The half-man-half-droid creature squints its eyes, and scans me. It is not suspicious, it just wants to find out who its client is. It seems to completely trust the Bhaalgorn patrolling the site to screen any visitors and keep out unwanted persons.
It says "Oooh, sir, a capsuleer, sir, what an optimal pleasure." The human torso swivels on its five-legged base plate to look at Idesbald. "Please let your slave lower its weapon". I signal Idesbald to lower his plasma rifle and he reluctantly obeys. He shifts his free hand to a grenade, I think he might have primed it as a dead man's switch.
The creature, having completed its scan of me, says "Sir! One from the Societas, sir! Doubleplus honor for me, I did not know they have collectors there. So, so, so pleased to serve and advise you, sir, so pleased, thrilled, absolutely. Begging you, sir, who is your fancy, sir?"
I am somewhat stunned and answer "What do you mean?"
"Do you have someone in particular whose blood you are interested in, sir? We have quite a collection here, tasters are on the house for doubleplus capsuleers as yourself, sir!"
I remain silent, still stunned.
The human torso swivels around again while its base remains stationary. The creature then scuttles around to a terminal. "Oh, sir, I found just the thing for you! We have a Lunarisse Aspenstar of the fall of YC 119, such a good year, sir, so good, optimal doubleplus!"
A cubbyhole far away to my upper left lights up. A small spiderbot scoots up to the cubbyhole and stands at the ready to retrieve the bottle of blood.
"She was caught by one of our Ashimmu cruisers, while she was mining in Nadohman. Ah, it is so exclusive, truly one of the best bloods you'll find anywhere. Pride of the collection. A collector from Mekhios said they got into a trance by it sir, a doubleplus trance, by just a few drops, he couldn't afford more."
"You see, it is capsuleer blood, like yours, but blood of a leader, and quite a killer herself. Doubleplus killer. Queen bee nectar, truly. That's what makes it so expensive, sir, one of the most expensive bottles we have. Can't give you a taster unfortunately, as it goes at a billion ISK for one fluid ounce. But, sir, well worth the price for a true connoisseur as yourself!"
Idesbald says "Time's up bro T, we need to go."
A bit less than fifteen minutes already passed since the Bhaalgorn warped off, it will be back soon, so I say to the creature "Eh, I'll be back. Need to check my bank account."
As we make out way out, the creature shouts back "Goodbye sir! Doubleplus happy to meet you sir, hope to see you again soon, the Lunarisse vintage is waiting for you, kept in optimal conditions!" It raises its voice as we make it to the airlock "I'll throw in a bottle of Ishta Maleto blood for free on concluding the sale! It's got a high alcohol percentage Thukker whiskey! Aged on oak barrel! Single malt!"
