There is a space station hanging in orbit around a desert planet. It's not very impressive, as space stations go- a number of domes haphazardly linked by transport tubes, placed seemingly wherever they'll fit. A vaguely spheroid tangle of architecture with no consistent direction of artificial gravity. The only feature that can be differentiated from the rest of it is its docking bay- a large platform with an old-fashioned atmosphere field stretched around it. The technology on display looks to be nearly a hundred years old, on average. It is not a place that looks to be on the cutting edge.
It is broadcasting some information about itself. Some rudimentary field specs for its atmosphere, docking instructions, a map of its facilities, language and communications information. Massively outweighing the useful data is a bulk of advertisements- hundreds of presentations in various media types exhorting visitors to drop by some shop or another. Most prominently, an ad for Auntie Matter's is listed on the facilities map- their exclusive fuel provider, it seems. Ferengi supplier, decent quality at an affordable price, probably enabled by some highly shady business practices. It'll be good enough, likely.
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old-fashioned atmosphere field
penitencelost
penitencelost
Isabella T'Mir Ֆ "T'Mir"
warpfairy
Isabella considers the place.
She could just keep going, but she'll be very short on dinner options by the time she gets there, and if something happens, she won't have leeway in her fuel supply. She doesn't love buying from Ferengi, but she has the cash to go non-Federation-post-scarcity-supplies when she's out of the core neighborhood, and sometimes she is, and this is sometimes.
She collects the docking instructions. She docks Prometheus.
She could just keep going, but she'll be very short on dinner options by the time she gets there, and if something happens, she won't have leeway in her fuel supply. She doesn't love buying from Ferengi, but she has the cash to go non-Federation-post-scarcity-supplies when she's out of the core neighborhood, and sometimes she is, and this is sometimes.
She collects the docking instructions. She docks Prometheus.
penitencelost
penitencelost
Ramón rifles through the manual. Er... okay, so it's... that one, okay. He turns on the red ones- no, the yellow ones. He turns on the yellow ones. Why are the yellow ones green? That's not right. But that was the right button, certainly. Everything matches what the diagram says...
Oh, they've landed already. Erm. Okay, procedure for... scanning pole, need the scanning pole. Bicorder is set to... okay. And the radio feature in the...
"Uh, welcome, visitor! Please hold while I conduct a... Federation Standard Secure Macroimage... Search? That's... yes. Please hold while I do that, to verify... that your craft doesn't... contain hazardous... uh, what's this say..."
He approaches the ship, carrying a pole with a scanning device mounted on it that has not actually been Federation Standard for a good two decades.
Oh, they've landed already. Erm. Okay, procedure for... scanning pole, need the scanning pole. Bicorder is set to... okay. And the radio feature in the...
"Uh, welcome, visitor! Please hold while I conduct a... Federation Standard Secure Macroimage... Search? That's... yes. Please hold while I do that, to verify... that your craft doesn't... contain hazardous... uh, what's this say..."
He approaches the ship, carrying a pole with a scanning device mounted on it that has not actually been Federation Standard for a good two decades.
Isabella T'Mir Ֆ "T'Mir"
warpfairy
"...Holding," replies Isabella. "But it's a survey craft, nothing scary."
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"I'll, uh... sorry, it's just procedure, ma'am, it won't take more than a minute."
He holds the surface of the device flat against the hull, and takes readings. The display says something about "trace primitives" on the hull surface, but it's got a green checkmark next to it, so that's got to be fine, right? And... none of them are red, the- oh, yellow triangle... but no description? And- and now the yellow triangle is gone. That... that probably means everything is okay.
"Everything checks out, er, miss... I mean, it's all- you're free to- there's, the fuel depot is down the hall in the Mechanical Hub to... to your left, you can- there's self-serve and automated."
He holds the surface of the device flat against the hull, and takes readings. The display says something about "trace primitives" on the hull surface, but it's got a green checkmark next to it, so that's got to be fine, right? And... none of them are red, the- oh, yellow triangle... but no description? And- and now the yellow triangle is gone. That... that probably means everything is okay.
"Everything checks out, er, miss... I mean, it's all- you're free to- there's, the fuel depot is down the hall in the Mechanical Hub to... to your left, you can- there's self-serve and automated."
Isabella T'Mir Ֆ "T'Mir"
warpfairy
"Thanks. And in case your equipment didn't pick up my identificatory, this is the Prometheus and I'm Isabella T'Mir."
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penitencelost
"Uh, right! Have a-"
Wait. Protocol. The manual said something about this. The captain is going to be really upset if he forgets.
"Oh, uh- you- I have to- um... please state your business?"
Wait. Protocol. The manual said something about this. The captain is going to be really upset if he forgets.
"Oh, uh- you- I have to- um... please state your business?"
Isabella T'Mir Ֆ "T'Mir"
warpfairy
"Refueling and grocery shopping."
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"And you want... is that..." Ramón looks through his manual- there's a section on refueling, he forgot the name of the thingy... "...individual... dilithium fixed-output cells, or... does it run on..."
Okay, he doesn't understand this diagram at all. He sheepishly shows her the relevant page, which outlines a few common warp fuel delivery systems.
Okay, he doesn't understand this diagram at all. He sheepishly shows her the relevant page, which outlines a few common warp fuel delivery systems.
Isabella T'Mir Ֆ "T'Mir"
warpfairy
"Prometheus takes item three on your menu."
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"Right, okay, there's... they have a drone for those, but you can have a technician do it for a... nam- nomino- nominal fee, or you can pilot the fuel platform yourself, and... the depot kiosk is on the other side of the market, there."
He points to a nearby dome. From what you can see, it seems to be a ring of storefronts surrounding.... an enormous flea market, packed tightly with people. There is no obvious way around the bustle- the makeshift stalls are pressed up against the storefronts in all directions.
He points to a nearby dome. From what you can see, it seems to be a ring of storefronts surrounding.... an enormous flea market, packed tightly with people. There is no obvious way around the bustle- the makeshift stalls are pressed up against the storefronts in all directions.
Isabella T'Mir Ֆ "T'Mir"
warpfairy
"Probably best to pay the technician. Thank you. Anything else I ought to know?"
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He looks warily at the market.
"You're... going to want to be careful with..."
Ramón looks around at the docks. Nobody is here that needs to leave soon, and the captain did say to make sure guests leave happy...
"Actually... I should probably escort you to the fuel depot. Everyone's a little... pushy, here."
"You're... going to want to be careful with..."
Ramón looks around at the docks. Nobody is here that needs to leave soon, and the captain did say to make sure guests leave happy...
"Actually... I should probably escort you to the fuel depot. Everyone's a little... pushy, here."
Isabella T'Mir Ֆ "T'Mir"
warpfairy
"...I'd appreciate that, thank you. Pushy about...?"
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"They'll... they'll want to sell you things, or buy passage on your ship. And... when someone comes here and agrees to trade with one person, everyone... notices. If you're someone who'll accept one deal, you might be someone who'll accept two deals, or three, or..."
He makes a nervous gesture with his hands.
He makes a nervous gesture with his hands.
Isabella T'Mir Ֆ "T'Mir"
warpfairy
"I don't really have a lot of room on my ship. Is there a convenient way to set up an auction?"
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His eyes widen.
"You... you'll take people? That's... they'll be upset, everyone's always upset when someone else gets to leave... there's no way to do an auction, but if you announce one... there'll, there'll be pushing and shoving, but it's probably the safest way, they'll push and shove each other more than you..."
He looks worried. There've been unpleasant incidents in the past.
"You... you'll take people? That's... they'll be upset, everyone's always upset when someone else gets to leave... there's no way to do an auction, but if you announce one... there'll, there'll be pushing and shoving, but it's probably the safest way, they'll push and shove each other more than you..."
He looks worried. There've been unpleasant incidents in the past.
Isabella T'Mir Ֆ "T'Mir"
warpfairy
"...Is it better to categorically refuse them all just because I don't have room for more? If people want to leave that badly... Anyway, it's possible I'll be out this way again, will blacklisting anyone who pushes and shoves help?"
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penitencelost
"...it's what most people do, as soon as they realize what's going on- drop everything they've accepted and leave. It's a... Jenny said... a common tragedy. If you..."
He looks down, thinking.
"I'm not sure how it'd go over if you announced you wouldn't take anyone who's too rough... unless you're good at picking out faces, it'd be hard to make good on that promise if they all ignore you at once."
He looks down, thinking.
"I'm not sure how it'd go over if you announced you wouldn't take anyone who's too rough... unless you're good at picking out faces, it'd be hard to make good on that promise if they all ignore you at once."
Isabella T'Mir Ֆ "T'Mir"
warpfairy
"My ship can only accommodate extra passengers if we rotate sleep schedules and share the bed or people sleep on the floor. It's a reasonable constraint that they have to be well-behaved and calm with each other and me. If it's unenforceable, I'll have to think of something else."
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"I... I don't think anyone would have trouble getting along on board. It's just the ones who are desperate to leave... you could try announcing an auction, and you won't be- I mean, it's perfectly safe, no one would- there'd be a big commotion, but..."
He shuffles his feet- he's not comfortable giving any particular recommendation, it seems.
He shuffles his feet- he's not comfortable giving any particular recommendation, it seems.
Isabella T'Mir Ֆ "T'Mir"
warpfairy
"Has no one thought of holding an auction before? There's no track record to go on?"
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penitencelost
"...I... I don't know how people usually try it, I don't- usually someone else is on duty, I... if they did, it... might have gone well? I only hear about- if I'm talking to the complaints department, I hear... I mean, I think people have taken passengers without causing a scene before, but I wasn't there to see how."
Isabella T'Mir Ֆ "T'Mir"
warpfairy
"...Is there someone I could ask who might know?"
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penitencelost
"I... the shopkeepers ringing the market usually have a good view of what goes on, I think. And they're... permanent residents, they won't want anything from you except business. If you're shopping for groceries, you can ask the owner of- of whatever grocery store, about what they've seen."
Isabella T'Mir Ֆ "T'Mir"
warpfairy
"Okay, I'll do that. Anything else I ought to know?"
penitencelost
penitencelost
He thinks for a moment.
"Uh, pod silks are food- people wear- if someone tries to sell you pod silks, it's... normally you wear them for a day and then eat them, or else they go bad, but people... don't know that... space people don't know that, and they sell them based on how they look, and then a week later we get complaints about rotten shawls... uh, there's... that's probably not what you meant, uh, I don't know, that's... all I can think of, but I don't know if I'm thinking..."
He makes a vaguely apologetic sound and gesture.
"Uh, pod silks are food- people wear- if someone tries to sell you pod silks, it's... normally you wear them for a day and then eat them, or else they go bad, but people... don't know that... space people don't know that, and they sell them based on how they look, and then a week later we get complaints about rotten shawls... uh, there's... that's probably not what you meant, uh, I don't know, that's... all I can think of, but I don't know if I'm thinking..."
He makes a vaguely apologetic sound and gesture.
Isabella T'Mir Ֆ "T'Mir"
warpfairy
"It's not what I had in mind, but if I'd had something in mind I'd have asked a more specific question. Thank you."
penitencelost
penitencelost
"I- thanks. I mean- you're welcome. Sorry. I'll..."
Ramón nervously keys in a log entry for the visitor, and moves to pull a lever by the wall.
The market dome, connected to the rest of the station by a set of tube-like corridors, seems to be a tangled journey away, despite being visible from the docking bay. Upon Ramón's pulling the lever, however, one of the corridor tubes connected to the market detaches from its previous destination- some opaque dome whose contents can't be identified.
The tube twists through space and reattaches itself to the wall of the docking bay, where a hatch opens up.
If this is how getting around works here, it's no surprise the layout is such a tangle.
Ramón nervously keys in a log entry for the visitor, and moves to pull a lever by the wall.
The market dome, connected to the rest of the station by a set of tube-like corridors, seems to be a tangled journey away, despite being visible from the docking bay. Upon Ramón's pulling the lever, however, one of the corridor tubes connected to the market detaches from its previous destination- some opaque dome whose contents can't be identified.
The tube twists through space and reattaches itself to the wall of the docking bay, where a hatch opens up.
If this is how getting around works here, it's no surprise the layout is such a tangle.
Isabella T'Mir Ֆ "T'Mir"
warpfairy
Isabella makes careful mental notes of the twists and turns and proceeds towards where she'll be doing her shopping.
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penitencelost
Ramón follows T'Mir down the tube, until they reach the entrance of the market.
The people there look poor- the kind of poor you might see in history books, wearing rags and variously caked in dirt (of which there ought to be none on a space station.) It's an incongruous spectacle- the permanent storefronts look clean and modern, the architecture (while old-fashioned) is in good repair, and matter replicators- towering, century-old models, but working- stick out from the crowd here and there. The crowd seems to be destitute with no explanation.
Except, perhaps, sheer numbers- it's a truly massive crowd of people. The organization of the market is best described as a battle between navigability and carrying capacity. There are aisles to walk down, the widest being the circle around the edge, but it's clearly a tight squeeze.
As they approach, there are hushed whispers- they've noticed T'Mir. People at their stalls start unpacking their wares, and all eyes are on them as they step closer.
The instant one man in front calls "Welcome, traveler! Can I interest you in-", there is a cacophany of voices clamoring for attention.
The people there look poor- the kind of poor you might see in history books, wearing rags and variously caked in dirt (of which there ought to be none on a space station.) It's an incongruous spectacle- the permanent storefronts look clean and modern, the architecture (while old-fashioned) is in good repair, and matter replicators- towering, century-old models, but working- stick out from the crowd here and there. The crowd seems to be destitute with no explanation.
Except, perhaps, sheer numbers- it's a truly massive crowd of people. The organization of the market is best described as a battle between navigability and carrying capacity. There are aisles to walk down, the widest being the circle around the edge, but it's clearly a tight squeeze.
As they approach, there are hushed whispers- they've noticed T'Mir. People at their stalls start unpacking their wares, and all eyes are on them as they step closer.
The instant one man in front calls "Welcome, traveler! Can I interest you in-", there is a cacophany of voices clamoring for attention.
Isabella T'Mir Ֆ "T'Mir"
warpfairy
"I'm looking for groceries, and -" Isabella names the Prometheus's preferred fuel.
If she finds couples or people who are otherwise willing to share the bed - if she sleeps in her chair - if some people stack up on the cabin floor - maybe she can take more than a handful out of here.
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This pronouncement does not appear to have any effect on the crowd. Everyone seems to be individually beckoning her- "Groceries! Try our-" "But what you really want is-" "Please! Please just buy-" "Perhaps I have-"... the crowd of sellers largely doesn't seem to be moving from their stalls, thankfully, but the clamor is significant.
Ramón turns to her. "You'll... if you want food, you can probably get it cheaper from the people here, but everyone will be shouting at you... the storefronts are more expensive, but you could find what you want without people trying to sell you things..."
Ramón turns to her. "You'll... if you want food, you can probably get it cheaper from the people here, but everyone will be shouting at you... the storefronts are more expensive, but you could find what you want without people trying to sell you things..."
Isabella T'Mir Ֆ "T'Mir"
warpfairy
"Is this some kind of cultural weirdness or are the people here really desperate for some reason?"
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penitencelost
Ramón snorts. "They shouldn't be. They had plent- they had enough to eat back on Earth, and they have enough to eat here, but they all... you could call them desperate, but not out of need. They are afflicted with longing. Those who buy space closest to the docks are those who long the hardest..."
He shrugs.
He shrugs.
Isabella T'Mir Ֆ "T'Mir"
warpfairy
"Pardon - Earth?"
penitencelost
penitencelost
"Sorry- the true Earth, not the old Earth. The planet that we... uh, what's... that we 'orbit'."
Isabella T'Mir Ֆ "T'Mir"
warpfairy
"Interesting naming choice. Why do people want to be away from it so badly?"
penitencelost
penitencelost
"Afflicted by longing. Our grannies came here to escape longing for more and more material things, but longing followed us across the stars... they don't care for the commandments to stay safe from..."
He gestures at the stars, visible through the dome.
He gestures at the stars, visible through the dome.
Isabella T'Mir Ֆ "T'Mir"
warpfairy
"...You know, if the right Federation charitable organizations were notified an entire shuttle could probably make its way out here to take people who want to go."
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penitencelost
"That's..."
Jenny said something about this, before. Something about statue violations, and Ferengi contracts, and disciplinary... space... stuff. He didn't catch a lot of it.
"I think they tried that? And it didn't work? Or maybe they didn't try because... I don't recall, exactly. Something to do with those aliens with the big ears..."
Jenny said something about this, before. Something about statue violations, and Ferengi contracts, and disciplinary... space... stuff. He didn't catch a lot of it.
"I think they tried that? And it didn't work? Or maybe they didn't try because... I don't recall, exactly. Something to do with those aliens with the big ears..."
Isabella T'Mir Ֆ "T'Mir"
warpfairy
"The Ferengi got in the way? Are they going to give me trouble if I try to take passengers?"
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penitencelost
"Not you, no- they don't have enough of a presence here to police all the, um, traffic, individual visitors, but... they fund this place, and they have... some kind of problem with the Federation? I'm not sure."
Isabella T'Mir Ֆ "T'Mir"
warpfairy
"The Federation and Ferenginar are not at war, but things have never been - ideal, between them. But I'm a Federation citizen and I freelance for them, even if I'm not here under the aegis of Starfleet."
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"I... wouldn't worry."
(This is a lie, he would worry, but that is more a function of his own general worriedness. She needn't worry.)
"Did you- were you going to pick a store, or take a chance with the market?"
(This is a lie, he would worry, but that is more a function of his own general worriedness. She needn't worry.)
"Did you- were you going to pick a store, or take a chance with the market?"
Isabella T'Mir Ֆ "T'Mir"
warpfairy
"I don't relish the idea of wading into... that. I'll take the quieter option."
penitencelost
penitencelost
There seem to be two sorts of storefronts, in about equal number.
The first are brushed-chrome and steel rooms that are clearly trying to look "futuristic" (according to some wildly outdated ideas of "futuristic"). They offer familiar-looking fare at inflated prices.
The second sort are warmly-lit wooden buildings that offer authentic planetary cuisine. The latter tend to be draped in fabric all over- every surface seems to have some decorative cloth attached. Prices appear generally reasonable, and the food smells good, but none of what's visible is recognizable.
The first are brushed-chrome and steel rooms that are clearly trying to look "futuristic" (according to some wildly outdated ideas of "futuristic"). They offer familiar-looking fare at inflated prices.
The second sort are warmly-lit wooden buildings that offer authentic planetary cuisine. The latter tend to be draped in fabric all over- every surface seems to have some decorative cloth attached. Prices appear generally reasonable, and the food smells good, but none of what's visible is recognizable.
Isabella T'Mir Ֆ "T'Mir"
warpfairy
"I don't suppose there's much information on how Vulcans react to the local cuisine?"
penitencelost
penitencelost
"Vulcans? I don't-"
What are Vulcans, again? They're the... Ramón finally notices her ears. His eyes widen and he takes a step back. He's been talking to an alien like a person?
"Oh! I- uh, I'm sorry- uh..." The question, it asked... "I don't- okay, yes, Vulcans... I don't think there's information, like that, but we've had them visit before- there were never any complaints about the food, but I don't know if that's... because it's fine, or if they all just bought... space food. I think... they regulate it, they probably wouldn't be able to sell it without warnings, if that were... a problem."
It acts like a person, it doesn't- she doesn't seem like an alien, except... his eyes are glued to her ears.
What are Vulcans, again? They're the... Ramón finally notices her ears. His eyes widen and he takes a step back. He's been talking to an alien like a person?
"Oh! I- uh, I'm sorry- uh..." The question, it asked... "I don't- okay, yes, Vulcans... I don't think there's information, like that, but we've had them visit before- there were never any complaints about the food, but I don't know if that's... because it's fine, or if they all just bought... space food. I think... they regulate it, they probably wouldn't be able to sell it without warnings, if that were... a problem."
It acts like a person, it doesn't- she doesn't seem like an alien, except... his eyes are glued to her ears.
Isabella T'Mir Ֆ "T'Mir"
warpfairy
She blinks at him.
"I'm half-human," she says, in case that will help. "And can usually eat human-suitable food without a problem, but would prefer to be warned."
"I'm half-human," she says, in case that will help. "And can usually eat human-suitable food without a problem, but would prefer to be warned."
penitencelost
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Half- what? That's a thing? He- doesn't know what to make of that.
"That's... okay. I think... it should be fine, I can't... tell you specifically, it's never come up- but, you know, that it's never come up, that says something... I mean, if there'd been a problem, I'd have heard about it, probably."
"That's... okay. I think... it should be fine, I can't... tell you specifically, it's never come up- but, you know, that it's never come up, that says something... I mean, if there'd been a problem, I'd have heard about it, probably."
Isabella T'Mir Ֆ "T'Mir"
warpfairy
"And you have had Vulcans here before - mm, probably best off not buying exclusively local products, just in case."
penitencelost
penitencelost
The stores between them and the shortest path to the fuel depot look noticeably cheaper and less well-maintained than the stores lining the longer path. It seems the tradeoff is between quality and being-yelled-at-by-pushy-strangers-for-
Isabella T'Mir Ֆ "T'Mir"
warpfairy
Isabella sighs and goes into one of the local stores to see what looks tasty.