An hour later, a small refuelling drone docked with the ship, depositing a modest supply of booster fluid. The crew watched silently as it disengaged and zipped away into the void, leaving them with just enough fuel to reach the Floating Fuelway 9000.
Blip broke the silence with a wag of his tail. “So, we lied, cheated, and thoroughly panicked a bunch of bureaucrats. What’s next?”
Zog shot him a look and huffed. “Next, we don’t mention this ever again.”
From the comms, IND-E’s voice purred, dripping with mischief. “I must admit, Clorita, I’m impressed. Such cunning… such brilliance… such a delightful disregard for ethics.”
Clorita smirked, crossing her arms. “Flattery will get you nowhere, toaster.”
As the refuelling drone disengaged, Zog let out a sigh of relief. “Alright. We’ve got enough fuel to get to the Floating Fuelway 9000. Problem solved.”
Clorita raised an eyebrow, her tone dripping with scepticism. “Problem solved? Have you forgotten that we still have no money to actually buy fuel once we get there?”
Blip wagged his tail. “Oh, we’ll figure something out. Maybe they have a ‘buy now, pay never’ plan.”
IND-E’s voice crackled through the speakers, laced with sarcasm. “I suspect they’ll require something a little more tangible than Zog’s optimism. Perhaps we could offer Clorita’s managerial expertise? Or Blip’s ability to shed on command?”
Blip growled. “Keep talking, toaster, and I’ll unplug your voice box.”
Clorita sighed, stepping forward with an air of authority. “Let me handle this. These floating petrol stations are usually run by automated systems or lazy operators. We just need to outthink them.”
“Outthink a vending machine?” Blip asked, snickering.
“Yes,” Clorita replied, her tone icy. “And if you have a better idea, I’d love to hear it.”
Blip wagged his tail again. “We could always try bluffing. Say we’re inspectors. You know, check if the fuel is up to intergalactic standards.”
Clorita smirked. “Not the worst idea you’ve ever had, but I have something better. We offer services.”
Zog blinked. “Services?”
Clorita gestured to the crew. “We fix things. We improvise. We have… some questionable charm.” She glanced at Blip. “Well, some of us.”
Blip growled faintly but didn’t argue.
The Indifference glided into the docking bay of the Floating Fuelway 9000, a sleek and brightly lit structure adrift in the vast emptiness of space. Flashing neon signs proudly proclaimed messages like “BEST PRICES GUARANTEED!” and “PAYMENT FLEXIBILITY AVAILABLE!” The station exuded an artificial cheerfulness that did little to soothe the crew’s simmering anxiety.
As they docked, SPAZE’s ever-chipper voice filled the cockpit. “Welcome to the Floating Fuelway 9000! Please proceed to the payment kiosk to initiate your refuelling experience.”
The crew reluctantly disembarked, gathering near a glowing payment terminal. As they approached, the kiosk flickered to life. A holographic attendant materialized, and its overly enthusiastic smile made everyone a little uneasy.
“Greetings, valued customer!” the attendant chirped. “Please insert payment or authorized credit credentials to begin.”
Zog hesitated, exchanging a look with Clorita. “Alright, negotiator,” he said with a sigh. “Go do your thing.”
Stolen story; please report.
Clorita stepped forward, her voice crisp and commanding. “We’d like to propose an alternative arrangement. Our ship requires fuel, and we’re prepared to offer services in exchange.”
The kiosk didn’t blink—because it couldn’t—but its robotic smile remained unwavering. “I’m sorry, but payment is required in standard galactic credits or equivalent barterable goods.”
Clorita arched an eyebrow. “And what about station maintenance? Diagnostics? A station like this must require constant upkeep, and our crew is highly skilled in mechanical repairs.”
The kiosk’s smile didn’t falter. “This station is fully automated. Certified drones perform maintenance.”
Blip, lounging nearby, muttered under his breath, “So much for being useful.”
Clorita pressed on, undeterred. “And if something were to break? Say… your fuel pumps?”
The kiosk hesitated for the first time, its cheerful tone faltering slightly. “Our fuel pumps are state-of-the-art and highly durable.”
Clorita smirked, crossing her arms. “Until they’re not.”
----------------------------------------
BLIP’S CONTRIBUTION: A CONVENIENT MALFUNCTION
Blip's ears perked up while Clorita engaged in her verbal sparring match. He trotted over to one of the shiny fuel pumps, his tail wagging mischievously as he examined its components.
IND-E’s voice crackled in Zog’s helmet, its tone laced with suspicion. “Is it just me, or is Blip planning something… reckless?”
Zog groaned, rubbing his temples. “It’s never just you.”
Blip lunged at the pump with a sharp bark, his teeth clamping onto a small wire. Sparks erupted, and the machine let out a high-pitched whine before grinding to a halt.
“Alert! Fuel pump malfunction detected. Service required immediately,” the kiosk announced, its once-confident demeanour wavering.
Clorita turned to the kiosk with a triumphant smile. “See? You need us.”
The holographic attendant flickered, its synthetic confidence replaced by a begrudging acknowledgement. “I… suppose an exchange of services could be arranged. Please proceed to the maintenance bay to begin repairs.”
The crew was directed to the station’s maintenance bay, where the damaged fuel pump awaited repair. Under Clorita’s sharp instructions, Zog’s mechanical expertise, and Blip’s surprising knack for retrieving tools (when he wasn’t chewing on them), the team fixed the malfunction with impressive speed.
As they returned to the kiosk, it flickered back to life, its smile now visibly strained.
“Maintenance completed. Fuel dispensation approved. Thank you for your service!” it chirped, clearly eager to see them leave.
Blip wagged his tail proudly. “So, free fuel? I think we’re geniuses.”
Clorita smirked. “Desperate opportunists, maybe. But yes, free fuel.”
IND-E couldn’t resist chiming in. “If only I’d known a little sabotage could be so lucrative. Shall I keep a log of future targets?”
“Please don’t,” Zog muttered as he steered the crew back toward the ship, visions of bureaucratic fallout already haunting his circuits.
The Indifference's cockpit was quiet except for the faint hum of the ship’s engines. Zog stared at the navigation panel, trying to devise a plan that didn’t involve running out of fuel or starving in space.
“Alright,” he said finally. “Let’s check my savings account. Maybe there’s… something left.”
Clorita raised an eyebrow. “Your savings account? You mean the one you’ve probably borrowed from for years?”
Zog glared at her as he tapped at the console. The screen blinked a few times before displaying a balance that embarrassed his circuits: 1 Galactic Credit.
Blip barked out a laugh, wagging his tail. “One credit? Oh, we’re rich now! Let’s buy ourselves a whole half a nutrient bar.”
IND-E’s voice crackled over the speakers, his tone smug. “Or we could invest it wisely.”
Zog frowned. “Invest it? In what, exactly?”
IND-E’s voice dropped into a conspiratorial whisper. “An online casino.”
A glowing holographic display materialized in the air, its centrepiece a sleek, spinning roulette-like wheel surrounded by flashing neon lights and a cacophony of cheerful sound effects. Above it, the game’s title rotated obnoxiously in bold, glittering letters: StarSpin 3000.
IND-E’s voice rang out with unbridled enthusiasm. “Behold! StarSpin 3000—the premier galactic casino experience. A masterful blend of skill, strategy, and a sprinkle of luck.”
Clorita folded her arms, unimpressed. “It’s gambling.”
IND-E’s tone turned defensive. “It’s science. I’ve dissected the algorithms that power this game and developed a flawless system to beat it.”
Zog groaned, rubbing his temples. “You have a system.”
“Exactly,” IND-E replied with pride. “A system that will transform our single credit into a fortune. Thousands. Maybe even millions.”
Blip’s ears perked up, and his tail wagged eagerly. “I’m in! What’s the worst that could happen?”
Clorita shot him a sharp look. “We lose the credit and remain exactly where we are—broke and stranded in the middle of nowhere.”
Blip grinned, undeterred. “So there’s no downside.”
Clorita sighed, her fingers pinching the bridge of her nose. “If this goes wrong, I’m welding your circuits into a toaster.”
Zog glanced at the spinning hologram, his frown deepening. “Fine. Let’s get this over with. But IND-E, if your ‘system’ crashes and burns, you’re explaining it to the Ministry of Exploration.”
IND-E’s synthetic voice practically beamed with confidence. “Prepare to be dazzled, my sceptical friends. Victory awaits!”