Honor and Money

[Dome]

Raising his finger for a moment Dante says, "before we continue with this meeting," he says making the quotes gesture, "I have a question, is there any negotiation where some or all of us don't wind up as indentured servants?"

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[Mierin]

Inwardly, Miranda doesn't believe that there is any way for these so called negotiations to end without the majority of them becoming little more than slaves. She is furious with Tiger for leading them into this situation, and is strangely comforted by the fact that the some of others seem to be angry as well. She tries to speak, but realizes that nothing she say will come close to sounding like she respects Tiger at all, so she keeps silent.
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[Renekin Skywalker]

Charge speaks up after Danté. "In addition to explaining what's going on here, would someone be so kind as to explain how we're expected to lay out cash to these guys, if our good host already intends to achieve what it was the Captain's team was sent out to do? I mean... isn't that like making us pay to get what they were on the verge of giving us anyways, for free? As bad as banks..."

[shiivster]

*Jeckle says nothing just yet, but she does open the can of Coke so that the ~Pop-hisssssss~ happens in the silentest part of the talk, and then gives an impish grin before starting to pour it into a glass and now seems totally entrances in the gurgles and bubbles that pour out.

*this is covering the fact that she isn't thrilled to be on the 'auction block' and to also be on the 'garbage clean up crew'. she settles back and takes a slow sip, and really hopes she doesn't belch at the table. dinner parties are SO not her thing.

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[albatross]

"Thank you Fakir, it is an excellent plan." Tiger says, sounding sincere. Fakir looks crestfallen, as if something he had thought was very clever a minute ago was now a mistake. Whatever error in his plan Tiger has discovered he doesn't say, though the other time travelers seem similarly unimpressed as well.

Patriot answers Charger's question, realizing that unlike everyone else at the table he hasn't seen the mission file. "The mayor is on a tight timetable, there would need to be significant gains in the next two months or the federal government will intervene. A nineteen month timetable will result in a mission failure."

He looks around the table, "We are negotiating to shorten the timetable, which would of course cost Tiger's father billions of dollars." Tiger's father nods.

Fakir shrugs. He hadn't anticipated there would be such resistance to working for the Labyrinth instead of working to clear it, but he knows his own associates have dismissed his plan in the hopes of submitting a better one. He turns to Dante, "If you don't wish your friends or yourself to work off the debt, what is your plan?" He doesn't sound all that bitter about getting shot down, instead seeming to open the debate - his own plan merely a starting point. He looks around to the others as well, to see if any them plan to jump in.

Tiger fidgets, as if she wants to say something, but it is hard to say anything subtle while she is sitting next to her father, "Did I hear you had some guns?" She asks Nan. She looks at Charger, Jeckle, Dante and Wind Chill, as if this should mean something to them, or will in a minute.

[shiivster]

*Jeckle sips at the soda in her glass, and feeling the burp coming, covers the mouth with a hand to cover the hissing escape of the CO2. she catches Tiger's look and then nods with the eyes and then looks at Ivan and gives him what she thinks is a pleasant smile.

*she looks at the plate of food in front of her and pushes it away. she is no longer interested in eating, and was never a big one for deserts. sugary treats like granola bars, or sugary kids cerals yeah, but 'fancy deserts', not really.

*she now wonders just how much of her coat and its gear will be returned to her. she's a little happy that all her designs aren't on the pads. of the bundle of wires that she was working on ... she can't wait to see how they think their way about that one. a sly smile starts to form on the side closest to Ivan.

*she reaches for her drink again, and wonders and then understands WHY she wasn't mentioned with 'rifle' skills. she doesn't usually carry it with her. and while she asked for one, it wasn't delivered for her, so she can't be considered to be a real threat with one. her attention is diverted back to the table occupants again, as she observes the faces and hears the tones of the spoken word.

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[albatross]

Nan laughs off Tiger's question, "None you haven't seen before I'm sure. I was just trying to tempt Kris."

Tiger sits back down, trying to think of something else. "I'm surprised he isn't more tempted by your necklace," she says drawing attention to Nan's diamond choker.

Of course, the comment doesn't match Tiger's personality at all, and her father looks at her curiously, trying to determine what point she is trying to get across. Seeming to make up his mind, he says something cryptic to one of the servers and she disappears along with a couple empty wine bottles. A moment later she reappears and present Jeckle with a small box containing a small necklace made of beautiful, perfectly formed pearls. As the server turns to go, she loiters at Wind Chill's shoulder, just in case Wind Chill has any requests.

It hard to believe Tiger is really worried about matching jewelry at this point, but if that wasn't her intent then the team will have to wait for a more in depth explanation. With her father paying attention, she makes no more attempts to communicate anything at present.

In any case, her interruption seems to have a bought a little time to think of a counter offer to Fakir's proposal.

[shiivster]

*Jeckle studies the Pearls ... and then closes the case and looks towards the Head of the table. she composes her thoughts carefully so as not to insult.

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[dakota]

Khris just looked at Tiger, and anyone that knew him could read something was on the tip of his sharp tongue, but he held it in so he didn't disrespect her in frount of her father. He then looked at the others," There must be somewheres as lucrative as Labyrinth where you could set up shop. Yes, I realize you're established here, but there be more money somewheres like Hong Kong or Dubai, and I'm sure that the challenge of growing your business is more entertaining than sitting back and reaping the reward like you are here."

[albatross]

Dervish smiles, "There will always be other jobs. Our research indicates here is the best place to be at present, and indeed represents a rare opportunity in time. We can always hit other targets later, but unless you have inside information about a major target I don't think that will sway us. After all, we aren't even talking about fulfilling your original mission - although Dante's plan is certainly much more intelligent. We could say the same thing: In less than two years, 'the Minotaur' will be gone from the Labyrinth and the feds who want to take over will be in a much better position to clear the Labyrinth. Not as easy as if you cut a deal with us, but you could find better work than this." He glances at Patriot, to see if Patriot has any secret government intel to share, but of course Patriot doesn't offer up any inside information.

Bell shrugs, looking at Dante, "I was going to suggest we allow the Captain to question her team privately to see if any of them wanted to become an apprentice. They've only been a team a week, and someone might be tempted. But it sounds like most of you don't want to discuss that.... so I suppose that is out." He says, "I joined of my own free will, and I don't regret my decision. I wouldn't recommend hiring extra talent like Fakir has, I would look for someone with potential to learn a new trade." He holds up his hands, "I'll come with something else later."

Bell looks around to see if anyone else on the Omega Shield team has plans to suggest.

[Renekin Skywalker]

"Ohh." Says Charger. "So, you want us to pony up the dough for something you intend to do anyways, to alter the time scale so that the mayor of the district gets credit for the improvements and not the feds?" Mulling his juice for a moment, he says, "Even if the Feds move in tomorrow, there would be no way to assure they'ld be in the Labrynth right away, much less seeing any kinds of results. I advocate not changing anything." He puts his glass down. "Better all around."

[shiivster]

*Jeckle finally speaks up from her spot and addresses Minotaur about his gift.

'i hate to say anything, but i fear the beauty of the gift will be lost on me. i go places where their complete matching appearance will not be seen in their best and fullest glory. so, if you think they would be nice against skin, might i suggest you find one that has a social life? its a gift worthy of hundreds if not thousands of dollars, and sadly would be wasted on me'

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[albatross]

Tiger's father merely waves his hand and smiles, dismissing the issue as if he had offered Jeckle a pretzel.

Nan smiles at Charger. "It is true we do plan on leaving eventually, though I think you'll find we won't be quite as accommodating towards the federal government as we would be towards the Captain." She pauses for a moment.

"If we don't come to an agreement, or if Omega Shield no longer supervises the takeover of the Labyrinth, then any newcomers would need to broker their own deal or take the Labyrinth the hard way." Nan glances at Dervish, "What do you think it would take to take the Labyrinth by force? A company of power armor? Two?" Having toured the cramped maze of the Labyrinth, it is easy to imagine how government forces could be forced to fight for every cubic foot, at great cost in lives and equipment.

Dervish says calmly, "The government won't negotiate, and even if they did, they wouldn't trust us and we wouldn't trust them. Besides, if the Labyrinth really needs to change, why wait more than a year to get started?"

[Renekin Skywalker]

Charger politely stands up. "If you'll all excuse me, this is clearly not my forum."

Soooo boring! No wonder they wouldn't make me anything more than a squad leader. Clearly they don't know how to act. He thinks.

Passing by Tiger, he places the wad of cash back in her hand. "I'll be effecting a solution while you all talk yourselves into one." He nods as he moves off. "Captain."

"Good luck with your business, Mr. Captain." He says to the father. "But, discussions on how to pay for a solution already in action are not for my tastes."

And he heads to the door.

[albatross]

Tiger looks terrified, her mind racing: had she been unclear at any point? No, Kris and Jeckle clearly understood. She tries to relax, breathe and stare at her plate.

At a mumbled word from Fakir, Dervish, the rug and Charger all disappear. Only Dervish returns, right back into the seat next to Patriot. Charger is left alone with a nice rug in a vast desert in Africa, three years into the future.

Dervish nods to Fakir. Meeting Patriot's eye, Dervish says, "Apparently our generosity and flexibility have been misunderstood. We are discussing the possibility of handing over the Labyrinth in accordance with Dante's idea. The only reason this discussion is possible is due to your association with the Captain, who is family to us." He looks at Tiger, whose face is drained of color as she steadily pours herself a drink.

Turning back to Patriot, he smiles, "Oh, don't give me that look, I didn't kill him. You'll probably see him again. He is just three years into the future." Dervish doesn't mention where he is in the future. "He was clearly a security risk." Dervish returns to his food.

"Now then," Fakir continues gracefully, "I believe Kris has the beginnings of a plan. TS?"

TS smiles, "I believe Kris spoke of other opportunities. Perhaps instead of us finding something new, your team could find something new - and do something for us?" She looks around to see what their reactions are.