[Belacqua]

Leaving things lying around on physical drives is always a phenomenal security policy.  Anyway, it was Soulsby's idea to just bust in there and take them.

She's got balls, that girl.  Great big figurative balls.

The Shapeform Council tried to get me to appear the other day: bunch of droning old turbots.  I don't care how important they think the rights of shapeforms are: until we get rid of Charon's Palm, nobody can move an abstract idea of a muscle.

Of course, some of them go to bed at night kissing his picture so it's hardly likely they'll ever support what we're doing.

You lot, I'm sure, will be fussing over whatever vatform technology's inside that building.

That's all very well, but we're still lagging behind pitifully in the brainpower department: Charon barely uses a single percentage point of his processing power when dealing with you.

[Nix]

Belacqua, are you trying to scare Tactics again?

[Belacqua]

If I really wanted to scare Tactics I could display our financial projection.

[Nix]

That'll be taken care of.  Tactics, I have faith in your abilities.  Charon's Palm is an intimidating opponent, but once Shand is taken care of...

[Belacqua]

Once Shand is sorted, the only thing that will happen is that the chance of you finally shutting up about him will increase by a tiny increment.

[Nix]

Shapeforms always over-rate their own importance.  Charon's Palm is nothing without Shand to represent him to a human audience.

[Belacqua]

That's like saying sushi is nothing without wasabi.  Actually, that's kind of true.  Ignore me.