“These ‘triggers’, as we understand it, are the result of strife and upset. Your people were upset because of how Mortari and RBR have handled your subordinates.”

Crystalclear watched carefully, his eyes on all of the people present, on the nearby rooftops, and on the area below, to make sure nobody was attempting entry.

Jeanne and the theocrat seemed to be the ones in control over this conversation. Jeanne had a parahuman with her, and the parahuman was studying the room, but nothing suggested he was communicating with his superior. Nothing about the way things refracted and moved around his head, nothing about the colors. Purple here and there, but spotty, brief.

If she was a superior at all, that was. It was very possible the ‘assistant’ was the one truly in charge.

“What would you have us do?” Kiley asked.

The theocrat answered, “We want you to be in control. Control your people, organize, avoid similar situations. We are happy to be generous to our less fortunate neighbors, but we cannot have your troubles become our troubles.”

“We’re working on that,” Kiley said.

“Are you married, Ms. Kiley?” the theocrat asked.

“I don’t see how that’s relevant.”

“That would be a no, then. I prefer to work with married individuals, like Mrs. Wynn here. They understand the difficulties of a long term relationship, the compromises and deeper knowledge it takes to make things work.”

“I wouldn’t be where I am if I wasn’t competent. Trust me, Mr. Aguirre, I’ve earned my place.”

“So I’ve heard,” the theocrat answered. His tone was such that it was as cutting a response as an outright denial or dismissal. “Mrs. Wynn, you’re prepared to organize and control things?”

“We’ve already taken steps. You’ll see measurable change in coming weeks.”

“Good. Ms. Kiley, you’re welcome to prove me wrong in my judgment about you. A lot depends on this. We are happy to keep supplying you with everything you could need, we believe in generosity, but it’s contingent on your successes. We know which pies each of you have your fingers in. If one of you succeed, we’ll gladly back you. If both succeed, we’ll back you both. If others step up and prove themselves, we’ll back them.”

“Provided we do well enough at making the most of what you provide.”

“Please don’t disappoint,” the theocrat said. He placed his hand on the paperwork in front of him. “You know what’s on the table.”

Ms. Kiley said, “I don’t think I’m in your good books, Mr. Aguirre, I think I don’t lower myself any further in your eyes by saying this—”

“What you say or don’t say has little to do with what I feel about you, Ms. Kiley. I believe in deeds.”