OVER THE SILVER SKY TO THE WORLD OF NEVER : Part 169 - The Ambassador's Residence.

in #story5 years ago (edited)

Crisis averted. The ethnic orphans are back in their cages now. At least the survivors are. Production of designer label clothing will resume at maximum capacity very shortly. I just need to buy a few more child slave laborers, to replace the ones still dangling from the electric fencing. They're currently very cheap and will remain so I hope. Unless Angelina Jolie, Madonna and the rest of Hollywood go on another spending spree, buying up all the stock. Speaking of which I may need some spares. I've got orders from Gucci, Armani, Chanel, Versace, Yves Saint Laurent and a dozen more, I've got to fill. Nike are at the back of the queue I'm afraid. I don't do anything for Prada or Calvin Klein anymore though. They ask too many questions. Like "Can you make these for even less?" for example. I've got to maintain my margins. There's only so many unique styles these kids can churn out hundreds of identical copies of every day. They have to rest some time, unfortunately. You can only beat them so hard. Otherwise my arm starts to hurt. I always like to look on the bright side though. The attack dogs got some exercise and are now well fed. I had a bit of fun picking off the ones that managed to survive the 50,000 volts coursing through their little emaciated bodies. I fucking love entirely unregulated global capitalism don't you? I would like to thank all those consumers who support my lavish lifestyle by purchasing disposable products in the cause of fashion. Thank you one and all for not caring where anything comes from or questioning the ethics of how it was made so cheaply. God bless you all.


(The copyright to this image is the property of Hello magazine.)

Hermes' little metallic warriors had been administered. Within a couple of minutes Norbert had stabilized to the point where the water he was immersed in was not longer steaming. The nerd was even able to make some weak movements. The crisis had been resolved. Thanks in no small part to him, Jake liked to think. Thinking this was okay. Saying it out loud had to be avoided. Now that he'd rendered the slug from Scarlet's pistol into tiny robots, Hermes could devote his entire attention to healing the wound in Jake's leg. His clothes had already repaired themselves. Now that his attention had been drawn to it, he couldn't help think this was the wrong way around. The priority should have been the wearer not the outfit.

Training was cancelled for the day. To be fair, it already had been. He was the lowest priority on the list of people of people to be informed. Poppy was the first, but he was second. There had been developments. They now had a design for a system which would enable the Crystal Dragon to use the plant power source. It was very efficient, but not that powerful. It didn't have to be for the technology it was used with. The slow feed of energy was sufficient for all the systems the People used. For vehicles they'd used power cells which could be charged over days and these crystal things that had been used for powered flight. Most of the aircraft having ranges of less than 1000 kilometers.

In order for the system to work they needed a condenser. A Stratified Field Impelling Condenser to be precise. It was like a laser, but for the quantum energy the plants produced. According to Morag anyway. Who was he to argue? The upshot was that there were none available in Palamar. It would take months to build one. They needed at least a dozen. Then they'd have to build a production facility first. Further delay was being caused by the shortage of artificers. At least a hundred of whom were awaiting the growth of new bodies to inhabit. Palamar had other more important concerns. While they were grateful for the things the privateers had done, that gratitude didn't extend to the point of repurposing a lot of their infrastructure to produce things they wouldn't need after the fleet departed. You could argue that was reasonable.

Luckily there was another city state up the coast. Called Galakhand. Only a weeks sailing away. Unfortunately, they were currently at war. What passed for war out here anyway. Which boiled down to frequent clashes between armed groups. Neither side having the men or resources to invade the other. Their opponents were the Laxala a small independent kingdom that had quite a lot of territory, but not a lot of population. They were still maintaining trading links. Being technically at war should never interfere with business. The President of Galakhand being married to the daughter of the king of Laxala ensured things didn't get too out of hand. The king of Laxala also had major property and business holdings in Galakhand. He was one of their biggest employers. He owned the manufacturer of the Stratified Field Impelling Condenser.

That was where the problem was. They couldn't be certain it was a problem. It might be though. The Laxalan's owned the patents and the intellectual rights to the devices and the Galakhandian's were the only ones who could build them. They were very expensive. The amount 12 of them would bring in might tip the balance of power. There were mercenary bands out there who would be only too happy to invade somewhere on behalf of an employer. The privateers had taken part in a few invasions. They'd fought off even more. It could either be extremely profitable or vital to maintaining profits. It was complicated. A quite sizable agrarian culture facing off against a smaller but equally populous city. It was very important that things did not get out of hand. That was why Scarlet was lecturing Jake as their group moved through the city streets. Under no circumstances was he to go anywhere or do anything while they were docked in Galakhand.

Talking to anyone there was prohibited. As far as he was concerned everything was prohibited. They did not need another adventure right now. Jake concurred. The last thing he wanted was to have adventures. His preference was to remain in the audience while he watched others doing dangerous things. The situation was complicated, as previously stated. There might be need of Jake's unique abilities. Especially where automated defense systems and security were concerned. His bullet magnetism could come in handy. Therefore Scarlet had decided he needed an introduction to the Galakhandian, Laxalian paradigm. They were about to visit with Gumbo Lollifart a native of Galakhand. Head of the thieves guild in Palamar and also the Galakhandian ambassador. Jake's snigger at the name earned him a firm rebuke. This was the type of behavior he must not fall prey to. Gumbo Lollifart was not the most affable of men. He was the ambassador though. They'd need his help. Antagonizing him would be a bad thing.

Jake questioned the wisdom of bringing him along, if this was that vital.He received short shrift from Scarlet. No explanation though. The rationale behind him coming with them was pretty sketchy. Did she have a hidden agenda? Yes of course she did. Scarlet always had a hidden agenda. Particularly where he was concerned. This might not be part of it though. It could all be completely unrelated. Not innocent, merely unrelated. He noticed they were heading into a less salubrious area. The architecture had changed all of a sudden. Narrower streets. Shabbier buildings with rusty steel doors on them. This was the kind of place you came to if you wanted to get robbed. The higher end of such places for sure. They probably wouldn't kill you here.

"Is it just me or does this place have a being held at gun point ambiance?"
"What makes you say that?" Scarlet asked nonchalantly.
"I don't know. Perhaps it has something to do with all these other pedestrians hurrying past us with their heads down and their faces covered."
"This is the Galakhandian Quarter. As such it's part of the city of Galakhand. The constabulary has no jurisdiction here, it's foreign territory. This is your introduction to Galakhandian culture. Most of their city is like this. They aren't the most welcoming of folk. Trust is a very scarce commodity to them. They do not like anyone."
"Oh. So what are the Laxalian's like?"
"Even worse. They tend to fire their warning shots at your head. Luckily these folks are far more cosmopolitan and a lot less xenophobic. They've mixed with others and have come to tolerate them. They don't tolerate them entering the Galakhandian Quarter though."
Slowly but surely the ghost of an idea took shape.
"There's going to be shooting isn't there?"
"Not necessarily. They might try to stab us or blow us up. That's less likely though. You and I will be going into the embassy. Pengelly, Fetu, Sade and Morag will be keeping an escape open and ensuring we can make a clean get away."
"If things go wrong you mean."
"No. Whether this goes good or bad, we will need to get out of here fast. It's all a part of their culture. If they come at you with a smile and open arms, they want to kill you. Shooting at people is their way of saying hello and goodbye. It's like shaking hands really."
That explained why he was here.
"So I'm not allowed to kill anybody then."
"Kill away. It's a right of passage where these people are concerned. If you haven't been killed at least twice before you hit twenty they want nothing to do with you. There are hundreds of them who've spent more time dead than alive. That's just in this area. Now do you get the picture Sparky? Why I told you to do nothing when we get to our destination. The dock is neutral territory. Everywhere else its permanent hunting season."

That heightened his senses. Hermes was put on standby. Not that it made much difference. His core programming was to protect Jake by any means necessary. There were several thousand subroutines dedicated to this. Most of them completely automatic. He eased his weapons in their various holsters and sheathes. Only then noticing the others had already drawn their weapons. He started pulling his super pistol out. Scarlet stopped him. She hadn't drawn any of her weapons yet. He deferred to her. The woman wasn't stupid. Although she'd have disagreed with that assessment regarding himself. It must constantly rub at her why she ever bothered with him.

For an embassy and diplomatic residence it wasn't easily accessible. Turned out those original narrow streets were actually broad thoroughfares. Now they were heading into a maze of small alleys barely two people wide. Frequent corners and intersections. Hermes was busy mapping those as they went. The others seemed to know their way. It didn't look like getting away would involve any vehicles. No car chases here. Just running like fuck. Through hostile territory all the way. They'd arrived. At least Jake assumed so. It was a dead end. A really small courtyard in front of a building which would have been flattered being called dilapidated. In poor repair didn't cover it either. Two steps in front of them was a tall steel fence. Topped by razor sharp spikes and razor wire. Two gun turrets covered the crowded space the six of them stood in. They didn't even have to aim. Security cameras and scanners at every point of the compass. An intercom buzzed into life. Crackling with static. Given the advanced technology used in this city that meant there was a lot of electrical interference or shoddy workmanship.

"State your business." A cold hostile voice of indeterminate gender growled.
"I am the captain of The Scarlet Harlot. I am requesting an audience with the ambassador." She paused casting a warning glance at Jake. He looked at the ground. "Gumbo Lollifart."
"Why would you think he'd be willing to speak with you foreigner?"
"Oh come on Gumbo." She broke her deferential character. "We're heading off to Galakhand in a few days. I need to know who to contact there to negotiate a considerable purchase. Usual terms."
"What if I'm not interested?" He retorted sullenly. "I got more than enough money."
"No you haven't. Everything left after tax you piss away on being really bad at cards."
"I'm doing alright. Now bugger off."
"We're planning on spending over a million Bar. Your ten percent of that will be a lot of money."
There was silence from the other end for several seconds.
"Bullshit. Nobody spends that kind of money. Not in Galakhand they don't. You could buy half the city for that kind of money."
"We require 12 Stratified Field Impelling Condenser's. For what purpose is none of your business. Now it would help if you gave me a contact who could help me. It would also speed things up if you could get word to them that we'll be heading their way in three days time. No disrespect intended, but we want to be in and out of that shithole as quickly as possible."
"Alright then. You come in alone though. The rest of your party must remain outside."
The gate in the fence squealed open. Jake found himself being dragged along by Scarlet. She shushed him as he was about to protest. The two of them walked up to the door. An unusual door. In that it was cylindrical. It opened. Barely enough room inside for two. Not that you could object to being in close proximity to a lady like Scarlet. Unless she was holding a knife. Even then it would be acceptable. The cylinder door closed behind and opened in front of them. They stepped through. Gumbo Lollifart, plus two, gun in hand and grin on face, called out to his men to open fire. Jake hardly had time to consider how rude that was before his senses went into turbo mode he pulled out two pistols taking out the men on the landings above with simultaneous shots. Then the two in the balcony above and behind Gumbo. By that time Scarlet had killed both of the gunmen standing either side of Gumbo who was only just realizing he had brains all over him. Jake dropped the pistol in his right hand and pulled out his super weapon. Swinging it towards Lollifart. Scarlet calling out "no" in slow motion. he loosed off two shots and then two more.

The four remaining armed personnel were taken care of. Through the walls of the building they were behind. He came back to real time. Which paradoxically always felt more like speeding up. Blood dripped from Gumbo's ear. Scarlet put her rifle away.

"Right Gumbo. That's got the preliminaries out of the way. Now let's get down to business."
"I told you to come in alone." The nerve of the man accusing them of cheating.
"I am alone. Check your systems. He isn't here. He must be a figment of your imagination. One that will kill you and anyone else who threatens to do us violence."
"I've still got a ten men outside."
"Correction. You had a ten men outside." He checked his security system. Banged it a bit. That didn't bring them back. "Now, about our visa's."

Coin Marketplace

STEEM 0.36
TRX 0.12
JST 0.040
BTC 70846.59
ETH 3567.69
USDT 1.00
SBD 4.79