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[gone_byebye]

The mud of the River of the Serpent is persistent, nasty, sticky stuff that gets into places Ray doesn't want to talk about. He's managed to rid himself of the stuff, but his clothes are going to smell like the river for a while. Thank heaven his papers and boxes made it out of the muck unharmed.

Now if he can just survive Sthiss Tor...

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[gone_byebye]

"You know, your Majesty," says Ray, "somehow I thought you'd say that." He rubs at his face with one hand. "I suppose privacy is probably out of the question, huh?"

The last time he was pinned in the sights of a woman who scared him this much it was Blodwen Rowlands. He's pretty sure blithering isn't going to save him this time. The only other option he's seeing is straightforward bluntness, and that's kind of hard to do with swarms of eunuchs in the vicinity.

[salmissras.livejournal.com]

"Not at all," she tells him as she. . . slinks across the floor. Slinking is the only word that fits the way she moves. She waves a hand, the same gesture she had used earlier - but this time, all of her attendants fall to their bellies and crawl backwards out of the throne room.

"There," she says. "Now we are alone."

Aside from the spies behind the hangings and so on, of course, but he can't see them, and really, it wouldn't be safe not to have guards of some kind.

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Of course. He'd be amazed if there weren't some sort of spy on hand. Garion's told him all kinds of stories about other kingdoms. Why should Nyissa be any different?

Ray nods. "Thank you," he says. "I asked because I have a confession to make, your Majesty. Namely, I would make an absolutely lousy companion in that regard, at least in comparison to anybody that you might have in mind in the past. I'm, um, not nearly as... I'm a much better scholar than I am a, um, a playmate, to be as blunt as I can get without blowing a few dozen blood vessels in my face. It's nothing to do with you!" he hastily adds. "I mean, wow. Seriously. If I were in slightly different circumstances, like possibly being another man entirely or something along those lines, I'd be totally and utterly overwhelmed. As a matter of fact I'm pretty close to that condition as it stands- but that's not the important thing, except in that it means I'm, um, thinking that I really need to make you a significantly better offer than what I can do myself."

Pause.

"That didn't sound right. Can I have three minutes to explain exactly what I mean before you decide that I'm a waste of your time and send the snakes after me?"

[salmissras.livejournal.com]

The snake queen draws herself up to her full height and hoods her eyes, watching him through slitted eyelids.

"Continue," she says, coldly. Perhaps he will be allowed to live.

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Ray nods. "Okay. Okay."

Never in his life did he think he would be grateful for that bust at a certain museum at 233 Fifth Avenue. And never has he more fervently wished that the Doctor not come to this particular wing of this particular universe. He'll never be able to live this down if word gets back to Gallifrey.

"I told you at the start of our audience that some of my research was aimed at producing light without smoke. The same chemically-derived power that I use to produce that light can be used to power devices that'll perform as admirably as you could ever ask for in that regard, without growing tired or needing to stop for any reason other than your own whim. I can provide evidence of the power cells and the smokeless light right now if your Majesty wishes. The devices themselves are going to have to be designed and built to your specifications, but I can draw up the plans and you can see for yourself."

[salmissras.livejournal.com]

Salmissra is nothing if not predictable.

"A. . . device. . . that will not tire?" She thinks that she can guess at what sort of 'device' he is talking about.

She purses her lips, then smiles.

"That would be a. . . more than adequate substitute." She drops him a wink that, shockingly, contains more humour than seduction. Of course, she is Salmissra, so the seduction is still there, but that's not the point.

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Ray nods. "All right, then," he says. "As a token of good faith, this is what I mean about the light-"

At least this isn't the Galaxy Far Far Away. Lord, the stories they'd start circulating...

The throne room at Sthiss Tor has always been on the dimly lit side. It can't be helped; it's the construction. But as Salmissra watches, Ray detaches his 'saber from his belt (they left it with him because it looked about as weaponlike as a large shiny stick) and rests his thumb on the switch.

Snap-hisssss goes the blade, and the throne room flares with sudden green light.

[salmissras.livejournal.com]

"Oh," and it's a soft little gasp. There's a muttering from behind the curtains, which start twitching. No-one steps out though. They don't need to - that's what poisoned darts are for.

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Ray smiles. "Pretty, isn't it?" he says, looking at the blade. Then he switches it off and hangs it back on his belt again. "I'm sorry, your Majesty, I didn't mean to startle you. But if I can build one of those, given some time and the right materials I'm sure I can work up some appropriate toys for you to select from."

So not what he attended the Fu Foundation School of Engineering for, but he's pretty sure that survival kind of supercedes the reputation of Columbia's degree programs.

[salmissras.livejournal.com]

"I like the idea of your toys, Stanz," she chuckles. "You could be a great asset, I think." If he would consent to stay. That's the problem with creative geniuses - they tend to lose their gifts if you chain them down. She's tried it.

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"I appreciate the compliment, your Majesty, but let's save it until I've produced something you can actually use," Ray says. "Then you can judge for yourself. I'll start as soon as I can get set up somewhere appropriate, if that's all right with you?"

[salmissras.livejournal.com]

"My people will have orders to provide you with anything you require," she says. She expects him to have side projects - his type always does.

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"Terrific," Ray says. "Thank you very much, your Majesty. You won't regret it."

And, hopefully, neither will he.