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"Alright," said Hector. "I'll go see if I can find one of them. Thank you for your help, Your Highness."

<"You are very welcome.">

"In the meantime, um... I'd just like you to know, in case you're feeling worried or scared and just hiding it from me... I want you to know that everything's going to be okay, sir."

<"Heh. I appreciate that.">

"Because if someone is listening in on our conversation right now, then I'm sure they realize that if anything happens to you or Vito... there will be hell to pay."

<"Ah...">

"I'll call you again soon, Your Highness."

<"Very well. I will be anticipating it.">

He hung up.

A brief silence fell over the group as everyone seemed to still be processing everything they'd just heard.

Unsurprisingly, Voreese was the first to speak up. 'So we're just swingin' our dicks around like it's nobody's business, eh?'

Hector wasn't sure how to respond to that.

Roman helped him out. "Uniquely put, as always, Voreese."

'You do realize that you basically just threatened the same mysterious freaks who are probably responsible for this whole fucked up situation out here, don't you?'

Ah. Hector allowed the moment to linger as he eyed everyone again. "...Yeah."

After another beat, Voreese bobbed her skull. 'Cool, just checking.'

Nadim Saqqaf, who'd remained mostly quiet during their whole trip thus far, decided to speak up. "Senators Jacobson, Leoric and Morris," he said. "All prominent members of the Grand National Republic Party. If you are to meet with one of them so soon, then I would advise additional caution, Lord Goffe. Even if the meeting itself goes well and they are entirely amicable towards us, it could still cause problems for you later."

"Oh yeah," said Roman with an air of realization. "The Moons and the Grands. The Moons'll be pissed if you show too much favorability to the Grands--and vice versa. If we end up needing to deal with the Moons at some point, then that could become quite the nuisance."

Shit.

Nadim's armored gaze turned to Roman now. "Astutely put. Do you consider yourself well-versed in Intarian politics, Mr. Fullister?"

"Oh, I don't know about that. I just try to pay attention, is all. I'm more than happy to defer to your counsel, sir. Hector actually selected you for this mission, after all. I'm only here because he's too nice to refuse me."

'Yeah, he's like a rash that Hector can't get rid of.'

"What does that make you, then? The bacteria that causes the rash?"

'The soothing balm that makes the rash tolerable.'

That pulled a laugh out of Roman and left him shaking his head.