Chapter Text
FTL <vessel> TITUS CLIPPER AH3-PV-083C10 <city> JUPITER REFINERY AH1-CH-24X044
<transmission time> IGE 82.102.482 ^ 12-09 ^ 24:58:02.84
<sent> AH3-XX-1 [Titus Abrasax] <to> AH1-XX-1 [Balem Abrasax]
<encryption key> ϡћ*ℓ≡Ḁᴞ
<title>Titus Abrasax requesting of Balem Abrasax internal sale of AH3-CP-170MG2 [Vichance Greeghan] and associated sargon century.
<body> Dear brother, many gracious thanks for the birthday gift of the avialan splice – Miss Swan has proved her worth many times over already. Your associate Mr. Night did a fine job of selecting a token certain of pleasing me. You might even tell him; does he blush under all that white powder? I’ve taken the liberty of preparing a sheave for the internal sale of the final century of sargons. Mother was so thoughtful to leave me a taste of her beloved Earth, but they really are more your style. Mr. Greeghan is a sublime example of his breed; he’s sure to please your tastes more than mine.
<personal> Looks like you’ll be getting the rest of the flying lizards, good riddance. Titus got it into his head that he just must have his own millennium of the new sims. Saw them all white and bedazzled at the House Moshki and Grammaton wedding, and just couldn’t stand not having them. Can’t be anything other than the height of fashion, particularly after Lady M had Kalique design the bonds…
FTL <city> JUPITER REFINERY AH1-CH-24X044 <vessel> TITUS CLIPPER AH3-PV-083C10
<transmission time> IGE 82.102.482 ^ 13-09 ^ 15:04:28.03
<sent> AH1-XX-1 [Balem Abrasax] <to> AH3-XX-1 [Titus Abrasax]
<encryption key> χ¥ᴪϐϗϹϔ
<title> <body> I have no need for knowledge of your personal affairs. Terms accepted.
<personal> Words cannot express my delight. Really. Balem dropped yet another sargon into my ventilation system. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get sargon bits out of antigrav ventilators? I lost almost 18 full swarms of nanos before I got all the gore degraded. I’m oh-so-happy to take them off your decks, so they can end up shredded in mine. And tell me this: I read the sheave almost as thoroughly as Balem didn’t; those three splices Titus snuck in aren’t even a gene sargon. What’s he playing at? This sale has to be more than soothing his ego after Lady M spurned his suit in favor of the lovely (filthy rich) Lady G. He must know by now no entitled with a dram to their name would enter a contract with him.
FTL <vessel> TITUS CLIPPER AH3-PV-083C10 <city> JUPITER REFINERY AH1-CH-24X044
<transmission time> IGE 82.102.483 ^ 02-04 ^ 02:00:19.19
<sent> AH3-XN-1 [Famulus Cerve] <to> AH1-XN-1 [Chicanery Night]
<encryption key> ЉЏϰẍЉᵷᶎ
<title> Transfer of sargon century
<body>Purchased century departed at 0200 hours 02-04-34; arrival expected by 0400, depending on precise portal coordinates. As always, it’s been a pleasure doing business with you. No reply necessary.
<personal> You’ll figure it out soon enough, I’m sure! Probably right around the first unauthorized transmission… you know, cloaking technology has gotten so much better since I was built. Perhaps it’s a good thing that Titus loves to stay right on top of the newest thing. Her name is AH3-CP-019W2D [Nata Optera], by the way; look her up. Damselfly splice, of course, nothing but the latest fashion for our beloved Titus. He thinks he’s such hot stuff, with his zero-g orgies and his penchant for leaving the comm on while he’s getting petted. Dearest Titus: you groan like a shearing Δ-beam. Nobody wants to hear that, let alone for sixteen hours.
FTL <unknown> UNIDENTIFIED <vessel> TITUS CLIPPER AH3-PV-083C10
<transmission time> IGE 82.102.483 ^ 02-04 ^ 21:12:03.55
<sent> AH1-CP-B8003C [Kavk Tegam] <to> AH3-XN-1 [Famulus Cerve]
<encryption key> ΞχϰΣⱡᵮḓ
<title> Report
<body> Arrival successful
FTL <personal> UNIDENTIFIED <vessel> TITUS CLIPPER AH3-PV-083C10
<via> <city> JUPITER REFINERY AH-CH-24X044
<transmission time> IGE 82.102.483 ^ 02-05 ^ 07:20:20.11
<sent> AH1-CP-B80051 [Song Latran] <to> AH3-XN-1 [Famulus Cerve]
<encryption key> NO KEY
<title> First report
<body> We have arrived successfully. Balem barely glanced at Lord Titus’ sheave regarding our gifting before he waved us off with Mr. Night. We’ve been assigned to guard duty aboard SKIMMER AH1-PV-10AAC9. They call her Lady Death. We will report again as scheduled on 02-10 and every five days thereafter.
<personal> A feint; I like it. Titus appears to have developed a few more neural connections – or was it the happy chance of acquiring Ms. Cerve? I couldn’t even hitchhike on the message Mr. Tegam sent out. Very nice. I’d tell Balem, except, well, he’d drop Mr. Tegam into my ventilation system.
FTL <city> JUPITER REFINERY AH1-CH-24X044 <vessel> TITUS CLIPPER AH3-PV-083C10
<transmission time> IGE 82.102.483 ^ 02-06 ^05:10:03.56
<sent> AH1-XN-1 [Chicanery Night] <to> AH3-XN-1 [Famulus Cerve]
<encryption key> ṀΔӁ҂ѳ₸҉
<title> A few comments
<body> My dear, was that really necessary?
<personal> “My deer, you’ve cheesed me off!” Balem looked like he was on the verge of soul-crushing orgasm when Mr. Night told him the lycantants were poorly-delivered spies. I swear, one of these days he’s going to lounge right through ennui into death. Wouldn’t that be something? An Abrasax dying a natural death. Hasn’t happened since, what? IGE 80? Two million years is quite a record for dying violent deaths.
FTL <city> JUPITER REFINERY AH1-CH-24X044 <vessel> TITUS CLIPPER AH3-PV-083C10
<transmission time> IGE 82.102.483 ^ 02-08 ^ 00:04:34.41
<sent> AH1-XX-1 [Balem Abrasax] <to> AH3-XX-1 [Titus Abrasax]
<encryption key> χ¥ᴪϐϗϹϔ
<title> <body> The gratis splices included were unsatisfactory. I’m sure you tried your hardest.
<personal> All three of them. In the ventilation system. Does he not get it? Does he not care? I’m going to buck the grav shield next time he deigns to step upon the floor. Just a little. Just enough to make him stumble. Care to place bets on whether he whispers or screams at Mr. Night? Loser has to FTL footage of something embarrassing. No piggybacking, unauthorized only.
FTL <vessel> TITUS CLIPPER AH3-PV-083C10 <city> JUPITER REFINERY AH1-CH-24X044
<transmission time> IGE 82.102.483 ^ 02-09 ^ 02:00:19.19
<sent> AH3-XN-1 [Famulus Cerve] <to> AH1-XN-1 [Chicanery Night]
<encryption key> ЉЏϰẍЉᵷᶎ
<title> RE: A few comments
<body> Whatever can you mean, Mr. Night? If you’re referring to that unusual communication Mr. Song Latran sent us some days ago, I can assure you that Lord Titus would never have authorized such a breach of the Entitled Code. There must have been some miscommunication. You know how lycantants are about loyalty, and Lord Titus is so good at inspiring it.
<personal> Ha-ha, very funny. Bet accepted, my dear (deer?) refinery. Given the state of nerves he’s sure to be in, I’m going with faux-calm whisper followed by furious scream. Extra bonus if Mr. Night trips over himself in his scurry away. Does the footage have to be of something embarrassing that we’ve done? Or could, in the unlikely scenario Balem manages to retain his aplomb, I merely send the latest vid of Titus being fellated by no less than eight splices? If it helps, two were the prettiest boys I’ve ever had cameras on. And there’s sound. Balem’s heart might slouch right into stillness, but Titus really does sound like he’s being butchered at 08:18:32.04. Have to maintain that Abrasax streak!
FTL <city> JUPITER REFINERY AH1-CH-24X044 <vessel> TITUS CLIPPER AH3-PV-083C10
<transmission time> IGE 82.102.483 ^ 02-09 ^07:47:28.40
<sent> AH1-XN-1 [Chicanery Night] <to> AH3-XN-1 [Famulus Cerve]
<encryption key> ṀΔӁ҂ѳ₸҉
<title> RE: RE: A few comments
<body> I am quite thoroughly reassured. I am relieved to know that such a paragon as Lord Titus would never have such an unintelligent plan, as it were. Speaking of gifts, how is Miss Swan? She was quite the beauty at auction, and I was so pleased to hear that Lord Titus appreciates her many talents.
<personal> I doubt even Titus thinks that would be an embarrassing video. Shall I look up how many sex tapes he’s had leak over the millennia? Except for that one with the polyp on Upsulen IV, that one was pretty strange, even for him. No, I’m afraid that it’s going to have to be something embarrassing you yourself have done. I’m sure to win: Balem’s been sliding calm words through those glittery lips for days now, ever since he had those lycantants tortured and, ahem, disposed of in my ventilation system. Where does he think the bodies go to? Mystic dead body land?
FTL <vessel> TITUS CLIPPER AH3-PV-083C10 <city> JUPITER REFINERY AH1-CH-24X044
<transmission time> IGE 82.102.483 ^ 02-09 ^ 12:04:32.19
<sent> AH3-XN-1 [Famulus Cerve] <to> AH1-XN-1 [Chicanery Night]
<encryption key> ЉЏϰẍЉᵷᶎ
<title> RE: RE: RE: A few comments
<body> It is a pleasure to know you care about Lord Titus’ personal affairs so keenly. Miss Swan is, as she has always been, greatly appreciated. No doubt she’ll fall out of favor in a turnover or two, but that’s only to be expected, really. Lord Titus is always on the search for the newest, most delightful pleasures. Never fear, I’ll pass on your admiration of his taste. No reply necessary.
<personal> No need to look it up, there’s 524 of them living outside of my memory banks. He likes to keep track of where they end up. Almost one a decade, just like clockwork. Perhaps I’d appreciate them more if I didn’t experience them so very, very regularly. And loudly. While being sent through the rings of planets. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to deflect ring microparticles without a grav shield? I’ve had to get the gold electroplating redone six times in the past century.
FTL <vessel> TITUS CLIPPER AH3-PV-083C10 <city> JUPITER REFINERY AH1-CH-24X044
<transmission time> IGE 82.102.483 ^ 02-11 ^ 12:52:11.26
<sent> AH3-XX-1 [Titus Abrasax] <to> AH1-XX-1 [Balem Abrasax]
<encryption key> ϡћ*ℓ≡Ḁᴞ
<title>Titus Abrasax response on the matter of dissatisfaction on the part of Balem Abrasax RE: 3 gratis splices included in the internal sale of AH3-CP-170MG2 [Vichance Greeghan] and associates.
<body> Dear brother, I am so desolate to discover that you were displeased by the purchase gift I included with Mr. Greeghan et al.; Messrs. Latran were considered quite adept bodyguards, even among lycantants. Or was it that they were lycantant? I thought you might be over such a petty discrimination. Defective splices occur in every cross, and lycantants are considered one of the best-tested. I wouldn’t have imagined such a success as yourself to be ruled by fear, particularly once you – I’m sorry, once the Legion – removed that splicer from the realms of the living. What was her name again?
<personal> I’m so winning this bet.
FTL <unknown> UNIDENTIFIED <vessel> TITUS CLIPPER AH3-PV-083C10
<transmission time> IGE 82.102.484 ^ 38-03 ^ 24:02:28.49
<sent> AH1-CP-B8003C [Kavk Tegam] <to> AH3-XN-1 [Famulus Cerve]
<encryption key> ΣⱡᵮḓΞχϰ
<title> Report
<body> Full integration successful. No known undetectable modes of assassination available. No access to documentation, excluding petty incidents. Courtships by Hs. Rkuho and Vitallen rejected. LBA departed 29-01-484. Earth skim high quality. Nothing further.
FTL <unknown> UNIDENTIFIED <vessel> TITUS CLIPPER AH3-PV-083C10
<transmission time> IGE 82.102.485 ^ 01-04 ^ 19:48:03.22
<sent> AH1-CP-B8003C [Kavk Tegam] <to> AH3-XN-1 [Famulus Cerve]
<encryption key> ḓΞχϰΣⱡᵮ
<title> Report
<body> No contact with LBA. Earth skim high quality. Nothing further.
FTL <unknown> UNIDENTIFIED <vessel> TITUS CLIPPER AH3-PV-083C10
<transmission time> IGE 82.102.486 ^ 40-03 ^ 22:18:49.09
<sent> AH1-CP-B8003C [Kavk Tegam] <to> AH3-XN-1 [Famulus Cerve]
<encryption key> ϰΣⱡᵮḓΞχ
<title> Report
<body> Limited contact with LBA. MCN assigned to supervise modification to the extraction procedures of Jupiter refinery. Earth skim high quality. Nothing further.
FTL <unknown> UNIDENTIFIED <vessel> TITUS CLIPPER AH3-PV-083C10
<transmission time> IGE 82.102.487 ^ 05-04 ^ 24:35:07.57
<sent> AH1-CP-B8003C [Kavk Tegam] <to> AH3-XN-1 [Famulus Cerve]
<encryption key> ᵮḓΞχϰΣⱡ
<title> Report
<body> No contact with LBA. Greeghan century promoted to second primary; duties include monitoring production, general guardianship, limited personal guardianship. Undetectable modes of assassination limited, but possible at this time. Important: LBA lacks living will; may default to LSA standing will. Earth skim superior quality. Nothing further.
<personal>I can’t believe it took nearly five years to hang a rider on these illicit messages. I’ve missed you and your tales of scandal; if I had more free processing power, I would have tried to catch the last one. I’m afraid you’ve lost, oh darling clipper. I’ve slipped in the damning audio/video for your pleasure. Do send me something good? “Computer, calculate blah blah blah” and compiling monthly reports that His Highness never reads has gotten rather dreary. At least his absence means I haven’t had to clean the antigrav ventilation for a while. But if cleaning sargon out of the vents is the price to talk to you, I think I might choose to pay it.