule and they send us some basic templates and documentation." Turner replied, getting closer to Havelock's office since the door was in view. Penelope raised an eyebrow and couldn't help but wonder if Coerce and Collaborate were one and the same with these publishers.
"I see, so you're off to a running start so you can release something on the off season after the game ships?"
"Quite right. Our developers also..."
Penelope's mind switched off as she was listening to her. Kirin Games had a name, they weren't just another developer, and when they made something it worked right out the door, and felt like part of the game rather than an ad-hoc'd addition that stuck out. "I don't like this one bit, Zeta." Penelope told Zet via Yamataian telepathy. He just nodded in response. "Two bucks says she pulls a sword out from between her tits to cut up people she doesn't like."
"...synergy." They passed through the doors together. Ms. Turner followed them in and took her place next to the boss.
"Thank you for your time Ms. Turner," Zet said as they passed. It was time to talk with the important guy. This Havelock. A CEO and probably man who knew nothing about fun, people or games. He just wanted more money.
"Good day Mr. Havelock," Zet said, still keeping that un-honest expression on his face. Penelope found a chair in front of the desk and couldn't help but wonder if Havelock breathed fire to incinerate unruly employees or lawyers.
Havelock seemed to be in his fifties, greying hair and dull blue eyes. He had some liver spots on his face, and a suit that constrained his neck, making a roll of fat go over the collar. That ruled fire breath out, in Penelope's mind. "Ah, welcome. Ms. Lucia." Ms. Turner stood and watched them both from behind her employer. Perhaps a little too closely as she draped his arms around the chair.
Red flag. "Crap. Didn't see that one coming. I'm guessing she's his mistress."
Zet moved and sat on the other chair next to Lucia. He did not like the man at all. For one thing, he hated fat people. It was not that a big trouble to stay in shape nowadays. One did not have to be a muscular beach-boy, but he did not have to a ballooning tub of lard. A bit of a belly does not matter, but when you neck was trying to escape from your suit, something is very very bad, or your taste in clothes sucked so hard the rest of you wanted out.
"We are pleased to meet you Mr. Havelock," Zet said with strict voice. "Ms. Lucia has something important to discuss with you I am afraid."
Penelope cleared her throat and leaned in with a palm computer. "We need to renegotiate the current distributions and margins you're making. They're no longer acceptable to Mr. Ed." She was referring to Kirin's CEO.
"But you've been so good up to this point, and we've both profited." Havelock retorted cooly. There was a hole in that statement. 66% of the earnings went to Argent Entertainment, 23% went to Kirin, and the remaining 11% went to the Pavone Family.
"And we've only provided what is appropriate." Ms. Turner added, voice laced with subtle contempt for the two before them. Penelope couldn't help but wonder how much of that 66% went to the workers here.
Zet comfortably leaned back into the char. A very comfortable, cushioned chair he noticed. He then went and join his hands in front of him. One hand held around his balled fist. A frequent and normal thing to do. Hist posture was a bit different though. Stronger, harder. A wall of a man ready to take anything on.
"And what about people who buy our products Ms. Turner?" Zeta sked simply with a raised eyebrow. "Do you provide what is appropriate for them as well?"
"Servers and support." She replied. "We prov-"
Suddenly, there was a bump on the window, and a blonde-haired man could be seen flipping down the side of the building one bit at a time with sticky hands and feet. Thump, thump, thump, flipping over and screaming all the way down. Havelock and Turner turned around just to see what the hell was going on. Penelope nudged Zet.
Havelock's computer was left open as he turned around. Zet could hear his chair creaking as it tried to compensate for Havelock's ungainly frame. There was a port in the back of the laptop to plug something in.
It did not take much. Zet smiled a bit and silently like a cat, reached into his breast pocket with his right hand. He took out a small drive and swiftly inserted it into the port without making any sound whatsoever. Then he leaned back and assumed the position he had.
"Is anything wrong?" He then asked as if a man just did not run down by the side of a building.
"I ... er... No." Turner replied, flustered for the moment but adjusting her spectacles and turning back around. "Where were we?"
"Must be the unluckiest man in the world if he's doing that." Havelock added.
"Back to our topic of discussion then," Zet said with raised eyebrows. "Ms. Turner you mention servers and support. Well then please explain me this? Last week I attempted to play NSS Deathwish on one of your Funky City servers. I was being disconnected quite frequently. When I attempted to reach a tech support I did not get a response up to this very day."
"I did a bit of a research and you have only 2 large server rooms for whole Funky City. You know how many people live here? And how many of them are kids wanting to play their game?"
"We've been having some rough patches in our server. Vandals keep vandalising them and hackers keep getting right to the server."
"Well that's your problem, and it shouldn't be the player's problem too." Penelope spoke up. "But, I am willing to overlook all of this-" "Showtime." "-and look the other way." She had her legs crossed, and she uncrossed them.
Ms. Turner's eyes widened. The cheek of it was clear and her expression was clearly aggrieved with Penelope's conduct. Havelock, however seemed to be much more receptive to this.
Zet did not say anything. It was clear that all that had to be said was said. Now it was time to make an impression. His hands moved. The left touched the tip of index finger of the right one. Grabbing the tip of the glove she pulled it off. A metallic hand could be seen. Everyone knew that Luca Pavone's companion had a metallic arm.
"Why, Ms. Lucia, I'd be more than happy to oblige." He stood up and his desk chair groaned a sigh of relief as the weight was taken off of it. "Come with me, and we'll talk more in private."
His attempt at being seductive was failing, but Penelope had him eating out of her hands. Havelock lead her to another boardroom, and Ms. Turner tried to intervene. "Wait a second!-"
"Ms. Turner," Zet intervened himself. "If you would be so kind. There is still more to talk about. Ms. Lucia and Ms. Havelock have another matter to work out. I still need to remind you of few things."
"Don't you get in my-" Turner's calm attitude was beginning to erode, and she tried to push past Zet as Havelock and Penelope disappeared into the next room. Zet's metallic finger wrapped around her wrist, but he did not say anything.
"Now, let's discuss a deal..." Havelock grinned at Penelope as she put her hands behind her head and let her hair down. Long, luscious and shining bright. She turned around and as she was walking, she must've opened her shirt to reveal more of her lingerie.
"Ohh yes. I love you intern types. So supple and-" He grabbed her around the waist. "-athletic? Hm, you must work out."
"Indeed." She replied as he inspected her. There were worse situations for her to be in, and as the greedy man stuffed his face between her breasts and peeled her coat off, she took a pill that was hidden in her cuff. Five minutes was all she'd need. "That's right, touch me all over, ravage me..."
-
"What does she think she's doing?!" Ms. Turner finally lost her cool at the blonde man. "This isn't a business deal at all. This is a setup of some sort." She was clearly onto something that Havelock wasn't seeing.
"Do not be paranoid Ms. Turner," Zet replied and could not help himself to smile a bit. Once again his hand reached his pocket and took a white pill. Swallowing it he looked at the woman. "All will be clear in about... five minutes. Just sit down and let's talk. Unless you would want to do something else."
She sat on the desk, arms folded and clearly annoyed. She looked at the boardroom doors and she could hear something going on in there. "I do not envy your friend, frankly. Who would want to use herself as leverage in a business deal with..." She leaned in and held up her index finger and thumb, putting them only a couple of inches apart. "...him?"
"Ms. Lucia will be quite fine," Zet replied. His smile was actually honest now. He already could feel a warmth inside. "Now I have a question Ms. Turner. Me and my associate have a certain level of power and to say simply... we do not like how Mr. Havelock handles business in AE. We would like someone more competent to deal with us."
"So we need to get rid of him, which is being done. But you could help us too. It is clear that Mr. Havelock... did something to you as well, am I not mistaken? A simple yes from you will help us kick him out of this building and out of this business forever. Tell me, would you like his chair?"
Her expression was changing throughout the discussion from disgust to curiousity, to genuine interest as she leaned in and smiled. She looked once more at the boardroom doors and whispered. "I'm listening."
"S0 4M 1. 1 F0UND S0M3TH1NG TH4T B3L0NGS T0 F4T4RS3. H3H3H3..." The laptop spoke up. Ms. Turner jumped off of the desk in fright.
"Good work Ech," Zet said, his voice was now somehow a lot softer, same as his face. The drug was taking an effect. "I assume that if we use the files from that computer it might not be enough, but if you also say that you were sexually harassed and forced to... whatever that pig did to you we can get rid of him. We are willing to put you in his chair. With certain conditions of course."
"I wanna make him scream." She replied. "I want him and his delusions about business gone. He doesn't know entertainment."
"I am not sure if we can make him scream, maybe with anger. We can certainly sue the pants off him with your help. Even though I can punch him if it would please you. Now please excuse me a bit." The man... who quite clearly was not a man anymore squirmed. His hand went to his tuxedo as he unbuttoned it fast. It was just getting way too tight for him. Her. Zet was almost back to being Zeta and that mean her generous-sized breasts were back.
"Ahh much better," She said with her own voice back. She also enjoyed a lack of anything in her underwear. "I am sorry for the ruse Ms. Turner. Please call me Zeta. I am sure what comes next will be greatly enjoyable for you." She said and looked towards the doors, through which Havelock and Lucia walked out.
Ms. Turner was impressed. She was blinking. "Wait, I recognise you, you were supposed to release with the second DLC... Who was Penelope?"
-
"Ooohhh Havelock, let me take that blindfold off." Despite the oddities in her voice, Penelope had obliged Mr. Havelock to have his sense of sight temporarily deprived while she 'inspected' him.
"Ohh yes, I want to see your-" She flipped the blindfold up abruptly in the clearly lit room.
"Your." Havelock gulped. Where was Penelope? All he could see was this guy with a hairy chest wearing women's clothing, short spikey hair and huge sideburns. The saddest thing is, he was still kind of pretty looking. "You're..." He stammered again.
"MY NAME IS CAPTAIN PHOENIX AND I WANT MY BRAND BACK, MOTHERFUCKER!"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA."
-
"Holy shit."
AFTER THE DEAL WAS WORKED OUT 'PEACEFULLY'...
Zeta was happly walking with Luca, her arms wrapped around his. They swapped their clothing and even though the grey suit was a bit small for Zeta it fit. Zeta meanwhile thought that Luca was simply looking stunning in the Tuxedo. She expected him to want and keep the female-clothing for shits and giggles, but that would get him photographed and Zeta would never want Vita to see her father in woman clothing like that.
"Okay...." Zeta broke up the silence. "You were right. It was fun deceiving them like that. Even worth doing that. But you owe me now!"
"Owe you what?" Luca replied as he sipped a can of Phoenix Energy.
"Remember how we had those extra pills?" Zeta grinned, looking at Luca. "When we get back to the hotel we are gonna play with them a bit."
"I was told to lay off of them, but..." He grinned. "I guess I can make an exception. We can splurge on room service too!"
"You bet," She said, leaning a bit more into him. "We will make a one-night vacation out of this. But prepare yourself. I am going to make you my girl tonight." She laughed out loud.
"Oh you tease..."
