Evelise continued,
"You said I was the savior, Mayor. Saviors need access to the tools of salvation. I am offering you the cure for the pandemic and the long term management of the Nexus. In return, I require governing access to the source of my people's existence. I must protect the Nexus, for if it dies, we all die."
Sid, watching from the servant's perspective, felt a spike of admiration mixed with fear. She was demanding the keys to the kingdom.
The Mayor stood, walking to a window and staring out at the manicured grounds. The room waited, breathless. Evelise sat perfectly still, radiating defiant patience.
Finally, the Mayor turned back, a grim acceptance replacing his former arrogance.
"You drive a hard bargain, Evelise," he conceded. "Too hard for a mere 'pet,' I'll admit. Very well. The three points are agreed upon: Land, Law, and Nexus access. The contract is drawn upon these terms."
