Chapter Sixty-Three (Dreams) (2/2)
That made shopping tolerable as she was stared out by wide eyed species who had never seen a giant mantis that delicately moved through the shop, examining jewelry and other luxuries. It made exploring the tourist sections tolerable as she drifted through the paths and trails to see gardens. She took pics and 'peggies' of the scenery, a few of the sculptures, and a few xenospecies.
Sadly, most of it was boring. Safe, created and fashioned and approved to be viewed without feeling emotion or having any kind of strong feelings or slight unpleasant feelings so much as tickle the viewer. There was nothing to 'tickle her tendrils' or really bring her senses to more than just light curiosity.
One thing that did catch her notice was a small holomarker on a desk. Dreams was in the shop to purchase a few small hand-crafted ceramic tchotskies when she saw the little holomarkers.
Tuku'unga Custom Ceramics
She took the card, sliding it into the pocket of her denim vest, purchased the ceramics and left. Once she was in her hoverdisc she took out the card and ran the number. The hoverdisc was moving along, back to the diplomatic embassy.
The number connected to a personal store, where ceramics were being sold. Dreams admired the beautiful workmanship of the pieces, the attention to detail, the subtle flaws that even a master's work possessed. She ran template comparisons to see if the items had been run off a fabricator. She found some that were close, but her educated compound eyes could tell that all of the items were indeed hand crafted with skill and tools.
She tapped the rune for contacting the crafter.
A Shavashan female answered and Dreams noticed that she had drying ceramics on her neck.
”Tuku'unga Custom Ceramics,” the Shavashan female said. She frowned. ”I am not accustomed to privacy screened calls and I do not take anonymous orders. Please show yourself.”
Dreams triggered her camera, allowing her image to appear.
The Shavashan's eyes opened wide. ”I've seen you! On the TriVid!” the saurian exclaimed.
Dreams flashed a run of assent. ”I am Dreams of Something More, the Terran Confederacy diplomat to your government,” Dreams said.
The Shavashan nodded, swallowing. ”Why... why would call me?” she asked.
Dreams tapped two icons, sending an image to the craftsbeing. ”Can you create something like this for me? Color matched and by construction?”
The Shavashan nodded again, swallowing as she did so. ”Of course, honorable one, but surely you can just have it fabricated.”
Flashing the rune for a negative Dreams shook her head. ”Fabrication units smooth it, make it flawless, just like the touch the spirit of a craftsbeing has. Can you do it?”
Still nodding, the Shavashan looked over the file. ”I can. How soon do you want it?”
Dreams shrugged. ”When it is done, craftsbeing. I do not rush true workmanship.”
The Shavashan nodded, flashing a rune expressing pleasure.
”Here is a deposit. Please send me pictures of your work as it progresses,” Dreams said. Her account had plenty of the local currency in it. She had compared the price of a reasonably close sized and complexity piece to what she wanted, doubled it, then doubled that.
”Lady Ambassador, surely I can't,” the Shavashan protested upon seeing the money transferred.
”I can, and if you are willing to craft it for me, I will pay the remaining amount. I will have some bark samples and moss samples sent to you this evening for your reference,” Dreams said.
”As you wish, Lady Ambassador,” the Shavashan said. ”Thank you for your patronage.”
”Thank you for your dedication and skill,” Dreams replied, then cut the feed.
She sat, humming to herself, quite happy with her purchase. The day had not been a total loss. She had found a few hats she was sure would look perfect on her head, along with a few artistic torso garments and an abdomen wrap or two.
She floated all the way to her quarters, climbing down off the hoverdisc when necessary, then walked the remainder of the way to her quarters, humming and smiling to herself. She tapped open the door and walked in.
”Mr. Rings, guess what Mommy bought...” she stopped as Rack and Pinion both activated their shoulder mounted cannons.
Mr. Rings was sitting on top of dead Lanaktallan, pushing its tentacle into a hole it had chewed in the side of the creature's abdomen. As Dreams watched, the little arboreal octopi pulled out a hunk of muscle tissue and shoved it into its mouth.
Dreams noticed that the rings around Mr. Rings eyes were bright blue where the rings on his tentacles were duller in color. The Lanaktallan was laying near a disruptor pistol, dried foam around its face. It was obvious to Dreams that the Lanaktallan had been moving toward Dreams's sleeping quarters when Mr. Rings had dropped from the tree branches and onto the Lanaktallan's back and killed it.
Dreams couldn't help it. She started giggling. Rack and Pinion both made grinding noises of amusement as Mr. Rings looked at them with wide innocent eyes and shoved another chunk of tissue in his mouth.
”Mr. Rings! Naughty!” Dreams giggled.
Mr. Rings grabbed one more hunk of flesh and climbed up into the top branches of the trees.
Rack and Pinion called down that there was a dead intruder in the Ambassador's chambers.
As soon as everyone turned around, Mr. Rings dropped down and grabbed another piece, climbing out of reach when Dreams chastised him.
Dreams just giggled as she sat there and watched the medical services haul away the dead Lanaktallan.
Mr. Rings stayed hiding in his bole, chewing on a piece of liver he had absconded with while Mommy was talking to the big tasty people.