Tarth City, Top Tier District, Yutai Art Gallery
Sumertsag 73
Alitus strolled through the gallery of his friend, Anne Cain, pausing to absorb the colors and hues of the pieces that appealed most. One of them, he puzzled over for a long time.
It displayed a woman unlike any human he'd ever seen. She had pure white skin on her face and neck, yet her arms were a pinkish gold. Her black and white dress had elaborate ties and bindings and showed a bit of red here and there. She strummed a stringed instrument with an exceedingly long neck. The alien aspect of the picture brought to mind a Tyran, though the physical differences were divergent.
"Like it, Alitus?"
He turned, holding the bottom of the veil against his chest. If it swung when he turned, it blurred his vision. "Anne!" He held out his hands to his friend.
The owner of Yutai Art took his hands and leaned in to press her cheek against his through the veil. "How are you?"
"Good, good." He held her hands and leaned back to see her better. "How did you know it was me? There are other Betters in here."
"You arrived with a pair of the Conqueror's goons."
He'd forgotten his Praetorian escort, who had stayed outside once they'd ensured the building was secure. "Sorry. I hope they don't scare off paying customers."
"Don't be silly. Women love them, you know."
"Praetorian? I can't imagine why."
"Are you kidding? All that muscle and macho male attitude." She shivered. "Gives me goose bumps thinking about it."
It takes all kinds. Alitus squeezed her hands and released them. "Whatever pleases you pleases me."
Anne grinned. "I'll bet you got to the top by saying that to the Conqueror."
"Anne!"
"I don't care if you wear that veil thing, you know. You can take it off if you want. I hate the whole idea of Betters veiling."
Alitus smiled, even though his friend couldn't see it. "Thank you, but I'm not allowed."
"By who?"
"Whom," he corrected, to push Anne's buttons. It worked; she popped him on the shoulder. Laughing, Alitus took her hand and walked beside her into the outer room of the gallery. "Her Majesty disallows me to appear in public without it."
"Yeah, well, she's depriving women everywhere of a real treat." She linked her arm through his. "Thank you for coming today, Al."
"Alitus. You know how I hate that nickname."
Anne stuck out her tongue at him. "I'm so glad you came. Seriously. It means a lot to me."
He patted her hand on his arm. "We've known each other since we were three. I wouldn't miss it."
Anne's eyes flared wide; she licked her lips. "Ooh, not that you'll care, Alitus, but look what strolled in." She nodded toward the door.
Alitus saw him at once, but refrained from assuming he was the person Anne meant. "There are a dozen people in here. Which person?"
"There, by the door. The guy picking up a program. With the dark hair. He-- I think that's Wulf Gabriel, the famous model."
Alitus felt himself release pheromones, a natural occurrence when happy. Feigning nonchalance when every fiber of his being rejoiced, Alitus cleared his throat. "Yes, I believe it is." Wulf was late, but he carried a slim backpack and wore black, head to toe, as planned.
Alitus followed Wulf with his gaze as the man moved to stand before a sculpture of an eagle. Wulf stood with arms folded, legs spread wide in a masculine stance.
Anne fidgeted. "Maybe that's not him."
"It's him."
She looked up at him. "Are you sure? How do you know?"
"Didn't you hear?" Holding back his veil, he leaned toward her. "I'm the minister of imperial intelligence. It's my job to know these things."
Anne giggled. "Is there such a thing as 'imperial intelligence'?"
Before he could respond, Wulf joined them. "You're Ms. Anne Cain, aren't you?" He bowed politely toward her. "Wulf Gabriel. You have a beautiful gallery."
"Thank you." She held out her hand and Wulf took it in one of his, but bowed over it rather than shook it. "I know who you are, Mr. Gabriel. You had a rather celebrated career as a model. I can't imagine why you'd leave it."
"That's a topic best left for another time." Wulf inclined his head to Alitus. "How are you, sir?"
"Now, Mr. Gabriel," Anne put in. "Don't be presumptuous. Better females dress the same way, you know."
Great. Alitus rolled his eyes. Now I don't even have a gender?
Wulf raked his discriminating gaze up and down Alitus's length. "While true, Ms. Cain, I do believe that if this Better removed his veil, we'd discover he is quite male."
Alitus held his head higher. He held out a gloved hand to Wulf. "Alitus Vivaldi."
"Ah!" Wulf shook his hand, and then winked. "I should have known it was you by the Praetorian at the door."
"Wulf! There you are." A gorgeous woman in dark glasses approached, and looped one arm through Wulf's. Slender, with creamy milk-chocolate-colored skin, Feeyona Joie had been a model at one time, and still looked the part. She had worked with Wulf for years. "I've been all over this gallery looking for you. You're late."
Wulf put his arm around her back. "Fee, may I introduce Anne Cain, the owner of Yutai Art. And this is Alitus Vivaldi. This is Feeyona Joie. She was my modeling partner for several years, and works for Lucsondis now."
Feeyona snugged herself up next to Wulf.
Alitus clamped his jaw shut, reining in his jealousy. How close is she to Wulf? Does she know what Saint-Cyr is? Wulf's expression gave nothing away. "So you work for Saint-Cyr, Ms. Joie?"
"Call me Fee. Yes. I'm the Director of Internal Marketing, which is fancy talk for taking care of résumés and portfolios for our clients."
"I see."
Wulf hugged her closer. "Don't tell Alitus anything personal, Fee. He's the new minister of imperial intelligence. You never know how what you divulge could be used against you."
Alitus started to respond, but Fee cut him off. "Is there such a thing as 'imperial intelligence?'"
Just as well no one could see him. He didn't have to hide irritation with his veil in place. That joke was going to get old fast. "If there is, I'm it."
"It must make you uncomfortable to be stuck inside that veil. Although you work for the Conqueror and I doubt you have much say in the matter, I want you to know that I think veiling Betters is a disgrace. I heard the speech you gave. Bravo."
Alitus bounced on the balls of his feet. Holding back his veil, he bowed deeper than required. "My thanks, Ms. Joie."
She held out her hand. When Alitus shook it, Feeyona removed her dark glasses with her other hand. "I know what it's like to be singled out." Her eyes were the same solid black as Luc Saint-Cyr's. She blinked once, and they turned to the mottled gray and silver of a camera-droid's lenses. "I'm enhanced as well."
Anne came to attention. "Oh! Oh, my. I..." She glanced from Alitus to Wulf to Fee. "I'm so sorry, Ms. Joie, but I have to ask you to leave."
Alitus bit into his lip, head down. Wulf started to argue, but Fee put her glasses back on and squeezed his arm. "It's all right, Wulf. I understand. She's worried I might record her art and reproduce it."
"Anne." Wulf laid a hand on her arm. "I assure you Fee is an ethical person. She handles all the photos and holos for artist resumes and portfolios at Lucsondis. There's no way she'd violate your copyrights."
"Wulf." Fee tugged his hand. "It's all right. I'll go. I'm sorry, Ms. Cain. I promise you I didn't download any of your art. If you like, I'll be glad to print everything I've recorded today. I took no images inside your building."
"No, that's quite all right." Anne covered her mouth, then reached out to Fee. "It's nothing personal. I--"
"It's all right." Fee stood on tiptoe to kiss Wulf on the cheek. "Stay. Talk to your friends. I'll wait outside."
Don't leave, Wulf. Alitus reached under his veil and rubbed the tight place between his brows. All the joy felt washed out of him. No--perhaps he should. If he goes, I'm going with him. He waited to see what Wulf would do.
Wulf watched Feeyona to the door, turned back and frowned toward Alitus.
"You know what?" Anne touched his arm. "I'm going to bring her back." She held up both hands. "Here I was saying how it's wrong to discriminate against Betters. When you get down to it, cyborgs and enhanced people are no different, no matter what their enhancement. Excuse me, gentlemen."
She moved through the crowd of people.
Wulf turned to face the nearest painting. "Lovely art."
Alitus faced it as well, his heart lifting now that he knew Wulf would stay. "Yes, it is. They say the true measure of art is how it affects you. What does this one make you feel?"
The painting was by Eliot Taral, the Sempervian artist Destoiya had sponsored. A lone tree with its branches shaped by wind stretched out over a cliff overhanging a stormy sea. A lonely, isolated scene of desolation--yet determination.
Wulf rubbed his jaw. "It makes me want to suck cock."
Alitus burst into laughter, drawing the attention of the room. He made a fist and held it against his mouth underneath the veil.
Wulf grinned. "I wasn't kidding."
"You wouldn't."
"Suck cock?" Wulf slanted him a sidelong glance. "You know I would."
Choking back laughter, Alitus covered his mouth. "Stop that. I meant I know you wouldn't kid me."
"Damn straight. Come on. Let's go to the front of the gallery and start this charade at the beginning."
With Wulf beside him, Alitus sauntered toward Anne and a smiling Feeyona Joie.