trade my soul for a wish

[from_scratch]

This is a successor to "call me maybe", which is getting crowded.

Cam is dipping a grilled cheese sandwich into a bowl of tomato soup when he feels the summons. He goes ahead and grabs it. Doesn't even drop the sandwich.


with Mark (kappa)

with Adanya (Aestrix)

with Sable (kappa)

with Ari (andaisq)

with Metella (kappa)

with Miles (kappa)

with Isabella (Eva)

with Steel (Rockeye)

with Daphne (Maggie)

with Edie (Maggie)

Comments

[unmarred]

Mark spends the shuttle ride pondering exactly what he is going to say to Bel Thorne, over exactly what medium.

When they get there, he nips into a public comconsole booth and sends a text-only message to the Ariel:

Captain Thorne,

I will pay you fifty thousand Betan dollars for a one-way ride to Jackson's Whole, myself and one other passenger, departing immediately.

If interested, meet me in the public concourse of the orbital transfer station. I will recognize you.

There. The station's comm system will send it as soon as the Ariel appears within lightspeed shouting distance.

[whyexit]

And Thorne appears in the public concourse after the Ariel has docked, looking intrigued, accompanied by an ensign who's apparently there to watch its back.

[unmarred]

"There it is," says Mark. "Come along."

He strolls over to Thorne.

[whyexit]

Thorne double-takes.

The ensign's apparently more forgetful or less informed and says, "Admiral Naismith!"

[from_scratch]

Cam is subtly trying to figure out what gender Thorne is.

[unmarred]

"Guess again," Mark says cheerfully.

[whyexit]

"You're the clone," says Thorne. "I don't think I ever caught your name. You want to hire the Ariel? You and your friend?"

[unmarred]

"Yes."

[whyexit]

"Hate to tell you this, but the Ariel's a touch recognizable to some people on Jackson's Whole. As would be you. I came by to see what the message was about and to recommend you somebody else's ship."

[unmarred]

"Hm. How would you like—no, on second thought, how would you like to discuss alternate options in private? Aboard the Ariel, say. I trust anyone Miles trusts. They are," he adds, "interesting alternate options."

[whyexit]

"Sure," says Thorne, after a thoughtful pause.

[unmarred]

Mark grins.

[from_scratch]

"I'm Cam, by the way," mentions Cam as Thorne leads them to its ship.

[whyexit]

"Captain Bel Thorne. Charmed. How'd you fall in with this one?"

[from_scratch]

"Fortuitous coincidence."

[unmarred]

"Is that what you'd call it."

[from_scratch]

"Yes."

[whyexit]

Thorne snorts.

And here is the Ariel!

[unmarred]

"Nice ship," Mark mentions, as they board.

[whyexit]

"Thanks. Ensign, you can go back to your duties now."

The ensign scampers. Thorne leads them to a small conference-room-like thing.

"So what's the story?"

[unmarred]

"It's the sort of story that is best known as few people as possible, so if anyone is watching us, please indicate to them that they should stop," says Mark. "You can decide who to tell after you hear it."

[whyexit]

"Nobody's monitoring us."

[unmarred]

"All right. How would you like a new ship?" inquires Mark. "Cam has the ability to generate any sufficiently well-defined object made of matter, essentially for free. All we really need is a pilot - beyond our means to produce on such short notice. I'd also be interested to know who Miles pissed off on Jackson's Whole. But unless the answer is 'literally everyone', I don't think I'll be dissuaded."

[whyexit]

"Ryoval, mostly. If you avoid him and his agents you might be okay. ...New ship, huh? Any kind?"

[from_scratch]

"Any real kind or obvious, physically-possible deviation from same," says Cam. "I can't make you the - oh, all my science fiction references are going to fall totally flat, aren't they. Well, I cannot make you science fiction references."