“We wouldn’t need roads, paved or otherwise.” The overlord flashes his teeth.
Why? Why is he so much more agreeable than anyone here on Earth? I’ve heard that he is a stickler, a stern man who will not hesitate to punish severely those who wrong him, but he doesn’t seem that bad to me at all.
“I will be sure to get the photo to you as quickly as possible.”
“Good. Now, can I ask where Rix is? Why you didn’t wait to tell him? Has he seen the device in action?”
I hesitate and then grin. “I’ll go and get you the footage right away, sir.”
“You can call me… Nestrol.”
“Thank you, Nestrol. I’ll get the footage to you as soon as I can.”
“Very well, Ava. I look forward to reviewing it.”
And that’s what I do. I return to the scrapyard with my device, and I bring along one of my security cameras this time. Within an hour, I’m back on the ship, and the overlord walks me through how to send him the footage.
"I can't review this immediately," he says. "You called me in the middle of a meeting."
“My apologies.”
“Why are you apologizing?” he asks. “You didn’t know, and I took your call anyhow. I want you to know that I am interested in this, very interested. I will review the footage and hail the ship once I have had a chance to review it.”
“Wonderful. That’s great. I appreciate you taking the time to review this.”
“I must be going.”
“Yes, of course. Enjoy your meeting.”
I disconnect the call and grimace. Enjoy your meeting? I’m not used to brownnosing, but I hope that everything works out.
Some might call this being a mercenary, but it’s not. I want to change the world. Why does that have to be limited to Earth?
11
Rix
The hotel room is feeling a little cramped. Two days ago, my friends were given an assignment, and they left for it. Who knows when they'll come back.
Ava. I want to see her, but she hadn't been there the one time I stopped by her place. I didn't spy, but I couldn't help noticing that the plasma morpher was nowhere in sight. It makes me ill to realize that I have no means of finding her.
That's not true. I can return to Ava's place and just wait there until she returns. She will return at some point, and then we can go ahead and do… What exactly? Talk? I would like to do that, actually, but I doubt she'll give me a chance to explain things.
And explain things how? How can I get her to understand that I never intended to hurt her?
My chip chirps, and I answer.
“Hello?”
“Rix,” the overlord says loud and clear.
“Overlord Nestrol!”
“You sound surprised to hear from me.”
“I, ah, it’s an honor—”
“You can save the ovian crap,” the overlord says dryly. “You know the Earthling Ava, don’t you?”
"I do," I say suspiciously. My mind is racing. My dad. He must've told the overlord about her. How else can the overlord know about her? "I can explain—"
"No, I am going to explain to you what is going on. I want to buy Ava's levitation device, and I have been trying to get a sale from her for two days now. It's just not happening with her there on Earth and me in Kuria, and the ovian female is refusing to come to Kuria. I can't leave now. Issues you don't need to concern yourself with."
It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask him what’s going on, but I don’t. It’s not my place to, and he already said I shouldn’t concern myself with it.
But, naturally, that means I do.
“Since she won’t come to Kuria, and she’s on Earth, and you’re on Earth, won’t you handle it?” the overlord asks in a tone that suggests it’s not really a question but a command. “Will you talk to her, smooth things over, get the deal done? Maybe you can even romance her a bit if necessary…”
My stomach twisted to use it against her. It’s wrong. So very wrong. I won’t do it.
I won’t do the romancing to get the deal done. I will romance her, though.
But this does add a whole new layer of complicating things. Right now, Ava doesn't want anything to do with me, romantically or otherwise. Getting the deal done won't be easy.
“Well?” the overlord snaps. “I want her levitation device.”
“It works?”
“You really aren’t in the loop at all, are you? No wonder she came onto your ship when you weren’t around.”
“She called you.”
“You’re a bit slow on the uptake, aren’t you? How is it that she was able to get onto your ship without you knowing?” He pauses. “You aren’t staying on your ship.”
“No.”
“Can just anyone waltz onto your ship?”
“No, but they can ballroom dance their way on board.”
"You think you're funny. Maybe Ava will appreciate that charm, but I don't. Get this done, Rix, or else you'll be done. Do I make myself clear?"
“Yes, sir.”
“Good.”
He disconnects the call.
I grimace and press a fist to my forehead. This isn’t going to be easy at all.
Well, I can go and see her and… Should I handle the levitation device issue first? I suppose so. Romancing her will only make things more complicated, but she might not appreciate seeing me at all. She might not be willing to listen to me, and I can’t blame her.
Whenever Mom and Dad fight, Dad always ends up trying to get Mom a present. He’ll barter for food she likes or take her on a trip to Earth or just a trip through the stars. He does something to make her happy.
What can I do that will make Ava happy?
That’s the thing. I don’t know her enough to know what it would take to make her happy.
And that thought makes me feel so very utterly low.
Yes, there’s no doubt about it. I’m enchanted by her, all right, and she’s not. She’s not enchanted with me.
How can I change that? How
