1
"Come on Gerfox" Jack snorted, "You know I can get one two planets over for half that price!"
The negotiations with the trader were long and boring, Phoenix already losing patience with the two men as they faced off in the small marketplace.
All that effort for a water filtration unit they really didn't need. Jack has obviously forgotten they got a spare last month.
He left them to their posturing and went in search of something shiny.
What he found took his breath away.
"The latest thing in Cybernetics" the man was gushing as he fluttered around the huge robots, his hands flapping. "Imagine, downloading any personality you want. Naughty, nice …"
Phoenix had stepped forward, his long tresses fluttering in the breeze as he reached out to touch the face of the nearest Bot.
"Warm" he said softly, with obvious surprise.
"We make the exterior as humanoid as possible, unless you would prefer another designation?" the man saw a sale and looked the young man over with a more skilled eye noting not only the finely made garments but the straight backed confidence as he canted his head to regard the product.
"I would have specific enhancements required to make it … acceptable to me" Ianto spoke and the merchant took a step back with surprise at the sudden accent, the melodic tones startling.
"I have previously had a bad experience with such a unit" Ianto swung on his heel to look at the man, "I would need assurances that there the Three Laws of Asimov are in place as well as safe words to shut down."
"Of course" the vendor bristled.
A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws
"Good" as Ianto stepped around him to look at some samples he said softly, "And an override for those too!"
Now the vendor looked into pools of flame and felt his balls constrict as the Firebird examined the one thing on display that might not be as easily disposable to the vendor.
Himself.
"My lord?" he stammered.
"Bow and I shall cut you down" Phoenix warned softly, "For I am not known here and would rather leave it that way."
"You … I mean … Firebirds are not know for toys like this" the man swallowed, feeling the heat coming off this enigma.
"I am not your average bird" Phoenix smiled, immediately filling the vendor with a new warmth, "I shall trust in your abilities as a gentleman."
"Then I shall endeavor to please" the man smiled back, resisting the urge to bow before a superior race.
"I will send you my requirements, trust in your skill and pay you twice this price listed here!" Phoenix tapped the tablet and the man swallowed with renewed fervor, this was not a man to be trifled with and he found it exhilarating.
"I shall do your bidding my Lord" he nodded, handing over secure communications as well as his personal tracker's codes to show his trust.
"Blessings to you and your blood" Phoenix turned and watched his Captain strolling past, unaware of what has happening within the stall's tent.
Phoenix fell into step with Jack was they neared John, still trying to decide on an appropriate gift for Bennu, sulking back on the boat.
"He knows he could not come in his final trimester" John said as he turned to them, "Why did he make me feel so shitty about it?"
"Because he feels shitty" Phoenix shrugged as he pulled his coat around his own bump, "You bond to us, you have to take the bad with the good little man."
John sighed and made a sad sound in the back of his throat.
"The next stall over has miniature toffee apples" Phoenix said as he pointed to a blanket and the vendor eagerly handed it over for Phoenix to examine, "He likes sweeties like that."
John rush to buy some as Phoenix hummed, rubbing the soft fabric between his fingers.
It was a long fur, like angora wool, finely woven to form a warm silky hug that he knew the baby would love as much as he currently did.
"I shall have this one, the red and gold, also, I see a pale pink and blue. May I see those?" Phoenix examined the blankets and the vendor waited to see which one would be chosen.
"And the aqua" Phoenix muttered without looking up, reaching for it as it fluttered onto the pile.
"Aqua for Flynt, red with gold trim for Gale, pink for this little bean and pale blue for Bennu's bean. Hmmmm. The dark blue with silver fleck, there on the right for Firefly, and …. That one with the splotches of colour. Russ should get something too."
The vendor stood gaping as Phoenix calmly looked at the six blankets now on the counter.
"You don't have one that is a dark red? Like, almost a crimson?" Phoenix smiled as one almost purple was shown and nodded, "Yes. Thank you that is the one."
"Seven?" the Vendor asked hopefully.
"No" Phoenix shook his head and she let her breath out with a nod.
"I need another creamy white as well, I want my babies warm at all times as well as while wandering the ship" Phoenix smiled, "So … eight. I want these."
Phoenix walked out in the light with a small boy eagerly carrying the packages, the little bite of gold in his pocket a wondrous payment from the nice man.
It will feed his poor family for weeks.