Need to catch up?<\/p>\n
What is The Business Centaur’s Virgin Temp?<\/a><\/span> <\/p>\n In the six weeks since her arrival, \u201cFlicka Star\u201d had consistently arrived at work on time, completed her training faster than most mortal new hires, and earned the goodwill of everyone in her department. She didn\u2019t ask questions or attempt to learn anything beyond her own responsibilities.<\/span><\/p>\n If she were a spy, she was a poor one, indeed.<\/span><\/p>\n In his office, Marcaeus pushed one of the dark wood wall panels. It sprung open to reveal a mural of a labyrinthine coral reef surrounding a kingdom of twisting spires and glittering columns. He activated it and stepped through, directly onto pier six of the Atlantica off-shore research facility. A huge ship blocked some of the unrelenting sunlight; built off the coast of Morocco, very near the hidden city of Atlantis, it was far brighter and hotter than Marcaeus enjoyed.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMr. Johnson!\u201d a booming voice called over the noise of the waves crashing against the concrete pillars that hoisted Atlantica\u2019s complicated system of walkways and tubes far above the ocean.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAterian.\u201d Marcaeus lifted his hand.<\/span><\/p>\n The merman approached in an above-surface vehicle, a wheeled Paper Nautilus shell crafted from Atlantean glass spun in the blue-green shades of the sea. The vessel of the vehicle held salt-water up to the gills that scored Aterian\u2019s broad, onyx-dark ribcage.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI was surprised by Hobb\u2019s call. I thought you had lost faith in our project here,\u201d Aterian said bluntly. Most astrals were direct, but perhaps none so much as the merfolk. His silver eyes held no hint of judgment or the passive-aggressiveness Marcaeus would have expected from a human making such a statement.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cNot lost faith,\u201d he explained. \u201cIt was only my intent to keep my distance for appearances. Our competitors in the non-compliant sector are circling.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cUnderstood.\u201d Aterian put his vehicle in motion once more and indicated for Marcaeus to follow. \u201cAllow me to show you the progress we\u2019ve made on the engines.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Marcaeus remained in his glamoured form; human shoes navigated the occasional water-slick more safely than hooves.<\/span><\/p>\n They entered a huge elevator and plunged down, below the surface. Violent bubbles pounded themselves against the strong Atlantean glass, obscuring any view Marcaeus might have had of the coral reef that Atlantica\u2019s facility had nurtured. Saving the oceans had been the first concern of astrals and mortal scientists; Atlantica had made huge advances in climate repair technology as a result. Yet the merfolk refused to sell their secrets. More than once, Marcaeus had insinuated interest in a possible merger, only to be summarily shut down. Capitalism had driven the mortals to cause the climate problem and the merfolk staunchly believed that no problem could be exploited to solve itself.<\/span><\/p>\n The elevator doors opened onto a cavernous underwater lab, more submerged airplane hangar than the shimmering vision of gold and pearls the name of Atlantis evoked. Dark-skinned mortals in stark white coats walked with purpose across the steel grate floors; Aterian had recruited scientists from all over the Origin Continent, of which Atlantis had once been a part before Olokun had brought the kingdom to dwell within their protection. All around the lab, merfolk moved through water-filled tubes, off to their own destinations. One wall was a single pane of glass, revealing Atlanteans and divers working below the surface on the bottom of the ship Marcaeus had spied topside.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThere it is,\u201d Aterian said with a nod toward the boat. \u201cThe <\/span>Leyden<\/span><\/i>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Marcaeus moved out of the way of a woman pushing a cart with some type of large, metal component on it, then proceded to the window. The open sea was not an element he particularly wished to explore. He was far more comfortable with a stream running through a wood or the thunder of a river dashing over rock. Though it was large, the ship still seemed far too small when compared to the vast depths below.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cShould it be bigger?\u201d he mused as Marcaeus pulled to a stopped beside him.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe saltwater capacitors do have a limit to what they can achieve,\u201d Aterian explained. \u201cIf we make them much larger, the deionization and resalination equipment will lead us to a point of diminishing returns. You do wish for these ships to carry cargo, correct?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOf course.\u201d Marcaeus nodded. Though he didn\u2019t understand exactly how the saltwater powered electric ships would operate, he trusted Aterian and his team.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI know your kind are not fond of the element of water but these vessels will be safe and seaworthy. And they will help restore the balance of the seas. Olokun has given their approval and a guarantee of safe passage.\u201d Aterian opened his hand, revealing a glowing blue tattoo on his palm, the mark of a God\u2019s blessing.<\/span><\/p>\n Marcaeus sucked in a breath. \u201cFar be it from me to doubt an Oshun.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt would be wise not to.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Atlanteans hadn\u2019t acquired a sense of sarcasm.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWalk with me. Tell me of these competitors you fear,\u201d the merman said, initiating the controls on his shell vehicle.<\/span><\/p>\n All through the laboratory, scientists and engineers moved aside, nodding their heads in deference as Aterian passed. Too many ears, Marcaeus decided. Too many humans, too easily tempted by profit.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou are safe to speak here,\u201d Aterian assured him.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThat Trasket whelp,\u201d Marcaeus said though clenched teeth. \u201cHe\u2019s sent a woman to infiltrate our company. His sister.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI know her,\u201d Aterian said, surprise tilting his voice. \u201cWe met at the Ocean Summit in Portugal last year. She had some very passionate ideas about climate reform.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Alarm straightened Marcaeus\u2019s spine. \u201cYou\u2019ve spoken to her about\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAbout nothing specific,\u201d Aterian interrupted. \u201cI am not a fool. But it does seem strange to me that a member of that family would care about the fate of their planet. I know that humans lie but she exuded such conviction.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cPerhaps she\u2019s a good actress,\u201d Marcaeus mused. \u201cDeception seems to come naturally to her clan.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Aterian just made a noncommittal, \u201cMmm.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n It didn\u2019t rest easy on Marcaeus\u2019s mind. The element of water ruled the Atlanteans, making them more sensitive to emotion, human or astral. If Aterian hadn\u2019t sensed any deception, perhaps it didn\u2019t exist.<\/span><\/p>\n More troubling, Marcaeus didn\u2019t <\/span>want<\/span><\/i> it to be true of her. She\u2019d come to him with a fake name and a glamour…could that have been out of fear she couldn\u2019t get hired by a company whose values aligned with hers if \u201cTrasket\u201d was the first thing HR saw on her resume?<\/span><\/p>\n He\u2019d spent several long nights wondering about her and excusing it as work.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHave you heard anything?\u201d he asked, though anything Aterian might have learned in confidence would never be revealed, no matter how it might affect Marcaeus\u2019s business interests.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI hear many things. You must be more specific.\u201d Aterian led the way back to the elevator.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHave you heard anything about Trasket sending moles to astral-run companies?\u201d Marcaeus stepped inside and the doors closed. As they rocketed toward the surface once more, he clarified, \u201cMole meaning, someone sent to spy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAh. Not the\u2026\u201d Aterian grimaced in distaste and waggled his webbed fingers to imitate a small mammal\u2019s scurrying feet. Atlanteans distrusted most land-based creatures. \u201cNo, I have not heard any rumors of such. But I rarely hear them, anyway. We\u2019re isolated. Our mortal workers rarely leave the compound and they were chosen by our finest truth-seers.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Atlantean truth-seers were creatures feared even by the Gods. Their ability to discern the motives and character of any being, astral or mortal, was legendary.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cDo you\u2014\u201d Marcaeus began and stopped himself.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis woman has unnerved you.\u201d Aterian\u2019s brow furrowed. \u201cIf you\u2019re so afraid of her, why not simply fire her?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBecause\u2026\u201d He hesitated, searching for words. \u201cI thought it would be strategic to feed her false information to confound Trasket.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cNot strategic,\u201d Aterian corrected him. \u201cConceited. You wanted to feel power over him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Marcaeus scoffed in annoyance.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAn unethical man would try to court her. Humans sometimes mistake physical intimacy for trust,\u201d Aterian observed mildly. \u201cIf you truly enjoy tormenting mortals on such a base level, I have no doubt Trasket would object to a romantic liaison between you and his sister.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cDo you think so little of me?\u201d Marcaeus shook his head sadly. \u201cPerhaps I have spent too long in the mortal world. I don\u2019t enjoy their intrigues but I don\u2019t know how else to best them. They\u2019re actively fighting against the progress that saved their world and their species in pursuit of money they won\u2019t be able to spend when the mortal plane has burnt all around them. There\u2019s no logic or reason but\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n But Fiona Trasket didn\u2019t <\/span>feel<\/span><\/i> like a mortal. And that wasn\u2019t logical or reasonable, either.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBut I admit, I\u2019m intrigued by this woman. It\u2019s as though I can feel her goodness buried under layers of\u2026\u201d he tried to finish, but couldn\u2019t.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHave you been struck by Eros?\u201d Aterian asked bluntly.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOf course not!\u201d Eros-struck for a mortal? The Gods would never\u2014<\/span><\/p>\n The Gods would, of course. They grew more meddlesome by the day. But even they wouldn\u2019t be so cruel.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI am trying out humor,\u201d Aterian said with a nod of self-approval. \u201cIt appeared to uncover something you do not wish to examine.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cNo mortal has puzzled me so,\u201d Marcaeus admitted. \u201cI wish I had some equivalent to your truth-seers.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou could always consider conversation,\u201d Aterian suggested as they reached the portal. \u201cGet to know this mortal. See if she is willing to reveal her truth to you without compromising your own character.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI will think on it,\u201d Marcaeus agreed without conviction. For he knew he <\/span>would<\/span><\/i> think on it. Too much.<\/span><\/p>\n And that was exactly why he didn\u2019t care to know her better.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Need to catch up? What is The Business Centaur’s Virgin Temp? The Business Centaur’s Virgin Temp: Prologue The Business Centaur’s Virgin Temp: Chapter One\u00a0 The<\/p>\n
\nThe Business Centaur’s Virgin Temp: Prologue<\/a><\/span>
\nThe Business Centaur’s Virgin Temp: Chapter One<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>
\nThe Business Centaur’s Virgin Temp: Chapter Two<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n