The Meeting.

[DoF Archive]

Date: 10/17/1998 2:34 PM Central Daylight Time
From: SpifyMcBng

"Miss Virginia Stone to see you, sir."

"Send her in."

Politely, he rose as the woman entered his office. "Miss Stone." His hand extended in greeting.

"Hello." It did bother her some that she could say little else; it was unusual for the Chief Executive of a company to withhold even his name from the public. The little smoke-and-mirrors game would not faze her, though. She had plans.

"Please, sit." Resting easily back into his own plush chair, he motioned to a comfortable looking seat on the other side of the desk.

"Thank you." He became uneasy, watching her sit; politeness was not his strongest suit, and holding the facade up was a task unto itself. "Do you have any tea?"

"Tea?" He could not hide the surprise. He was the head of an important company, not some bloody butler. "We have no tea."

Her frown was enough reply. "I see. I suppose I can do without for a time. Tell me, is it true that your company backs Team Fist, of the Team Dueling League?"

What is she trying to pull? "Yes."

"I see. It must make for wonderful advertising."

This was not a good idea. "Yes."

She smiled, kindly, her expression not belying the greed which drove her to this meeting in the first place. "Do you answer any other way, besides yes and no?"

This is enough. "Miss Stone, you did not come here to discuss the Team Dueling League, Team Fist, advertising benefits, or anything else of that ilk. The Kitsune is known in certain circles- known well enough so that I can say with some certainty that you would not wish to speak with me about such bland details of running a business. Tell me why you wished this meeting, or leave."

Now was her turn to show a bit of hesitancy. Shifting slightly, her answer came uneasily, forced. "Director, I am here to offer Kitsune's assistance with your latest project. Perhaps together, we can.."

An uproarious laugh cut her off. "Woman, you are a comedic genius! I have not had laughed so hard in an age, I tell you! Our "latest project"? You are lying about something, Miss Stone, although I do admit I am not sure as to what. Our "latest project" involves farming equipment! It is hardly the sort of thing the Kitsune Foundation would be even remotely interested in. Either you have spoken falsely about your affiliation, or the implication
you gave that you know what our latest project regards is wholly a sham. Unless, of course.." His demeanor calmed, slightly.

"Unless, of course, Kitsune has been bought out by peasants!" Laughing harshly, and terribly loud, Titan's CEO sat back in his chair, eyes tearing from the outburst. Yet he maintained himself long enough to show one last show of fire through the humor.

"Now get out of my office!"

[DoF Archive]

Date: 10/27/1998 2:32 AM Central Daylight Time
From: Maetel Cat

'How dare he?' was her first thought.Then she considered his actions critically. "It seems I was mistaken sir, I'll be leaving now."Calmly, oh so calmly she gets up from the chair. 'You're terrible at this game, aren't you?' she thought, watching him behind his massive desk. 'So insulated from the world. Your mask is a joke, I can read every little lie you speak.'"The Kitsune Foundation apologizes for taking up your valuable time." She gives him a restrained nod and then walks out the door. 'I may not have what I want, but now I have a new puzzle, and maybe a new way to tie brother dear into knots of his own making.'Out in the carriage, on her way back to the Foundation building, she places a call. "Connect me with the Hyperspace Shunt, I need to make a call."The technician on the other end nods and makes a few adjustments. At his signal, Virginia inputs a series of codes. Within moments, a slim woman's face appears on her monitor."Madame Director Stone, I had not expected to hear from you yet.""A glitch in the plans Sterenkov, I need you to come back here. You're the only one I trust who knows anything about this backwater."The woman in the monitor frowns. "I had a hard enough time getting out the last time I was there. This had best be worth my time.""Oh, it will be, I assure you." With that, she closes the communications and sits back."Soon, brother. Soon I will have everything I deserve......."



Maetel

Truth is but an illusion... illusion, truth.

[DoF Archive]

Date: 11/6/1998 8:20 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Sterenkov

"Ten minutes until planetfall Captain."

Normally the computer's voice was reasuring, but now Sonia was hearing what she did not want to hear. "Acknowledged. Maintain contact with the starport and prepare the lander."

Already she was feeling the unwelcome pull of gravity on her body. She could resist it with her telekinetics, but that was nearly as tiring, and in the end just as futile.

She never thought she would come to this planet again, not after the last time she was here. At least now the Talokians were not after her, and maybe she could look up that strange fellow with the funny accent.

"Planetfall achieved Captain, the lander is fueled and ready for operation."

Work first though. "Place a signal to skipcom number 74131. Transcription as follows: The crane has flown south, wintertime has come."

Meanwhile, in that large black tower, Virginia Stone hears a beeping from her purse and smiles......