by P H Campbell
That last comment seemed out of place to Seren, and she knew something was off.
"If I said we want to go back to our ship, would we make it back in one piece?" she asked of their guide.
"Probably not," G'tham replied honestly.
There was a loud explosion, and the lights flickered, alarms went off and the heavy-reinforced doors on either side of the corridor down which they had traversed slammed shut with an ear-drum bursting clang.
"Sorry about that," G'tham told them. "It was louder than they said it would be. And I didn't want them to do that, but they did, and so here we are. If you can still hear me, follow me. We're gonna be here a while."
As the group collected its senses, G'tham took off for a corridor that had a security door blocking it. He presented himself to the scanner, and the door opened. Turning, he saw no one had followed.
"Over here, folks," he gestured.
"What's the meaning of this?" Gliff demanded, refusing to budge.
"Legally, it's a kidnapping," G'tham replied in the same tired tones he'd spoken the whole time. "But mostly it's something else. We will force you to do what we want, but mostly all we want is for you to listen. You can stay here, if you want, but it's going to be really lonely and there's no food and the heat will be turned off here soon. For the record, that's usually enough force to get someone to go along with the program."
"I suggest we see what this is all about," Seren offered to the group.
"This is outrageous!" Gliff complained.
"It wouldn't be much of a kidnapping, or whatever, if it wasn't," Seren replied, grabbing her staff in the middle and walking toward the open door.
Sasha noticed Seren's grip on her staff wasn't tight, as if Seren was preparing to fight. She took her lead from her lover.
"I'm not feeling hugely threatened," Sasha agreed, following Seren.
"This isn't going well," Cinder remarked apologetically to Seren as she came abreast.
With Gliff sputtering complaints and outrage, and everyone else following Seren and Sasha, Gliff had little choice but to stick with the group.
"New relationships are usually pretty rocky," Seren shrugged, her sense of danger barely rating a blip. "Ask Morlendrus sometime about how we met."
"How about now?" Cinder asked, looking at the tall Magentian.
"She and the esteemed Master Majel had originally left me for dead on a pile of the dying," Morlendrus explained to Cinder. "Although that sounds horrific, it was the right thing to do. Fortunately, our relationship… improved after that."
"Did'ja really do that to him?" G'tham asked Seren.
"Oh yeah, we did," Seren nodded.
"And he's your friend?" G'tham emphasized.
"He wasn't at the time," Seren shook her head. "He was just another casualty who probably wasn't going to live. It was during a war."
"You people have wars on your planet?" G'tham seemed genuinely interested, if not repelled, by the idea.
"We used to," Seren agreed. "It's a long story."
Gliff looked at Seren again, this time with somewhat more calculation in his eyes, but he stopped bickering and complaining.
"Maybe I'll get to hear it someday," G'tham remarked as he led the group to a medium-sized room with tables, chairs and other things that screamed "meeting room" more than anything else.
"Make yourselves comfortable," he suggested, taking a seat.
The chairs were plush, and comfortable, hardly the austere furnishings one would expect in a prison. Seren did so, trying to get a read on the guide. He was a willing participant in this plot, though there was still something unusual about his demeanor that suggested ulterior motives. But he gave no clue what those motives may be.
"Are we talking to you, or to someone else?" Seren asked.
"Someone else," the Guide assured her. "She'll be along in a minute or two."
The person who came through the other door of the room surprised Seren.
She looked like a tawny version of Ash. Obviously a female Methman.
She smiled, which reassured Seren, but few of the others since their exposure to Methman expressions and dentition was more limited.
"I'm Torian," she introduced herself, speaking aloud. "I won't apologize for doing what we've done, but I do regret that it inconveniences those who aren't part of the problem. We just want to talk, and no one was answering the phone."
"I assume you did this because I'm here," Cinder mentioned.
"That's a big part of it, yes," Torian agreed, her yellow eyes fixing Cinder with a glare. "The Shade promised us certain things for siding with them, and we haven't gotten those things. We're not going to get them. We still need them. And since the Shade agreed to it, the Shade should be delivering. Instead, it's locking us up over petty nonsense when we complain about it."
"You have autonomy in what you do," Cinder pointed out.
"Yeah, that's like saying we can drink all the water we want, and there is none to drink," Torian pointed out.
"This sounds like an old argument," Seren observed.
"As much as it inconveniences you, butt out," Torian told her. "This is between us and the Shade, and you're just here because you were with her. We'll treat you well until rescue comes if you don't make a fuss."
"Actually, I was thinking you might need an arbitrator to help you mediate your issues," Seren replied. "I have some experience in settling conflicts between people."
Torian opened her mouth to argue, but Seren heard Ash say, 'She will save your ass if you get it in a ringer here. Listen to her.'
'I'm not your average negotiator,' Seren added.
Torian was shrewd enough to conceal the surprise she felt by having a human from another planet use mindspeech, and eyed Seren closely.
"Whose side are you on?" Torian wondered.
"Mine, and my people's," Seren replied. "The Shade and UGW aren't mine or my people's – at least not yet. We wanted to see the good, bad and average side of each before deciding which side to join."
"So, you've got no dog in this cat-fight," Torian nodded. She glanced at Cinder. "Are you willing to put up with that?"
Cinder knew her idea of negotiation was pulling a flamethrower out and firing until nothing moved or groaned. A diplomat, she wasn't. If it weren't for the exceptionally rare episodes when the Shade had to deal with the UGW, she'd be pretty much jobless.
Not that her last major adventures hadn't made her a wealthy person in the Shade Alliance – at least outwardly. She could pay the credits up front for the construction of a ship like her daughters flew many times over, with enough left over to finance a small, if formidable, fleet, and still keep her secure in a lifestyle few could even dream about. But that was predicated on the whims of the Council. Her daughter's expenses were a greater drain on those funds than was Cinder's lifestyle.
Still, letting Seren handle the negotiations would be the wildest of gambles. Cinder also knew that Seren was right – she was a skilled negotiator, and she didn't have any vested interests in the outcome. Everyone else would have some ulterior motive. If an impartial negotiator was to be found on short notice, Seren was the only one available.
"I'll agree to it if your side does," Cinder nodded at Torian.
Seren then suddenly heard a lot of mindspeech, so much so she had to work at it to focus on what was going on around her. The gist she got was that the other side was wary, but didn't want to anyone thinking them to be overly radical. They had legitimate grievances and complaints, and no one was listening to them. If this got the other side to listen, then all the better. This wasn't in any specific words, merely the feeling of the "conversation", since so many minds were speaking so quickly and almost all at once.
"We agree, too," Torian nodded.
"Have a seat," Seren suggested, trying to take some control of the situation.
"Are we just going to sit and talk?" Gliff demanded to know.
"No, Gliff," Seren replied. "We three are going to sit and talk. Eve
ryone else should be taken to wherever they've got planned to keep us so you can complain without interrupting us here."
"May I suggest I remain," Dr. Treah offered. "The UGW will want to understand the situation, and may be able to help."
"No fucking way," Torian smiled pleasantly, and showing her sharp teeth. "We love what the Scouts did for us, but the UGW can go suck on its own cock."
Seren had the feeling there was a huge amount of animosity between Torian (and maybe her people?) and the United Galactic Worlds. Why that was wasn't obvious.
"Can we stay?" Looie asked, gesturing toward her sister.
Torian looked at the twins speculatively, "You're Humonian and Methman, right?"
"Yes," Ash nodded.
"You've got a stake in it, but I don't think you know what that stake is," Torian noticed. "You might not like what you hear."
The Twins decided not to enlighten her as to their actual origins. Ash said, "We're Shade, yes, but we're not mercenary Shade. If you're not being treated right by the Shade's rules, then, yeah, we want to know about it and try to fix it."
"Profits…?" Looie mentioned under her breath.
"Yeah, you're Shade," Torian smirked. "You can stay. Your UGW friend, no. The rest will follow the tall, well muscled and well trained former mercenary now arriving at the back door."
"Good hearing," Koreen remarked as the well described individual appeared.
'Follow me,' he insisted to the group, having already been instructed in what to do with the prisoners.
"Ash, will you both please keep an eye out on them for me?" Seren asked.
"Sure," Ash nodded as she turned to follow the others, leaving Looie, Torian, Cinder and Seren behind.
"Scream if you have a problem," Seren said to Ash, who would try to stay within mindspeech distance of everyone.
"They won't be mistreated," Torian promised.
When the rest of the group left, Torian turned to Seren and remarked, "Most folks would be pretty rattled by what's happening now."
"Most folks around here are probably not used to personal violence in their lives, either," Seren agreed amiably, and without elaboration, then changed the subject.
"So, enough about us. What about you? You say the Shade hasn't lived up to its bargain. I may have to be brought up to speed on what that bargain was."
Cinder looked at Torian, Torian looked at Cinder. Cinder didn't know Torian personally, but everyone from the Botany Bay knew Cinder. Seren didn't really know either of them, so they were mostly on the same footing.
"When the Methmen and Humonians were freed by the Scouts eleven years ago, The Shade promised us a planet and resources, if we wanted them," Torian began.
"Okay, back up a second," Seren interjected. "What do you mean "freed"?"
"You don't know about the Botany Bay and the Methonian Disgrace?" Torian asked, looking from Cinder back at Seren.
"Her planet was colonized twelve thousand standard ago, or so," Cinder told Torian. "They've been out of touch ever since."
"So, who were the other aliens with you?" Torian asked.
"It's complicated," Seren stated, "and I'd be really thrilled to talk to you about the history of my planet, but for the moment, assume we know nothing about the state of galactic affairs, because we don't, and please help fill in the blanks so I can understand what's going on and try to find a resolution that everyone can live with all without resorting to further kidnappings."
"Yeah, you're a negotiator, alright," Torian nodded. "Alright, this is what happened.
"Eleven years ago, Cinder found out about the Methonian Disgrace. The first time Humans and Methonians met, they wiped out the Humans…."
"Oh, wait," Seren held up a hand, having gotten that back-story from the Twins whose memories extended back to that first encounter. "I've heard what happened there. I didn't know it was called the Methonian Disgrace. I've also heard about the Methmen and Humonians being part of the Shade, and that Cinder and the Twins had a lot to do with that. What I haven't heard are the terms by which the Methmen and Humonians joined the Shade."
"Okay, well, pardon my bluntness, but for someone who knows nothing, you seem to know a lot most people don't know," Torian remarked wryly.
"I pick things up here and there," Seren shrugged.
"Anyhow, after the big escape happened, and our habitat was towed to the UGC eleven eighty-two system, we were offered a choice of which side to be on," Torian explained. "The UGW would bring us to the UGW if we wanted to. But that's the side the Methonians are on and most of us hold pretty huge grudges against them, and the UGW for not finding out sooner."
"Hence why you wanted the UGW to go service itself," Seren replied.
"It might come as a shock to you, Torian, but Dr. Treah, the UGW representative you told off, was part of the crew of the Talon who rescued you folks from the Botany Bay," Cinder offered.
Torian regarded Cinder, then closed her eyes and sighed.
"Fuck me," she muttered angrily at herself. Then in a more accepting tone, she said, "Well, it wasn't the first time I sucked on my toes. Still, while we're in debt to the Scouts who helped us, we aren't to the UGW itself. So we'll be nice to Dr. Treah instead of just indifferent. Either way, this isn't something for the UGW. This is between us and the Shade Alliance."
Seren wasn't so sure about that, from what the Twins had told her, but remained silent.
"I'm good with that," Cinder agreed.
"Alright, so you got an agreement from the Shade," Seren brought back up the main points. "Can I see the contract?"
"It's full of legalese and shit," Torian remarked. "Are you able to read that kind of stuff? We heard you were something like a lost colony. Weird shit happens when colonies go off the grid like that."
"I think I can handle any terms no younger than fourteen thousand years," Seren told her. "If not, there's always the pad to ask."
"It probably won't work like that here," Torian informed her.
"It's autonomous, and programmed from the ship," Seren replied. "I wanted to make sure I understood what was being said, even if I'm told I have a good command of the language. Can you get a copy of the treaty? And after that, can you point out the parts that were violated?"
It took several minutes to get those items. Seren inquired about how the others were behaving, and was told that Gliff had been restrained, but was also told the others helped restrain him, and their guards had not suggested restraining Gliff.
"Yeah, Gliff has a habit of going out of his way to be obnoxious," Seren nodded, unsurprised. "The Electrians are kind of obstinate that way."
"You folks have a strange way of doing things," Torian noted.
"It comes from growing up under the daily threat of death," Seren replied off-handedly as they handed her another pad that had the full text of the UGW/Shade Alliance Treaty. "Electrians still don't quite get Borderlandian practicality."
"Sounds like an interesting tale," Torian remarked.
"A page turner," Seren agreed as she focused on the material. "Has this information been marked in the parts you say were violated?"
Torian glanced over to the Human who had brought the pad who nodded.
Seren caught the action out of the corner of her eye, and said, "Okay, good. Give me a few units to read it over."
"What's a unit?" Torian asked Cinder.
"About one point seven minutes," she replied. "Their planet isn't synced to galactic standard time yet. They're still using local time references."
"Ah," Torian nodded her understanding.
"You know I'm not on the council anymore," Cinder reminded her.
"Yeah, we heard," Torian nodded. "We may be constantly worked into the ground to pay for things, but we still get the news. Doesn't matter. We're not here to hurt anyone. We just want to raise a big enough stink to make the rest of the Shade know what's going on with us."
"I'm always between the UGW and Shade," Cinder told her. "I don't have any contacts outside of the C
ouncil anymore."
"I heard you were a bad-ass fixer back in the day," Torian mentioned.
Cinder didn't deny that she had been such once upon a time.
"Miss doing it?" Torian asked.
"Actually, yeah," Cinder acknowledged. "Being all diplomatic and formal really inhibits my style. I'd rather we sit down and just work it out. But nothing we do here now will settle anything. I can't speak for the council."
"It's a good thing you don't, too," Torian agreed. "None of us expect to come out of this alive, but when the Shade moves in force to take back the planet from us, the UGW monitors in-system will see the activity, and we'll be able to beam our message to them, who will then start a shit-storm about it."
"Wait, I thought you didn't want anything to do with the UGW," Cinder pointed out.
"She's looking to get you and the UGW fighting," Seren remarked, proving that even though she was focused on another task, she listened, too. "Or at least stir things up to make it look like you will. The UGW, by my read here, wasn't all that happy about what this Katherine Reynolds did for you guys – settling things the way it went down. There are a lot of open clauses in here that leave out something critical – time frames and deadlines and exact specifications…"
"We were told those would be negotiated," Torian recalled. "The treaty was supposed give us a place, and the Shade was supposed to provide it. We thought it might be one of the planets they have here, but that never panned out. Most of us are still on the Botany Bay. And we're being charged for our room and board."
"You have to pay for your own habitat?" Seren asked.
"No, we're self-sustaining, but we have to pay periodic orbital fees, which aren't insubstantial," Torian told her. "We don't trade with anyone, so we had to send down people to work to pay them off. The fees weren't mentioned in the treaty."
"I left the negotiations up to the professionals," Cinder shrugged. "I negotiate by blackmail, most of the time, but I'm not unfair about it. And I'm pretty specific about the latitude I get, too."
