The Price of Everything (short story): Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox Story | {{Infobox Story SMW | ||
|image = | |image = | ||
|series= [[ | |series = ''[[Bernice Summerfield (series)|Bernice Summerfield]]'' short stories | ||
|main character = [[Bernice Summerfield]] | |main character = [[Bernice Summerfield]] | ||
|featuring = | |featuring = [[Irving Braxiatel|Brax]], [[Jason Kane|Jason]], [[Joseph (Steal from the World)|Joseph]], [[Mushtaq Anson|Mushtaq]] | ||
|writer = | |writer = Gregg Smith | ||
| | |anthology = Life During Wartime (anthology) | ||
|prev = Lockdown Conversations: 1 (short story) | |release date = 13 October 2003 | ||
|next = Hit (short story) | |prev = Lockdown Conversations: 1 (short story) | ||
}}'''''The Price of Everything''''' was | |next = Hit (short story) | ||
}} | |||
'''''The Price of Everything''''' was a [[2003 (releases)|2003]] short story written by [[Gregg Smith]] and released in the ''[[Bernice Summerfield (series)|Bernice Summerfield]]'' anthology ''[[Life During Wartime (anthology)|Life During Wartime]]''. | |||
== Summary == | == Summary == | ||
''To be added'' | |||
== Plot == | |||
"[[Kellarn|Leo Didas]]" is waiting at a [[spaceport]] for transportation to the [[Braxiatel Collection]]. He is approached by a [[humanoid]] with a blank [[face]], who proceeds to kill him and assume his appearance. | "[[Kellarn|Leo Didas]]" is waiting at a [[spaceport]] for transportation to the [[Braxiatel Collection]]. He is approached by a [[humanoid]] with a blank [[face]], who proceeds to kill him and assume his appearance. | ||
[[Bernice Summerfield|Bernice]] wakes after a night of drinking and dining with [[Mushtaq Anson]]. She tries to ignore [[Joseph ( | [[Bernice Summerfield|Bernice]] wakes after a night of drinking and dining with [[Mushtaq Anson]]. She tries to ignore [[Joseph (Steal from the World)|Joseph]], but when he starts speaking with [[Irving Braxiatel|Braxiatel's]] voice, she listens. Brax tells her of his agent, [[Kellarn]], who is to arrive at the Collection, posing as Leo Didas, a guest of Anson's. | ||
When "Didas" arrives, he is greeted by Benny, Anson, Anson's attaché and [[Jason Kane]]. Benny, who met the real Didas some time ago, greets him enthusiastically. She offers to take him on an extended tour of the Collection. During the tour, "Didas" repeatedly ridicules the art he sees. Jason wonders at Benny's enthusiasm — she usually hates guided tours. | When "Didas" arrives, he is greeted by Benny, Anson, Anson's attaché and [[Jason Kane]]. Benny, who met the real Didas some time ago, greets him enthusiastically. She offers to take him on an extended tour of the Collection. During the tour, "Didas" repeatedly ridicules the art he sees. Jason wonders at Benny's enthusiasm — she usually hates guided tours. | ||
They arrive at the fountains, where there is an uncarved block of stone — the purpose for Didas' visit. He is to carve the block into a Fifth Axis soldier. He sends the others away, claiming to want only Benny's company. When the others leave, Benny makes sure the two are in a safe area for speaking. Kellarn tells her his plan: there will be an attack on the Collection, and while the Axis is dealing with it, Kellarn's people will evacuate the inhabitants of the collection. Benny is concerned about the damage to the pieces of art, but Kellarn thinks they are pointless and doesn't care that they will be destroyed. He tells Benny she needs to choose between her friends and the Collection. | They arrive at the fountains, where there is an uncarved block of stone — the purpose for Didas' visit. He is to carve the block into a Fifth Axis soldier. He sends the others away, claiming to want only Benny's company. When the others leave, Benny makes sure the two are in a safe area for speaking. Kellarn tells her his plan: there will be an attack on the Collection, and while the Axis is dealing with it, Kellarn's people will evacuate the inhabitants of the collection. Benny is concerned about the damage to the pieces of art, but Kellarn thinks they are pointless and doesn't care that they will be destroyed. He tells Benny she needs to choose between her friends and the Collection. | ||
After agonising over her decision, Benny meets Kellarn again. She tells him she can't go through with it. Anson appears and congratulates Benny, informing her that "Kellarn" is actually a construct that has mimicked Kellarn's appearance, and this was a test of her loyalty. She notices that the construct's technology is far above what the Axis is capable of. Anson tells her she could be valuable to the Axis, but she just walks away. | After agonising over her decision, Benny meets Kellarn again. She tells him she can't go through with it. Anson appears and congratulates Benny, informing her that "Kellarn" is actually a construct that has mimicked Kellarn's appearance, and this was a test of her loyalty. She notices that the construct's technology is far above what the Axis is capable of. Anson tells her she could be valuable to the Axis, but she just walks away. | ||
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* [[Irving Braxiatel]] | * [[Irving Braxiatel]] | ||
* [[Jason Kane]] | * [[Jason Kane]] | ||
* [[Joseph the | * [[Joseph (Steal from the World)|Joseph]] | ||
* [[Mushtaq Anson]] | * [[Mushtaq Anson]] | ||
* [[Mickelthwaite]] | * [[Mickelthwaite]] | ||
* [[Kellarn]] | * [[Kellarn]] | ||
== | == Worldbuilding == | ||
* Kellarn was supposed to impersonate the reclusive [[sculptor]] [[Leo Didas]]. | * Kellarn was supposed to impersonate the reclusive [[sculptor]] [[Leo Didas]]. | ||
* Benny met the real Leo Didas while accompanying [[Menlove Stokes]]. | * Benny met the real Leo Didas while accompanying [[Menlove Stokes]]. | ||
| Line 43: | Line 49: | ||
* Benny again encounters technology that is too advanced for the Fifth Axis. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Lockdown Conversations: 1 (short story)|Lockdown Conversations: 1]]'') | * Benny again encounters technology that is too advanced for the Fifth Axis. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Lockdown Conversations: 1 (short story)|Lockdown Conversations: 1]]'') | ||
{{TitleSort}} | {{TitleSort}} | ||
[[Category:Bernice Summerfield | |||
[[Category: | [[Category:Bernice Summerfield sources]] | ||
[[Category:Life During Wartime short stories]] | |||
[[Category:Irving Braxiatel short stories]] | [[Category:Irving Braxiatel short stories]] | ||
[[Category:Stories set in 2602]] | [[Category:Stories set in 2602]] | ||
Latest revision as of 20:22, 3 November 2024
The Price of Everything was a 2003 short story written by Gregg Smith and released in the Bernice Summerfield anthology Life During Wartime.
Summary[[edit] | [edit source]]
To be added
Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]
"Leo Didas" is waiting at a spaceport for transportation to the Braxiatel Collection. He is approached by a humanoid with a blank face, who proceeds to kill him and assume his appearance.
Bernice wakes after a night of drinking and dining with Mushtaq Anson. She tries to ignore Joseph, but when he starts speaking with Braxiatel's voice, she listens. Brax tells her of his agent, Kellarn, who is to arrive at the Collection, posing as Leo Didas, a guest of Anson's.
When "Didas" arrives, he is greeted by Benny, Anson, Anson's attaché and Jason Kane. Benny, who met the real Didas some time ago, greets him enthusiastically. She offers to take him on an extended tour of the Collection. During the tour, "Didas" repeatedly ridicules the art he sees. Jason wonders at Benny's enthusiasm — she usually hates guided tours.
They arrive at the fountains, where there is an uncarved block of stone — the purpose for Didas' visit. He is to carve the block into a Fifth Axis soldier. He sends the others away, claiming to want only Benny's company. When the others leave, Benny makes sure the two are in a safe area for speaking. Kellarn tells her his plan: there will be an attack on the Collection, and while the Axis is dealing with it, Kellarn's people will evacuate the inhabitants of the collection. Benny is concerned about the damage to the pieces of art, but Kellarn thinks they are pointless and doesn't care that they will be destroyed. He tells Benny she needs to choose between her friends and the Collection.
After agonising over her decision, Benny meets Kellarn again. She tells him she can't go through with it. Anson appears and congratulates Benny, informing her that "Kellarn" is actually a construct that has mimicked Kellarn's appearance, and this was a test of her loyalty. She notices that the construct's technology is far above what the Axis is capable of. Anson tells her she could be valuable to the Axis, but she just walks away.
Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]
Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Kellarn was supposed to impersonate the reclusive sculptor Leo Didas.
- Benny met the real Leo Didas while accompanying Menlove Stokes.
- Kellarn is murdered on the spaceport orbiting Abadron.
- Benny had oysters and wine with Anson the previous evening.
Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]
to be added
Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Benny again encounters technology that is too advanced for the Fifth Axis. (PROSE: Lockdown Conversations: 1)
