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The meeting with Gateways was torture.
The last thing Roland wanted to do after leaving Hideaway was go home, put on a suit, and then sit down to a fancy lunch with a bunch of corporate shills. First of all, the restaurant was not equipped to handle Roland’s mass. One look at the ornate wooden chairs arrayed around the table and Roland knew he would be standing for lunch.
Second, Lucia had informed him that he would be paying for the meal. A cursory examination of the prices listed on the menu guaranteed that standing for a few hours was destined to be the least painful part of his afternoon. Finally, Lucia had made it expressly clear, using small words and very simple language, that he was not to threaten or physically harm anyone at the table. No matter how much they deserved it.
This last instruction was as much in jest as anything. Roland was not the kind of guy who assaulted clients over minor irritations and Lucia knew that. It was more of a gentle exhortation for him to use his best manners and try no not come off as a remorseless killer. At least she did not need him to make conversation or small talk. Lucia was handling that thankless job herself, and she was magnificent. In short order, the grouchy-looking project manager and gloomy regional supervisor were eating out of her hands as their defenses crumbled under the sustained assault of her relentless charm. All Roland had to do was answer questions specific to the job, outline his requirements, and try not to break anything.
But it was still torture.
Lucia engaged in pleasantries and small talk for thirty-five minutes before business even got mentioned, and she sidled up to the topic with brisk-yet-graceful clarity.
“So, as you know, Roland has decided to expand his offerings and improve his business relationships with his larger clients. Obviously, this was inevitable as the prominence of the Dockside region grows and the need for his services increases.” She politely dabbed the corner of her mouth with a napkin, allowing a moment for the two men to reorient to her shift from pleasantries. “He has brought me in to handle all his corporate partnerships, and I thought this week’s unpleasantness would be a good place to start offering his expanded service portfolio.”
The project manager, leaned forward, “I think you are abusing the word ‘unpleasant’ Lucia. These new attacks have Gateways stakeholders very nervous about Dockside in general. We have never felt the need to participate in large-scale security operations in the region before, but there is a lot of talk going around the main office these days.”
Roland clenched his jaw and hoped that no one noticed. Lucia rebuffed the PM casually, “And why should you want to get involved with Dockside security? It’s not like posting guards on the warehouses or docking towers will fix the problem, anyway. It’s wasted money and resources.”
The supervisor spoke this time, “But we are becoming very concerned with the stability of our own operations here. Obviously, we do not have the best understanding of the unique ah...” He struggled for just a moment, “Let’s say, ‘cultural challenges’ that the region presents. It’s why we have employed Mr. Tankowicz in the past and are happy to retain his services for the current situation as well.”
Now the PM picked up the thread, “But why the sudden re-branding? We have had two high-profile incidents in the last two months, and suddenly a trusted contractor is no longer satisfied with his customary rates?” He held up his hands feigning confusion, “It feels strange to us, but I’m sure you can explain it.”
“Of course, John. That’s quite simple,” she beamed a gigawatt smile at the men, “How much do you know about Roland, gentlemen?”
“Only what he has told us,” The PM said, “Which is nothing, I might add. No offense, Roland.”
“None taken,” Roland rumbled with a nod.
The other man interrupted, “And what people say about him. He’s the toughest guy in Dockside and he never cheats a client.”
“And that is why we are re-branding,” Lucia nodded, “Because we are not talking about street muscle here, and yet that is how he has always been paid.”
John the PM raised an eyebrow.
“Roland is not at liberty to discuss his origins or his capabilities due to binding arrangements with the government...”
Roland realized what she was doing. Clever. She’s going to imply what I am without saying it directly.
“... But the services he can provide go far beyond street level pacification. He is a decorated veteran of the Planetary Expeditionary Forces and is obviously far more capable than a standard unmodified human. I won’t dance around it, gentleman, Roland has two very important qualities that your company has been under-utilizing. He is a military-class light cyborg, and he is entirely legal and registered.”
The supervisor scowled, looking at Roland, “What model chassis is that? I don’t recognize that armature type.”
Roland knew what Lucia wanted him to say, and he understood why. She had baited them to this part, and he delivered his line without emotion.
“Classified.”
He let the word hang in the air while comprehension began to dawn on the faces of the two men eating lunch. The supervisor must have been a veteran as well, because he spoke first, “I see. I don’t think we fully realized that, as Roland has not been forthcoming along those lines.” He turned to Roland, “I understand completely, by the way.”
Roland nodded, “I appreciate that. I try to keep out of the spotlight.”
Lucia reasserted control over the conversation before Roland interrupted her flow, “This is why we wanted to have this meeting, gentlemen. The situation in Dockside is getting perilous, and Roland is prepared to... Fix... that situation. But the obvious escalation in both scope and audacity displayed by whoever is doing this will require Roland to exert himself on a more pro-active level.”
“And that will require greater compensation?” The Supervisor finished her sentence with a wry smile.
“Exactly, Greg. You understand,” Lucia had them precisely where she wanted them. She had outlined the problem and offered them the solution with the same pitch.
“Roland, you have been very quiet on this matter, I’d like to hear your assessment of the Dockside situation, tactically speaking that is,” Greg finished with a respectful nod to Lucia.
“We have off world actors of some kind attempting to break The Combine. By attacking in Dockside, they can maximize the positive outcome potential because they know if Dockside becomes a war zone, your company will step in and the resulting conflict will weaken the Board to the extent that a takeover will be much easier.”
“So, it’s not about hurting the Docks at all?” John asked.
Roland shrugged, “It never is. The docks are a license to print money. Nobody wants them to go away or for new docks to get built somewhere else. Whoever this group is, they’ll want the Dockside territory to be functional and profitable as well. They just want you to worry so you will also hurt The Combine, making their job easier.”
Lucia added, “They would rather spend your money and manpower fighting the Board than their own.”
“Who could it be?” the supervisor wondered aloud. Roland answered.
“We have leads. But they will be expensive to pursue. How much do you want to know?” Lucia added more bait to the hook.
“How much will it cost?” the project manager shot back, “That will inform how much data we want or need to have.”
Lucia kept her smile, “We will need a retainer of one-hundred-seventy-five thousand for the first month. If it takes longer than that to resolve, we can re-negotiate.”
Roland did his level best to keep his eyes from bulging out of his head. That was more than he made in a good year and almost five times their initial offer. Both corporation men winced comically.
“That sort of price will absolutely require some documentation, I’m afraid,” said John the project manager.
Lucia nodded, “Of course. I will submit a full proposal. But just so you understand, Roland will need to travel to Enterprise and take up inquiries with an organization called The Brokerage. Are you familiar with The Brokerage, gentlemen?”
Greg pressed his lips together in a wan smile, “Yes. We are familiar. In consideration of that fact, I believe if you submit your proposal we can have it approved in a day or two.” He turned to Roland with a smirk, “You have made yourself a very shrewd acquisition in Ms. Ribiero, here, Roland. I look forward to expanding your role within the Gateways Inc. corporate family. Don’t get killed out there.”
“Top of my list,” Roland acknowledged. And just like that, the meeting was adjourned.