Chapter 2: The Wayward Wind

"Better to ask for them as slaves." Alerio says, regretting the logic to it. "Don’t try to reason with them. It’s a waste of breath. Tell them we need obedient manpower for our ship and leave it at that. Once we’re away, we let them go."

"That's harsh," Zuni says to the Feskai.

"I like Alerio's idea. That could work. I mean why wouldn't it?"

"Perfect! Please, Mr. Feskal, can you give us the identifying names of yourself and your two fellow heretics? We want to be sure to request the correct people."

"And you sure you wont change your mind, after the, eh… mind meld thing. Sounds life changing." she asks the Feskal.

"Our squad identity code is FF91AF. My designation is FF91AF-1, and our other surviving members are FF91AF-4 and FF91AF-9. I ... do not have words to express my gratitude. Please understand, we will earn this kindness and repay this debt."
"The Feskals were never to hear The Word of the Children. Our Barnai masters consider our evolution ... final."

---

When you approach the Barnai about the idea of taking the Feskal, they are surprised in an unpleasant way. Monrayleux interfaces with the others, and there is considerable unspoken debate between them. Eventually Monrayleux responds.

"This is an unusual request! Please understand, the Feskals are both our protectors and our wards. They are proprietary military technology, but also children. Florian ethics do not permit us to barter with life forms. What do you want with them, anyway?"

Something tells you their ethics aren't as stalwart as they claim, but the posturing of a hostile negotiation position.

"Same as you." Alerio says with a shrug.

"It’s a dangerous place out here, and we’ve been hoping to expand our crew. They seem trustworthy and dependable. Nothing more to it."

"Although it does seem strange they are both your protectors and your wards. Definitionally, wards are people whom you protect, while protectors are those who protect you. You can't have it both ways. Especially if they are just children, it would be...uncultured to be protected by children. No offense meant, of course, it's just that we are unfamiliar with your culture and can only interpret it through our own experiences," she adds to soften the barbs in her questions.

Zuni gets a niggling feeling that with a few wrongly chosen words they could be in danger along with the Feskals. They needed to tread carefully. Akerio handled it well and he nodded his assent. When Fallon's response comes across as a little less diplomatic, he feels like ducking and cringing.

"We're just really short on help. I think it's a very fair exchange."

Seally grins at the others, she can't help herself, they're so bad at this. Fallon sells it better at least, with a plausible story.

"Don't think of it as bartering. They won't be our property, but valued retainers, given a wage. They'll learn more about our ways in a month, than you'll believe. Think of what you could learn from such an exchange?" She taps her skull where the wafer jack would go. "What you could live as if real."

"Ask yourselves this; how badly do you want what’s in our heads? It’s the whole reason you’re out here, right?

If you’re talking about taking stuff back, then maybe we should rethink the whole thing. You keep your guys, and we keep our… experiences."

She speaks with a tone that’s trying to demonstrate that she doesn’t care one way or the other.

"As the lady said, take it or leave it," Zuni adds, adopting a nonchalant attitude.

Secretly he hopes they take the deal as he feels sorry for the Feskals, more than he expected he would. This was a huge opportunity for the Barnai. He didn't see them letting it slip away.

Alerio laughs, and hefts her weapon as they mention taking things by laser and sword. She went through the steps in her head; weighing up the conflict.

That one…
Then two of the bigs…
Then the knife…
Then it’s lights out…

"You certainly could. And some of your crew would even get to enjoy a brain orgy afterwards… but you wouldn’t!

Good thing you’re peaceful…"

Because I’m not…

"Glad we could come to an agreement."

She's unhappy with the talk of violence, the veiled threats, the inability to negotiate. Of course they couldn't say the truth, the mention of heresy would have complicated everything.

"Then we have an accord. I look forward to sharing our experience with you. I'm ready for the procedure. I am confident that you'll find our memories of our encounter with the Children without peer."

"I'm ready as well. I hope what you find is what you are looking for. It would be great if both of us benefit and walk away happy, don't you think?" Fallon wanted this to go well since there's no reason both sides can't benefit equally. And it never hurt to have allies and sources from such a reclusive society.

"It's not like we are asking for all your Feskai! Zuni says, in the same excited tone as Monrayleux. "Only three of them. So yes we do insist on them. You're still getting a good deal."

He couldn't help his attitude.

"Treat the women well, Monrayleux. We want no harm to come to them. Alerio and I wish to be present during the entire procedure. Can we send the three Feskai to our ship now?" He looks at Alerio to confirm she is on board with that.

The guards and the communication between them and Monrayleux are of concern to Zuni. They could be planning anything.

Alerio nods back. If she had a minute to really think, she’d probably go back on the whole thing. It might still come to violence when alls said and done…

"We’re eager to share what we’ve learned with you." she says, forcing a smile.

The Florians seems satisfied with the new agreement. After retrieving 900,000 credits from the original sum they offered you, they prepare Squad FF91AF for transfer to your ship. Stripped of their battle dress and weapons, they board with only the clothes on their backs and a small duffle bag of personal effects. The Barnai have a perfunctory farewell ceremony, where they tell the Feskals their sacrifice of being cut from Florian society is for the greater future of the Florian race. Their faces are completely devoid of emotion during the ceremony, but as they follow Fallon and Alerio back to the Wayward Wind, their faces turn to an odd combination of awed smiles and exhaustion. They shield their eyes in the (relatively) bright light of the cargo bay.

Privately, they speak to one another in their own language:The Feskal designated as One (at least you think so - it's really difficult to tell them apart, especially since they are wearing identical black clothes) connects with Goldie for translation. "Thank you, again. I am FF91AF-1, this is FF91AF-4 and FF91AF-9. Where would you like us to lodge? At your convenience, we want to talk about our debt. We are eager to resolve it, with gratitude."