Lave Station, Lave, 17-Apr-3200
Back in home territory, I feel more relaxed. Edwards has evidently ironed out his problems with the Directorate since I was last here, and has looked up my ETA to make sure he greets me at the dock. I think our commerce must mean quite a lot to him; or maybe he just wants a trip off Lave?
Still, he rubs his hands with glee when I show him the cargo hold. Because he had to lie low last time I arrived, my hold is chock-a-block with black market goods for him and his buddies to sell on. We strike a deal with the stims going for ¢1248.9 a ton. He looks the slaves over and takes the lot for ¢69499.5. His credit rating must have improved since last time, as well.
I wander around Lave Station and wonder about Lave, planetside. We traders only ever see a potted version of star systems like this one. We come and go, we drink their drink and eat their food, but no-one on the station knows what life's like for the ordinary inhabitant of Lave. And for the most part, we don't seem to care.
Reality invades my thoughts with a bump, as I remember that I'm supposed to be taking charge of a consignment of live animals to carry to Zaonce. For some reason, the seller, although dealing through the market, refuses to work with the automatic system here on Lave, so my presence is required on the ship. I hurry back, and meet my seller preparing to leave the hangar. Some delicate negotiation follows and the animals are, in the end, loaded onto my ship.
Re-fuelling takes place with the usual efficiency of Lave's services, and my ship leaves Lave once more for Zaonce.
Still, he rubs his hands with glee when I show him the cargo hold. Because he had to lie low last time I arrived, my hold is chock-a-block with black market goods for him and his buddies to sell on. We strike a deal with the stims going for ¢1248.9 a ton. He looks the slaves over and takes the lot for ¢69499.5. His credit rating must have improved since last time, as well.
I wander around Lave Station and wonder about Lave, planetside. We traders only ever see a potted version of star systems like this one. We come and go, we drink their drink and eat their food, but no-one on the station knows what life's like for the ordinary inhabitant of Lave. And for the most part, we don't seem to care.
Reality invades my thoughts with a bump, as I remember that I'm supposed to be taking charge of a consignment of live animals to carry to Zaonce. For some reason, the seller, although dealing through the market, refuses to work with the automatic system here on Lave, so my presence is required on the ship. I hurry back, and meet my seller preparing to leave the hangar. Some delicate negotiation follows and the animals are, in the end, loaded onto my ship.
Re-fuelling takes place with the usual efficiency of Lave's services, and my ship leaves Lave once more for Zaonce.
posted by Phil Walker at 11:08 pm
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