I turn the pin over in my hand before speaking slowly. “You know that kind of statement could almost be seen a rather direct method of manipulation.”
Ramanner’s smile widens as if he’s enjoying me squirm. My fist clenches around the pin. If it was just a “simple pin,” it’d be crushed.
“What I want to know is why there are only four pins,” Mikito says softly, plucking a pair from Ramanner as she walks past us on her way to Harry.
When both of them put the pins on, I frown even more. “You trust him?”
“He could have had us thrown into jail already,” she says. “And I trust Catrin.”
While I mull the trust my friend puts in my ex-lover, she raises an eyebrow.
He shrugs, gesturing vaguely at the three musketeers. “We had not planned for them. I’d recommend they leave. Before… well. You know.”
I frown, considering his words. They were useful to get us in. Most alerts will be looking for two or three people, which is why a group of six helps with camouflage. But Ramanner has a point. We don’t need them here, and they’d slow us down when we run.
“Go,” I say to the three.
Of course, they look at Mikito, who speaks directly to the Vice Ambassador. “Will you see them out?”
Ramanner frowns, then looks at me then at the three. Eventually, he nods, gesturing to the Bodyguard. “They will be shown out.” Mikito opens her mouth to protest and is overridden by Ramanner immediately. “Do not push my largesse.”
She shuts her mouth, chastised. At the door, I look between the group as she steps toward the three, whispering to them. I hear words of thanks and further, coded orders before they step away.
“Good eve to you. And I hope that whatever you choose to do, the fallout will be minimal,” Ramanner says, his voice cold. “Or at least contained.”
I can only offer him a grin, still turning the pin over in my hand. He glances at it, then at the ones on both Mikito and Harry before gesturing, bringing the three members of Mikito’s fan club with him. They offer me respectful nods, then bows to Mikito before we finally turn to the door.
Humanity’s abode. The only place where we can be safe for the short period that we need before the rest of the plan is put into play. I smile, placing my hand on the plate and willing it open. The System recognizes me, recognizes my authority, and slides the door open. I cast one last glance back to where the Erethrans and the three musketeers leave.
A part of me wonders how much danger I’ve put them in. How likely retribution will be for him, for Catrin, for the Empire and the fan club. In the end, I dismiss my concern for them. There’s a point where care and concern for others becomes nothing more than a self-mutilating burden, when you have to accept that others are adults and able to accept the risks they take upon themselves.
There’s a point where you have to let go and let them fall. And hope that you’ve held them up long enough that they’ve grown their wings enough to fly.
***
I step into the quarters, idly noting the security systems Katherine has bought. As I walk forward, further notifications bloom with information about Earth’s embassy within the Council building.
The complex itself is relatively small, nothing bigger than a penthouse condo in size with floor-to-ceiling two-story tall windows straight ahead of us overlooking the voting chambers. There’s a small floating orb in front of the windows where we will be able to cast our vote. And to our right, a staircase leads to a second floor where the offices lie. The main floor is fully open for simple gatherings and parties.
You Have Entered the Embassy of the Galactic Planet—Earth. This is a subsidiary Diplomatic Zone of Earth.
All laws, regulations, and planet-wide effects are in place. Current domain effects include:
Planetary Dimension Locked (Disruptive Interference Tier I)
Sensor Net
Past Mistakes Teach Best (+0.04% XP Gain)
Dodgy Accounting (+4.2% Voting Mana Regeneration)
… (more)
I push outward and tap into the Sensor Net. Sense nothing, see nothing. The expected welcoming party is missing. No Kasva, which is somewhat of a surprise. I expected him to be here. To meet him at the end, to fight a drawn-out battle.
But maybe Ramanner was right. Only the insane would expect us to be here, to dare them in the lions’ den.
This Diplomatic Space currently includes:
2 Secure Meetings
3 Secure Office Spaces (1 Reinforced)
1 Refreshment & Dining Room with integrated Kitchen
Voting Sphere—Main & slaved voting sphere (in Reinforced Secure Office)
Tier II Security System
I barely pay attention to this notification since there’s another one right after it.
You are the Earth Proxy.
Would you like to modify the current Diplomatic Space?
I assent to the request and make a quick purchase—a small study with a library within. Another purchase of a series of books fills the library. Hardcover editions of a series of readings, all useful, all important. It’s a little gift for Katherine. Though she—Earth—is the one paying for it. I’d pay for it, but that’s not the way the System works.
We spread out, Mikito moving with Harry to one of the nearby lounging chairs to relax. Now that we’re in a safe spot, we need to do so. Since we’ll be doing something else, something a lot more dangerous soon enough.
Alone, I flex my will, calling forth Ali. He takes a few seconds to form, passing through the membrane between worlds, his body pulling together much like the Mana doppelgangers. I give him a second to finish up before I walk the rest of the way in.
Something, something pushes at the edges of my senses. Maybe it’s my Luck, maybe it’s my augmented Perception. Maybe it’s just because I’ve seen him before, saw how he camouflaged his body. I look up.
He’s invisible, almost entirely blended into the ceiling. As I stare at him, I see his Status information is once again blank. The damn ghost spider-creature offers nothing. But luckily for me, the Lady had happily provided that information, at least as she knew it. Ali combines it all together for me, giving me his rather interesting Status.
Wex (Anasi Martial Glutton Level 38/ Senior Administrator Level 17) (H/?)
HP: 2430/2430
MP: 4380/4380
Conditions: Webbed Intuition, Threads of the Nest, Stored Reserves, You Are What You Eat, Body of the Dead
“Senior Administrator Wex. I have to admit, I’m surprised you’re here,” I say, calling to him.
“Expecting someone else?”
“Yes. Your champion.” I watch as my friend scrambles, weapons coming out as she stares at the spot in the ceiling I look at. Harry doesn't notice Wex, but Mikito does. She has Hitoshi out, the Legacy weapon glowing scarlet as she points at the spider. “I actually prepared for him.”
“I had a bet. I believed that you would dare this. You're always presumptuous, foolhardy in your decisions. Choosing to attack rather than retreat. What is your plan? To stare down at the Ambassadors and Diplomats below and use your Skill? Kill them all?” Wex asks, shifting a little.
Harry gasps, spotting him at last. Now that Wex is moving, I realize its not just sitting there talking to me but holds another bundle in its hand, a spider-thread-wrapped bundle that it’d been snacking upon. Martial Glutton indeed.
“That would solve some of our problems, wouldn’t it?” I say, offering it a wide grin.
Harry shoots me a horrified look while Mikito begins the process of buffing herself.
“So you guessed right,” I say. “But why’s your buddy not here?”
“We are verifying multiple angles.” Wex clicks, making the bundle disappear. “Unlike you, we do not like to gamble upon a single winning outcome.”
I growl, even if he is somewhat correct in his assumptions. All too often, I’ve been forced to take one risk after the other without backup plans. Or few enough backup plans to matter. Calling forth a dragon, choosing the Heir I wanted, even the vote for the planetary governance.