Payback.

“But... eh... There is still the matter of before this whole mess with Emma started...”

“Oh...?”

“Yes, oh... Kylie, Sophia, Kate, Kara and Ella...”

“I see. You want payback.”

“Yes, Kylie, I want payback. Perhaps you had thought I would forgive you easily, given my nature, but I have the distinct feeling you wouldn’t have set that wicked plan of you all in motion, instead of just taking the natural course, like Sophia had told me.”

“I told you he was pissed off.”

“Holding a grudge, are we?”

“Not so much as a grudge, Kylie, see it as more of a ‘corrective’ measure, in our relationship.”

“Spank us, Alex? Oh, god, I would lo...”

“No, Kate, not for you... don’t pout...”

“Hmm... I suppose we deserve it, although we did it with the best intentions.”

“You did, Sophia, and Clara is still very happy about it... I saw it in the morning shower, smiling brightly to me. Her eyes were a bit glazing after that, but still...”

“So...?”

“So, I want a few stress reducing corrective measures.”

“Uh-oh...”

“You know I read a book about economics recently, discarded by everyone in here... It is true, most of it is rubbish by now, but some principles are still very sound, namely the base function of the entire economic system. Please tell me, Ella, what is economics all based on?”

“Demand and supply.”

“Exactly. And what happens, Ella, if there is a huge demand, but a minimal supply?”

“The price of the demanded item goes up.”

“Correct. Now let’s say an embargo goes in effect and the one with the supply refuses to do so?”

“The demanding parties look for other options...”

“Yes, still correct. But what if for some reason, this supplier was not happy at all with the way the demanding parties treated him... Can you guess what happens then?”

“This supplier of yours... could become the target of a trade war...?”

“He could be, yes, but luckily for him, he has few demands of his own. Very few... And for that, he has other options too. The war could hurt him in the end, but he is very motivated to make it last forever if needs be... But this supplier is a bit wicked too. He knows the limits of his plan. First of all, there are other options he needs to cut off before he starts to set the new price of his supply. Of course, he can’t them off completely, but he certainly could sabotage a few... of... those... back-ups.”

“No!”

“Yes, Sophia, yes. Furthermore, he knows that the other parties also know that these corrective measures must be held private, to ensure no one else hears about your trade manipulations and their unfortunate side-effects. If it somehow leaked, the damage could be catastrophic... Something the demanding parties know very well...”

“We could still trade amongst ourselves...”

“You could, Kate, however...”

“However what...?”

“You know, Mina has been reading quite a lot these days. She is very bright and can teach about quite a lot of topics already. She was ecstatic when I asked her to set up lessons for all of us... Here... You don’t want to disappoint her, now would you?”

“Fuck...”

“And for how long are these corrective measures in place?”

“Hm... I haven’t thought about it yet... a week, two weeks, a month perhaps...”

“A week!?” “Two!?” “A month!?” “Are you out of your mind??”

“Until the new price is agreed upon...”

“Ah...”

“Here it comes...”

“Come on, tell us...”

“First of all...”

“How many demands do you have...?”

“Quite a lot, Kara, quite a lot. And if I can’t communicate them, my thoughts somehow are disrupted, and I need to rethink them... for a longer time.”

“He means we need to shut the fuck up.”

“Hm... Where was I? Ah, first of all, a genuine apology seems to be in order. Secondly, stop fretting about how long it has been since the last time, it only increases the feeling of being pressured. And three, the first new extension you are going to build here, is a private chamber for me, to work in, in peace, an officers room to say, and the second room... should be an extension for the bathing facility, so more people can shower at the same time.”

“So, to summarize, say sorry, don’t complain, a man-cave and extra showers.”

“Not in those words, a very crude comparison, but essentially, yes.”

“So if we agree upon these terms, we can continue as before?”

“As long as the facilities are executed and the corrective measures stay in place, yes.”

“But it will take days to complete it!”

“Then I suggest... you start digging...”

“Insufferable... he can be at times... Insufferable.”

“Still, quite the strike back...”

“Digging his mancave... Instead of him doing it...”

“The shower extension is a good idea. Perhaps we can set up a bath.”

“More digging then...”

“More fuel too... for a warm bath...”

“Oh god... a warm bath...”

“Perhaps we could add some stuff to his man-cave... You know...”

“Excellent idea, Kate...”