Hanger Tower Four
The woman of Arliss Towers stared dispassionately at the tirade of emotions that paraded before her.
There was the swaggering, almost carelessly confident Rob Stellar:
"If I may... when greeting someone you don't know, it always good to introduce yourself before starting with the rules and all that." His speech, coupled with the posturing of leaving her behind as if he would show her the way to Mr. Arliss' office filled out the picture.
Then came the fear that comes with biting off more than one could chew and an attempt at PR rebuilding by using leading questions:
"Please understand, I did not mean anything with that. I'm a businessman, why would I need to smuggle anything?"
Why indeed?
Then came the attempt to assuage blame by offering weak reasoning as a manner of defense:
It's the hull of my ship... I forgot.... Why don't we let the ship fly free...
And her personal favorite:
If I had known it was a test...
Then your failure would have looked that much more foolish.
The man was at once humble, apologetic and now appealing to a higher power...
"Why don't we just talk to Mr. Alriss and find a suitable sollution to this problem."
What problem? her mind quipped even though she knew he was referring to his being thrown out on his backside.
It was not that the man crossed some life-endangering line and was now public enemy number one. In fact, the only real crime this Rob Stellar committed was trying to fluff Mr. Arliss with his body guards, with his droids, with his special design of a spaceship and had assumed that because he had money he was something.
Was that necessarily wrong?
The woman didn't think so but that was not what burned her from within. It was the glean in his eye that instantly labeled her. The man was probably used to all sorts of pretty floozies hanging on his every huckleberry word as if he was some grand orator or philosopher extraordinaire. And, naturally, because she was pretty she was immaterial.
The casual inference being that she was only good for bedding Mr. Arliss and not much more. Perhaps he thought her job could be done better by a droid?
As a manner of practice, Mr. Arliss refused to include droids or HRDs in any type of negotiations. It was like asking your toaster to greet a prospective client or potential business partner. No, Mr. Arliss would never disrespect a guest by sending a robot or alien to speak for him.
No, he would send his best. And he had.
Perhaps this Rob Stellar employed office sluts to answer his phones?
And he wanted my name?
He doesn't deserve my name!
A man who gets a little money and wants more. A man who thinks his money will get him everything he wants... and when his money fails, is lost like a ship being blown about by cosmic ion storms.
If it was up to her, she would have sent him and his non-metallic ship packing with a quick note to the Imperial Navy and a call to the Towers cancelling his room.
"Your ship stays." she finally said in that same dispassionate voice. Feeling that the man did deserve some sort of explanation, if nothing else, to settle his fear, "If your ship suddenly left the Hanger Tower so soon after docking, those corporate spies watching and the Imperial Navy monitoring shipwide traffic would become suspicious and investigate. An investigation takes time and time is money."
She turned and began to walk a different direction than where Mr. Stellar was headed. "Follow me."
They moved to another part of the hanger where several repulser trains were docked, their smooth aerodynamic lines gleaming against the outside sun.
Upon entry, the doors closed and the computer controlled train began to move out of the hanger towards the Towers proper.
Noting that his guards were behind their employer she began to speak in a louder voice so all could hear.
"Once this train passes the Towers Grounds, this craft will be scanned. In fact, you will undergo several scans before docking. At the entrance port, your weapons will be confiscated and will be returned upon your leaving, whever that will be. I am sure, if your guards are worth their weight in credits, will know some sort of martial art or hand to hand combat so you will not be totally helpless.
It would be best if you do not attempt to bring any hidden weapons inside. You will be gunned down without remorse for violating the trust and hospitality of Mr. or Ms. Arliss.
Your guards will not be permitted into the office of Mr. Arliss. They may wait in a predesignated waiting area until your meeting is over."
As the train continued through the metropolis that was Muunillist, the woman turned one final time, "I must ask, do you wish to meet Mr. Arliss immediately or do you wish to relax from your interstellar journey first?"
