been to Kimura Corp.
Machines like this were the heart of any terraforming effort. Acquiring even one of the platforms could mean all the difference for their struggling colony. Yet the captain seemed unimpressed by the offering.
Sigrid felt the elbow in her side and closed her mouth.
"I'm not sure what you think we can do with these…"
Corbin Price spread his fat hands wide. "Why, any number of things, I should imagine."
Any number of things, indeed , Sigrid thought.
"Even if my client was interested," the captain said. "I would have to contact them. This is well beyond my realm to negotiate."
Sigrid knew this was true. As vast as the Lady Hitomi's wealth had been, it had taken nearly all her holdings, all her favors and negotiating skills to get them this far. There was little left in her mistress's accounts for such extravagances.
Corbin Price bowed his head, conceding the expense. "Perhaps there are other things you can offer. We Merchantmen trade in all goods and services."
The captain helped himself to another of the offered tequilas. "Goods? Our holds are empty, Mr. Price, awaiting delivery from you. As for services, I'm not sure what you mean."
"There is no need to be coy, Captain. It serves neither of us. Not when I have something you so desperately need and you have something that would be of tremendous value to me. I see no reason why we cannot come to an arrangement."
The trader's demeanor changed in an instant. He sat up, the easy, jovial expression gone as his eyes fixed firmly on Sigrid.
"I did not get to this position by being ignorant, Captain. And I wouldn't be much of a trader if I did not anticipate my clients' needs. You are not simple merchant sailors . You are Kimura. Now—don't be alarmed—I am not here to make threats. I'm simply pointing out what needs to be said. You are Kimura—ex-Kimura. I know your client well, and I know your needs. And I know you could very much use these. Let’s not pretend otherwise. Instead, let us figure out how we both might prosper from this situation."
He was right, and Sigrid knew it. Their attempt at ruse had been foolish. The trader knew exactly who they were and what she was. Strangely, she felt relieved. And she desperately wanted those platforms.
"And what do we have to trade?" Sigrid asked.
"Your services, for one, Ms. Peters. Yes, I know what you are. It's quite all right. I am very familiar with Lady Hitomi's work in genetics. Although, I must admit I did assume you would be…well, taller." The trader shifted his bulk, sitting forward. "Now, you must tell me. Is it true? Everything they say about you and your kind—the things you can do?"
Sigrid crossed her arms over her chest. "I couldn't possibly answer since I have no idea what they might have said."
"They say you destroyed the Lift Complex at Panama."
"Independents did that, Mr. Price. Not me."
"What about what occurred on Scorpii? I hear you took out an entire company of CTF Marines."
"It was a battalion. But no, they were too busy fighting the Independents to worry about me."
Corbin Price laughed heartily, giving his knee a good slap. "Well said, Ms. Peters. But you were there, all the same. And you did blow up the Relay. They say you can't be killed."
"I'm afraid someone has been having fun at your expense, Mr. Price."
"Granted, these things are always exaggerated. But I've learned to trust in the kernels of truth buried inside. I suspect you are being modest, Ms. Peters. The truth probably lies somewhere in between."
Sigrid was eager to turn the conversation away from her, back to the industrial machines. "Exactly what services would you have me perform?"
The captain raised a hand in objection. "Let us not get ahead of ourselves. Ms. Peters ' services are not negotiable."
"Wait," Sigrid said. "I would still like to know, Captain. Those manufacturing platforms would be invaluable to us."
"Invaluable!" Corbin Price said, steepling his fingers with interest. "Well,
Machines like this were the heart of any terraforming effort. Acquiring even one of the platforms could mean all the difference for their struggling colony. Yet the captain seemed unimpressed by the offering.
Sigrid felt the elbow in her side and closed her mouth.
"I'm not sure what you think we can do with these…"
Corbin Price spread his fat hands wide. "Why, any number of things, I should imagine."
Any number of things, indeed , Sigrid thought.
"Even if my client was interested," the captain said. "I would have to contact them. This is well beyond my realm to negotiate."
Sigrid knew this was true. As vast as the Lady Hitomi's wealth had been, it had taken nearly all her holdings, all her favors and negotiating skills to get them this far. There was little left in her mistress's accounts for such extravagances.
Corbin Price bowed his head, conceding the expense. "Perhaps there are other things you can offer. We Merchantmen trade in all goods and services."
The captain helped himself to another of the offered tequilas. "Goods? Our holds are empty, Mr. Price, awaiting delivery from you. As for services, I'm not sure what you mean."
"There is no need to be coy, Captain. It serves neither of us. Not when I have something you so desperately need and you have something that would be of tremendous value to me. I see no reason why we cannot come to an arrangement."
The trader's demeanor changed in an instant. He sat up, the easy, jovial expression gone as his eyes fixed firmly on Sigrid.
"I did not get to this position by being ignorant, Captain. And I wouldn't be much of a trader if I did not anticipate my clients' needs. You are not simple merchant sailors . You are Kimura. Now—don't be alarmed—I am not here to make threats. I'm simply pointing out what needs to be said. You are Kimura—ex-Kimura. I know your client well, and I know your needs. And I know you could very much use these. Let’s not pretend otherwise. Instead, let us figure out how we both might prosper from this situation."
He was right, and Sigrid knew it. Their attempt at ruse had been foolish. The trader knew exactly who they were and what she was. Strangely, she felt relieved. And she desperately wanted those platforms.
"And what do we have to trade?" Sigrid asked.
"Your services, for one, Ms. Peters. Yes, I know what you are. It's quite all right. I am very familiar with Lady Hitomi's work in genetics. Although, I must admit I did assume you would be…well, taller." The trader shifted his bulk, sitting forward. "Now, you must tell me. Is it true? Everything they say about you and your kind—the things you can do?"
Sigrid crossed her arms over her chest. "I couldn't possibly answer since I have no idea what they might have said."
"They say you destroyed the Lift Complex at Panama."
"Independents did that, Mr. Price. Not me."
"What about what occurred on Scorpii? I hear you took out an entire company of CTF Marines."
"It was a battalion. But no, they were too busy fighting the Independents to worry about me."
Corbin Price laughed heartily, giving his knee a good slap. "Well said, Ms. Peters. But you were there, all the same. And you did blow up the Relay. They say you can't be killed."
"I'm afraid someone has been having fun at your expense, Mr. Price."
"Granted, these things are always exaggerated. But I've learned to trust in the kernels of truth buried inside. I suspect you are being modest, Ms. Peters. The truth probably lies somewhere in between."
Sigrid was eager to turn the conversation away from her, back to the industrial machines. "Exactly what services would you have me perform?"
The captain raised a hand in objection. "Let us not get ahead of ourselves. Ms. Peters ' services are not negotiable."
"Wait," Sigrid said. "I would still like to know, Captain. Those manufacturing platforms would be invaluable to us."
"Invaluable!" Corbin Price said, steepling his fingers with interest. "Well,
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