Tanya accepted the fresh champagne glass with a confident smile from the stoic-faced drell. While she couldn’t read most hanar expressions, she was pretty sure she knew where Luek stood; he was damn excited at the proposition. Either Tanya was convincing, or Luek was desperate for a stroke of good luck in the form of a solid investor, if Kosso and Zhar’s collective analysis was of any indication. The human woman’s grey eyes turned to the hologram of Kahje, the projection impressively detailing about anything needed to know about the planet’s many interconnecting cities, transportation hubs, and Tanya was certain each hot point was layered with several complex layers of information that could detail absolutely everything about a point of interest, from population numbers to members of government to predominant businesses in the area. Invaluable for just about anyone to know, let alone someone with Luek’s connections and influence.

"Do you know the name of this ship?" the hanar asked, catching Tanya somewhat off guard. Of course she didn’t; it was an inquiry that came out of left field as she said. Was she being tested? If so, it was not a comforting feeling. She glanced at Kosso, hoping for a sudden breakthrough that she desperately needed right then. Fortunately, this is where Kosso was certainly an invaluable asset; he knew his quarry and had so far proven rather deft at planning the heist. It was hard to admit, but the two of them complimented each other rather well. They were a solid team. 

If only the others were having such luck.

Tanya listened as Luek spun his tale of ancient hanar bullshit, a story that was probably told in every civilization in one form or another, cautioning against over-extending one’s reach lest they fall and fuck up so hard that their abysmal failure would be a cautionary tale for school children for countless generations after the fact. The fact Luek was likening himself to this Aurelion fellow was more of an indication of his over-inflated ego and he perhaps let off a bit too much of his insecurities about his place amongst his own kind than perhaps he intended to; it would explain why he was granting an unknown, unproven human woman and her drell partner with crazy ideas a captivated audience. When Luek concluded his tale, he turned the table to Tanya. Was Veronia Piers willing to go the distance, to reach out and take what others dare not?

Tanya stood and strolled over to the holographic projection, the azure light splashing across her fair skin, making it appear as if the waves of Kahje itself was dancing upon her. She reached out a slender hand, running her hand through the artificial waves. “’Never regret thy fall, O Icarus of the fearless flight, for the greatest tragedy of them all is never to feel the burning light.’” She recited with well-practiced prose, her accent giving an air of formal, educated authority as Oscar Wilde’s words became her own. She turned her gaze to Luek. “We have a very similar tale in our own mythology, where Icarus defied his father’s instructions not to take the wings his father had crafted and flew too close to the sun, where they came apart around him. Icarus perished for his hubris by falling into the sea where he drowned.” She smiled at the hanar. 

“Seems all too appropriate for Kahje, does it not? Icarus was a remarkable figure not because of his fate, but because he ignored what was expected of him to pursue his own path, to escape the only land he had ever known and to see the world beyond Crete. It’s somewhat romantic, I think. How is that different than the brave souls who set off in ships to cross the unknown ocean the first time, or those who propelled themselves into the stars? They did not pay heed to what others had said, to exercise caution as they propelled themselves into the unknown. Where would we be if we never took risks, to extend our grasp beyond what we can see? Mr. Luek, I am most certainly someone who isn’t afraid to reach and take what others fear to grasp. The tales of Icarus and Aurelion should not be cautionary tales, but inspirations. We should aspire to be like them, should we not? Only when we build too high or get too close to the sun, we’ll be sure to incorporate fail safes before then.” Tanya gave Luek a grin. “I believe my partner and I just may have found a kindred spirit, do you agree, Mr. Luek?”