Buying Power

[onemorebounty]

*Samus Aran is not a woman to cross. Where others make threats, she makes statements of fact. Where others warn, she acts. And where others play a cautious, sensible game of Monopoly, she gambles big on her first time through and comes out the winner by luck alone

Comments

[vicioussweetie]

Ali answers the door, wearing the red and silver vacsuit Samus had given her and surrounded by goslings who want to give Samus a hug before her "big adventure with mommy". And then they run off, because it's time for their music lessons. Ali doesn't know who gave Morty that trumpet...

"Hello Samus! I'm ready to go, unless there's something particular I should bring?"

[onemorebounty]

*The children receive hugs--scary bounty hunter or not, she has a soft spot for children--and shakes her head in answer to Ali's question.*

I see you've got your vacsuit, so no.

*She fishes a slim tube out of her carisak, handing it to Ali.*

You'll just need a dose of this before we go. It's a chemical immune-booster, not the genegraft vaccine from before.

[vicioussweetie]

Ali looks at the tube after she takes it from Samus. "Okay. Um. How?"

[onemorebounty]

Ah, right.

*She points to a flat place one the side of one end of the tube.*

Hold that spot against the big artery in your neck, and push the button. It should tingle a little.

[vicioussweetie]

Ali mutters something about "Star Trek", then does as she's told. "That feels so weird. Anything else I need to do before we go?"

[onemorebounty]

You have something to translate?

[vicioussweetie]

Ali nods, lifting a lock of hair so Samus can see her earring. "All set there. And," she adds, picking up her bag, "I've got all kinds of things to barter."

[onemorebounty]

*She chuckles, eying the bag curiously.*

Oh? What did you bring?

*As she speaks, she prods at her portal device, opening a crackling hole in the air of the Nexus; visible on the other side is the interior of a small ship, the dark side of a greenish moon visible through the forward screens. Stepping through, she's quite certain Ali will follow.*

[vicioussweetie]

Ali does indeed follow, and waits for the portal to close before she answers. "Some cookies the kids and I made this morning, and seeds. All sorts of seeds, and all of them for plants that haven't been genetically modified. I thought somebody might like that, where you're from."

[onemorebounty]

Impressive. It's a little bit of a trip, but I can think of a place where you could get a good price for them. Or we can just hit the nearest station and take our chances. Your preference?

*While she's speaking, Samus opens a compartment to stow her carisak, holding out a hand to take Ali's bag and tuck it in the same place. The ship's interior has seen some renovation recently, with the addition of a second gel-cushioned chair beside and a little behind the pilot's seat, as well as a small, fluid-filled tank for Ling to take shelter in if she's ever aboard during a rough flight.*

[vicioussweetie]

Ali hands over her bag before dropping into the passenger seat. "Thank you. I don't mind a bit of a trip. Seeing someplace new will be fun. You've been upgrading, I see."

[onemorebounty]

I have. Being more social makes it something of a necessity. How do you like the decor?

*As it's meant to, the seat practically sucks Ali in, holding her in place and shielding her against sudden starts and stops by conforming snugly to her body. Samus finishes stowing things, then sinks into the pilot's couch to much the same effect. Sliding her hands into the control yoke, she fires up the engines, the moon ahead rolling up and out of view. A low, rising thrum rises through the ship, more felt than heard, and a slight pressure pushes pilot and passenger back into their seats. The stars ahead wheel and spin, then streak, then blur together in a whorl of light and color as the ship blurs out of realspace and into slipstream.*

[vicioussweetie]

Ali relaxes into the seat, watching the lightshow enthusiastically.

"Hmm? Oh. Yes, it's much more comfortable now. I approve."

[onemorebounty]

*Two hours and several systems away, the GalFleet light cruiser Blarney holds position near the south pole of a gas giant. Were one to look closely enough, one might see a pair of figures in vacsuits and mag boots moving along the hull. If one were to listen in, one might even find the conversation between the ship's captain and his aide interesting.*

Sir, shouldn't you be compiling this week's sector report?

It can wait--careful with that bag. Did I ever tell you about the great ancestral game of my people?

Not today, sir. If you'd just come insi--

Golf! The game of kings! Here, stick that strip of turf down here, and tee me up.

Sir, I still don't see why we need to be out here. You have two hundred and seventy-three golf simulators in your quarters, couldn't you play one of those?

What, and miss a chance for drives like this? Besides, those simulators never get my swing right. Don't want to get rusty. Besides, who needs a simulator when there's a perfect hole right there? Bet I can hit it in one.

Sir, that's the planet's

[vicioussweetie]

"Lovely. Where are we going again?"

The problem with magic earrings that let you talk to anything? They let you talk to anything. The ship gets a stuck-out tongue from Ali for its whining.

[onemorebounty]

Obichen Outpost. It's one of the major centers for trade between the Federation and the Taskrian Rim Consortium. It's a little like--oh, what was that city on Earth, on the edge of two empires?