Between Darkness and the Void - Part Three
16 Nov 2017User1355
Serenade
Citi Gateway
Inara system…
I have to admit, Phisto has great taste in restaurants.
The Serenade is comfortable, tastefully lit in deep blue and cyan, with a luxurious VIP area which has been reserved for us. The suave captain greets me with a respectful bow, taking my hand and raising it to his lips. He steps behind me as I lower my hood, taking the shawl from my shoulders and kissing me gently on the neck.
“You fucking creep!” I laugh softly, genuinely amused and flattered at his old-fashioned courtesy.
He hands our outer garments to an attendant, grinning wolfishly as his eyes take in my dress; a full-length, off-one-shoulder number in deep crimson. The dilation of his pupils tells me it’s having the desired effect.
“You look stunning,” he says, pulling a seat out from the table for me.
“Worth saving, then?”
It’s his turn to laugh as we sit and order.
We talk congenially, reliving past exploits and close calls in both the pilot’s seat and the bedroom. For a moment I forget that I’m a fugitive and relax, enjoying the food, wine and the captain’s company. Still, I keep my wits about me; Phisto is a man who likes to mix pleasure with business, so I take the initiative and prompt him to move onto the latter.
“This place is beautiful. And expensive. Good times for the Fusiliers, I take it?”
He nods, taking a long sip of his wine.
“DeVerre came through and paid us for the Degastani job,” he eyes me warily, judging my reaction at the mention of the man who put a price on my head.
I ignore his mention of Deggie. To the Void with the old bastard.
"And how are things here, with the Nexus?"
“They’ve been doing well,” he nods, “very well. Once they consolidated this place,” he whirls his fork around, “they branched out to several neighbouring systems, virtually unopposed. Peace and prosperity sells well, apparently!"
I nod slowly. "And who, exactly, does this peace and prosperity benefit? Who's behind the Nexus?"
He frowns thoughtfully, chewing on his pasta. "I couldn't give you a single name. It's a board of directors, completely anonymous. All communications are done through secure, encrypted channels. The orders are given, the payments appear on time in our account," he grins between mouthfuls, "which means I don't need to ask any other questions."
Hmm. Interesting.
"So they expand rapidly and are welcomed by all? I find that hard to believe. I managed Black Omega's expansion programme for over a year and I can tell you that no-one welcomed us with open arms."
"It's not all diplomacy and fancy words," he laughs, dabbing his lips with his napkin, "sometimes they need more persuasive methods to get other factions to sit around the Nexus campfire. There's good work out there for those with the appetite for it, or at least..." he leans in with a wolfish smile, "gorgeous fugitives looking to make sure they are well protected."
I raise my wine-glass, enjoying his playful flattery. He also has a good point; I need time and an income to get my plans moving. Having the local authorities on-side could pay itself back pretty handily.
"Alright, I'll chase that up,"
"Nexus will be discrete enough with their transactions with you, but just don't..." Phisto pauses with a grimace, "bring too much attention to yourself here on the station. A lot of pilots come and go here."
I widen my eyes mockingly, "Mister Sobanii, are you suggesting that I'm a troublemaker?"
He laughs easily, his eyes sparkling. The wine feels like it's going to my head quicker than it should.
A waiter comes to clear our plates away; "Would madam or sir like to see the dessert menu?" he asks.
"No," I reply, "I already know what I want."
I stretch out my leg underneath the table, placing the tip of my heel against Phisto's crotch. A smirk spreads across my lips as his eyes widen.
Flushing slightly, he calmly folds his napkin and clears his throat, looking up to the waiter.
"Cheque, please."