Unholy Star, Beyond Faith

"Do we have a deal?"

The stars within the smoky red and yellow clouds of a giant nebula seemed to move slowly by as the silver disk floated in space rotating slightly. It was the meeting place for the dark and mysterious avatar of the lost druid, Wu Zetian and the cautious avatar of pax trader, Pongo Pygmaeus.

The meeting at hand was Sen's first negotiation with a real person and, despite the calm and collected appearance of the avatar she had appropriated, Sen was nervous. "So, Pongo, do you like music?" As soon as Sen said the words, she knew she had made a mistake, it was an attempt to break the ice, but she thought, Senniella Atriplex you idiot, this is not how a grown up talks, Wu is a druid and something like three hundred years old, she just wouldn't say that.

As much as she wished she could, the young technopath couldn't take the question back, and the trader looked a little perplexed. With a slight voice seeming at odds with his large body, Pongo replied politely, "Music? Yes, indeed. In fact, I am currently a patron of the Manainn production of the Inva Mula-Tchako epico d' le Besco. A difficult an opera as it is possible to produce, but it is shaping up nicely and will be a memorable performance. Would you like me to organise a few VIP tickets for you?"

Ah okay, I didn't understand any of that, this is not off to a good start. Thought Sen and stuggled to think of a reply.

But the trader took her pause as a sign of stoic disapproval as one might expect from one of the druidic order, dedicated to the simple life, "Forgive me, Wise One, I know such indulgence is an opulence that strays from the path of the Tuath Dé, surely by music you mean a song of the sean-nós softly sung beside the warm chords of a lonely harp?"

Shit, this guy is good. I better think of something fast. Sen winged it, "An opera, or a simple ballad of lost love, it matters not; if you embrace the music, it will take you on a journey. When you give yourself to the music, for a short time, that is all that matters. I have a song, Pongo Pygmaeus, would you like to hear it?"

Holy-shit-i-did-it! Sen expelled an internal sigh of relief at her proficient use of verbiage.

Pongo played along, "Thank you for the offer, but as I mentioned, I already travel with a song, and it would be a mischief toward that music if I were to take another."

"I understand," she replied, "But, surely you should hear my song before you make your decision? What if I were to tell you that this song would take you, in one night, to all of the pax our relationship has provided to-date? All in just one night."

And so the negotiation began, the trader sat forward and covered his large, round chin with a podgy hand, "I'm listening." Subdued with conversational politeness was replaced with the seriousness of the trade, "What do you want?"

"There is a man on the Atripliceae platform; his name is Lynx Lynx. You must have a device delivered to him by no later than tomorrow evening."

"Yes, I know of the man. But what device? Why can't you organise a courier yourself?" They were talking business now, any formality issued due to respect for Wu Zetian's station had fallen away.

"He requires an override. Of course, the Tuath Dé must be kept at arm's length from such a transaction. "

At the mention of the contraband object, the trader's eyes opened wide. He thrust his hands forward shaking his open palms toward the druid's avatar.

"I am sorry, but I'm an honest market trader. Not a smuggler in dangerous goods. Especially one as illegal as that. If I were to be linked to the item in any way, then it would mean the end of me, the company and all that I have built. No, it will not happen."

Sen had expected this reply, "I understand your position, but it must be done this way. Besides, it will not be as bad as you think, the override must be set to emit the signature of a twelfth gefresh. It will need to make the target appear older, not younger as is the intended purpose of the device."

"Older? But why would you want this Lynx to appear older? It goes without saying that, beyond the eleventh gefresh he will be in forfeit of his life." The true nature of the request then dawned on the trader. "This is an assassination, isn't it?"

The heavy man stood as if readying to terminate the negotiations.

Wu Zetian also stood, her petite figure, no longer hidden by the volume of her robe made the platform seem much lighter on her side; it was as if the disk on which they were standing should be tipping towards the big man. To compensate for the physical mismatch, her words were weighty, "If you leave, I promise you will never hear my song. Never again."

Sen could tell by his worried expression that Pongo knew that to refuse her request would be to lose the revenue upon which he had come to rely. It was because of the mysterious bounty provided by Sen that he was able to improve his standing in society. Without the pax, he would not be able to afford his patronage of the arts, the iI genetic upgrade planned for his line, or one hundred other luxuries he enjoyed. The trader sat back down.

"If I do this thing you ask, I will want a lot more than you have provided to date. This bonus that you suggest will just be the start."

Wu Zetian remained standing and nodded, "Agreed. Do we have a deal?".

Pongo dipped his head in acknowledgment, "Okay, I can get hold of an override in short order but will need the man's genetic signature to set the device."

"His code is already in your SIS, here's the thread." Sen threw an op-code into his direction, and the large man caught the small pax instruction with a dexterity that belied his size.

"I will expect the considerable cost to be covered before delivery."

Sen agreed, "I will monitor your accounts and replace any associated outlay before the new day."

Pongo bowed, "Wu Zetian, you are indeed a formidable negotiator. I am glad that I can provide assistance as your humble servant."

Servant, Sen liked the sound of that.

"So, if you do not mind me asking, what did the noble Lynx Lynx do to deserve such an end?"

"He didn't sing my song."