Political prowess of a Ssykes

"Yes," the other Bertulf snarled, stepping forward. "We have been at peace too long. It is not natural. The children of Faelan were born to conquer, and so we are reasserting our rights over our hunting grounds."

"Now, now," Klona said, trying to insinuate himself. "What this treaty offers is completely legal. No sentients will be hunted on this world, only hanna beasts and the occasional trip bear, right Accalia?"

"For now," she said, a long drip of saliva falling off her fang.

Klona looked mortified at her candor, but was wise enough to say nothing. "Ahem, as I was saying, this treaty is perfectly legal. If you object to it, you would be overstaying your authority as mediators. We must follow Alliance law, after all."

"It is legal," said Cha'Rolette.

Tumn took out a soaked handkerchief and wiped it futiley against his dripping forehead. "So, we're just supposed to go back to living underneath their heels? What are we going to do?"

Cha'Rolette took a moment to stare down Klona. He acted brazen at first, but the longer she stared at him, the more he withered underneath her scrutiny. Finally, when his discomfort had reached a peak, she gave off a wry grin. "I recommend you sign the treaty."

"What?" Tumn asked, looking like he was having a heart attack.

"Once you sign it, you'll be a de facto satellite state of the Bertulf. You can then immediately file an act of triveyance in the local sector court. You see, what this little man forgets is that the Bertulf are currently part of the Alliance as well, so Alliance law applies to them. As a satellite colony, the Bertulf will be automatically responsible for more than just your airspace patrol. You can sue for educational costs, water purification systems, housing and development, food replicators, clothing allowance, police, fire, and garbage disposal services."

She tapped the treaty where it lay on the altar.

"This contract spells out exactly how much tribute you are to give to them, but it does not limit what services they provide in return. You can easily get a hundred times the value out of the Bertulf compared to what you are putting into it. If they refuse or are negligent, then Alliance military will be forced to intervene, which is what you originally wanted anyway."

Accalia looked betrayed. "Is this true?" she asked Klona.

The weasely little man ground his rodent-like teeth. "It would seem that the Alliance mediator knows the bylaws very, very well."

Cha'Rolette smirked. "As you said, we must follow Alliance law."

The Bertulf glared at Klona as Mayor Tumn happily added his thumbprint to the treaty. The tablet chimed in acceptance, then split itself into two copies for each delegation to take with them. Klona looked like a man sentenced to death.

"A thousand thanks to you," Tumn said, reaching out to embrace her. "I will file the trivayance in the morning."

Her ta'atu glowed and the sweaty man was held at arm's length.

"It was simple," she said as she flicked a ringlet over her shoulder. "If I could not do at least this much, I would not be a Ssykes."

Klona stepped back. "A Ssykes?"

"We seem to have skipped the introductions," Gerald said. "This is Cha'Rolette Honrinar Jillintor Ssykes."

Klona and the Bertulf exchanged worried glances. "Why is a Ssykes here?" Accalia demanded. "Is he reneging on the deal?"

"What deal?" asked Cha'Rolette.

"Nothing!" Klona shouted, scooping up the tablet. "Just a translation error. Pay it no mind."

While Mayor Tumn gave Gerald a big sweaty bear hug, the girls watched the Bertulf delegation pack up their things and walk away.

"Well, that was fun," Ilrica said, linking her hands behind her neck. "Always entertaining to see a hunter bested by petty legal loopholes. Maybe next time you meet, you can attack them with a really nasty form letter and some paperclips."

"Actions speak louder than honor among thieves," Zurra teased.

"My point is she only won because they condescended to play by her rules. In any real fight they would have killed her."

"Let me ask you something," Cha'Rolette asked, her eyes fixed on the Bertulf as they entered one of their wind tunnels and left the planet, dragging Klona kicking and screaming along with them. "You are the only Bertulf I have ever seen with crystronics. Where did you have them implanted?"

Ilrica thought for a second. "You know, I can't really remember."

"Oh please," said Cha'Rolette sarcastically.

She stuck out her tongue. "I must have been drunk when it happened."

As Gerald finally freed himself from the overly-affectionate mayor, Zurra walked up in her child form and stretched out her neck so she could see Cha'Rolette eye to eye. "You know, when you use your powers for good instead of evil, you're pretty impressive, Ssykes."

Cha'Rolette was lost in thought. "I've done nothing worthy of praise. All I did was give away four million credits worth of legal counsel for free. My father would be furious if he found out."

Gerald motioned to the impoverished conditions. "Yes, but look around. These people will benefit so much from the services they will now receive. You helped them in a very real way, and that is something to be proud of."

Cha'Rolette allowed the praise to soak in. "It's hard for me to see it that way, but... thank you."

Zurra's jaw stretched down and hit the ground between her feet. "No way!"

"Did she actually say thank you?" Ilrica asked, disbelieving. "Just what did you do to her, Dyson?"

Gerald held up his hands. "I haven't done anything. This has always been who she is."

Ilrica scoffed. "Pfft, whatever."

Cha'Rolette's eyebrows twitched.

Zurra rolled into a ball and chuckled. "Yeah, right. The Duchess I know probably bathes in children's tears just to keep herself looking young."

Cha'Rolette balled her fists. "Stop talking about me like I'm some sort of monster! I do nice things all the time!"

"Whatever."

Gerald was surprised at how strongly she had reacted. Her whole body seemed to flush at his praise, and her eyes were a little dreamy. Then, he felt a little squeeze on his hand and looked down. Without realizing it, he had reached out and placed his hand on hers.

"What am I doing?" he thought.

Zurra glared at them jealously, then turned into her adult form and pulled him away from her. "Come on, Geri, let's go and have some fun. You know, see the sights."

Gerald shook his head to clear his thoughts. "I don't know, there doesn't seem to be a lot to do around here."

"Here no, but outside of town I heard there is a gypsy caravan. That could be fun, they might even have an Oracle with them."

Gerald seemed reluctant.

"Come on, variety is the spice of life that leads a horse to water," Zurra said, tugging on his facemask.

"Wait, we just finished diplomatic negotiations. Don't we have reports to file?"

"We already filed ours wirelessly," Ilrica explained as she handed him a small tablet. "Since you can't link, you'll have to fill out your report by hand."

Cha'Rolette gave off a faint girlish giggle, and held up her hand, placing it against her cheek as if she could still feel his warmth. "You guys go ahead. I need to make some waves, see if I can find out anything about those drone ships. This whole thing is highly suspicious."

She floated away like a giddy little schoolgirl, even doing a little aerial somersault and a corkscrew. Ilrica and Zurra gritted their teeth when they saw it.

"Holy cow, there has to be like 500 pages to this thing," Gerald said, scrolling through it.

Zurra leaned in close. "Or..."

"Or what?"

She squeezed his muscular arm. "Or I can fill your out for you, and we can use the extra time to go see the caravan."

Gerald looked around at the dusty town. "I dunno, these people have it pretty rough. If I have extra time, I'd rather use it helping them. We aren't scheduled to leave till at least tonight, we could get a nice soup line going."

"What is it with you and soup?" Ilrica complained.

Zurra stretched her fingers around his massive bicep and tied them in a knot. "Look, I'm not going to fill out your paperwork if you are going to use the time making chowder."

"Soup."

"Whatever. Now, would you rather spend the rest of your day filling out boring, mundane paperwork, or go on a date with a lively and beautiful woman like myself?"

Gerald looked down at the tablet, then looked up into her large batting eyes. "Do you want me to answer that honestly?"

"Ohh! You are the worst bride ever! You went on dates with the other girls! Why not me?"

Ilrica saw her chance and stepped in. "Look, I'll tell you the secret. You don't ask Dyson on a date, you take him. Here, watch me do it."

She reached out a glowing claw and tore through the air. Gray spilled out, covering everything, until the whole world was colorless except for Ilrica's glowing green eyes. Gerald and Zurra stood there, frozen in place, as Ilrica stepped away from them and slipped down an alley.