Page 28 of Life-Debt

“Oh, I charmed them with my engine room. Those two will be flying one day, you mark my words.”

“You are a terrible influence.”

“Sell me something I can actually pay for, Carthello. I feel dirty right now.”

“How about a protectorate for a stolen Veloc hatchling we received? We tossed the culprit into stasis, and you can deliver the youngling back to their parents. We already promised transport.”

“I’m paying for that?”

The operator once again laughed. “Well, you’ll be paying by capturing the attention of even more Veloc. Very well. How about a spare set of tri-color shiftgem crystals suitable for your engine? We have new stones in. They’re legal and can be registered for your engine. They’re even cheap, as you are one of the few who can actually use them well.”

“Sold, assuming my token account can cover the expense.”

“I checked it. It can more than cover the expense. You have not checked your accounts lately, I see. Your compensation was paid from Cremora Delta. Post tax, as the note says in the public record.”

“I had convinced myself they’d go the single token but restocked me route,” I admitted. “I have a fortune of stasis-frozen food on board. I’ve been eating like a queen, as has Pandora. They switched up my labels and replaced most of my cargo containers, too.”

“How inconsiderate of them, making you use your revival system for such things.”

I allowed myself an overdramatic sniffle. “The cargo containers come with unfreezing units for their goods.”

“Ah. That explains why you assumed they only sent a token. Those are not cheap units. But nice.”

“I just put the food under the scanner on the side, and it removes them from stasis. I haven’t figured out how it works yet, but it’s pretty incredible. You can even put leftovers into stasis with the one crate.”

“Your frugal heart must have wept tears of joy upon learning of that function.”

“I sobbed,” I announced with zero shame. “I sobbed real tears.”

“I bet you did. You have plenty of funds for the crystals for your engine, and I will give you them at a ten percent markup from our full expenses for their acquisition.”

“That’s more than fair. I was going to ask about rainbow blacks.”

Carthello’s many eyes focused on me. “We have some. Those are dangerous shiftgems, Viva. They can kill as easily as they can save.”

“I know. I might one day use them for my engine, but they’re compatible with just about everything, so I’d like a set for emergency repairs.”

“I would not normally sell these. We consider them black hole acquisitions. The authorities ask for us to make sure they disappear. But we keep them in case the right owner comes around. They know this. We know this. In your hands, for your purposes, perhaps it is the best I sell them to you. I will get the authorization first. To do so, I will send them your history, and they will decide the price for the stones.”

“You’re really going legal.”

“For some things. We will be the market the authorities know exist and will be able to operate openly. There are some lines we will not cross, like planet busting, but they will ignore other operations. We have an agreement. The spaceport will be neutral territory. Our operation will handle imports, and the legal workers will go through the main exporting section. There will be certain hours when the authorities will ignore the ships that enter via the import and do not leave through the export section of the port.”

“Anything else I should know before I let a bunch of folks on my ship to install this stasis chamber?”

“There’s a bounty for your pristine and living head, but as you’re aware of the Veloc chasing you, it’s no concern. The Veloc are excessive when it comes to these matters. Expect to be chased—but don’t worry about your ship. That is covered by the bounty as well. You and your ship are to come to no harm. I hope you like the idea of being romanced, because you’re courting trouble.”

“Do I get a free pass out of the station?”

“You do, but only because there is a bounty for information on your whereabouts. I recommend you head to Veloci Minor. Humans like yourself amuse them, and all you would have to do is tell one you’re playing hard to catch. A clan would surely act as your host and entertain you until it was time for you to be appropriately hunted. Or romanced, as the case is.”

“No is always an answer if I don’t like the romancing, no matter how persistent Veloc think they are—or their little cousins.”

“Ah, you underestimate the Veloc, Viva.”

“No, they underestimate me.”

Carthello cackled. “For that alone, I will find you a treasure among my wares you will adore so much you must buy it for the sake of your sanity. But first, let us attend the matter of the little Veloc. She is young, she is frightened, and she would very much like to go home.”