stimulating company.”
CHAPTER 7
C onnor noted her slightly raised heart rate and blood pressure as he sipped a glass of wine poured for him by Ambassador Tamas. Tenset was certainly a flirt, but him being alone with Chesara didn’t bother Connor as much as he thought it might. Chesara would certainly give him a run for his money, and he had confidence in Tenset’s ability to protect her. The man might act like a dandy, but there had been steel in the arm that had shoved him earlier.
They were back in Tamas’ office, sitting either side of a large, ornate wooded desk in an office on the ground floor of the embassy. Connor took another swallow of the excellent wine as he waited for the man to get to the point of the meeting.
It was probably about getting Chesara to do a little extra work while she was here. There were frequently charity requests on their assignments. He usually agreed to some additional healing as long as it didn’t exhaust her or interfere with their next ‘paying’ assignment. Although he played a security officer most of the time, Connor was responsible for every aspect of Chesara's work and care. The only people able to supersede his orders were the Captain of the vessel they were on, and then only for matters of ship security, or Connor’s direct superior ‘Operative theta 16.’
“Mr Temple, we need to work out a few tedious details about our arrangement regarding the hybrid’s services,” said Tamas, disturbing Connor from his review of Chesara’s vital signs.
The middle-aged diplomat leaned back in his chair as Connor’s attention returned to him. Referring to her as ‘the hybrid’ immediately had his hackles rising, but work was work and he couldn’t let a local cultural prejudice colour his judgment of the man in front of him.
“I know we’ve only contracted her services to sort out a little fertility problem, but I’d like to discuss the possibility of a further transaction.” The older man had lost the bumbling exterior, and a shrewd glint appeared in his grey eyes.
“Go on,” prompted Connor as he put his half-full glass on the desk.
Faced with a person in need, Chesara would heal them, if she were able. However, it was his responsibility to negotiate the details, ensuring that one planet didn’t monopolize her services and that she was not ‘over used’. Not to mention ensuring that the funds she generated kept rolling into Federation coffers. Realistically, he knew that the last criterion was the most notable one for most of his superiors.
The extortionate amounts charged for her services, not only helped to pay for research and military actions against rebel planets, it also kept many others, such as Kalzir, too poor to consider rebelling against the status quo.
“We’d like to hire her for a calendar year.”
Connor was glad he didn’t have a mouthful of wine, because it would now be decorating the desk.
“Do you have any idea how much that would cost? Besides what would you have her doing for an entire year?”
Sometimes these isolationist planets had no idea how the rest of the galaxy worked, but perhaps he shouldn’t blame them for their ignorance. He had no idea how much this man knew about the financial aspects of this arrangement. It was quite possible he thought Chesara could cure all the ills of his world in a year.
“Lord Tamas, as much as I’d loved to be able to spend more time here, we have other critical assignments for Chesara, people that need her help just as much as Kalzirians.” He shook his head and put on a firm but apologetic expression.
“I’m sorry, but it’s out of the question, even if your planet could afford the fee.”
Tamas appeared unfazed by Connor’s reaction; indeed a faint smile hovered around his lips.
“What we want her for isn’t your concern Mr. Temple, although your willing participation in the venture may make it easier for her, as you do seem to have some influence. You would, of course, be
CHAPTER 7
C onnor noted her slightly raised heart rate and blood pressure as he sipped a glass of wine poured for him by Ambassador Tamas. Tenset was certainly a flirt, but him being alone with Chesara didn’t bother Connor as much as he thought it might. Chesara would certainly give him a run for his money, and he had confidence in Tenset’s ability to protect her. The man might act like a dandy, but there had been steel in the arm that had shoved him earlier.
They were back in Tamas’ office, sitting either side of a large, ornate wooded desk in an office on the ground floor of the embassy. Connor took another swallow of the excellent wine as he waited for the man to get to the point of the meeting.
It was probably about getting Chesara to do a little extra work while she was here. There were frequently charity requests on their assignments. He usually agreed to some additional healing as long as it didn’t exhaust her or interfere with their next ‘paying’ assignment. Although he played a security officer most of the time, Connor was responsible for every aspect of Chesara's work and care. The only people able to supersede his orders were the Captain of the vessel they were on, and then only for matters of ship security, or Connor’s direct superior ‘Operative theta 16.’
“Mr Temple, we need to work out a few tedious details about our arrangement regarding the hybrid’s services,” said Tamas, disturbing Connor from his review of Chesara’s vital signs.
The middle-aged diplomat leaned back in his chair as Connor’s attention returned to him. Referring to her as ‘the hybrid’ immediately had his hackles rising, but work was work and he couldn’t let a local cultural prejudice colour his judgment of the man in front of him.
“I know we’ve only contracted her services to sort out a little fertility problem, but I’d like to discuss the possibility of a further transaction.” The older man had lost the bumbling exterior, and a shrewd glint appeared in his grey eyes.
“Go on,” prompted Connor as he put his half-full glass on the desk.
Faced with a person in need, Chesara would heal them, if she were able. However, it was his responsibility to negotiate the details, ensuring that one planet didn’t monopolize her services and that she was not ‘over used’. Not to mention ensuring that the funds she generated kept rolling into Federation coffers. Realistically, he knew that the last criterion was the most notable one for most of his superiors.
The extortionate amounts charged for her services, not only helped to pay for research and military actions against rebel planets, it also kept many others, such as Kalzir, too poor to consider rebelling against the status quo.
“We’d like to hire her for a calendar year.”
Connor was glad he didn’t have a mouthful of wine, because it would now be decorating the desk.
“Do you have any idea how much that would cost? Besides what would you have her doing for an entire year?”
Sometimes these isolationist planets had no idea how the rest of the galaxy worked, but perhaps he shouldn’t blame them for their ignorance. He had no idea how much this man knew about the financial aspects of this arrangement. It was quite possible he thought Chesara could cure all the ills of his world in a year.
“Lord Tamas, as much as I’d loved to be able to spend more time here, we have other critical assignments for Chesara, people that need her help just as much as Kalzirians.” He shook his head and put on a firm but apologetic expression.
“I’m sorry, but it’s out of the question, even if your planet could afford the fee.”
Tamas appeared unfazed by Connor’s reaction; indeed a faint smile hovered around his lips.
“What we want her for isn’t your concern Mr. Temple, although your willing participation in the venture may make it easier for her, as you do seem to have some influence. You would, of course, be
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