Meeting. This was the first time that I had ever moved through the Pot without feeling like I was a mark to be taken down. It was obvious that none of the scavengers wanted to tangle with the Iskar. It was a very strange feeling. I managed to convince it to stop at the dive where I rented a shoebox with a mattress in it and collected my gear. There were two things going for the place. It was cheap and they had good locks. Coming out of the Pot we entered the Low Town and I guess one of the patrollers there was not familiar with Iskars. As he challenged and attempted to grab it his partner just ported his weapon and stepped back. The dunce that attempted to grab the Iskar straightened up until he was standing on his toes and his hands slapped up against his helmet trying to clutch his head. His weapon fell to the pavement with a clatter. A gurgling moan sounded and he fell over like a tree that had been cut down, slamming into the pavement. The Iskar never even looked. The patroller who was smart enough to stand clear seemed relieved to find his partner still alive. Walking up through the Market security watched us but none of them challenged the Iskar. I wasn't that noticeable even dressed in the somewhat shabby clothing I had. The Iskar walked through the place like it was beneath it's notice. Well, maybe it was. I'm not sure what an Iskar would be interested in besides emotions. I was a bit nervous as we left The Market and headed into the luxury of the Plaza. I was not a person welcome there. The patrollers noticed me and commed but none of them challenged the Iskar or tried to take me away from it. The Plaza is a place that glitters like a tastefully adorned tiara. All of the surfaces are treated somehow and dirt won't stick to them. The streets glistened and nothing was out of place. Litter didn't dare exist here. Nobles, Rankers, Politicos and their adornments filled the streets. I glanced at one portly fellow and his two adornments and realized that I could buy ten ships for the price of the clothing and jewelry they wore. It was also likely that he was on one of the lower rungs of the social structure here for there were richer sights to see. I realized that the Iskar was exerting another talent now. These "important" people would not get out of anyone elses way. Yet as we approached they would "decide" to look at something "just over there" which would take them out of the way and allowed us to pass through. We walked through a bubble in which no one would stay. Interesting, I thought. The Iskar didn't stop at any of the lesser places. It was heading straight to the heart of The Plaza. A place called "Star of the Universe" and it truly was. This was a place where the merely super-rich might walk through the lobby but they couldn't afford to stay there. We entered the lobby and headed across to the lifts. The lift seemed to go up forever. It opened onto a grand hall with sweeping stair-cases to either side. The Iskar lead me up the stair and into a room which was configured as an old temple. I don't know if it was open air or not. I could feel a gentle breeze with the scent of flowers and a sunset beyond a sitting area. The Iskar walked up the stairs and a blonde woman with green eyes turned to look at it. The Iskar waved a negligent hand my way and the blonde looked at me. Her presence was incredible. "Thank you, Effra. We'll talk later," she said to the Iskar. Her expression didn't change but I knew what she was going to say. "The Pot does that to people. Sorry to offend by bringing the stink with me." She didn't smile but she nodded. "Efra, show him to the bath. We'll speak with him after that." I kept my opinions to myself but that was the first time I'd ever heard of anyone referring to an Iskar by a name. I'd never heard of an Iskar who would permit it. I hoped I'd learn more after I had made myself less offensive. Sad to say I'd gotten used to the stink of the Pot.