'I understand,' says Tayrey quietly. She's still taking it all in. The critical information about the danger the suits present, yes, but also smaller scraps. That's what passes for business formal on Jean's homeworld, for instance. Not the buttoned shirts and long robes favored by Cardalek's Directors.

'I intend to keep a safe distance from any entity I can't either do fair and reasonable business with, or fight,' she adds, that firm and definite tone creeping back into her voice. 'But there's no sense in fretting over distant probabilities. What I will tell you-' she leans forward slightly, as if sharing a secret. 'Be careful with that Citizen Calloway. He overcharges to the point of absurdity. He has my papers in there for sale - on plastic, all written in Sector Standard, and he's trying to charge nearly a month's wages for them, as some sort of mystery artifact.' He wouldn't be negotiated down, which had irritated Tayrey even more.