IN THE YEAR 3035
Fred looked out of the portal and shook her head in disgust, the docking procedure was not going well and if it took much longer the shipment could be ruined. Her journey would have been for nothing, not to mention the huge cost involved.
“How much longer will this take? I can’t afford any further delays!” The communicator crackled and a garbled voice replied but was unintelligible. Fred sighed and thumped the console. Another 30 minutes passed before the indicators registered the docking procedure was complete, now she had to get unloaded fast.
The autobots went about their business in their normal efficient manner but Fred fretted it was not quick enough. Finally the ship was fully unladen, She watched as the entire cargo disappeared into the vastness of the space dock.Fred tapped the side of her head and connected to the logistics map, the cargo route traced in front of his retina and she breathed a sigh of relief as she watched it reach the correct shuttle to deliver to her buyer. The craft was temperature controlled and for its short journey the cargo should remain fresh.
The bar was almost empty, most of the sector's cargo vessels would be out picking loads up from the rim planets. The storm debris would be sweeping across there soon and they would be hurrying to pick up as much as they could. The last time the storm had erupted, it had been 4 months before they could get through for more deliveries and to bring back supplies. Fred’s lids twitched as she thought of those greedy pilots who would leave it just too late, their ships would be torn apart by the jagged debris, even the gallium hardened outer hulls could not withstand a full blown storm. Less ships meant bigger profits, even if it meant greater time spent travelling and more risk. There were less ships every year and far less than when Fred had first started hauling freight.
“What’s your pleasure, airman?” The barbots voice broke his train of thought. “Whiskey”
“Right coming up”
The bar did not need to be serviced, a simple voice command would get you any drink you desired and much more but Fred liked the old fashioned vibe of having a proper bar and barbot.
She picked up the drink and sat at a table. One of the sexbots came over “Hey do you want to fool around?” It’s nasal voice made Fred’s teeth grind “No” was her terse reply, the bot whirled round and left, if such a thing were possible it looked disgruntled! Fred wondered who it was that thought they should talk like that, if possible she still preferred the real thing. Sex was the last thing on her mind for now, if the credits were not transferred quickly she might struggle to have enough to purchase a contract for her next job. A call highlighted in Fred’s brain, it was Gilly. “Hi Gilly, what's going on?” Gilly’s perpetually enhanced face popped into her vision. “Your shipment is complete, credits transferred but it is 400 shorter than the agreed contract price” Gilly’s metallic ringing voice sounded as emotionless as always. “Why?” Fred asked calmly. “10% failure at point of delivery” Fred knew that was a lie but she’d expected to be short changed, it had almost become common practice and everyone believed the purchase price was inflated to make up for percentage shortfalls, it had become self perpetuating. Gilly cut the call. Fred sipped her drink and smiled, naturally she had jacked up the price. The contracts were supposed to be tamper proof but she knew a guy who had a scam bot and he had forged the manifest. Scam bots had been banned twenty clicks ago but her contact had managed to get his hands on one. It cost her but it was well worth the price.
She looked up, two Keepers had entered, they were looking straight at her. Fred reached down to her belt and pressed the buckle activation, she did not want trouble but she was damn sure she’d be ready for it. The Keepers came to within a metre of the table and she tensed ready for action. Keepers were cyborgs and originally the peacekeepers but many had long ago decided that was not much of a job and had gone rogue. An empty bar was a perfect target for them, if an unsuspecting patron was in one and alone. They looked Fred up and down and she looked back, she could almost see their circuits calculating whether she was worth the effort, Keepers were tough but they weren’t invincible. Decision made they turned and moved off out of the other exit. Fred blew out her breath.
A minute later the creature she most wanted to see entered the bar and glided over to the table. “Your late Beta” Fred smiled
Beta stretched out a long tentacle and laid it on her hand, a familiar warm feeling coursed through her body, comforting words in her mind “Welcome home my darling”
“It’s good to be home”
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