Chapter 1 continued
Not long after Xalia and Quopka had left the pod and entered the ground port.
"Don't worry about your luggage my people will get them for you and bring it to your residence."
"Residence?" Xalia asked.
"Yes we got you a small house near the coast. There you can start with your work."
"That's different..."
"How so?" Quopka asked.
"Usually I get to stay in a hotel or as more or less honoured guest at the house of someone important.", aster a short pause she added, "There usually is more of social song and dance involved."
"Literally or figuratively?"
"Usually figuratively, sometimes also literally and one time in Cresilea Secunda it was song and dance most of the time." she shook her head laughing softly at the memory. Her authority expanding lightly in reaction to it. Xalia stopped. "That's strange..."
"Huh?" Quopka stopped, looked at her then around. "What is?"
"Can't quite put my finger on it." she shrugged an continued walking.
"Is it anything I have to be worried about?"
"Nah." Xalia waved his worries away with her hand, "If I notice anything dangerous or disturbing I'll tell you. This is... just odd...?"
They walked on in silence until they reached immigration. Her all paths were carefully wound their way to inconspicuous choke points where all visitors had to walk past a crystal arch through a short tunnel where their crystal ID was checked, their passing logged and of if they were carrying anything that might be something that had to go through customs. Quopka pulled a short round shard of green stone out of some inner pocket, once he passed the arch it started to glow in a pleasant verdant colour.
"Just stay within the light and we can just walk through." he said.
"Neat." said Xalia walking a bit closer to him, not wanting to risk the wrath of a immigration cavern. Once the security in these things got triggered they turned from a short walk along a straight line into a labyrinth. Every time she fell afoul of them she swore to herself that she'd never leave her home world ever again. But well her she was, as always.
While she was still trying to push away the last time, where she had descended ever deeper into one of the more paranoid defence systems, she noticed that the light of Quopka's shard began to shift into an unpleasant yellow hue.
Xalia sighed, took a deep breath, trying not to panic. "What's happening Quopka?"
Quopka stared at the shard with something very close to hatred. "How dare they..." he looked up, the knuckles on the hand holding the shard turning white. "I am Quopka, third child of Lhrà of Zyandal, primary voice of the parliament of high ocean endeavours. This," he held up the crystal as he spoke, "is an inviolate seal of office. Suppressing it is a cardinal offence." As he spoke the shard's light began shifting back to green.
"Acknowledged." a bland friendly voice coming from everywhere answered, "You, most honoured, first high voice of the exterior, Quopka may pass. However your esteemed guest has to pass through the welcoming path."
"No. She must not." he said almost snarling. "She is here by my invitation, the mantel of my office covers her."
"Acknowledged, most honoured, first high voice of the exterior, however this is a private port, by the charter of the greater collaboration, we have the obligation of passing every new visitor, provided he is not a native of the region or a representative of the voices of government, through the welcoming path. The path will introduce her to the wonders of Sralan, preparing her for her visit."
"I have and will continue briefing our guest on our local culture and customs. There is no need for her to walk down your way..." he said, his body tense. Xalia was sure that if the voice had any material representation she might have had to stop Quopka from stabbing it with the shard.
"You are of course free to return back to the high ocean port, free of charge and secure passage on a ship to a port that is not owned by the Sralan chrysalis corporation, there other rules of ingress may apply." while the voice remained as blandly polite as before Xalia was sure that she could her a certain smug condescension in the words.
"What is this 'welcoming path' anyway"? Xalia asked.
"The welcoming path is..." the bland voice started with a pudding like enthusiasm before being cut short by Quopka.
"It is commercials for the chrysalis." Quopka said.
"Ah, I understand..." said Xalia who didn't understand, fearing that her asking would lead to more things she didn't know about. "It's no problem, I can just go through the path, look at what it has to say, and then we meet on the other side and go on with business."
Quopka just stared at her fuming.
"Or," Xalia had to be very careful to not make matters worse, "We can go back to the high port" she kept her voice level making sure that it sounded like this was just another perfectly reasonable option, "and look for a sphere cruiser and from there we can go to another port." she smiled her professional smile, the one she had practised for many decades for situations just like this, warm, friendly understanding, open, and nothing else, the last part was the hardest and most vital part.
"This is an outrage! I will not let this stand." Quopka was lost in his rage.
"I know. I myself am shocked by our treatment." a lot of work went into not sounding sarcastic, which was made easier by Xalia wondering who this Sralan chrysalis corporation was that it could limit the privileges of a high ranking official of the planetary government. "I hate how you are being treated," she meant that, "this should not be happening, but this helps me understand what you are going through. Let me walk the path. I promise you that I will not suddenly change my mind and... I don't know decide to go for a package holiday instead."
Quopka finally turned to face Xalia. He looked at her, then at her new coat and then again at her face raising his eyebrows.
"The coat is different." Xalia said, "That's because of the weather!", after a short pause she added, "And it is really stylish." she bared her teeth in a regrettable attempt at a smile. Quopka stared at her and started laughing. Xalia's smile turned real.
"Well even if you decide for that package deal, I know where to find you." he said. "I'm paying your expenses after all."
"You heard him." Xalia said to the voice. "Show me that path of yours."
"Thank you, Xalia Ranva, authority of glories past. The interaction and your decisions have been duly noted. Please proceed through the welcoming path and enjoy your stay on Sralan."
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