Handle with Care was a virtual representation of one of Kassandra's genetic memories, relived by Layla Hassan through the Portable Animus HR-8.5.
Description
Kassandra met Alkibiades at the Akrokorinth, who needed her help to deliver a package to a man named Bardas.
Dialogue
Near the Temple of Aphrodite atop the Akrokorinth, Kassandra found Alkibiades admiring the view, and approached him.
Kassandra:Nice view.
Alkibiades:It just got a lot nicer. I was hoping to see you again.
Kassandra:Alkibiades. What are you doing outside of Athens?
Alkibiades:Someone like me is always on the move. I've docked my ship in every "port"!
Kassandra:I'm sure you have.
Alkibiades:If you're here for more than the view, I have a task for you. It is crucial this package gets to its proper recipient. It's not from me, but a man named Diodoros.
Kassandra:I'll help, but it's only that little box?
Alkibiades:One should never judge something by its size, you know. A small thing may very well make a huge impact.
Kassandra:All right. Who am I giving the package to?
Alkibiades:There's a man named Bardas near the Korinthianmilitary fort. He's one of their stronger... assets.
Kassandra:And I just tell him it's from you?
Alkibiades:No, from Diodoros. Don't forget. Diodoros.
Kassandra:You said this package isn't from you. Why do you have it, then?
Alkibiades:It simply came into my hands, that's all. Diodoros asked for my help, like I'm asking for yours now.
Kassandra:Why can't this Diodoros deliver it himself?
Alkibiades:You're a curious one, aren't you? Some questions don't have answers. Sometimes things just... are.
Kassandra:You've traveled a lot—where's your favorite place to go?
Alkibiades:Oh, a personal question... interesting. The world is filled with beautiful places. To pick my favorite would be like picking my favorite hetaera. I could do it, but the answer changes based on my mood.
Kassandra infiltrated the Akrokorinth Fort and entered Bardas' office.
Kassandra meeting Bardas
Bardas:You aren't the misthios I sent for. What do you want?
Kassandra:This is for you.
Bardas:Give it here.
Kassandra handed over the package and Bardas unwrapped it.
Bardas:Is this some kind of joke? This is a cast of someone's dick! What's this engraving? "This is for your wife Thelia, for when she starts to miss me."
Enraged, Bardas turned his full attention to Kassandra.
Bardas:Tell me now! Who sent this?
Kassandra:Do you know a man named Diodoros?
Bardas:Diodoros? He'll pay for this with his life! I'll destroy his men. I'll destroy his ship. He'll regret ever touching Thelia!
Kassandra left Bardas enraged at Diodoros.
Kassandra:A man named Alkibiades gave it to me.
Bardas:Alkibiades? Just because Perikles took him in and he's friends with important people, he thinks he can do whatever he wants. I won't let him get away with this!
Kassandra left Bardas to his indignation at Alkibiades.
Kassandra:It's from me, Bardas, can't you tell?
Bardas:Do you think this is a joke? You'll pay for that!
Bardas attacked Kassandra, leaving her no choice but to kill him.
Kassandra:Someone doesn't have a sense of humor.
Her mission complete, Kassandra returned to Alkibiades at the Temple of Aphrodite to tell him the outcome.
Alkibiades:I was just starting to miss you. I hope you delivered the package.
Kassandra:Bardas threatened to kill Diodoros when I told him. I also wasn't expecting the package to be... well... that.
Alkibiades:It was a nice surprise, wasn't it? I can make another one for you, too, if you'd like.
Kassandra:Another one? You—
Alkibiades:It was mine, yes. It looked good, didn't it? I needed to get Diodoros out of the way, and now he will be. I impress myself sometimes.
Kassandra:Whatever you say.
Alkibiades:Why don't we let our bodies do the talking? Surely you had thoughts of it as well when you saw the cast of me...
Kassandra:Here? Before the gods?
Alkibiades:Let's make an offering.
Kassandra:I'd like to see the gods stop us.
Alkibiades:I have a feeling they'd prefer to watch.
Alkibiades and Kassandra shared a moment in the temple. Kassandra emerged a while later, followed by Alkibiades.
Kassandra:I'd say we gave the gods a good show.
Alkibiades:I couldn't agree more. I'd love an encore soon.
Alkibiades left.
Kassandra:I'm not interested.
Alkibiades:A shame... Aphrodite would have loved it. Maybe another time.
Kassandra:I told Bardas that... it came from you.
Alkibiades:You did what? I specifically told you to say it was from Diodoros. Now I have to come up with another plan. It took me a long time to make that final cast.
Kassandra:Wait, so it was yours?
Alkibiades:Yes, that impressive specimen was mine. I really wish you hadn't told him that. You can go now. I need to think.
Kassandra:I thought I'd make a joke and tell him it was mine, but he didn't laugh.
Alkibiades:Why would you do that? Bardas is an angry, emotional man. I hoped to get rid of Diodoros, but now you've ruined that.
Kassandra:If you wanted to get rid of Diodoros, then that package wasn't from him after all.
Alkibiades:Of course not. It was a perfect plan, but now I have to come up with something else. Don't think I'll ever make a cast for you now.
Outcome
Alkibiades returned to Athens to hatch more political schemes. In each of these, she would have a knack for showing up at the exact moment he required her skills.
Trivia
The choice here only affects a chance to sleep with Alkibiades. The quest rewards and XP are the same, and telling Bardas the truth does not have a long-term impact on the health and well-being of Alkibiades.
