(no subject)
"And what do I get in return, Officer Sun? I am assuming your earlier offer has been rescinded." Crais lingered close, too close and she felt her throat tighten imperceptibly.
Despite everything, she let the old name stand. Did it really matter if she was merely Aeryn now? Crais might prefer his fantasy. She hadn't come here to be mocked or to be sneered at. In truth, Aeryn didn't really know why she had come to Talyn, of all places. Surely she hadn't expected Crais to help? He may have in the past, but things were different now. She had cut herself off and she would have to face the consequences.
"There is no-one else who can get what I need." Hands clenched behind her back, following him with expressionless eyes. "I know you still have spies aboard Command Carriers and I know you can get it."
Crais exhaled, partially snorting at her, or laughing under his breath? She couldn't be sure.
"I will not beg for your help. Name your price."
Crais brought a gloved hand to her shoulder, she shrugged him off.
"Credits. How many?" It was not so urgent that she had to go to those measures.
"Only credits?" He raised an eyebrow, folding his hands on front of him. The red glow of Talyn was no longer comforting to her, it filled her with a chill and all she could taste was the past. "Ten thousand."
"Seven thousand." Aeryn haggled, too tired to argue properly, merely playing the part that was expected of her.
"Nine thousand."
"Eight and a half."
"Nine and I tell no-one you were here."
Aeryn glowered, hand hastening to her pistol, snug in it's holster. Talyn's guns swivelled to face her.
"It's a deal. But if you betray me Crais, I will kill you." If they were no longer friends and he needed payment to help her, she could be the cold-hearted Peacekeeper she once was.
"I'll return in a weeken or so. Have them and I'll bring your money."
She left him then, to the clinical beeping of Talyn. Nothing like Moya, not a kind leviathan, but a gunship, a murderer. So familiar and yet so distasteful to her. Yes, Aeryn Sun had changed, but some things would always be the same. And she still had a need to go, to do, no matter what became of her in the process.
Despite everything, she let the old name stand. Did it really matter if she was merely Aeryn now? Crais might prefer his fantasy. She hadn't come here to be mocked or to be sneered at. In truth, Aeryn didn't really know why she had come to Talyn, of all places. Surely she hadn't expected Crais to help? He may have in the past, but things were different now. She had cut herself off and she would have to face the consequences.
"There is no-one else who can get what I need." Hands clenched behind her back, following him with expressionless eyes. "I know you still have spies aboard Command Carriers and I know you can get it."
Crais exhaled, partially snorting at her, or laughing under his breath? She couldn't be sure.
"I will not beg for your help. Name your price."
Crais brought a gloved hand to her shoulder, she shrugged him off.
"Credits. How many?" It was not so urgent that she had to go to those measures.
"Only credits?" He raised an eyebrow, folding his hands on front of him. The red glow of Talyn was no longer comforting to her, it filled her with a chill and all she could taste was the past. "Ten thousand."
"Seven thousand." Aeryn haggled, too tired to argue properly, merely playing the part that was expected of her.
"Nine thousand."
"Eight and a half."
"Nine and I tell no-one you were here."
Aeryn glowered, hand hastening to her pistol, snug in it's holster. Talyn's guns swivelled to face her.
"It's a deal. But if you betray me Crais, I will kill you." If they were no longer friends and he needed payment to help her, she could be the cold-hearted Peacekeeper she once was.
"I'll return in a weeken or so. Have them and I'll bring your money."
She left him then, to the clinical beeping of Talyn. Nothing like Moya, not a kind leviathan, but a gunship, a murderer. So familiar and yet so distasteful to her. Yes, Aeryn Sun had changed, but some things would always be the same. And she still had a need to go, to do, no matter what became of her in the process.