But there was something about Carrington that struck Max as human. Download her brain into Alexis Carrington's body, and she could’ve walked the streets of Denver, and no one would know the difference. It was nice to be around an alien that Max felt like he could predict.
For example, he had predicted Carrington would drop in on the sales call. Max hadn't asked for her, and theoretically, he was meeting with Xena to discuss arms and equipment. However, the second Rick had registered his program in Max’s name, Max knew that Carrington was going to make an appearance. And he could even predict what she was going to do.
“I enjoy being compensated for my work. But then, I think that's a universal sentiment. I don't know of anyone who likes to be underpaid.”
“I consent.” Carrington bent her neck downward, and Max avoided the sight of that unnatural curve. Still reminded him of a bird's broken neck. “I acknowledge you registered a copyright on a new program this morning.”
Bingo. That is exactly where Max had expected this conversation to go.
“I did,” he said in a mild tone. “That has been my main project for months. I work on arms and more physical projects when I need to take a break.”
“Even when you were carrying the Ugly offspring?” Carrington blinked at him.
“Even when I was pregnant with the Hidden offspring,” he corrected her.
Her gills quivered.
“Anyway, I am letting Bundy handle the auction on that program. I don’t know what the navigation program is worth.”
Carrington moved closer. “I have the ability to administrate the sale,” she said.
What a beautifully greedy bitch she was. Max loved it. Feeling almost as if he was back on Earth, he shook his head. “I have an agreement with Bundy. I won’t go back on my word to him.”
She stood straight, her neck lengthening. “Are you aware that only sentience that is capable of producing a protector can deeply understand honor? Other species only know words and rules and laws of honor.” She looked at Xena. Xena tilted her head to the side and turned so she showed the underside of her chin.
Max packed the weapons away. He doubted he could get Xena to purchase any body armor, not with Carrington making her play for the bigger prize. “That’s interesting. I imagine you have psychologists who spend their lives comparing the thought processes of different species. That would be an interesting career.” Max would’ve rather scooped out his own brain, but someone would find it fascinating. “I trust that you have honor because I believe you will not manufacture weapons without purchasing the rights even though Xena understands every alteration I have made.”
“I do,” Xena agreed. “I would not have thought of such changes, but seeing them, I understand the theory and function. I will pay you because you have brought value to these weapons and I will not dishonor value.”
“I appreciate that.” And Max did. It was good to know that Carrington’s crew didn’t plan to cheat him.
Carrington slid another inch closer, and Max was uncomfortable with her proximity. He suspected she was trying to buddy up to him to get the profits from the navigation program. “You have brought value to navigation. That value is not as obvious to understand.”
“I’m not going to cut Bundy out of the deal.” Max wanted the buyers hungry and competitive before bidding started. That was why he had come out to show Xena his newest weapon design. People wanted what was right in front of them, and Max needed to be in front of the prospective buyers to make them want the program more. He was going to go visit Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum later. The two Pajekhs had purchased his first weapon and had asked him to do a security check on their ship. Their language was closer to human and less likely to give Max a headache, but theSpaceballsaliens left him trying to avoid giggling. But they had credits, and Max planned to let them try to lure him into selling them a copy under the table. He wouldn’t because that would undermine the final auction price, but he would let them make their play so they could taste that program and want it even more.
Luckily greed was universal. Even Bundy had to admit that Max was good at marketing his work.
“You have honor. But you do not have obligation of honor to Bundy,” Carrington said. “He is buyer and seller. He has no honor to you.”
“Oh, I am sure you’re right about that,” Max said. Bundy would’ve stabbed him in the back for a credit. Or at least have done the financial equivalent. “But he took a chance on my work when everyone else thought I was a moron.”
“You are a warrior. Warriors and protectors are not morons,” Xena bellowed.
“Thank you.” Max appreciated the support. “But a lot of people made assumptions.” Max didn’t add that the people on the law-enforcement ship had no business doing any sort of assessment of new species because they were morons.
“Both humans in custody appeared to lack cognitive skills,” Carrington said. “That is evidence in support of claim. Not assumption.”
Max flinched at the mention of Dee. She had not come back that night or in the week since she had visited. He felt like an ass for not running after her, for not doing something to make her see that his family would welcome her and she didn’t have to be alone. He couldn’t imagine what her life had been like at the docks. She said nightly lodging and food were free, but man or woman couldn’t live by reconstituted vitamin cubes alone. Hell, she didn’t even have a volleyball she could paint a face on. He remembered sitting in the maintenance shaft and crying because he felt so damn lonely, and he hadn’t been alone.
She had.
“We were injured and had too many new ideas introduced at once. I hear the Chosen did not handle it well when they learned of other sentient life in the universe.”
Xena made a bugling noise.
Carrington tilted her head. “You speak factually.”
“Thank you. I like to be factual.” Max locked the equipment cart before picking up the remote. It was time for him to go home.
