The Deal
“Do you have it?” Aelius enquired.
“That would depend upon the connotation of ‘it’. If by that you refer to the funds required for this transaction, then yes.” Quinisbert replied, tugging at a tuft of his fluorescent green hair. Aelius rolled his eyes as the he spoke. Aelius hated how long these negotiations with Charians always took. Nothing was ever simple with them.
“And for yourselves, do you conduct the required commodities ready for transferral?” the Charian enquired.
Suddenly Aelius frowned, something on the Charians face was off, though he could not be certain what. When his instincts fired up like this the outcome was never good. Casually he put his hand in his pocket and thumbed the lighter nestled in there.
“Of course, a standard transport of pure Pandeus. Enough to keep this city's cybernetics switched on for another month” Aelius replied. He was still on edge and felt vulnerable surrounded as he was by derelict warehouses. He cast a quick glance at the darkened windows, trying to spot any lurking danger.
“Please provide empirical evidence of the quantity promised and furnish us with a sample so that we may verify its purity” Quinisbert stated, keeping his face carefully neutral. Aelius withdrew his hand from his pocket, keeping the lighter hidden, nestled within his palm.
“Impossible, I need to see some credits first.”
There was a flash of light from one of the windows, and a distant rumble of sound which made Aelius jump. He immediately thumbed the ignition on his lighter, and a matrix of flame sprang up around him. A second later there was a flash of light from one of the windows, and a distant rumble of sound. This time though he was ready for it, and it was Quinisbert who flinched.
The premonition had given him fair warning, and the flameshield sparked as it caught the bullet trying to penetrate its net. He reacted quickly, lifting the lighter to his mouth, and breathing in deeply. He then exhaled, breathing a torrent of fire at Quinisbert.
The flames licked at the Charian’s skin, and he shrieked in pain as his flesh began to rupture on the side of his face. As the fire cleared, the angry red boils remained along with the ruins of his left eye. He lifted a quivering hand up, and a small metal catch out of the back of it opened, emitting a small coil of yellow energy that fused itself to his injury. Where the energy touched, small nanites bathed within acted quickly and the burns faded, with new pink skin growing where the damage was worst.
A new eyelid appeared over the damaged organ, but the eye did not open. It was flat against his face, and it was unlikely that it could be saved. Evidently the medical implant held pain killers as Quinisbert’s hand no longer shook as he wiped away some white residue from his regenerated skin and he lowered it once more. The clasp shut as he did, his good eye met those of Aelius.
“I graduated from the Academy as a first class pyromancer; I tell you this only because I want you to realise just how dangerous I am,” Aelius hissed at the Charian. He was slightly perturbed by the Charian’s regenerative ability, so he ignited a small ball of fire in his palm as a warning.
"and the cautionary message conveyed I assure you, is mutual” Quinisburt replied, glancing down at the flames growing from the Gervian’s palm. “Be assured that the next projectile will not be of conventional means. We are well aware of the Gervian affinity with fire. Now, let us not be dishonest with one another and conclude our business here.”
(by Gareth Kay)
