Burning Bright

“Thanks,” Lioe said again, and waited. This was familiar territory, like the white-painted walls filled with quick-print sheets of network downloads, the padded doors and one-way glass windows that gave onto the session rooms, the banks of food-and-drink vendors tucked into every available alcove. Gueremei, or Shadows through Gueremei, wanted something, and the praise was just a prelude.

Gueremei touched another doorplate, this one badged with the Gameops glyph, and ushered Lioe into a crowded and comfortable office. The air smelled faintly of cinnamon, and there was a thin, dark-red stick smoldering in a holder on top of the VDIRT table that served as a desk. The chairs were Gamer’s chairs, designed for long hours of relative immobility, and when Lioe lowered herself into the nearest one at Gueremei’s absent invitation, she felt more at home than she had since she’d come to Burning Bright.

Gueremei settled herself on the other side of the VDIRT console, and unearthed a workboard from the mess of faxsheets, quick-prints, Rulebooks and supplements, and a couple of expensive-looking Gameboards. She touched keys, peering down at the tiny screen, then looked back up at Lioe. “As I said, Shadows would be very interested in hosting you. There was word on the Callixte nets you had a new scenario in the works.”

So that is the way things are going. Lioe smiled, and said, “Yes, I’ve been working on a new scenario—Rebellion variant with Psionics overtones, set on Ixion’s Wheel.”

“Baron Vortex’s prison planet,” Gueremei said, testing the words. “That sounds hard to pull off.”

Lioe shrugged. “I’m using one of the rival claimants as a primary focus. I think that gives them enough firepower to stand a chance.”

“Interesting.” Gueremei glanced down at her workboard again. “If you were willing to give us an exclusive deal for the duration of your stay—and copies for later use, of course—we’d be willing to offer you twenty percent of the special-session fees.”

“That’s a generous offer,” Lioe said automatically, temporizing while she sorted out the implications. It wasn’t a bad deal at all, but twenty percent of fees was the standard rate, and if Shadows wanted to buy a copy of the scenario, they ought to pay more. “Still, I’d like a little more if you want to keep the scenario for your own use—either a higher percentage, or, better still, a flat purchase fee.”

“That’s hard to come up with when we haven’t seen the scenario,” Gueremei said. “We might be able to offer a slightly higher percentage, though, maybe as much as twenty-five percent.”

“That really doesn’t cover what I’d make from the nets,” Lioe answered. “I’d need at least thirty-five.”

Gueremei glanced down at her board again, shook her head with what looked like genuine regret. “I don’t have the authority for that. What if you run the session here first, we’ll give you twenty percent of the fees, and you’ll be under no obligation to stay with us beyond tonight. If it’s good, I’m sure Davvi—Davvi Medard-Yasine, our principal owner—will want to purchase more rights.”

And you’ll have the prestige of having run the first session, whatever happens, Lioe thought. Still, it seemed worthwhile; it would be a nice bit of extra money, and there was a good chance she could sell the scenario afterwards. She nodded, and said, “What about players?”

Gueremei consulted her board, then touched the input strip to light a second screen under the surface of the VDIRT table. “Actually, we’ve a very respectable crowd in tonight. How many slots will you have?”

“Eight. Six-player minimum.”

Gueremei nodded. “I can get you eight players, all rated A or higher. That’s MI-Net rated, by the way.”

Lioe nodded back, impressed in spite of herself. MI-Net was the toughest of all the Game nets, demanded the most from its players. “Then I’m willing. Twenty percent of the take, up front, and no strings.”

“Agreed,” Gueremei said, and, quite suddenly, smiled. “I’m looking forward to this, Na Lioe.”

“So am I.”

Gueremei fingered the workboard’s input strip again, studied the results. “Room five is free for the night. It’s a standard tech setup, Gerrish table, standard Rulebooks already in place, and we’ve got all six editions of Face and Bodybacked up on a separate datalink, so you get instant access when you need it.”

“That sounds good,” Lioe answered. She could feel the edges of her disks through the thin fabric of the carryall, wanted suddenly to get to work again. “When can I load in?”

“Anytime,” Gueremei said, and pushed herself back from the table. “I’ll get you started, then I’ll see who’s free to play.”

“Excellent,” Lioe said, and followed the other woman from the room.