TIME:
3 HOURS LATER
LOCATION:
AMBER STATION SECURITY HEADQUARTERS
RESIDENTIAL LEVEL 3
"Ma'am we're sorry for taking so long, but we had to make sure everything you said was truthful."
I stare up unimpressed at the guard. They had taken their sweet time going through everything I had. One guard even had the gall to demand I give them all of my encryption keys; I laughed him out of the room, saying they would only need the key I gave them to prove my status.
Eventually we arrive at this current moment with an enforcer of the law bowing his head in apology. It was annoying because they also took my earbud I could use to contact Mother from me. They also shoved me inside a room with a reinforced steel door to block any hypothetical escape attempts.
"Well now that my identity has been proven, may I have my things back, or will there be even more delays caused by my act of self-defense."
"Er yes ma'am but first–" I start glaring at him wishing I hadn't worn this eva suit for the umpteenth time. "We would like to ask you to visit the system governor Mathew Orenth. It is considered good manners to notify the leader of a station of your arrival since you yourself are a system governor, and your choice in side-occupation is rather..."
His voice quietly died down as the room suddenly grew colder for him. My glare had also turned into something of utter derision and fathomless scorn. Truthfully it had actually grown colder, I can only imagine Mother noticed my increasingly sour mood, and decided to help me out.
"My choice in occupation is rather what, sir? I hope you weren't about to claim I am some weird, eccentric, and, or improper person. On a side note, did you know defamation and harassment laws are rather loose for Military Suppliers alongside System Governors, let alone someone who is both? Speaking as someone who is in fact both, it's surprisingly easy to claim defamation and such. I don't really need things like documented damages, the mere fact a camera is in this room is enough. So, what of my choice in occupation?"
"Noth-nothing ma'am, but I would advise you to at least see the governor once while you're in this system."
I scoff, "Fine I will meet them, do you know of any way I should reach out to a suitable person."
"We‐we will handle that as apologies for our treatment of you, just tell us when is most suitable. We will contact you when an audience can be arranged."
I tut "Tsk, I'll play your game then. I just finished my first day of a week-long contract. After that, I’m unsure when I’ll leave."
He nods, looking relieved, like he expected me to threaten him again. He holds the door open for me and I just stare at him indignantly.
I just sigh and walk forwards as he leads me through the building from behind me, like I am some animal he needs to keep in sight at all times. Eventually we arrive at a reception desk, I am handed back all of my belongings back in an oddly well made disposable paper bag.
Well guess I'll ask Mom to check for any bugs that might be installed, it might be time to consider printing a new tablet...
TIME:
1 WEEK LATER
EVENING CYCLE ON AMBER STATION
LOCATION:
ZETA FRIT II'S SYSTEM GOVERNOR'S TOWER
I step out of the rear passenger seat of the car more than a little annoyed. I walked over to the door of the giant metal tower. It was reaching all the way to the ceiling of residential floor 3, despite it being taller than any other floor stretching 200 meters upwards.
'Lilith don't be so annoyed. Think of it this way at least you get to be the first person to wear an authentic Runethari styled dress in tens of millennia. The humans can only guess based off of what the Runethari looked like in the rare depictions that have.'
'Yeah you're right, it wouldn't be acceptable for me to give this style a bad name. Better yet, do you think we can sell these dresses to the ISCA?'
‘We'll see Lily, now focus, I can already see someone approaching you.'
I hum a response, before turning my eyes to an open door where an old well dressed man. He was dressed in—from what I recognize from human literature—as servant wear. I noticed him approaching and stared at him with disinterest.
"My—have we met before…?” He froze looking briefly in thought. “Yes we have, at the elevator to Commercial floor one I believe. Though I will admit you have a more distinct... aura from last we met. My apologies for what happened a week ago, we should have had you registered as a VIP and a security detail posted to watch over you."
I stare unamused. They did have a security detail posted after the incident, it ruined all the fun of a possible robbery and was extremely annoying. I force a smile while he comes to a stop a subtle distance from me.
"It-its fine, the rest of the week was almost too boring. I guess it’s fortunate for you that no other incidents could have occurred that would have soured the possibility of future dealings. Now where shall we go for this... 'audience.'”
He nodded before speaking, "Right this way, my lady."
I bite my cheek to prevent my annoyance from even registering in my mind. Today I was without my eva suit and was wearing a formal dress that was easy to move in, and didn't show much skin. If it was with another vampire, however, I might have worn actual authentic formal wear.
He proceeded to guide me through a tower that seemed to be trying to appear humble, but still came off as overly stuffy and luxurious. I was just thankful they decided to be original and not replicate the disaster that is Commercial floor 1.
We walked through multiple branching hallways and rode an elevator that took us halfway up the building. The halls were decorated with statues and small busts that looked subdued, but if you look closer were all hand crafted with someone clearly skilled for a short lived species. The walls seemed to have a rustic simple wall paper design but I could see the flickering on a realistic screen if I stared at them and focused.
Eventually we arrived at the audience chamber's rather small doors for what I was expecting. The old man knocked on the door with a little rhyme that might or might not have some hidden meaning.
Eventually a masculine voice that muffled just enough I couldn’t tell how the owner was feeling came from behind it, "I take it she's here, Veltison?"
"Yes, I have brought system governor for the newly discovered system Beta Charon miss Lilith Runethari."
The voice quickly responded, "I see, let her in and can you grab us something to drink and eat?"
"Yes, I’ll be back shortly."
The old man who I guess was a close steward or butler opened the door and I slowly walked in. Taking a moment to observe my surroundings I noticed this room, unlike the rest of the whole tower, felt extremely humble and rustic. There was even a fake fireplace that actually radiated heat, but was just another screen for obvious reasons.
I then looked towards a young man who was sitting at a dark ebony table that felt old even though I have never seen it before. The young man was clearly tired despite it only just becoming evening on the station. If I had to guess he was in his early to mid twenties. When I stepped closer walking towards a nearby sofa I saw his eyes dilate slightly, but other than that he showed no reaction to my presence.
He soon got up with a groan hunching slightly from what I assume was a case of bad sitting posture. I kept my aloof mask on as he walked closer. Thankfully Mom had the foresight to train me in diplomacy and etiquette in the last year before we left for the first time.
"Greetings, may our meetings be fine like blood, and as clear and mutualistic as the Desmissi and Sarilim."
I smile as I see him freeze from the unusual and extremely foreign phrase. In Runethari society, saying this to someone of equal status in the eyes of the public would see me being perceived as being rude and arrogant.
This was also an extremely popular phrase among people when talking to people they knew or suspected didn't know the meaning behind everything. This often was meant for humans or those from the fringes of Runethari Space. The Runethari may be more advanced than these savages but discrimination will always be a problem no matter when or where.
I remember learning it in etiquette and history from Mom. Vampire and its modern translation are actually what we decided to refer to ourselves later on. Only after leaving our home system, originally we called ourselves the Desmissi.
We also had a quasi-sapient species on Tharin called the Sarilim. They, like us, couldn't fly but unlike us they had simpler minds. At first they were viewed as beneath and less to us. However, when we first started drinking blood as a way to fight off our anemia, it was discovered that the Sarilim had wonderfully tasting blood. This led to them being spread across worlds as cattle and forcibly kept not quite sapient after we discovered that was the reason for the good taste. So the relationship could be considered mutualistic but it was unquestioningly us vampires that sat above them.
My mind quickly came back into focus as he suddenly opened his mouth to speak. "I don't think I've heard a greeting using blood in the way you did, or any reference to anything called Desmissi or Sarilim. Should I take this as an insult, I’m sorry I just am unsure what to think, truthfully."
"No, that wasn't an insult, just a greeting I learned back at my home. I thought it was rather unique and hearing the same greetings over and over again can get annoying and tedious."
"Then I will decide to trust you on that, and I couldn't agree more with what you say. Personally though I would also comment that familiar greetings are less likely to be seen in the wrong light.
"Now, I hope to keep this short and simple as I would imagine you wish to get back to being a freelancer. My name is Mathew Orenth, I currently govern this system as the heir to my family, if the Military permits that is. I have heard a little about you, though most is rumors. They tell about an exceedingly beautiful woman with the martial might and ability to flip a man over her shoulders and disarm him in a blink of an eye.
"This woman is also the owner of a mysterious Class V ship and says she's from the Lumen Ascendency. Personally I wish to have a good relationship going forwards. My parents would undoubtedly like someone nearby that has an actual mind for leadership unlike the Governor of Zeta Zepharii... I would offer some aid to help your system get started but I do not have the authority or connections for that, my parents might however. Would you be insulted if I sent them the news of your elevation and form a possible partnership. Of course I will need details on your system so I can be as truthful as possible."
I thought for a moment weighing my options. Eventually deciding that while I hate being seen and treated as a junior by humans, I don't exactly have any connections and spontaneous developments would be suspicious. Consulting with Mara we decide that it is worth a shot. It will save us from having to answer awkward questions of how we developed things so quickly.
"Yes I would be fine if you sent your parents the news, the system as it is, is extremely metal poor though I plan to start development on military weapons I manage to ‘find’ plans for, alongside thruster fuel. I will send the system details later. For now I say we discuss what partnership I can offer you despite my system's status as metal poor, not everything I can offer is made of metal.
"After all I don't think many can say they lay claim to an intact and cooperative Crimson Progenitor AI. With her aid I believe even if my system is metal poor it is only a matter of time before it is successful. My plan for my system is to make it into a military industrial powerhouse, all I need is a way to import resources that I can't source en masse for now. I'll let you in on a little secret, Mathew, I can produce class IV combat robots. I only need the resources to build the factory. If you can convince your family to help, I'll even provide a discount on purchasing them along with other weapons."
I see his eyes widen as I reveal that I have an AI that was once thought to be nonexistent and mere ramblings of drunk, full of shit Freelancers. His eyes quickly grow distant and thoughtful as I give out my deal. From what I can tell he will likely agree, all I will need is to provide proof and a sign of goodwill. Hopefully a quarter stake in the MID I will be sharing once Aria completes her treatment will be enough. Maybe this was a good use of an evening, you can never have enough unwitting allies.
The night is still young and I have plenty of time to make this nascent cooperation seem as delicious as a Sarilim.