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Seignur Veeoni’s Private Laboratory


The test suite would require some time to run. She had briefly considered making a transcription, but decided to wait until she understood the architecture more fully.

Seignur Veeoni returned to her office, and found M Traven reading the documentation she was preparing for Korval.

“That is incomplete,” she said.

Her bodyguard looked up from the screen.

“What is its purpose, when complete?”

Seignur Veeoni sighed.

“Its purpose is to persuade the delm of Korval to allow Crystal Energy Systems to partner in the repair and maintenance of this station, where I intend to remain for the foreseeable future.”

M Traven turned back to the screen.

“The information is good, but it is not very persuasive.”

Seignur Veeoni eyed her, sitting solid and calm before the screen.

“Are you,” she asked carefully, “bored?”

M Traven had been one of two dozen guards who had protected her and her residence; one of six M Strain soldiers. While M soldiers were accomplished in all the arts of war and violence, they were in addition generalists, possessed of a lively, wide-ranging intelligence.

It was not good policy, Seignur Veeoni had discovered, to allow an M soldier to become bored.

M Traven sighed.

“Perhaps, a little,” she said.

“Then there is nothing for it but for you to finish this proposal,” Seignur Veeoni said briskly. “Please be as persuasive as you are able. I cannot understand why Korval should have to be persuaded to a course of such obvious benefit to all parties, but Light Keeper yos’Phelium thinks it necessary.”

M Traven glanced at the screen, then back to her face.

“It will be an interesting exercise.”

Seignur Veeoni approached the desk, leaned over and tapped in several commands.

“You now have access to all of the information I have which is relevant to this project. Recall that any decisions must be made between Crystal Energy and Korval.”

“In fact, this document is the opening salvo. I understand.”

M Traven turned in the chair, watching her as she moved about the office, gathering those things she would require.

“Am I needed?” M Traven asked.

Seignur Veeoni straightened.

“You are needed here. I am needed in the new core. Mentor Jones, Soldier nor’Phelium, and Tocohl will also be present. I will be perfectly safe.”

M Traven sat quite still for a moment, then nodded.

“I’ll have a working draft to show you when you return.”

“Excellent,” said Seignur Veeoni, and left her to it.


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Framed