Chapter 29
Transcript of conglomerate-approved meeting between Adelaithe of Seraphim media source The Good News and competitor Grigor Spade of Grace Mining Initiative.
Note: meeting was conducted in English and has been translated into Standard at the request of the judiciary, with the original file appended for review by the judiciary's translator as well
A: I'd hoped to meet with Alikander myself, but he's declined a meeting.
GS: I'm not surprised. He's far gone.
A: You don't think he'll sit down and have a nice, reasonable conversation?
GS: He's a lost cause, I'm telling you.
A: Now, you should know that we don't believe anyone is a lost cause. Have you been speaking to him in the way we discussed?
GS: I've been telling him how it is. I said I'd be happy to talk to him once he stopped throwing himself at the alien he's chasing after.
A: [pinches her nose to indicate frustration] Well, it's not going to do any of us any good if you're hostile, Mr. Spade.
I understand it can be jarring to speak to someone who is so – different, but we'd rather catch this fly with honey.
Honey is good for all of us. Honey is the way we're moving forward, galactically speaking.
GS: [grunts] I can try again. He's avoiding me, though.
A: Now, can we really blame him? I saw the footage from the mixer. You said he was filthy and you called him a – an inappropriate word.
GS: You don't know what it's like, out there among all of them. Makes your skin crawl, how depraved –
A: Mr. Spade, you need to choose your next words very carefully. You understand that all conversations are monitored.
GS: I'm just saying, you can't let your convictions falter when you're off the edge of the map. Here there be monsters. And trust me, I'm off the edge of the map. You've shoved me here, and what matters most is that I do what's right –
A: I am going to pray for you, Mr. Spade, I want you to know that.
I'm going to pray that you remember that the Shepherds tasked you with coming here and comporting yourself appropriately to show the galaxy who we really are.
They tasked you with speaking to Alikander Lane to see about bringing him back into the fold instead of allowing his misinformation to spread. They trusted you.
GS: I know that.
A: And I know you'd never want to let them down. Especially because this is such a special opportunity for your family. You have a sister on the colony. She'd certainly like to raise her children on the station.
GS: I know.
A: Wonderful. So you'll speak with Alikander again? And you'll mind yourself?
GS: I'll try.
A: It's good that you have such a strong moral compass. Few people do, even among the flock. You hold on to that, and you hold on to what your purpose is. God has a plan for you, Mr. Spade. I'm eager to see Him work through you.
GS: [grunts, leaves]