Page 42 of Vex
From the way Maera took cover behind Zymon, these drones weren't hers.
The door to the roof's stairwell opened, and Jaekob Kaur, the Mountain's concierge, stepped out. His uniform was perfectly pressed, and he looked ready to settle a dinner dispute, not step between an angry dragon and a criminal.
"This will not do," said the concierge.
"He broke neutrality!" Maera yelled, pointing at Vex from behind Zymon's broad back.
Vex let his fire dissipate but didn't respond. Instead, he waited a beat before speaking. "Maera Daxkar has been operating an illegal data brokering operation out of your facility. I have been tasked with stopping it."
Kaur's expression remained perfectly neutral, the practiced indifference of someone who'd spent years managing the affairs of the wealthy and dangerous. He surveyed the burning wreckage and armed standoff with the same calm efficiency he might use to assess a dinner reservation conflict.
"What our guests do is their own business," said Kaur. "But we do not tolerate violence."
"I only acted in self-defense," said Vex. "And I believe that is allowed."
The concierge nodded.
"He's lying!" Maera objected.
"Then give me your version of events," Kaur offered. "I'm sure we can come to a reasonable agreement here."
A bribe. Or something like it.
Luisa recognized a man looking for payment. And this was Aetis, after all. No one was clean.
"I'll cut you in on the operation," Maera offered desperately. "One third—no, half!—of all my fees. That's surely more than your salary." Clearly, she didn't believe Luisa had destroyed the data. Or she was bluffing.
If she was, she was good.
Kaur turned to Vex with a raised eyebrow.
Vex’s response was bland. "My uncle is the king of Vemion. What do you want?"
Maera's composure finally cracked completely. She spat curses in three different languages, her voice rising to a shriek that cut through the wind. Zymon tried to pull her back, but she shook him off, her face twisted with rage.
"Some of our guests have had trouble in your air space. It's becoming an issue." Kaur's tone was conversational, as if they were discussing catering options rather than negotiating over a criminal's fate.
"We don't let slavers through." Vex was firm.
"No, I wouldn't ask that."
Vex's voice carried the casual authority of someone accustomed to making deals that affected entire star systems. "Then we can work something out. A security passcode you can offer your guests for safe transit?"
"Done."
All of the drones turned to face Maera and Zymon.
"This is not how things are done here!" she yelled.
The concierge gave her a concerned look. "Of course it is." He turned to Vex. "Shall I take care of this for you?"
Vex considered it. Then he shook his head. "Put her in custody. I'll have a transport come for her and remand them into IDA custody."
"Consider it done."
Vex held out a hand, and Luisa took it.
His fingers intertwined with hers, warm and solid and real. The simple contact grounded her, cutting through the surreal chaos of the last few hours. The job was over. They'd won. Maera's operation was finished, the stolen data destroyed, and somehow, impossibly, they were both still alive.
