Handle with Care was a virtual representation of one of Kassandra's genetic memories, relived by Layla Hassan in 2018 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.
(Leave – "Find another messenger.")
- Kassandra: You'll have to find another delivery girl.
Kassandra left Alkibiades, only to change her mind and return later.
- Alkibiades: Did you regret turning down my package?
(Accept – "I'll deliver the package.")
- 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 Korinthian military 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.
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.
- 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: 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: 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.
- Kassandra: I'm not interested.
- Alkibiades: A shame... Aphrodite would have loved it. Maybe another time.
Now I have to come up with another plan. It took me a long time to make that final cast.
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.