Aziora Tower

In an office on an upper floor of the tower Sandra leaned back in her large chair, gazing out of her large window, drumming her fingers on her larger desk. A hologram of the Valentine Asset Acquisitions logo floated above the desk, a ticker rotating around it to show that her request was being processed.

V.A.A. wasn't the largest company in the tower, not by a long shot. There were only about one hundred employees under her, but with out them and their inventory of machines and bots the entire building would grind to a halt. They were the go-between, the blood and oil. They had a massive budget, drawn from every company under the Valentine Inc. umbrella, to facilitate this work, after all, if the machine stops working it dies, and a dead machine can't make a profit.

The hologram blinked and a soft chime indicated that her attention was again needed. A list of possible suppliers sprawled out in the space above her desk. She moved them here and there, some she dismissed with a quick swipe of her hand, others she organized into little groups of floating headshots. Her eyes bounced from group to group, trimming away different options, moving some to other groups, until finally one option sat floating above the center of her desk.

"Open file." she spoke softly and the one sheet exploded into a mass of virtual pages. Prior contacts, public deals, products, contracts. "This should do nicely." she placed her hands on the desk and a keyboard appeared below them.

---

To: "Russian"
Subject: Let's do business.

Valentine Asset Acquisitions and Valentine Inc. would like to extend to you an invitation to Aziora Tower to discuss the possible purchase of mech inventory for asset management and subject retrieval.

We look forward to doing business.

Regards,
Sandra Lincoln
President; Valentine Asset Acquisitions



P.S. This will be an inclusive trip. Our treat.

---

Sandra hit send and left it to the vast intergalactic communications network to deliver. If the man was as good a supplier as the records showed he could be a valuable asset in and of himself. The woman took one more look out at the horizon, the city below didn't stretch far enough to enter her line of site, it was just Origin and her sky. Turning she set back to the work of keeping the tower running smoothly.

Russian had seen many things in his life, but an invitation to discuss business at some sort of tower to talk business. Now this was his cup of tea...Only he never drinks tea. He had recently began selling mechs since he was desperate for cash, and surprisingly he was making a pretty profit off his proffesional expertise in mechs.

Now here he was at Azoria Tower, to talk about selling mechs and retrieving subjects...Funny, he first started out retrieving lost subjects from the military long ago. Fond memories...But no time to trip out on memory lane. He just stepped into the doors and walked right up to a reception desk.

“I got an invitation to come here, the names Russian. I’m here concerning the email I received about mechs and subject retrieval.” He spoke putting his arms on the counter.

The receptionist brought up the name quickly, "Ah, yes. Welcome Mr. Russian." he pulled up a few notes, "You're looking for Valentine Asset Acquisitions, executive level 133. You'll find the elevators to either side of the stairs."

Producing a card marked V.A.A. Exec Pass. He slid it across the counter. "This will allow access to level 133, you'll be meeting Miss Lincoln."

Russian nodded as he took the card in his hands before taking his arms off the counter. “Thanks.” He gave a small bit of Thanks to the receptionist before heading over to the elevators. Well, this was a welcome start. He felt like he was slightly getting the V.I.P treatment.

The com chime pulled Sandra's attention away from her forms. "Yes?" she inquired.

"You're guest has arrived ma'am. He is on his way up now."

"Thank you." she waved a hand, clearing the holographic desktop away. It was impressive how quickly the room went from seeming so technologically advanced to having no real noticeable technology in it at all. That was the theme around most of the tower's executive offices, technology was well masked by old world class.

She made her way to the elevator lobby to await her guest in front of the large Valentine Asset Acquisitions logo on the lobby wall. It wasn't a long wait, 133 floors go by quickly when the elevators are g-compensated to allow for maximum speed while maintaining a pleasant 1g, plus or minus a fraction depending on the direction of travel to give at least a sense of movement of course.

The indicator light flashed and the doors slid open, Sandra smiled and extended a hand. "Welcome, Mr. Russian. I'm Sandra Lincoln, President of Valentine Asset Acquisitions. We are pleased you decided to accept our invitation."

The elevator ride he would admit was smooth and fast, quite an elevator if he did say so himself. But of course he was not here to admire elevators, once he arrived at the floor. Sandra Lincoln, President Of Valentine Asset Acquisitions greeted him. And more importantly his contact that gave him the invitation to come.

“No need for formalities. Just Russian is fine.” Russian chuckled a bit as he reached out and shook her hand in response. For a name like Valentine. You would think they would not dabble in mechs or experimental subjects. Still, a jobs a job. “Well then Sandra. You were hoping to ask me about mechs and subject retrieval right? So, what can I do you for?” He got to the point.

Sandra smiled, right to business. She lead the way back to her office while she spoke. "Hopefully we can do something for each other. Aziora Tower is full of individual subsidiary companies of Valentine Inc, the majority of which are research and development, engineering, or prototyping companies. We conduct a vast range of research in this tower, much of it involving subjects and assets acquired in the field, biological, mineral, or ethereal."

She paused, opening a polished wood buffet to reveal a selection of spirits and wines. "My job is to see to it that those assets get where they need to be. We've found the most efficient way to do that is with mech recovery." taking out a wine glass and a bottle of something red she twisted the cork out a poured herself a glass. "That's where you come in, Russian." she offered the bottle in a 'would you like a glass?' motion, "Or something else to your taste?" she asked the second half of the question aloud.

“Using mechs for recovery, I can see why you would require my help.” Russian nodded as he gratefully took a glass. “So, I gotta ask a few questions. Mostly involving these subjects of yours to build or reccomended the most optimal mech for your needs. Exactly what are they capable of? Superhuman speed or strength? Simple biological enhancements? Machines that have a human soul in them? Ghosts? Space is the limit. I seen or heard of almost everything possible. Whatever you need, I can build it with the right materials and time.” He replied as he relaxed.

"Yes." Sandra answered all of his questions about subject capabilities. "If you can think of something we may need to be prepared for, chances are we will ask for a retrieval mech to transport it. Luckily the assets generally only need to be retrieved and transported in a previously contained state." she took a sip of wine, "The basic requirements will be agility, extreme durability, and adaptability. As for special cases, we would like to have you on as a contracted supplier. There is no way we could account for every variable, so building them on a by case basis is more efficient. I'd wager its more profitable for you as well."

She waved a hand, bringing her holographic desktop back up. "I see you are also something of a contract mercenary and bounty hunter?"

Russian took a sip of his wine and savored it for a bit for speaking. “Mostly contract Mercanary, I made my reputation off of being hired to do jobs. I do almost everything. Need to kill a planet? Done. Need a bodyguard that has to look like a husband? Done. Feel free to bring up any jobs you need done.” He answered her question before taking another sip of wine.

“As for the mechs, I can build the mechs to those standards easy. Durability simple enough to do. Agility, easy enough to implement. Need a mech that can survive sudden changes of gravity and sudden weather changes? You hired the right man. Still, a contract supplier seems the most efficient way. Just order me, and get it in in a few hours. I can guarantee everything to be top quality.” He nodded.

A few quick motions brought up a contract sheet, a basic non-disclosure agreement and standard provisions for design ownership rights. "This will make it official. We will have an NDA on certain mech specifications and configurations at our discretion. VAA will own the rights to any designs and configurations specifically created to complete an order for us, but we certainly will extend the right to resale under license on any of those not covered under the NDA."

She spun the digital sheets around and handed Russian a digital interface pen. "I know this is rather formal, but business is business." she leaned back, swirling her wine glass before taking another drink. "I think we're going to get along nicely. But that'll be enough business talk, is this your first time in Aziora City?"

“First time in this city, I may have went to many places but still have plenty more to visit.” Russian replied as he took the pen and signed his name. A contract...how old fashioned like this room. Still, he had no problems with this. He got paid after all.

"Well, since we're done with business, perhaps a celebratory dinner? There is a lovely restaurant in town." Sandra waved the desktop away. "Our treat of course, a welcome to the family as it were. Unless you have other pressing matters to attend to?"

“Pressing matters?” Russian chuckled at the prospect. “Unless sailing the stars once again to be asking to be assaulted by something after you is considered something I want to rush into...I think I’ll accept your offer for some dinner. Have to admit, you people know how to treat a guest.” He grinned a bit as he took another sip of his drink.

Max walked over and flashed a key card over the elevator access pad. A light flashed green and soon the elevator door opened. He stepped in and pressed 121, holding his arm out to keep the door from closing.

"This is the only exit." he said dryly. "For the record, this company will have made and spent more than five hundred thousand dollars by the time you get in here." Max didn't show signs of amusement, he was stoic, it was his job to be flat. But he was enjoying this.

"You're getting a job."

Midgra timidly walked into the elevator, obviously perturbed by the turn of events. He pressed up against one side of the elevator, shoulders drooped and ears back. Surely he couldn’t be serious about making half a million dollars in a few seconds. But maybe he was… As Midgra’s mind began to wander it was snapped back to reality with four words. “You’re getting a job.”
Midgra let out a short hyena like laugh, purely out of reflex. This was truly funny to him.
“Uh, dearest friend…” he nervously began to wring his hands together.
“I don’t em… exactly have a resume or references…” He swallowed.
“Besides! Um… Look! I only have one eye!” He hurriedly pointed at his left eye, completely white, covered with tiny imperfections. It could have possibly been a marble, from the size.

Midgra waited for a response, which he did not get. Body language unchanging, hands still wringing, Midgra and Max ascended towards his fate.

As the door slid open Max set off. The floor receptionist simply waved. Max was almost as well recognized in the tower as Cedric Valentine was, being the bosses personal assistant had that kind of perk.

He made his was to an office door that read 'vice President Doran Rey.' and knocked. A moment later a voice responded "Open."

No less than thirty open windows floated above the man's desk. Various feeds from field operators, timelines, updates, inquiries. "You're busy." Max apologized.

"Nonsense." the man waved his hand across the sea of windows causing them to minimize. "What can I do for you Max?"

"Got someone you might like to meet. Looking for a job." he turned to Midgra, "and to get out of a bit of trouble, isn't that right?"

Midgra let out another huff, rolling his eyes at Max’s words. Looking anywhere but in the direction of the desk, he stuttered out a response to Max’s query. He wasn’t sure if it was adrenaline or the hangover that was making his hands shake, so he kept them nailed to his side.

“I… I… Have… Well, pleasure to uh…” trailing off, his eyes met the floor.
“Meet you.”

He took a breath, and seemed to hesitate, closing his mouth again in thought. Without warning, he looked up at the table and ran up to it, hiking himself up on the desk and addressing the man in a panicked ramble, hands waving in front of the screen. For his first job interview, his etiquette didn’t quite seem to be up to snuff.

“Please friend, just lemme fix your car! I know I can! And if you wont let me, I mop the floors, I clean the windows! Just until I buy you new car, a better one! Um… Um…” hurriedly he ran to one of the windows and spat on it, proceeding to wipe a smear onto it with his dirty sleeve. “I can do jobs! Look how clean your windows are now!” He laughed again, extremely nervously. He was feeding off his own energy and working himself up.

“Anything! Just tell me what! I'll never bother you or your slave again!” He began to pant from all the activity.

Doran looked at Midgra, then at Max, then back to Midgra. Then he burst into laughter. "Calm down, and stop streaking up my windows." turning back toward Max he asked "So, what did he do to be so worked up?"

"Tried to steal the car." Max replied, "Didn't seem keen on meeting with authorities, and I know you have openings for the, less legal inclined."

Doran wasn't a bad person, he just wasn't opposed to using labor where it was convenient, and debt labor wasn't the same as slavery, which was generally frowned upon in most of the Valentine companies.

"I don't run a cleaning service here. All I'll need from you is the ability to observe things, and relay information. Can you do that..." Doran paused, realizing he didn't know the creatures name. He cast a questioning glance at Max who shrugged "Didn't ask."

"Whats you're name anyway?" Doran finally asked.

Midgra's attention went from Max and Doran respectively as they spoke to each other, retracting his arm from the window in a slow motion. His ears perked up and body stance lightened as Doran asked the question.

"Midgra. And that's easy! I am BEST observer. BEST relayer."

He waved a hand in front of him dismissively as he spoke, showing complete confidence. He came a bit closer to the two and asked:

"That is all? No salt mines? No cleaning? No car repair?"

He began to look around the room, poking and prodding at trinkets which he found amusing.
"Just watch? Watch what? Why are we watching it? And what does relay mean?"
The questions came quickly, one after the other as he continued to investigate the room.

Max Entwine vanishes into nothingness, but you get the feeling they are heading somewhere else.

Castaway