Titan was Gus’s territory.Given to her by Ryan and made her own after humanity’s last war with the Tsavitee.The forty-three knew better than to come here without an invitation.Such a faux pas would be considered a challenge.Not just to her authority—but to Ryan’s as well.
Worried, Gus headed upstairs to her office.
In total, the complex held three levels.The main one where the living area, gardens and her workroom were located.The second level was split between her bedroom and office.She was rarely in the latter, only clocking into her dock administration job when needed.The third and last level was home to her fourth greenhouse.That was where she kept her most precious treasures.Those plants that would earn her an immediate life sentence in prison.
She was so paranoid about anyone discovering them that the greenhouse’s entrance was hidden behind a trap door located in her ceiling.It was protected by a series of biometric locks that required not only a fingerprint and voice scan but a breath analysis as well.
The system was the best money could buy.The only thing better would be those built and designed by the Great Tuann Houses.House Kashori, in particular.To obtain her security system, Gus had to tap into a few black market contacts.
It had been worth it though for the peace of mind.
She doubted even a Tuann or Haldeel would be able to circumvent it.They might be able to brute-force the door open if they knew it was there but hacking it would be impossible.
Maybe Jin could.
But he’d never have occasion to visit.
Technically, the Nakawa orchid should have gone into this fourth greenhouse, but she’d felt the conditions of the night garden were more conducive to its survival.
Like every other room in her home, Gus’s office was filled with plants.They covered the bookshelves she’d installed on all walls but one.Their soft grow lights illuminating the dark like a beacon of safety and normalcy.
Gus’s normalcy.
In one corner was a low couch that Gus had spent many a comfortable hour ensconced in.A lamp hung over its back and a cozy looking blanket was carelessly flung over one end.
Gus headed for her desk in the opposite corner, against the only bare wall.She seated herself and rested her hands, palm down, on it.The sensors embedded in its surface were soundless as they read her body’s bio signature.
It only took moments for them to verify her identity and give her access to the system.
The container wall her desk was facing became a giant screen.The bottom right hand corner displayed the dock security feeds she had pinned for easy access.
Gus scanned them to ensure there was no suspicious activity before turning her attention to other matters.
As much as she itched to hunt down the Tuann who’d invaded her territory, Gus knew that the endeavor would ultimately prove fruitless.She had neither a location nor time frame in which to start her hunt.There were thousands upon thousands of feeds throughout Titan.Reviewing them would take months.
There was no guarantee she’d recognize the Tuann in question either.They’d most likely come in disguise, making finding them that much more difficult.
With a groan, Gus opened the chat application she’d created upon her arrival on Titan.
For all that she was a hermit, no Tuann could exist in true isolation.It went against their nature.That held true for Gus as well.Moreover, Ryan sent her here to fulfill a specific task.Part of that had to do with keeping an eye on Kira and Jin and making sure they didn’t do anything too stupid.
Like launching a two person war against the Tsavitee.
The rest had to do with Titan itself.The station was more important than anyone in the Consortium realized.For starters, it was the biggest source of salvaged Tsavitee tech anywhere.Not to mention home to several influential criminal groups.
On Titan, there was a saying, “Everything flowed through its docks, eventually.”
The person who controlled Titan controlled the Consortium who needed the raw resources provided by the local mining colonies.
Ryan wanted that person to be him.
Or, more accurately, his proxy.
With that in mind, he’d sent Gus here.
To fulfill his expectations while also staying true to her hermit-like tendencies, she’d been forced to create a network of minions to carry out her will.
She called them minions, but really, they were her lieutenants.Individuals she found useful enough to maintain superficial contact with.
