Warhawk's Amnesty - Ch. 25 - A Deal with the Devil - Beta (Patreon)

The familiarity of the flight put Seb on edge, only this time he was wearing a two thousand credit suit and carrying a laser pistol small enough so that it didn’t protrude from his suit jacket. He was flying into the literal dragon’s den. The restaurant Zara agreed to meet him at, he’d never heard of, but the city of his alma mater was completely foreign to him. Gone were the lush fields and courtyards, replaced by giants molded from glass and steel. The city had become so developed; Seb could barely see the streets underneath.

When his transport shuttle landed on the landing pad, he’d half expected to see police or at least Zara’s armed guards. However, only a lone hostess stood at the edge of the offramp. Seb double checked that his weapon was loaded, and the safety was off before shoving it back into his pocket holster.

Seb double tapped on his WICI and spoke into his comms. “Eni, are you getting all of this?”

“Yeah, no problem. It’s just a bit delayed with it traveling across the entire galaxy and all. However, I have the video feed saving to a local server so even if our feed cuts early, we should be okay. You’ve also got the chip storage built into your WICI as well.”

“Hopefully, it’s enough.”

“It should be unless she fries your equipment as soon as you walk in.”

“There’re no guards here like I requested.”

“Either she’s confident in her ability to defend herself or they’re where you just can’t see them.”

“All right, well, wish me luck.”

“Hey Seb?”

“Yeah?”

“Come back in one piece. You’ve got a crew waiting for you.”

Seb smiled before a torrent of cool air filled the cabin when the side door opened. He took a moment to stretch once he exited the vehicle. The sun’s orange glow cast beautiful pinks and purples along the evening’s sky. It was a beautiful evening. He just hoped it wasn’t his last.

The human woman was of eastern descent with a tight bun of black hair. She was wearing a black suit jacket and knee-length skirt, paired with black heels. She smiled as Seb approached.

“Mr. Reeves?” she asked.

“That’s me.”

“It’s a pleasure to have you dining with us, sir. Ms. Saladonus is waiting for you inside. Shall I take you to her?”

“Yes, please. Did Ms. Saladonus come alone?”

“I believe so. I did not see anyone travel with her. She rented the restaurant out for the evening so you both will have a private meal together.”

Her smile shows her ignorance of the situation, Seb thought. She must assume this is supposed to be a romantic evening. Two lovers reuniting. How wrong she is.

Seb walked closely behind the hostess. The restaurant was on one of the top levels of the skyscraper, giving it a surrounding view of the city’s skyline. The floor to ceiling windows helped the sun’s glow coat the bright white interior in a soft shade of orange. Renting the facility couldn’t have been cheap. Whether she did it for tradition’s sake or just because she could only seem to heighten Seb’s anger.

After they rounded the main dining area, the hostess led Seb up one flight of stairs that curved about the bar area. He saw Zara’s vertically slit eyes before he reached the top of the stairs, thanks to her intimidating size.

A single table large enough for two sat in the middle of a twenty diameter circle with two waiters standing nearby. Seb was certain Zara was wearing the same hip slit white dress he’d seen her in when they met for the first time. It glistened in the ceiling light, barely holding her massive breasts from spilling over the top. She’s toying with you.

One waiter pulled out Seb’s chair for him, allowing him to take his seat. Once he sat, he never took his eyes off of Zara. Her eyes were like that of a predator looking at its next meal, unsure whether to eat it straight away or play with it first. He remembered the look and had to fight not to revert to his former college self.

“Francis, it’s so good to see you.”

“Zara.”

“Your voice sounds so aged. It’s deeper and speaks of experience. Not to mention all of your physical changes. I can hear through the strength of your heartbeat and see through that expensive suit of yours how much healthier you are. The beard suits you as well.”

“You look exactly the same. And if my mind is as sharp as it was, I’m confident that’s the same dress you wore when I first met.”

“Oh, this?” she said, draping a finger across the top of her breasts. “This is brand new. I purchased it specifically for our evening tonight.”

She’s already lying to you. Seb scoffed. “Is that how we are going to be spending the evening? Playing games? I’m too old for that, Zara.”

“Yes… you’ve most certainly aged. A weakness of your species, no doubt. The last ten years must have felt like an eternity for you. But for someone like myself, well it feels as though we just left our first date.”

Seb clenched his jaw. He knew she wouldn’t hold her punches. But he had to keep his head in the game. This wasn’t just for him. It was for his crew. He held thoughts of them to try to calm himself.

“Shall we order?”

Zara’s eyes relaxed from the tight slits they were, and she nodded in agreement. “Yes, let’s do just that. It’s terrible to discuss business over empty stomachs.”

“I assume you’re familiar with the menu. I’ll let you order for us both.”

“Trusting, aren’t we?” Zara turned and handed a waiter her menu. “We’ll have the micrus tartare and give us a bottle of your oldest vintage.”

“Yes mam,” the waiter said, grabbing Seb’s menu.

“Trust?” Seb chuckled. “I don’t trust more than I could throw you, and with the size of your ass that equates to none.”

Zara’s lips rolled back, revealing her large teeth. She was smiling, but it was more of a threat paired with the low growl that rolled off of her tone. “That sharp tongue of yours is nasty. I like this new you.”

“Really? So, you’ve moved on grooming idiot men who have no idea what they’re getting into?”

“No, they still have their place. Before you smelled like a fresh doe wandering aimlessly in a pasture. Now you’re a hardened buck looking for his next fuck.

Seb smirked and leaned back in his chair. “Now who’s the one with the nasty tongue.”

“I’m only mirroring the present company. You’re the one who decided to be profane.”

“I think I’m a little deserving of that, don’t you think?” Seb leaned over the table and repeatedly tapped his finger on the surface. “Ten years. Ten fucking years I spent in a cell for you. Sometimes, standing in a three by three by seven cube where you couldn’t even sit. Sometimes, frozen in a box where your mind leaves you locked away in the void, reliving your worst nightmares. You put me through hell, Zara, and for what? So you could have a good quarter that year? You used me and threw me to the wolves. So yeah, I think I am little deserving to be fucking profane.”

“Yes, I used you, but there was a reason I picked you. And it wasn’t because of that mace swinging between your legs. You were hungry and were one of the few that could do the job. Deep down, you knew the consequences, and were still willing to take the risk. You did what the job required of you like the good little employee you were. Sure, you got caught, but you were smart and kept your mouth shut. You did your time and made it out in one piece. The company needs people like you.”

Seb smirked and leaned back in his chair. “You’ve got to be out of your mind if you think you’re talking me into working for you again.”

“I thought you wanted to discuss business,” Zara said, shrugging.

“Yeah, well, some things are off the table.”

Zara took two fingers and pressed them in between her breasts. When she lifted them back up, they were holding a square metal object. She tossed it on the table in front of Seb. “Nothing is off the table if the price is right.”

“What the hell is this?” Seb asked, pointing at the device.

“It’s a data chip with my offer. Go ahead and press it.”

Seb picked up the chip and rolled it through his fingers while the wait staff brought their meal. The square red meat topped with a raw egg and green seasoning left Seb without an appetite. He pressed the center button on the chip and a small hologram projected from it. His eyes shot open as he read through the documents.

“Is this some kind of joke?”

“Not at all,” Zara said, tapping the edge of her mouth with a cloth. “From the moment you agreed to do the job, you were employed by Merovingian in an unofficial capacity. Obviously, we had to keep you off the books, given the nature of your work. We couldn’t have it coming back on us.”

Zara chuckled. “However, our original agreement stood. You were paid one hundred and fifty thousand credits for the single job. As an engineer, you were given a salary of ninety-five thousand credits per year plus a thirty percent hazard pay bonus. On top of that, you were issued a company pension of five percent. Over ten years that adds up to a decent guarantee of yearly income.”

“Is this number accurate?” Seb said, pointing at the seven-digit number.

“That’s how much is sitting in the account right this minute.”

Seb smiled and shook his head. “What’s the catch?”

“Oh, now you’re interested?” Zara asked with a wicked smile.

“I can only take so much of your smug attitude, Zara. Don’t push me.”

“Oh, I’ll keep pushing you Francis. It’s up to you to decide if you want to keep going.”

“Just cut the bullshit and tell me what I want to know.”

“There are several terms to the agreement. First is a slew of NDA’s we would like you to sign relating to the incident you were involved in. They basically say you acted on your own. We had no involvement, blah, blah, blah. The company skirts off free. The second part is what we discussed earlier. I know talent when I see it, and I don’t want to lose my favorite engineer. We need people who are willing to do things outside the public eye. You’ll stay on our separate books, and when I call, you’ll answer.”

Seb sat back in his chair, picked up his glass, and downed the expensive wine. It pissed him off how much he wanted to take the deal. He needed the money now more than ever. Yet, the thought of working for Zara made him want to put the blaster to his head and pull the trigger. It was a stupid move, but once again, he was desperate. Someway, somehow, she knew.

Seb stood from the chair. “I need to use the restroom.”

“Take your time. I’ll be here when you return.”

Seb descended the stairs and rounded the corner, where the hostess guided him to the nearest restroom. Once he was in, he took his time relieving himself. It gave him a moment just to breathe and reflect on his options. When he finished, he stepped over to the sink and looked at himself in the mirror.

“Eni, did you get all of that?” Seb asked.

“Yeah, I did,” Eni said. “You’re not seriously thinking of taking the offer, are you?”

“I mean, what choice do we have? We need the money for the ship.”

“Why not use the info I got as leverage?”

“You even said the evidence you had against her was circumstantial at best. None of it would hold up in court. Not to mention Zara is a princess of one of the families. And you know how they are. If I do this and survive, we’d be running for the rest of our lives. They’d never stop coming for us. And then what? Where would we go? There would be nowhere to hide except for the unexplored territories, and trust me, that’s the last place we want to go.”

“I don’t know, Seb. The thought of being under a corps thumb makes me sick to my stomach.”

“It’s not you all. It would just be me.”

“That’s not how this is anymore, Seb. We’re a crew. Anything we do, we do together.”

Seb smiled. Even though they were potentially making a deal with a person he despised, the thought of doing so as a group made him feel better. It felt as though no matter whether the decision was right or wrong, they’d have his back.

“If that’s the case, then you need to speak with Vi and Nalla. Zara wants me. I think she has some kind of sick pride in getting me to agree to the deal. I think I can use that as leverage to get us the engines and the money.”

“We would need both anyway, with the cost of everything now,” Eni said. “Since you’ve been gone, the numbers on Dixie’s estimation sheets just keep going up.”

“Then it sounds like we need to come to a decision.”

“Okay, I’ll be right back.”

Seb spent the next few minutes washing his hands and splashing water on his face. The deal itself was stressful, but waiting to hear back from his companions was surprisingly the worst part. He just didn’t want to let them down.

“Seb, you there?” Eni called over the radio.

“Yeah Eni, I’m here.”

“We’ve come to an agreement. We want you to take the deal.”

“Are you sure that’s what you want.”

“Our dreams are together as one crew. We can’t be a crew without a ship. If that means we have to work for a corp temporarily, then so be it. It doesn’t have to be indefinite, and it will give me time to dig up some more dirt.”

“That works for me,” Seb said, smiling. “Thanks guys.”

“I’ll still be watching if you need anything.”

Seb yanked open the door and marched out into the open area. He leaped up the stairs, and didn’t wait for the waiter to seat him. Zara straightened up in her chair with a subtle grin on her face.

“I was wondering if you took the opportunity to bail,” she said. “You were in there for quite a while. Did the food not sit well with you?”

“Food’s fine,” Seb said, pushing the untouched plate away from him. “I have a counteroffer.”

“By all means,” she said, crossing her legs. “Please tell me your terms.”

“The first should come as no surprise. I am not signing anything here right now. I will, however, commit to signing it when I have time to review all the documents and clear them with my legal team.”

“That’s agreeable.”

“The second is that in addition to the money, pension, and everything else, I want two twin Gen 3 HC5590TL engines.”

Zara’s ears perked up, and she leaned forward at the sudden specific request. “Interesting… may I ask what you want those for?”

“Well… if I am going to be working for you, I need some way of getting around. I need them for a ship I’ll be building.”

“That does make sense,” Zara said, tapping on her chin. “With the war going on, ship parts are going for quite the premium now.”

“No engines, no deal,” Seb said directly.

“I’ll see what I can do.”

Seb crossed his arms and nodded. When their conversation concluded, Zara’s WICI glowed on her wrist. She scoffed and tapped the top of the device. A hologram of a sepix man with green skin and red eyes appeared between them.

“I thought I told you I was not to be disturbed!” Zara spat.

“Apologies, ma’am,” the man began, “But it is your father. He wishes to speak with you back at company headquarters.”

Zara rolled her eyes. “Fine. Tell him I will be there shortly.”

“Yes ma’am.”

When the hologram disappeared, Zara drank the rest of her wine and readied herself to leave.

“Trouble in paradise?” Seb asked.

“Who knows,” Zara said. “It’s most likely one of the other families wanting us to send them more ships and parts. Yet, they demand it be done at a discount.”

“Sounds rough,” Seb said with a smirk.

“Nothing that can’t be solved shortly.”

As Seb looked over at Zara, he noticed a change in her look. It was primal, but that of a different kind. Her head titled just off center with her eyes fluttering halfway open. Her pupils spread wide, and she had the softest smile on her face.

“You wouldn’t happen to have plans after this, would you?”

“Not particularly. I plan on catching the next flight that I can.”

“I was thinking maybe you’d like to come back with me to headquarters. Maybe I could give you another tour of the apartments. For old times’ sake.”

Seb couldn’t help but laugh. “While I am always flattered when a lady offers a long night in bed, I will have to respectfully decline. For old times’ sake.”

“Hmm… pity…”

Zara stood from her chair, and Seb did the same. The two walked across the restaurant to the exterior docking platform where Zara’s shuttle was already waiting for her. She bent down and kissed Seb on the cheek before departing.

“I’ll get to work on those engines for you.”

“But I haven’t signed the papers yet.”

“You will.”

The staff opened the door, and Seb watched Zara board her shuttle. She waved and winked before the side door closed. He was glad that their meeting was over and hoped he never had to see her again. He tapped on his WICI and spoke in his comm.

“Eni?”

“Yeah?”

“Tell the others I’m coming home.”