Chapter 74

DarkIce sat in his office and checked through some of the news releases. He skimmed through the headlines, his eyes darting across the screen, absorbing the latest updates from around the universe. He delved deeper into an article about wanted individuals. He discovered Tim is the target of a 50,000-credit bounty. DarkIce’s heart raced as he read the details of Tim’s alleged crimes and the enticing reward. He needed to warn Tim about the impending danger.

DarkIce printed out a copy of the news article and headed for Tim’s office. As he made his way, DarkIce’s mind raced with thoughts of how to approach Tim. He knocked on his door and waited.

After hearing “Enter,” he stepped inside, walked to Tim’s desk, and laid the paper down.

Tim looked up and said, “What’s this?”

DarkIce took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. “Tim, I just found out that there’s a 50,000-credit bounty on your head,” he said urgently. “You need to be careful and take this seriously.”

Tim looked at the article and went back to DarkIce, saying, “Well, it’s up from last time by 40,000 credits.”

DarkIce nodded, his heart pounding in his chest. “Yes, and it seems like someone wants you gone. We need to figure out who’s behind this and why,” he said, concern evident in his voice.

Tim leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful expression on his face. “Agreed,” he replied, determination glinting in his eyes. “Let’s start digging and find out who’s after me.”

Syloar and Sangar were having a conversation in Syloar’s office regarding the need for fresh trades. Syloar leaned forward, her brow furrowed with concern. “We can’t rely on the clients that Deniece and Miss C gave us anymore,” she said, frustration evident in her voice. “We need to find new opportunities and expand our network.”

Sangar nodded in agreement, her eyes filled with determination. “I’ll reach out to see if there are any potential clients.”

There was a rap on the door. Almost simultaneously, they both said, “Come in.” Looking at the door and wondering who it could be, Syloar and Sangar exchanged curious glances. As the door swung open, a familiar face appeared - it was their colleague, Frank. “I overheard your conversation,” he said with a smile. “I might have an idea that could help us find fresh trades.”

Intrigued, Syloar and Sangar leaned in closer, eager to hear Frank’s suggestion.

Frank walked over to each and hugged them. “Good to see you both,” he said warmly. “I think we should start by attending the conference coming up on the space station and reaching out to potential customers. We can broaden our connections and uncover new trade opportunities.”

Syloar gave him a quizzical expression and remarked, “I noticed an abundance of ‘we’s’ in your statement.”

Frank chuckled and replied, “You’re right, Syloar. I apologize for my choice of words. What I meant to say is that attending the conference together would allow us to pool our resources and present a united front, increasing our chances of success.” He paused for a moment before adding, “Additionally, by showcasing our services at the conference, we can attract potential customers who may not have been aware of our offerings before.”

“Frank, what are you getting out of this?” Sangar questioned.

“Well, besides being with two of the most beautiful women, maybe someplace to stay? You see, I have been stuck on this space station for over a year. The shuttle I was scheduled to be on was hijacked.”

Both women looked at each other, turned to Frank, and asked, “Were you to be on shuttle 1245?” “Yes, that’s the one,” Frank replied with a sigh. “I was supposed to be on that shuttle, but fate had other plans for me. Now, I’m just hoping to find some temporary accommodation and maybe even make some new connections at this conference.”

Syloar said, “Frank, we were on that shuttle, and pirates hijacked it and took us prisoners.”

Frank’s eyes widened in shock as he processed Syloar’s words. He couldn’t believe that the same shuttle he was supposed to be on had been really hijacked by pirates. The gravity of the situation sank in, leaving him grateful that fate had intervened and spared him from such a dangerous ordeal. Frank looked at the twins and asked, “How did you get away?”

Syloar said, “Tim, the ship’s captain, rescued us and a lot of others from the pirates.”

Frank nodded, relieved to hear that Tim had managed to save Syloar and the others. He couldn’t help but wonder how Tim had pulled off such a daring rescue mission against the pirates.

“Frank, if you have been here for a year, what have you been doing and where are you staying?” asked Syloar.

“Well, I have worked a lot of places and stayed in a lot of out-of-the-way cubby holes.”

Sangar told him, “You can stay here tonight. There is a bed in the back room. We’ll have to check with Deniece and Tim about you working with us.”

“I thought you two owned this business.”

Sangar explained that they were part of the crew and lived on desk 2, rather than owning the business. She clarified that the ship itself owned the business, and its role was to connect those who were willing to exchange goods with those in need.

“I’ll sleep in the back. If that’s OK, let’s hang together for a while.”

Sangar nodded and said, “That’s fine; you can sleep in the back room. As for hanging out, I’m sure Deniece and Tim won’t mind. We’ll just have to talk to them first.”

Syloar asked, “Frank, how did you get here?”

“I registered at the space station and followed the guidelines. They required me to submit my picture and other necessary information. Once approved, I was able to come here.”

Frank walked over to the desk, sat next to Syloar, and wrapped his arm around her waist. He asked, “By the way, what is it that you sell?”

Syloar smiled and leaned into Frank’s embrace before answering, “We don’t sell a thing. We find individuals who have something to sell, and then we go find them someone to sell it to.”

“How do you make your credits?”

“If the buyer and seller reach an agreement, the ship receives 1% of the transaction price. Plus, a sample package of each item.”

Frank nodded, impressed by the unique business model. “That sounds like a win-win situation for everyone involved. So, you not only facilitate transactions but also get to explore a variety of interesting products?”

Syloar grinned and nodded, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Exactly! It’s like embarking on a never-ending treasure hunt, discovering hidden gems, and connecting people in the process.”

“Speaking of treasure hunting, how do you get food to eat?

Syloar chuckled, her enthusiasm undeterred. “Oh, don’t worry! We have a system in place where we partner with local restaurants and our food suppliers. They provide us with delicious meals and ingredients, allowing us to enjoy a diverse range of cuisines while continuing our treasure hunt for their unique products.”

Frank’s curiosity was piqued as he imagined the culinary adventures that awaited him through this unconventional business venture. “So, you provide them with resources, and in return, you receive free food?”

“Frank, would you want something to eat?” Sangar inquired. “We’re going to get something.”

Frank’s eyes lit up at the mention of free food. He couldn’t resist the opportunity to try out new dishes without having to worry about the cost. As he joined Sangar and Syloar, he eagerly wondered what culinary delights awaited them.

“We’ll go to the Undain Eatery because it’s right around the corner,” Syloar remarked as they left.

The three proceeded to the Undain Eatery after entering the common marketplace. They entered and took a seat at a table. They were greeted with “Good afternoon, Syloar, Sanger, and friend,” and the server presented them with tablets.

“How am I supposed to know what to do with this?” Frank asked as he regarded the tablet.

“Frank, have a look at the tablet and choose the language you want,” Syloar stated with a grin. “The tablet will then display each item on the menu in your language. If you have any questions concerning that product, you can find out what materials were used by clicking on the picture.”

Frank asked how to place an order, and Sangar said, “Once you make up your mind, press on the item twice, and it is ordered.”

“How do they know where I’m sitting?”

“The locations of all available seats have been preloaded onto the tablet,” stated Syloar.

After studying the menu, Frank pushes three items, then asks, “Are all the restaurants doing the same?”

“Perhaps as many as twenty-five distinct languages are spoken onboard this ship. Therefore, Tawni and the other programmers created the translx application to facilitate communication.” Syloar said.

Sangar explained, “Each restaurant has its own unique menu, but the ordering process remains the same across all of them. So, yes, all the restaurants are using this system.”

Frank nodded in understanding and continued exploring the tablet’s features.

The food was delivered and set down in front of each diner. Frank was astounded to see that each disk was placed in front of its intended recipient.

They sat there, ate, and talked about their old times.

After Zala’s Corvette spacecraft arrives at the space station, the bounty hunter steps out onto the dock. Around him, aliens of every imaginable kind bustle around under the station’s bright neon lights. As he makes his way to the closest drinking establishment. Zala’s keen eyes search the large crowd as he travels, looking for anybody who could be carrying a reward. Because of his reputation as a merciless hunter, several aliens avoid him completely. But there are many who would gladly befriend him in order to take advantage of his talents. Zala gets himself a drink in the tavern and settles up at the bar. In the far corner, he sees a group of aliens with a very scruffy appearance gathering over a table and sharing a little bottle of a luminous blue liquid. He has a hunch that this is interesting enough to look into. He downs his drink and strolls over to join the others.

As Zala approaches the group, he notices their cautious glances and the sudden silence that fills the air. However, undeterred by their reaction, he flashes a friendly smile and tries to strike up a conversation. Curiosity piqued, he wonders if this luminous blue liquid holds some extraordinary properties or secrets that could potentially benefit him in his adventures. Zala points to the drink and asks, “What is that?”

“It’s a beverage from my home,” one of the aliens explains.

Intrigued, Zala asks the Alien about the origins of the drink and if it has any unique effects.