The Tyr: Arrival (The Tyr Trilogy Book 1) by Richard Fox

Author:Richard Fox [Fox, Richard]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Triplane Press
Published: 2021-07-26T22:00:00+00:00

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Hower sat in the shuttle bay with his shoulders hunched and his arms crossed over his waist. He glanced up from the deck to see robots running decontamination wands over the crates.

Argent slid across the bench, breaking the personal-space bubble he’d come to appreciate on Tyr. The young woman had her slate clenched in her hands, a half mask of sterilizing fabric tight over her mouth and nose.

“There’s no risk from anything in there, right?” she asked him.

“Not if you trust the company’s bio filters,” Hower said, his gaze on his toes.

Argent stiffened.

“The Leopold’s processed enough serum from me and our…guests. You’ll be fine,” Hower said. “Besides, doesn’t Zike consider you ‘mission critical’?”

“I’m sure he does.” Argent set the slate on her lap then quickly rubbed her palms against the outside of her legs. “It takes time to learn all the…quirks of any director-level employee of the Corporation when you become an executive assistant. But handling all the less-than-urgent demands on Director Zike will increase the cost-benefit analysis when it comes time for bonus payments.”

“That’s what the Corporation’s focusing on? The return-on-investment potential from each employee?”

“There’s an advanced AI that does the final tally.” Her face lit up. “It’s really spectacular to see it work. Total compensation’s gone up nearly a half percent since the new system was put in place.”

“Wondrous. Truly.” He got up and went to the nearest crate. He turned the latch and lifted the lid, shooing away the disinfectant droid as it thrust out an air nozzle to suck in any particulates. Hower held up a spool of brass-colored thread on a gold dowel the length of his forearm.

“Made from ambary,” he said, running the side of his thumb against the threads. “Incredible plant. The seeds provide oil that’s used for lubricants and paints and it’s rather nutritious for the Tyr. The fibers in the stalks are synthesized into biodegradable plastics. Then there’s the thread, obviously. Different regions have plants that can be refined into what feels just like silk to coarser fibers equivalent to burlap. Then there’s the medicinal uses. Analogous to hemp, if you’re familiar with that.”

“My training academy had a module on that,” she said. “Required learning on market manipulation, legal and otherwise. Perhaps we can establish a number of reservations—company-run attractions to showcase the primitive lifestyles.”

“I’m sure the Tyr would enjoy that,” Hower sneered. “Living in zoo exhibits. Maybe we could stage slaver raids on a bronto-herding clan?”

He drew out a glass jar full of frosted nuggets the size of the tip of his thumb. “Ah, tardash.” He looked over one shoulder then twisted the lid off, took a sniff of the contents, and smiled.

“Oh, that smells lovely.” Argent leaned closer.

“They were my wife’s favorite.” He popped one into his mouth and nodded. “Fit for a king, no surprise.” He canted the jar to Argent. She plucked one out, put it to her lips, then glanced at the robot as it ran wands glowing with UV light over another case. Argent bit the nugget in half then looked at the inside.

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