Hurdop Cargo Vessel Clanmother's Curry

Jojorn sat in her rebuilt command chair, looking at the contract in front of her, and then glancing to Yorkime. "Is this possible?"

Her XO nodded. "Their clan grows. They require two good Hurdop ships, and they believe that they can make one whole ship from the bones of three ships. If it's successful, they may call upon our services again."

"Can we perhaps take all three of the ships they've selected?"

Saifex looked up from the console she was currently repairing. "We'd need a tow rig upgrade and an empty hold. We'd also need to have at least one of the ships with a functional power-plant, and then run a lead to the Curry for the power." She paused. "Chief Tucker allowed me access to some of his manuals. They were illuminating and profane."

Jojorn nodded. "Submit our bid, and pad it slightly. We're taking three ships at once, which deserves some measure of bonus."

Yorkime started working the tablet gently to submit the necessary work. He finally pause and looked up. "Captain...is it possible that you are reaching for the high fruit?"

There was a sharp look. "Explain."

Yorkime spread his hands and looked up apologetically. "You have been restless since Lady Eterina hosted Freelady Kiole."

Jojorn swallowed the immediate venom that rose, realizing that he wanted her to put word to thoughts. "Freelord Gryzzk confuses me. He says he thinks of me as a daughter, Gro'zel simply accepted it. But he didn't claim any sort of clan association."

"Perhaps it's how Vilantians think of things."

Jojorn shook her head. "It is unlike what I know of them." She paused. "If...what if he chooses a bad husband for me in three years when I'm Aged?"

Yorkime had a slight smile. "I don't think Freelady Kiole would allow such a thing to pass. Also, kind of a problem for three years from now. When have you ever looked so far down the trail?"

There was a slight fluff of fur. "I think, perhaps it began when we received a curry instead of a dark room to reflect on our failure."

"Well, I may have something that might interest you, Captain?"

"Oh?

"Yes - I found an area on the widegrid that has the stories of Freelord Gryzzk, and doesn't ask how old you are."

___________

Terra Prime, Paris

Gryzzk hadn't had the opportunity to see any Terran cities up close before, and now that he was seeing one courtesy of the still flame-painted Indigo Rose he wasn't entirely sure he could believe what he was seeing. The glow spread wide and tall, with a singular dark area to the north of the city. Reilly noticed the quizzical look and filled Gryzzk in.

"That's The Crater. Where the Geneoirs dropped a rock on Paris way back when. After the War, everyone rebuilt the cities but left the spot where the meteors hit. Kind of final middle finger to the Collective, like we're friendly now and we're gonna rebuild but we're not forgetting the bullshit." Reilly paused. "You guys never did anything like that, did you?"

Gryzzk shook his head. "The records of the Collective Testing are known only to the most respected Greatlords of the Ministry of Science."

"And they ain't talking. Go figure. Anyway, got something for y'all." Reilly dug into her purse and pulled out four sets of nose filters that she passed out calmly. "Functions like these are a grenade of perfume and cologne. Shove these in your nostrils, keep the worst of it out. You'll probably be wishing for the sweet sweet scent of tear gas before the night's out though."

As the senior pilot, Hoban claimed the right to deliver them to their destination, a palace to the southwest of Paris proper. His flight path took them from the spaceport in the northeast to cut across the city proper, as the external speakers were set to a high volume and began playing a recording that started with Gryzzk giving a single command - "Sing" which was immediately followed by O'Brien and the rest of the company singing loud and proud. Someone had added what sounded to Gryzzk like a war-drum to punctuate the singing as more voices joined, creating a Vilantian/Terran duet that serenaded everyone as they flew through the sky.

As they passed near some large purposeless-at-first-glance metal structure, Hoban lit off atmospheric countermeasures that turned the early evening into multi-colored midday for a brief moment, continuing on heedlessly to their destination where a personal-sized shuttlepad awaited their arrival.

"Captain Hoban, was that entirely necessary?" Gryzzk wasn't entirely certain that such a display would be proper. Or good advertising.

Hoban grinned as their destination resolved itself more clearly - an absolutely unnecessarily large palace surrounded by fields and several spotlights illuminating the facade. "Of course - I got clearance from ground control. Plus, there's a difference between a landing and an arrival."

"The difference being?"

"Presentation." Hoban lowered the ramp as the song faded, allowing Delia and Charles to take the lead in greeting the gathered press and guests. One of the first was a lanky gentleman with a dark face and a jumpsuit that seemed to be made entirely of diamonds, with a similar headset and a large staff. A semicircle of microtubes and wound filaments flashed a brilliantly colored sequence while sparks made an arcing display from the ends. His voice was high-pitched and seemed designed to assault eardrums, which paired well with the little information Gryzzk could discern from his scent. To complete the scene, Gryzzk noted four drones similarly decorated and hovering to grab holos and stills of each arrival.

"...And now for those of you who like your guests fashionably late to this magical evening at the palace of Versailles it is the privilege of Diamond Shaft -" the audio cut and from somewhere a small chorus of women shouted "Shaft!"

After the quick underlay, Diamond continued easily. "-to announce the arrival of Delia and Charles Reilly-Tie-leeeeee; here to peruse and choose while others schmooze, arriving with their ever-dangerous and ever-unsatisfied-since-she-was-kicked-out-of-my-bed daughter, I-got-no-Chastityyyyy! And we see that Chastity's trying to make bag lady chic fashionable again with a bold cry for help, along with their guests -" the man paused as he finally saw Gryzzk, Kiole, and Gro'zel.

Gryzzk covered his daughter's ears just in time as a glass-powdering shriek emerged from the man's mouth. "PUPPPPPPIIIIIIIEEEEEEESSSSS!" Finally Diamond looked up and up to Yomios who seemed a bit uncomfortable at the scene before her as Diamond took a breath for a second high-pitched shriek, this time "KIIIIIITTTTEEEEEEEHHHHHHH!"

Delia seemed almost amused at the display before she casually reached over to stroke the side of Diamond's face as she whispered into his headset microphone directly, her voice a cool inviting breeze. "Thank you for that introduction, Diamond - I'm sure they have words for you. My daughter especially." With that non-threatening threat given life, she and Charles walked arm-in-arm from the shuttlepad to a small moving walkway that carried them past the excessive crowd of people who seemed to be there simply to see and take holos and stills of the couple.

Diamond seemed almost predatory for a moment as his eyes met Reilly's. The staff flicked in a practiced motion toward Reilly's face, with a light indicating that the end was also a microphone. "So! What's your latest taste in an attempt to trim your waist, Chas?!"

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Reilly seemed...different somehow - as if she was putting on a costume in preparation for her reply - from Gryzzk's perspective it was similar to her posture from their mission on Moncilat. She fluttered her eyes at him as she replied. "I like singing now. I'm sure your fan wouldn't mind hearing something new?"

"Would we like to hear another generational lack-of-talent, all day every day!"

Reilly's counter was to grasp the top of the staff where the audio pickup was and tug gently, using her free arm to sensually let her fingers drift along Diamond's forearm as she sang in a deep contralto. "Dennis...such a menace, a night with him is like a penance...he claims a legion of fans at his whim and command, but all he takes to bed are his haaaaannds." Reilly held the last note for a long moment before handing the staff back. "It's a work in progress - I'll let you know if I come up with something more later Dennis." Reilly stretched and lifted her face to give Diamond a passionless kiss on his jaw before she swayed and then sauntered down the moving walkway to join her parents for the press review. It was very odd seeing Reilly slide into a role that seemed like she was a professional marionette doll, keeping a practiced smile and shaking hands with people as if they were old friends and not just people she'd barely met.

The problem that Reilly's exit created was that the non-Terrans were left with an exuberant personality trying to focus on his job and not the rather public verbal back-and-forth that had just occurred. Gryzzk hadn't exactly swam in the same deep waters that Reilly had, but he'd navigated a few Vilantian noble affairs. Sort of. Although the challenge of the next few minutes was going to be interesting.

When the staff was swiveled to his face, Gryzzk was mostly prepared for the patter-question. Diamond's scent was hard to discern through the filters and perfume, and fortunately the question was something of a soft pass.

"So Major Gryzzk with the major ladies, what do you think of Paris, my-maaannn?"

Gryzzk put on his most genial Lead Servant expression. "Lovely. Very tall buildings." He gestured toward the palace. "This would do quite nicely for our Throne, were they of a mind to visit."

This seemed to put the broadcaster at ease as his energy returned. "Well of course it's lovely, I'm right outside it! And now we see the exquisite lady on your arm, any words for the billions of people listening right-here-right now?"

Kiole seemed almost frozen for the moment until Gro'zel tugged at Kiole's uniform and then lifted her arms in the universal gesture for uppies. As Kiole settled Gro'zel in, Gro'zel gave Diamond her most innocent "I'm going to get a jelly cookie in the next minute" expression before leaning her head cutely on Kiole's shoulder.

"My friends on the ship said there were going to be horses on Terra. Are there horses here?"

Diamond was utterly wrapped around Gro'zel's pinky, and it showed. "Oh not here, you might want want to try Mongolia - horses and tents and all the things that horse people love. Now then..." Diamond turned his attention to Yomios, moving in a graceful swirl as the pyrotechnics on his back sparked anew. "...this Aphrodite in cerulean must have something to say of this wonder behind us and the wonder before her lovely eyes?!"

Yomios bent down, keeping her voice soft. "Far too many sharp angles and corners, there is no flow to the land it sits on. It seems a statement of arrogance, an architectural exhibitionist laying their insecurity bare for a world to see."

"Oh, daring words! I'd love to hear more of them..." Diamond pitched his voice to a measured baritone, "later. In the not-secret chambers." He then brightened, his voice slinging up the register to its normal-for-him piercingly high tenor. "But not now, now we have coming in to land from New New York, the man with the plan who only sculpts in frozen helium because he's a minimalist, Jean-Claude Richards!" Diamond flowed around them to the newest arrivals to give Gryzzk and his group a path toward the walkway.

The walkway itself was a new experience, as Gryzzk was carried down one side of the moving walkway to sign his name in a flurry of bright lights and shrieks from...fans. Of him. He could barely say hello and thank you before the walkway had moved him along to the next group of admirers. The problem as far as he was concerned was that he'd only been able to meet half of the Terrans here, and it didn't sit right with him. He reached the Reillys and looked back almost embarrassed.

"I - a question, Delia. Is it proper to run back down the lane and greet the other half that missed me before?"

There was a light smile. "It's rare, but it does happen."

That was all that Gryzzk needed to hear as he ran against the moving sidewalk, spurs ringing merrily as he dodged the sculptor and his retinue to sign autographs, take pictures, and shake hands with hundreds of people. By the time he got back, he was barely winded and Reilly was smirking at him.

"Major, you keep this up and both your worlds are gonna be deep in creds before the end of the fiscal year."

"Good. That means our ships will be able to be selective with the work and have more time to train for the thing that's never happened before but always seems to happen when we're out on the job."

Delia was similarly in a good mood. "Not twenty minutes and you are already making the trends, Major. Quite a feat, particularly for this event, where everyone is trying to stand out. Now, come along, the main event is in the Hall of Mirrors."

Entering the Hall of Mirrors was not unlike having a flash-grenade go off in front of Gryzzk's face. Lights from a hundred sources shone and reflected from crystal chandeliers, a dozen conversations swirled about him as he moved slowly as dozens of perfumes fought a mighty battle for control of his nasal passages which left him looking to Reilly for some semblance of guidance. Or translation.

The center of the hall was an art museum of sorts - paintings large and small, sculptures in a dozen media, holographic displays, all this and more that Gryzzk couldn't easily identify made a vibrant swatch of color across his eyes. He had to pause momentarily to get his eyepairs to synchronize as each pair decided to take in something. Normally it was a danger-reaction but in this case it seemed as though part of his mind was trying to take in every iota of information that it could.

It was almost a positive thing to see that Yomios was swept away by several individuals asking for her opinion on multiple subjects, leaving her a bit confused for a few moments before Gryzzk nodded to her in approval. Her face seemed a bit pinched but she moved through the gathered Terrans carefully, an adult being cautious around children. This setting seemed something she was used to after a fashion.

Gryzzk shook his head and tried to be inconspicuous. Being that he and his family were the smallest non-servants here, that would normally have been something easily accomplished. Sadly, inconspicuous was not happening - Gro'zel was trying to be everywhere and making happy cries at every discovery - the bas-reliefs of humans on horses were a particular point of interest for her as well as a point of frustration.

Reilly was a rock of sorts as her parents swirled, both of them taking a glass of champagne from one of the Vilantian servants wearing what appeared to be frippery and nonsense designed by a madman. He was standing placidly with a tray, nose-plugs, and a small earpiece embedded so that he could communicate with someone. Something about it struck him as odd, so Gryzzk caught Reilly's attention and he nodded toward another of the servants casually as he moved toward the nearest servant, rubbing at his oakleaf rank carefully to open a channel to Rosie.

"Cousin, could I trouble you for a moment?"

The servant stiffened and kept his voice to a low whisper. "I was told not to speak with the guests, Freelord."

Gryzzk made a soft mrr-noise as he selected a glass and braced himself as he took his nose-plugs out. Immediately his eyes forced themselves shut as if that would somehow help against the blitzkrieg of scents making a grand charge through his nose. After a moment of rocking back and forth Gryzzk leaned forward and sniffed at the contents of the glass, finding them to be somewhat like fizzwine. "Apologies. But my hat is a curious thing - it would like to know how you are faring?" Gryzzk flicked his middle eye-pair to the servant and took a slow, measured inhalation as the war for Gryzzk's nose began in earnest, with a specific cloying scent sending arcs of warning to his brain. "Apologies again, but...the Terrans seem to have a great love for scents that are not their own. I'm sure you can sympathize?"

The servant glanced around a few times nervously as Reilly was taking a selfie next to the servant she had engaged in conversation. "Freelord, it would be a kindness if you were elsewhere. Please, I have orders." The servant lowered his voice further. "My clan. My husband. Our honor is at stake."

Gryzzk kept one eyepair on Reilly as he replied to the servant. "I understand." Gryzzk cleared his throat and kept his voice low as he inspected the other glasses. "Keep your elbows in close. Let your body help your arms carry the tray. Is your colleague under similar orders?" The two were almost intimately close with Reilly lowering herself a bit and leaning her face in, a bright smile on her face and an arm wrapped around the servant who was standing stoically with his tray.

The servant flicked his eyes around, and Gryzzk caught a slight twitch of jealousy from his scent. "He is. Pardon me, Freelord." The servant moved off to another area where the glasses on his tray were taken by guests, causing the servant to move to a discrete door at the end of the hall. Gryzzk replaced his nose-plugs and felt blissful relief. His mind catalogued the exchange and was arriving at a conclusion he didn't like.

Reilly rescued a glass of champagne from its tray and flowed through the crowd to Gryzzk - her lips were slightly parted in a smile that stopped well before it reached her eyes.

"Major that servant I just took a selfie with is packing. Felt it on his hip." Reilly was able to form the words without moving her lips, an apparent skill of being within the higher echelons.

Gryzzk nodded, covering his reply with a feigned sip of champagne. "I smelled a plasma pack on the one I spoke with."

"So are they friends or undercover security or what?"

There was a shrug. "I don't know. But of the many things they may be, they are not servants." Gryzzk paused for a moment before leaning his head slightly into his oak-leaf rank. "XO, have Miroka reposition the ship over Paris. Issue an all-hands warning, prepare the company for a recall from R&R."

"Fer what?!"

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