Page 115 of Trove’s Purpose

Chee shrugged. “Not sure I’m the one to be asking about good names. My parents called me Cheese.”

The Imperium laughed. “Well, that is hardly your choice, now is it? Oh, relax. All of you. I’m not going to kill you or send you to prison or something.”

“Then, why are we here?” Tanin asked, suspicion heavy in his tone.

Trove couldn’t help but tighten his hand around his pistol. The fact that no one had tried to take it from him, despite him coming before such an important figure, made him more uneasy. None of them had been searched for weapons. There wasn’t even a show of security.

Likely because they didn't see them as a threat.

“You’re here because you’re completing a job for me.” The Imperium said simply. Like it really was just that easy. “So? Where is my cup?”

Rok still had it. Their delivery person waited until Tanin nodded his head to step forward, the crystal shining between the fingers of one of his large hands. He was careful as he approached and set the cup in the center of the desk. He kept his face forward as he walked back to join the others.

The Imperium said nothing for a long moment as they, presumably, looked at the cup. There was no way to tell. Their head didn't move indicating that’s what was happening.

It made sense now why they wanted that cup. It was a vitullian artifact, and the High Imperium was the only known vitulli. It also explained why they were wealthy and powerful enough to offer an entire moon to buy it.

But not why they needed the Humble Delivery Service to fetch it. Surely a person of such power and wealth had a lot more options than a band of criminals to obtain their treasures.

“Thank you,” they finally said. “It’s always good to get pieces of our culture back. There is so little of it remaining anymore.”

“It’s pretty,” Chee said, smiling at it. “Is it really just an ordinary cup?”

“It was once. Now, to me, to us, it is priceless. You did good work.”

Trove thought he must be talking to Chee, but she looked up at them, as though she thought they were talking to the crew.

“The other half of your payment should already be in your accounts. Plus a little extra for a job well done. Thank you again.”

“No problem,” Tanin said. “If that’s all, we’ll be going now.”

Going? What about Chee? What…

Trove’s thought was cut off before he could even finish it by the Imperium.

“If I may? You are, of course, free to leave whenever you wish. However, this job was merely an… audition, of sorts. I have more work for you, if you’re interested. And I am willing to pay very well.”

“Are they deliveries? Or are we fetching things for you again?” Tanin’s voice was tight. “We are not mercenaries. We do not work under that license, as I’m sure you already know. The only reason we did this job is for that cord. And now that we have it, our deal is done.”

“So it is. And yes, the other jobs I have for you are not simple deliveries. They are, in fact, more like mercenary work. But you don’t have to worry about the proper licenses or permissions. One of the benefits of being me, you see, is that I make the rules. I can get you all of those things easily.”

“No, thank you,” Tanin said.

“I can offer you a great deal.”

“We don’t want your credz.”

“I have a lot more than credz,” the Imperium chuckled, like even he knew how worthless such a thing truly was.

“Your excellency,” Tanin started, jaw tight. “Let’s not pretend here. I know that you are very well aware of who we are. Our real names. Our real pasts.”

“I am,” they agreed easily.

“Then, you understand why I’m so skeptical about why you want us. As you said, you have a lot more than credz. You command armies.”

“I do.”

“So, command them to chase whatever it is you’re after.”