'Did you get your combat knife, the sheath, and a sidearm? I know you're excited, but you should always keep safety as number one.' Mara lectured in my head about safety causing me to flinch, "Oops, sorry I'll run back to get them."
After retrieving the aforementioned items I ran back into the airlock. Putting on a rebreather—the levels of different fumes in an atmospherically controlled dock was slightly startling—the air lock cycled. As the final procedures were undertaken I connected the rebreather to an air scrubber and checked my outfit one last time.
I was currently wearing a left over Runethari female naval officers uniform, along a magazines carrier with some of the large DEKW [Directed Energy Kinetic Weapon] munition interceptors clipped on.
The Runethari officer uniform I was wearing consists of a 2 piece suit. With the suit having ballistic weave coated with graphene to protect from shrapnel and low caliber bullets, though it was extremely weak to electrical weapons like stun guns. The uniform's top was colored primarily black, except the interior which can be inverted—while you're at a ceremony or major event—was colored red. The inner shirt is pure white which makes it easier to know if you were hit by spalling but rather useless in the void of space. Apparently it was a holdover of the days the Runethari Empire was stuck on Tharin.
That is to sum it all up, the other features were—ignoring the chest rig, cloak, and combat boots—close to these human's business suits.
The airlock finished the last of its exhaustive list of procedures and opened. I stepped into the primary cargo bay and fast tracked it for the central cargo elevator. Mother immediately lowered the lift and I got a slow unveiling of the station's hangers.
They were disgusting to say the least. The hanger was coated in oil stains, chemical barrels holding who knows what, and trash heavy enough—or stashed away deep enough—not to be jettisoned when my ship entered the hanger. The whole area was not exactly sanitary as jagged objects lay forgotten in corners or served as tripping hazards.
The point of this is to say, the place was a massive and dangerous shithole. However it would be unfair to judge the entire station off of the void ship docking facility. Though I suspect I was sent here on purpose to limit the possible damages I could cause. That one fearful little vermin of a captain probably suggested it now that I think about it.
I stopped looking around in disgust and found the personnel elevator. I stepped inside it to take it down the hopefully short tunnel, but based on blueprints stolen by Mom, that was just wishful thinking.
"This elevator seems to be quite the ride, if you are an adrenaline junkie..." I complained to no one in particular except the dead body of a Dvemo rat, damn things still exist somehow.
"Correct, the chances of this transport freezing or falling suddenly is approximately 0.5%. I will have the ride move slower if you wish." Mother spooked me when I heard her voice coming from inside my ear and I jumped in surprise.
Thanks to a badly timed sputter of the elevator, the jump was made more literal than I would prefer. I rubbed my head wincing and groaning in mild pain after I hit the ceiling. I promptly asked Mother why she didn't tell me sooner.
"It wouldn't change anything." Was the only answer I got. I swear she can go from caring to extremely logical and pragmatic in a blink.
I managed to safely reach the commercial floor. When the inch thick elevator door grinded open I was met with a surprising sight. The place was clean(ish). It was a welcomed sight after what I initially was expecting.
I walked out of the elevator with a spring in my step. Once again, however, I was surprised to notice that the security here was rather relaxed. I walked up to the security station and waited for the sole guard to notice me.
Finally after tapping my foot annoyingly the guard looked up from his phone. He paled slightly at the sight of me and finally started talking.
"S-sorry ma'am I was just reading something... a report. How may I be of service," He stammered out and got up from his chair as if it was burning him.
"It's quite fine, I was just waiting for a minute. Now how are we going to do this security clearing?" In a calm albeit impatient voice I questioned the man.
He seemed to be surprised for a moment before he eventually spoke; only after I started to glare at this hairless monkey wasting my time. "U-um t-that wont be necessary you are clearly not some pirate or low scoring freelancer. Though I will let you know if you have a firearm that most stores will automatically lock them down. So don't try anything."
He seemed to have to force the last part of his statement out as if they physically pained him. Which they probably did since I could hear his heart racing. Poor thing... I hope I'm scaring him enough that he won't neglect his duties again.
"I understand and I won't. Say, do you know where the facility to convert and deposit Sovra to an account is?"
That caused the noticeable fear laced tension in the air to be replaced with just pure tension with now a backdrop of panic. I guess he thinks I'm a bigwig only here for a quick purchase or deal.
"Uh uh yes, the Interstellar Commerce Association can be found, 3 sections following the stern pathway and 2 sections right. It's the central most block if you couldn't tell."
The man managed to complete his words and his complexion was improving ever so slightly, so I took that as a sign I should go. If he suddenly decided to search me it would only inconvenience things more.
Clearing security I stepped into the first block of "Garnet station". The 250,000 cubic meter block with almost every one of those cubic meters either being used for pathways, a business, or some other function. I noticed the businesses in this block seemed to be more, how should I say it, dodgy.
"Big Donald's Pawn Shop"
"The Pleasurable Night"
"Rony's Food Prince"
"Phil's Firearms Emporium."
The last of which was offering a deal of weapon buy backs no questions asked, for a suspiciously equivalent price. From what I saw there were also a lot of people currently eating at the Rony's Food Prince. The prices seemed scarily low at 2Ʉ for a burger. I mentally marked the location as 'Eat there as a last resort and even then make peace with my regrets.'
I continued toward the end of the road and after clearing the next two blocks I headed towards the right. During that entire time I felt people staring at me, and not one of them got anywhere close to me.
It was kind of surprising how much people avoided me. I was walking down a busy bazaar with colorful stalls lining the sidewalks and very few tried to get my attention. Some especially nervous folk actively avoided me like I was physically repelling them, creating a bubble where I was bumped into by nobody.
I whispered into the air "Hey Mother can you hear me?" And got a few beeps in response.
"Okay, great, I was wondering why people are avoiding me so much? I know people are naturally wary but it shouldn't be to this extent."
"That would be due to both human society and, I suspect, an atrophied resistance to one to your traits. The Obsidian Reclaimer's society seems to be very structured around anything military. After a disaster on a planet called Cascadia the military seized power and rule with iron fists, and the rest can only go along with it. The corporations who help the military tend to be favored and a force basically above the law.
"While not what I would call massively corrupt or overly dystopian, the government only involves itself into the citizens' lives when it affects the overall military force and morale. The life for the average person isn't what I'd consider even okay but it isn't terrible. People can protest but a hint of rioting will have it stomped down on with fervor and wrath. Most fear Businessmen that even might have a slight connection to the military. The station has libraries worth of logs about etiquette for dealing with military adjacent corporations or dignitaries," Mother explained.
"Okay, I understand, but how does this relate? I am pretty delicate looking for a military contractor. Do I stand out that much?"
"Trust me, my lady, you stand out plenty, even while not wearing what humans think is an expensive business suit. It also helps when you are also wearing combat gear." I pout at Mothers answer to my question which draws some other glances. However this time it's of a different variety.
I decide to ignore the delicate blush coming from the most rough, scar covered, and muscular man I have ever seen—simulations included. The man would fit right in among the gene-freaks of the Federation's penal units near the end of the war.
After another few minutes of strutting through increasingly clean and flashy blocks, I arrive at the front of a massive dark basalt brick building. The single building marked as the 'Interstellar Commerce Association' was a little jarring in the sea of boring grey concrete, or more uptight pristine marble buildings. I walk through the main flawless glass revolving door and enter the main lobby.
The lobby is beautiful even to my superior tastes. I can't help but respect their design. I take a moment to appreciate the architecture, my jaw just barely doesn't drop from observing the gold chandelier and other quasi-Runethari flourishes which while not very expensive are still stunning. I break out of my revelry and internally shake my head.
"Why is there Runethari design work in a human building?"
"People seem to view the ruins of the Runethari Empire with love and appreciation. Most think that since it lead to most leaps in quality of life and medical advancements, as small as those fields are in technological and scientific advantages. The design influences of your ancestors seems to have spread to humans, as a way to symbolize that you are refined and helping others strive forwards to a better safer life. Though few hold to the last tenant."
"So the self destructive idiots have well and truly forgotten our war. Tsk at least it makes my life 10 times easier, no need for a unique and creative change of my last name. I can't wait to parade that in their faces." I start to grin imagining their clueless faces to the name that once was humanities bane and almost their doom.
I start walking towards an empty counter vividly imagining the glares on the back of my head; that was more than like actually happening, because the pair of security guards at the door felt threatened or something. When I arrive at the counter I see a very professional clerk whose smile doesn't even falter for an instant when I get close. When I reached the counter she immediately went into business mode.
"Hello, welcome to the Interstellar Commerce Association, are you here for making a multimillion credit purchase, or something else I can help you with?"
"Hello I was wondering if I could convert a pair of Sovra to make a purchase here? As well as opening an account, I don't have access to one." I casually inquire about a deal while also trying to get an account started. I start leaning on the dark grey basalt counter when I notice the first flash of surprise show on her face. Of course she quickly schools it and only stutters lightly when she continues.
"Y-yes that will be fine, may I ask you to wait here while I check with someone!" The girl seems a little excited as I barely get time to nod, before she rockets off to search for someone I can only guess at.
After waiting for slightly longer than what I expected from a major commercial association, I saw a small painfully average man with brown hair and an ear-to-ear smile approaching just short of a jog. Then I felt his guard's eyes join the lobbies guard's as they snapped to me. I sighed quite openly at their crystal clear suspicions.
"You know I won't bite you right?" While smiling and slightly showing my fangs. That made them now glare at me. Suddenly a voice whispers in the midst of them coming from the average looking man.
"Is that her Clare?"
"Yes sir, that's the girl with supposedly 2 Sovra, who wishes to make a deal, sir."
"Rich, do you detect any signals coming from her?"
"Besides an IFF chip coming from a holstered pistol that seems to somehow still be working, another IFF signal coming from her chest rig that marks her as something I think is written in Thari, and a cloak that is absorbing every electromagnetic sensor we have, and seems to be a sensor in and of itself? Yes there are also 2 Sovra emissions under all that danger..."
"Wait, she can use her weapon? What does the text read? Send it to me later, I know a small amount of Thari. So who is she? I want to know everything you can! This is a big deal, we can't afford to lose too much! If we're lucky maybe we can find something and hold it over her head. After all this is our first Sovra in years."
My smile grows obviously forced. 'Damn primitives can't even let others have secrets without attempting to blackmail them! That man will be a thrall when I get the chance. I will force him to learn while cleaning the waste pipes...'
'Lily you're growing overly angry for a situation like this, calm down, it's not a big deal. I doubt he'd openly talk about blackmail.' Mara spoke through my thoughts as a wave of calm spread over me.
'Mara, if you were trying to make a deal with a lesser being? Would you like them to try and attempt to dig into your entire past, just so they can find anything that can be used to easily exploit you? Also don't mess with my brain chemistry so obviously, it feels like the mental version of whiplash.'
'No, and understood my lady.'' I just merely sigh at her use of "My lady" and focus back on reality.
I hear someone fall down and look at them to see multiple people backing away from me, pale as freshly cleaned duvet cover. The 6 guards who have been glaring at me are now reaching for their weapons. And a receptionist is starting to reach under the counter while shaking like a leaf in the wind.
"I didn't take this establishment for one to openly try and snoop into the past of clients to blackmail or coerce them. Or worse yet be stupid enough to try and draw weapons. Should I take this as a sign the deal is over?" I voice my complaints in an even retort.
"The fuck you say you arrog-..."
"RICHARD! Do I need to ship you and your friends here off to your little sister for discipline? Or, will you put down your weapon before I have the message sent to the woman?" The small man whose voice once hinted at possibly—maybe—blackmailing me, also speaks in a quiet voice laced with what I imagine is a quite serious threat.
The man cuts through his guards and approaches me with a little sweat on his brow and a heart that is racing at a moderately-high speed. "I am sorry madam I did not know you were listening, please forgive the actions of my lead guard, and my poor choice of words. I was merely hoping to have something you were interested in."
He is twitchy as a gecko being electrocuted. (The Tharin animal equivalent to a mouse/rat. The similar name to the Dvemo animal is thanks to how it was translated and understood by the humans' languages. They also act in similar niches and are treated as vermin just like their mammalian equivalents.)
"May I know the name of the lady who brings in such a large amount of Sovra?"
I stare for a good few seconds enjoying it as he starts shifting his weight from foot to foot in a nervous tick. "Lilith, Lilith Runethari, I just arrived in this "settlement" from an unknown system. I hail from Tau Astralis. However I will not say more as a Woman has to have her secrets." I let slip what I can consider a smirk.
I see his fidgeting stop and he stares off into space for a second. It seems his heart rate spiking for a moment. I hope he doesn't think I will date him, not into any relationships at all—especially with inferiors. Also he clearly smells of another ... 'woman.'
"Uh yes madam I 100% understand. Shall we start negotiations somewhere more... private?" I feel the corner of my mouth raise in amusement at his obvious instant regret and fear at me possibly taking his statement wrong.
"Yes you can keep 2 of your guards if you want, after all it would hurt for unsavory rumors to spread right?" I internally smirked as his heart started racing again. He looked around to see if anyone heard me.
Eventually he got his wits together and led me to a private negotiation room. The room was similar to the lobby with an ebony wood coffee table, bright red couches. I sit down and notice it's amazingly comfortable. The seats I'm used to are metal, or foam in the process of breaking down.
He must have noticed as he raised his eyebrows and immediately started to hashing a deal. "If you like the couch I can send the producer your information to make it easier to buy some furniture?"
"Yes, do that, and before we negotiate I would like to inquire about something. Mr...?"
"Oh apologies miss Runethari, my name is Temlic Garcia, I serve as the supervisor for the Garnet Station branch of the ISCA. If you couldn't tell I hail from the Garcia family, one of the first to successfully leave Earth millennia ago." His chest slightly puffs out in a nauseating show of obvious pride.
'Mara do you know about a planet named Earth it seems extremely familiar? I think you said something about it a while ago.' I ask my personal data bank of memories I can't quite trace at the moment due to how many there are.
'Yes my lady, we did, Earth is a planet that was once named Dvemosas dom or Twin of home. It orbits a star called Sol and is the third planet in its orbit. It is a varied continental world with multiple extremely different climates. It is also a former major nature world that was kept pristine due to its extreme resemblance to the human homeworld. It was suspected though never investigated that the planet housed an extremely conservative human researcher population, I guess it was true, though how they survived the fall of both species I’m sure you’ve already deduced Lilith. Anyways getting back on track, the nature part seems to have changed, currently it is incorrectly recognized as the human homeworld. It is also still recovering from climate collapse and intense warfare that occurred over 2900 years ago and still can be felt in areas. Despite those problems it is an extremely developed world and system. Earth is also the capital of another faction named ‘The United Nations of Earth.' I internally scoff at the many difficult problems they doubtlessly faced believing a world was their home when it was truly not. I thank Mara for the information and get back to the negotiations.
"Ah thank you, I did not know that. Now Mr. Garcia, I wish to hire a competent negotiator to make my case to the government? I came across a new unknown system and wish for an excellent Lawyer to help. Do you know how much that will run me?" I send him an extra bone and hope he will bite.
"Uh, we can maybe lend one for 1.5 million credits. If that sounds good we can subtract it from the Sovra converted?" I raise my eyebrow and get a reply from mother in my ear bud.
"This would be heavily underpriced. A professional negotiator would usually go for around 4 million credits. I would suggest accepting this and ask if there will be any possible strings."
I make a display sign saying "That works but is there anything I have to worry about."
He instantly shook his head, "No, treat this as a gift to what I suspect is someone who will be very successful in the future. Truthfully, I only want what goodwill you can spare me since you seem to know how good a deal this is and we will be neighbors."
I nod my head and flash a pleasant smile. If this idiot can save me money, maybe I'll help him sometime. He does feel like he will be a useful pawn on the board. And I knew he wasn't lying at all, he truly believed I'd be successful.
Mother has for the past few years taught me how to spot lies based off of multiple stimuli. That has made negotiations— among other things—easier than flying the Astro Dawn. The man makes no visible ticks but the body is if anything, honest.
Even the Human Federation's most gifted biological experiments could rarely successfully lie to a professionally trained vampire, we were basically natural lie detectors thanks to our immense sensory abilities. So this merchant leader in a backwater station was as easy to read as an eBook.
"Now the rest I want in credits I would Like to leave 100,000Ʉ for me to spend outside this deal. For the negotiator just tell him I want mining and leadership rights for the system above all else. I don't care if I get nothing payment wise, do you think that's possible?" I raise an eyebrow towards the relieved man and he quickly nods his head.
After about a further hour of reporting on features I saw in the system alongside its star’s properties I got up. He raises his thin eyebrows, probably wondering if those are the only additions I want for the deal.
I decided to send him my list and ask him to add steel, and a variety of useful elements to the list. He eventually agreed to the sale of beryllium wondering why I needed so much for an uninhabited system. Thankfully he eventually decided to not push it as I hinted at the complete lack of it in the system.
"Then we are finished, would you like the Sovra now or should I do it in a more public place?" The man stops and takes a thoughtful expression, slightly different from what he was just a moment ago.
"Lets do it in privacy, wouldn't want to risk your safety, right miss Runethari?" I smile while showing my 2 fangs by accident, "Yes, that would be perfect."