After agreeing to split up and gather supplies, Zog found himself drifting through the glowing stalls of Nebula Market-12 alongside Clorita. The swirling colours of the nebula overhead reflected off her metallic frame, casting faint rainbows across her polished surfaces. She walked with a purposeful stride, glowing eyes scanning every vendor with sharp, calculating precision.
“This place is wild,” Zog said, shoving his hands into his pockets as he glanced around. “You have ever been anywhere like this?”
“Not in this lifetime,” Clorita replied, her tone clipped. “Though I’ve read enough to know that 80% of these vendors are probably con artists.”
Zog smirked. “So you don’t trust anyone here?”
She tilted her head, her lips curling into the faintest smile. “Present company included.”
“Fair,” Zog said, laughing softly. “I probably wouldn’t trust me either.”
They paused near a stall where a vendor loudly advertised “Authentic Starlight Bottles”—tiny vials glowing with soft, golden light.
“Let me guess,” Zog said, pointing. “They’re just glow sticks in fancy packaging.”
Clorita leaned in, examining one of the bottles with a raised brow. “More likely they’re phosphorescent algae. Probably harvested from some poor moon and sold at a 500% markup.”
“Want one?” Zog teased, nudging her gently.
She gave him a withering look. “Do I look like someone who collects trinkets?”
He grinned. “You look like someone who might secretly enjoy them.”
Clorita rolled her eyes but didn’t refute the comment. “Keep moving, Captain.”
As they walked, the market noise faded slightly, the swirling nebula overhead casting a faint, dreamlike glow. Zog found himself stealing glances at Clorita—how her sharp features softened in the ambient light, how she moved with an effortless grace that belied her pointed demeanour.
“You’re different when you’re not yelling at me,” Zog said suddenly, surprising even himself.
Clorita arched an eyebrow, glancing sideways at him. “Am I?”
“Yeah,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s… nice. Kind of intimidating, but nice.”
She paused, her expression unreadable. “You’re less of a disaster when you’re not fumbling with ship controls.”
“Thanks?” Zog said, chuckling. “I think?”
For a moment, there was a silence between them—not awkward, but tentative, as if both were considering something neither wanted to say aloud.
They stopped at a stall where an alien vendor with six arms was trying to juggle bottles of bubbling liquid while pitching his wares. He dropped one, and the bottle rolled to a stop at Clorita’s feet.
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“Careful!” the vendor yelped, scrambling to pick it up. “This is highly unstable quantum fizz! One wrong move and—BOOM!”
Zog and Clorita exchanged a glance, then stepped back in unison.
“Good to know some people are worse with their hands than you,” Clorita muttered, a sly smile tugging at her lips.
“I’d argue, but he is making me look good,” Zog replied.
As they walked away, Zog gestured toward a group of aliens attempting to barter a hoverboard made entirely of what looked like tree branches.
“Think we could use one of those on the ship?”
“Only if we want Blip to destroy it within five minutes,” Clorita replied.
“Good point,” Zog said, grinning. “Watching him try to ride might be worth it.”
THEY PASSED A SMALL STALL SELLING TINY, GLOWING ORBS ON DELICATE CHAINS. ZOG PAUSED, EXAMINING THEM.
“What’s this?” he asked the vendor.
“Emotion lights,” the vendor replied, bowing slightly. “They change colour to reflect the wearer’s mood. A perfect gift for someone you’re close to.”
Clorita snorted. “A gimmick. Probably rigged to glow randomly.”
Zog hesitated, then bought one anyway, slipping it into his pocket.
“What are you doing?” Clorita asked, watching him curiously.
“Nothing,” Zog said, shrugging. “Just… thought it was cool.”
She narrowed her eyes but didn’t press the matter.
Blip, of course, found the bone stand.
The vendor did not hesitate to present his merchandise: “Best bones in the galaxy, hand-carved for your delight. Only 50 credits!”
Blip’s tail wagged furiously as he barked. “Sold!”
Zog sighed as he handed over the CredEx to complete the purchase. “This better be the best bone ever.”
As they regrouped near a bustling café, a shady alien in a dark cloak sidled behind Clorita. His beady eyes locked onto the glowing CredEx clipped to her arm.
He reached out, a small hacking tool in his hand, ready to intercept the CredEx’s signal. Just as he activated it, a motion blur slammed into him from the side.
Blip had spotted Zog and was racing toward him, tail wagging like a hyperactive turbine. He barreled into the crook with full force, clattering the hacking tool to the ground.
“Hey! Watch it, you stupid mutt!” the man growled.
Blip growled, baring his teeth. “Stupid mutt? You’re lucky I don’t bite.”
Clorita turned sharply, her eyes narrowing as she spotted the discarded hacking tool. “What’s this?”
The crook stammered, backing away. “Nothing! Just… dropped my comms device.”
Clorita’s voice was ice. “You were trying to hack the CredEx, weren’t you?”
The man looked at Clorita as innocently as he could: “Hack? Me? Never!”
Zog stepped forward, frowning. “Get out of here before she calls the authorities.”
The crook didn’t wait to be told twice, disappearing into the crowd.
As they returned to the Indifference, Clorita checked the CredEx. “Balance intact. No thanks to you two.”
Blip barked happily. “I saved the day! Again.”
“Accidentally,” Clorita muttered. “Don’t let it go to your head.”
IND-E’s voice chimed in. “Ah, I see the marketplace was as chaotic as expected. Did you at least acquire something useful?”
Zog held up the GalaxyPro 4200 with a sheepish grin. “We’ll see.”
Clorita sighed, holding up the power converter. “This had better work, or we’re back to square one.”
Blip gnawed on his bone, wagging his tail. “Totally worth it.”
With their new parts, the Indifference was patched together in record time. While still far from a state-of-the-art ship, it was noticeably improved, with a more stable power converter and a navigation system that might work.
IND-E scanned the part with interest: “Ah, the GalaxyPro 4200. It's a true relic of navigation history. I look forward to re-learning how to crash in style.”
“Don’t tempt me to uninstall you,” Zog muttered, setting the coordinates for their next destination.