"Arrangements"

[Joe Manning 0]

“We need to discuss business,” Joe said, neglecting to return the smile that Samus was still fixing him with.

 

“I‘m sure you do,” the young tycoon replied. He was still clutching Pher at his side, though his attention now was on the Captain. “It’s not like you make social calls these days. Nobody does. It’s true what they say, you know -- very lonely at the top.”

 

“That’s heartbreaking,” Joe said, his expression unchanging. “But I think it best if we talk alone. My crew’s tired; it’s been a long month. And as you can see … we’ve got more new faces than usual, so they don’t know their way around.”

 

“Of course.” Samus looked around at the group. He made as if to address them, though his eyes were constantly searching, studying. He glanced at each face as he spoke, only for a moment at a time, but absorbing information on everything he saw. He studied their expressions toward him, their expressions toward each other, their postures, their mannerisms, what features of the room were grabbing their attention. He would know each of these people, as he knew everyone he met, by simply watching them. Joe was quite familiar with his game. “My old friends, I’m glad to have you back in my little neighborhood of Andus City … and I look forward to getting to know the rest of you.

 

“My man Dimitri will be here in a moment to escort you to the Paradise Palace, the finest inn in my kingdom. You’ll be put up in one of the shared suites -- ten private rooms around a common lounge which pokes out of the asteroid, one of the station’s outermost asteroids in fact, so you’ll have a sensational view of the entire station and the asteroid field around it. The asteroid is our commerce district, so I encourage you to look around and enjoy the sights and sounds of my zone of Andus. And if you really want your money to be well spent, may I recommend the Fountain of Joy? The women there have drawn recruitment interest from New Risa.”

 

“We don’t plan on bein’ here long,” Joe said flatly. “The sooner we get to business, the sooner you can get back to countin’ your money … and your women.”

 

“Patience, Joseph,” Samus laughed and glanced to the back of the reception lounge where a tall dark-suited man appeared. “Relax, all of you, take some time for yourself. I was in the middle of a number of important affairs when you surprised me with your arrival, and I simply cannot drop them for long. I promise that you will be next on my agenda, Joseph. And you, my dear,” he smiled at Pher and motioned her to follow Dimitri and the group. “With not be long after.”