A Business Proposal

"To tell you the truth... I don't think you stand a chance," said Space. "It's a hopeless road your on, and now that you've found me, there's no way you're getting back onto that staircase. There's no speed," Space asserted. This had been after he'd said he could help me, give me some advice for my predicament.

I shook my head and held it in my hands. He was the worst motivator I'd ever heard.

"I refuse to give it up, it can't end here," I persisted.

Missy backed me up. "Nan can always give us another way... We're not completely hopeless."

But as she said it, my confidence seemed to retract. Maybe Space was right. I couldn't hack it. I saw no other way of getting Speed now.

"And this offer you made her," Space continued, now pacing the room.

"What about it?"

"Rather sounds like a business proposal than an acceptance of love to me," he chuckled. "Besides, you're not even her type, at least from what I've heard."

"Oh, and what exactly is her type?" I asked.

"Taller, a much stronger physique. And your chin... I don't think she liked your chin." He came towards me and peered closer at my face, as if to find more unsolicited fault. I consciously touched my chin. "Well what's wrong with it?"

"She just couldn't say it to your face but I think she's into much shorter faces, your chin doesn't do that for you. And your hair, and your laugh..."

Now he was just making up excuses. She'd never heard me laugh.

"Ah, but the truth my friend, is that she is already with another, and he is a malignant one."

Could it have been Mr Fluff, as I had dreamed?

"Nevertheless, I must continue to find out the truth from her and not depend on some silly speculations from a man who knows nothing," I said.

"I wouldn't call it nothing. We were actually pretty close considering..."

"Considering what?"

"She was at a difficult time in her life, it was different then. It's not a big deal."

But I wanted to know.

Just tell me what happened," I said firmly. I was ready for the worst.

"Leia's been through it. Her husband's a beast, to put it lightly."

He can't be half as bad as Mr Fluff, I thought to myself.

"When they would fall out, she would come to me and we would comfort each other.

"Comfort?" I asked for clarity.

"Nothing more, I swear. I had my own issues at the time, so I feel we came from a place of mutual understanding. It was something that helped us get by. When it was done, we both went our separate ways."

He continued talking as I sat there with faraway thoughts. I didn't catch the rest of the story but what I had heard from him got me thinking... Was Leia really in love with me or was she simply taking an out to a terrible alliance? It would be tragic, truly, if that happened to be so. But I feared it to be true with every moment that passed. The dots in my head connected slowly to my dismay.

So that is why she had come... to warn me of her husband's impending wrath. Of course, after hearing all those rumours of me on a mission to gain his wife's affections, why wouldn't he be mad? I wondered what he was like, and what he would do to me — I wondered what to do next.

Space cleared his throat, startling me out of limbo.

"I don't want to be deemed the bringer of bad news... so I do have a bit of good news. I was saving this though I'm not really sure how you'll take it," he said.

"Just say it. It might not be that good anyway at this point," I said.

"Okay, so... I know I said there was no way you could ever go back. However, there is a solution to this, unpleasant as it may be, but it will require you to go back to the very beginning."

"Beginning, how?"

"You need to bring the person who brought you here. I know very well from what you said just now that it would be an impossible ask, but it might be your last chance."

And there it was. Just when I thought nothing was impossible. Bringing Mr Fluff to my aid, was indeed the last thing I ever wanted to do.

"Why does it have to be him?"

"Because he is your fate bringer. That who bestows upon you a certain fate, can be responsible for correcting or amending that fate if it comes into play. My mother told me."

"How am I even going to find him?"

He put his index finger up.

"Through the Resistance."

"What's the Resistance?"

"Forces have been a pain for years. It's safe to say that there are many more people like you who have a score to settle with them. So in that respect, there is a secret organisation dedicated to just that. It's backed by some very powerful members who have the ability to summon any force they want. I am not a member myself, but I can get you in."

This was marvelous. I could persuade the members to let me end him afterwards.

"However..." he continued, "They do have rules. The first I'll put out there is that there can be no killing or malice. No torture."

I shrugged in disbelief.

"Then what's the point? Why is it an illicit thing if we can't break the rules?"

"Because of its members who still yield to the universe and fear it's wrath when these rules are broken. Everyone does, even the gods themselves."

It was true. I had long established Karma was not a friend.

"So what exactly is summoning him going to do for me?"

"I can't tell for certain yet. But if they can get him to somehow put you back on the path..."

I was tired. My sullen countenance was more than enough proof. I had come so far and yet now I had nowhere else to go but down to the mercy of my nemesis.

I sighed. "Fine. But I want to be there."

"All in due course," said Space. "We need to get a meeting first. I'll send out a message immediately."