Ion 417: Raiju

by James Darcey

  "Money? As in gold?"

  "Gold would be easiest to trade, but have none. Platinum or diamonds also good."

  I led him up the passageway to my cabin. The pulse laser rifle was laying on the bed when I know it had been in the wardrobe, which left me curious about the other item. Everything on the shelves had been moved around and mostly put back. I flung open the wardrobe to find the box was sitting at the other end of it. Obviously they had looked in there too. I moved it to the bed for easier access, and opened it up. All the stacks were still in place.

  "Will this be enough to repair the ship?"

  Traxel looked into the box and gave a whistling sound. He started to reach into it, and then pulled his arm back. It was almost as though he expected the box to rip off a limb. I could see that he hadn't seen them before, and realized that it must have been something Teyrn Elon had stashed away. I hoped it would be enough to fix our ship. Of course repairing the ship would not be enough, we had to reach Sol.

  "Remember that we need fuel as well."

  Finally he reached in and lifted one of the stacks, holding it up to the illuminators in a way that made me think that he doubted its reality. His mood brightened considerably, leading to a short stomping dance around the cabin while he did his little staccato chirp.

  "We are saved!"

  He lifted ten of the stacks from the box, and laid them to the side.

  "Those will fix us, and get us a good comm system."

  He lifted two more stacks from the box, setting them on the bed next to the first ones.

  "That will fill the fuel tanks to the top."

  I'm not sure if he was trying to hide them, or simply thought I wouldn't mind. As he was busy laying out the stacks of coins to take care of the ship he slipped two of them into his own pocket. I had no argument to it; I mean, he had earned every bit of it with getting us past those Guardsmen. It was an attempt to save his own life that had prompted him to enter me as a Director in the computer, but it had saved us both. He could have pleaded his way into having them arrest me, and he'd be safe, but he chose to stick together.

  Three of his hands plucked stacks out of the box. One was set even further aside, with instructions that it should go to the rescuing Captain. Even as he said it though, he recanted and said that he would take care of that little detail. Traxel put forth that as a Senior Director I would have an assistant handling the details of things that needed to be accomplished. I nodded agreement to his offer to handle the delivery of coins to the various people to get the job done. For his part he agreed to return to the ship within two days, after acquainting himself with local entertainment. The other two stacks that he was holding he held out to me.

  "This should go to expanding your wardrobe Director."

  He was correct. Seeing that image in the holo had made it clear that I needed something else to wear. It was especially critical in my role as Region 1 Senior Director of Flux Genetics. That was a role I needed to learn more about before I made some catastrophic blunder. I thanked him as he turned to leave, wondering if I really would see him in two days.

  A part of me wondered if I could truly trust the Cardovan that had originally been intent on returning me to the Teyrn. Maybe it was the memory of those missiles, and the reception he would get if he did return to that orbital lab. I wasn't going to survive if I didn't extend him a little trust. Still there was a knot of anxiety sitting in the pit of my belly as he walked down the ramp.

  Whoever designed shipsuits was totally ignorant to the concept of pockets. The only way to carry something was strapped to a belt, or in your hands. To me that seemed to most ridiculous thing to do. In times like the loss of grav field like we had coming in, it became essential to use both hands to move around the ship. A shipsuit should be able to let you do that.

  I found an ammunition pouch in the games cabinet, and emptied the spare magazines from that to drop ten of the rolls into it. I know that Traxel's assessment of a couple rolls being sufficient was probably correct, but I wanted to make sure about it. This would be my first attempt at bartering for something of substance. I wanted to make absolutely certain that I had enough to purchase a few sets of clothing, plus something for dinner.

  The cleanser unit was another of the systems that was still non-functional, so I settled for braiding my hair back and headed down the ramp. It was time to put on a show again. All I could do was think really powerful person. I found myself standing at the bottom of the ramp looking around at a busy scene of workmen running everywhere. I didn't have the slightest clue as to which way I should go.

  Panzo was easy to locate, all I had to do was to look for the group of workers. He was in the middle of it directing them, and giving quick assessments of parts that they brought him. He was so intent on the work that he never saw my approach. When he paused for breath between streams of directives, I pounced on the opening to ask about food. He blinked at me in the wake of my sidetracking his thoughts from work to mutter, "Food?"

  "Yes, I am quite certain that even Kanari must ingest sustenance occasionally. Where will I find some food that I can eat?"

  He paused only a breath before pointing me toward a lift with directions to a restaurant several levels above. I took a few steps toward the lift before a thought blossomed in my head. Without pausing to consider if it was the right thing to do, I was turning to inquire if his crew was hungry as well. I think he was joking when he responded that Kanari think about eating all the time. I tossed a roll of coins to him.

  "Go ahead and feed them then."

  I boarded the lift and tapped the button for Promenade. The door opened onto a section of arching walkways that stretched over grassy areas. Everywhere I looked there were hundreds of Kanari. Mixed in with them were about half that many people of other races. Everyone seemed to have someplace to go, and were in a hurry to get there.

  The walkways converged on spots where entire rooms were dedicated to certain products, and all seemed to be offered for sale. For the moment my belly was reminding me that the smells wafting through the area meant that food was nearby, and it wanted some.

  The third walkway to the left, and over two arches, brought me to a spot facing a room full of tables where a few people were eating. This was the source of the delicious aroma I had been following. A colorful sign propped in front of the window displayed what appeared to be a steaming plate of food. As I stepped through the door I was greeted by a young Kanari asking if I was expected, or would be waiting for someone.

  "I was informed that you sold dinners here."

  The little tag hanging from her neck proclaimed that it was La'Noree that led me over to a table overlooking a spot outside where water geysered from artificial flowers. At least I think they were artificial with a somewhat metallic sheen. She waited patiently for me to settle into the chair before handing me the folding list of foods served here, and once again asked if I was alone. My confirmation prompted the replacement of the plate opposite me with a small arrangement of flowers.

  She departed with the assurance that Heb'hada would be serving me. Even as I turned my gaze back from her retreat, there was another Kanari filling a glass beside my plate with a clear amber fluid. I cast a puzzled look up at him, and he just smiled.

  "Honey mist. It's one of the specialties we have. I'll be back for your order shortly."

  He tapped the menu I still held as he turned away to pour some of the sweet smelling drink into the glass on the next table. I looked over the menu, and saw nothing that I'd eaten on the trip out here. I had no idea what anything was. What was the difference between sauté and pre-gested? I was about ready to close my eyes and tap a spot to choose when I overheard the humanoid at the next table list off his choices. A glance at the menu showed that what he'd asked for wasn't even listed. Well, if he ordered that way, then perhaps that was what I needed to do as well.

  When Heb'hada passed by a few moments later I repeated the order that I'd overheard. I could see the look of bafflement cr
oss his face, and panicked for a moment. Had I just ruined the disguise of a Director? The only thing I could think to do was to ask him for a recommendation that would be better. He just smiled and nodded. He quickly departed with the menu, passing another Kanari bearing a plate piled high with a squirming mass.

  As that plate was set before the other humanoid part of me wanted to bite into the writhing worms, while the bigger part cringed at the thought. I was accustomed to having my food already prepared by the time it came to me. I'm sure that it was my father's influence that gave me the desire to kill my food. About ten minutes later Heb'hada returned bearing a plate that he introduced as a Hulame filet; a very tasty fish from the planet below.

  The fish was indeed very tasty, and I was grateful that he helped steer my choice to something better than a plate of worms. He returned a few times while I was eating to keep my glass of honey mist filled; a drink that was worthy of bringing me back there should I have the chance. I spread the fifty coins from the roll on the table, and asked how many of them were needed to trade for the meal. He lifted one telling me that it was more than enough; he would return with what remained of it. I plucked up another to drop in his hand as a gratuity. He had earned it.

  "One for you as well. Can you tell me of a place to purchase clothing?"

  He listed off directions to several places that would have clothing and other items a ship's captain might find useful. I was currently in the inner ring, and shifting to the outer ring put me in the place where the ships brought in their trade goods. Many of them had entire shopping areas within their hulls where they had docked against the ring.

  The waiter had suggested that I make my first stop at the currency exchange, where I could convert the gold into the local trade rounds. These were usable anywhere within Reliance Station, and would save me from being cheated. Gold can be traded anywhere, but not always at a good exchange rate.

  After swapping two rolls for an amazingly large stack of the hexagonal 'Rounds', I set out for the first of the clothiers that I had heard of. In this area the shops were right down on the grassy flats with walkways that lay flat as well. Most of the shops gave the appearance of cloth tents only set up for the day, though I realized that inside the station 'day' could be anytime. Most of the merchants were standing before the shops calling to the people passing by, trying to entice them to look closer. I never imagined there would be such a wide range of things available.

  A sign hanging from the tent awning read simply as Peraline's. This was the first suggested shop, and once I stepped inside I could plainly see why. The five meter square tent outside stretched back into the hold of a large cargo ship. The Humanoid section encompassed the front two-thirds, giving me the choice of thousands of styles from three planets.

  I knew that life aboard the ship meant that close fitting clothes would work better. I had browsed past a few spinning racks, trying to decide what to buy first, when a tripodal person approached asking if I needed assistance. I want to say she, though really I wasn't sure. She pointed out things that would look good on a body shaped like mine. My hesitancy to believe her was entirely because her body was so different, but the first outfit that she held out was a sleek aqua-colored dress that snugged along the sides and flared out to a short skirt.

  I walked out wearing that dress, along with a matching bag to replace the ammo pouch. I had left a handful of outfits with her to have minor alterations accomplished and delivered to the ship. All of them together had cost me only a fraction of the rounds.

  Two more clothiers each supplied me with a few outfits that would be delivered straight to the ship for me. I had never imagined how much fun it could be to look through the clothes and try them on. There were a great many things that looked reasonably good on the rack, but once they were on me they looked horrible.

  So now I had two more shipsuits that looked much better in the gold that matched my eyes, and several other outfits that would be suitable for various occasions. One of them with bright geometric patterns I planned to save for when I met my fellow Humans for the first time. I had purchased all of that with less than half the rounds too.

  Not much further around the ring I came across a shop that specialized in what was referred to as fitness equipment. Before I had even stepped fully inside a Delvan rushed up to show me the perfect machine to keep my shape on those long high drive runs. Towing me along by the arm that he grabbed, I found myself staring at an assemblage of frail looking rods and small weights.

  "This is the latest model that will keep your shape toned up to look its very best."

  My studies in metallurgy told me that it was simple Gelvander, and though it far surpassed steel for strength, it was still no match to my workouts. The rods were so delicate looking that I knew they couldn't bear more than about a hundred fifty kilos. I begged off, trying to convince him to show me a sturdier machine, but he insisted that it would hold.

  The very first thing he wanted to demonstrate was the ability of it to add variable weights with the slide while still in lifting position. I slid it up to the max hundred kilos and lifted. The bar went up, and bent. Then the mountings holding the machine to the floor broke.

  "You'll have to pay for that!"

  "I did warn you, but you..."

  By now an older Delvan was running over to meet us. A few terse words to the younger one sent him off to some other part of the shop while the new one assisted me. Right away he took me over to another compact unit, only this one had been built with solid Duratanium struts. I was still a bit skeptical until I tried it. There were still a few weights left when I reached my maximum. After a half hour's testing of all the features it worked smoothly. I dropped four of the gold coins into his hand to have it delivered. There was a good corner of my cabin that would hold it.

  There were so many vendors along the rim of the ring, and every one of them had things I had never seen before. I was rushing from one to the next just as fast as I spotted the next unique thing that I just had to see. There were so many of those that I held off getting any of them in the hopes of finding the best. There was even a small holo unit like Traxel had, that displayed underwater images that moved as though real creatures were swimming past you. The merchant claimed them to be from a planet called Chiku, noted for its vast oceans. That was one of the few things that I purchased just because I liked the way it looked.

  I was ready to return to my ship, feeling like I had explored enough for the day, when I encountered one of the permanent booths displaying oceanic creature shells turned into art forms. Although this was intriguing in itself, the real items of interest were the merchants.

  The banner proclaimed the display as Nezumi sacred art. The Nezumi themselves were like a cross between a razor fish and an Alzahar Flitter. Their head streamlined back into the torso with a crowning fin that continued on down to the tail flukes, and similar fins webbed under the arms like miniature flitter wings.

  The displays arranged around the front of the booth were all sorts of carved shells from other creatures that inhabited the oceans of their world, and I could smell the slightly salty smell of their environment; it lingered like a favored incense on the items they displayed.

  One of the smaller Nezumi was tending to the customers that perused the collections spread among the displays, by use of a mobilized suit. The shell art was beautiful, and I intended to add some to the shelves of my cabin, but my thoughts were on how good it would feel to be in that water.

  Waiting for a moment when there were no customers in the shop I keyed up the comm unit connecting to the Nezumi in the larger tank. My questions concerning the nature of the water they swam in were met with rebuff. They supposed I was attempting some bit of humor. I knew the smell of that water, and could fairly imagine how good it must feel to let it slip over my skin.

  They even declined my offer to purchase some of the water as well, telling me that a being such as myself would be unable to drink due to the high mineral content. It would poi
son me within moments. The longer I smelled the water, the more I became adamant that I wouldn't be leaving here without the ability to have it available on my ship. My body ached to feel it.

  "If I purchase one of your trinkets will you allow me a glass of water?"

  I placed one of the gold coins on the counter next to a blue coral prayer fan that was worth only a handful of the local trade rounds. This immediately gained their attention, and the one that had been doing the talking for them signaled to the mobile one.

  "If the simian wishes to poison itself, then let her! The Guardsmen will remove the corpse before it seriously impacts our sales."

  A mere moment later the mobile one returned with a fluted tube shell that was full of the water. There was probably closer to a liter and a half within it, but I didn't care. I would show them that I could drink every last drop of it. Somewhere along the way the gold coin had vanished from the counter. I held the sloshing shell up to my nose and savored the rich smell of the nutrients within it. Ignoring a jibe about losing my confidence, I drank the entire shell full, pausing only for a few breaths between gulps. I could feel the wonderful minerals waking energy levels within me that had felt muted at best for the last week.

  The entire time I was drinking it, I had the complete undivided attention of all three of the tank dwellers. I would have the secret of that water at whatever cost they asked. I even smiled as I set the shell down, and thanked them for one of the best drinks I'd had in a long time. This was the opening to barter for a water system like they had. In the end it turned out that all I required was a modified version of the one they used for their tank.

  It was the second smallest version they made. The smallest one was the mobile suit, but it lacked the durability for extended usage. I met with one of their engineers and discussed how to connect it into my stateroom. It took a little clarification to ensure that they understood to connect only my room. He named a price of twelve gold coins to get the job done. I handed him an entire stack to have it done in two days.