Teeming masses.

That was honestly the only word for the what was constantly bombarding Omega’s eyes. Made all the more incongruous for how silent everything was around them. Their guide filled the silence with a quiet muttering background chatter describing and annotating anything that could possibly be of interest.

It was obvious that these were people, they watched, poked, prodded and animatedly gestured with one another.

It’s just that they also moved in sweeping clouds, chains and rippling sheets. Clumping together to hold fast to one another.

There were a variety, a boggling amount, but at the same time beyond a few outstanding individuals that prove the rule there was really only a few kinds of ‘people’ to be seen.

Omega finally felt herself growing dulled by the constant stream of details on the history of this particular dock’s local culture and the specifics of some kind of sport... or maybe it was an artistic movement? A revolution?

She didn't know.

Aleph at least seemed amused and quarti had settled into general friendliness after being rebuffed by the giant fleshy puffball with eyes.

She spoke up in the stream of words.

“So we are going to a place where we can get some more air and food? That is the plan right?”

Their guide turned to ‘face’ her then bobbed a bit before continuing along.

[https://i.imgur.com/06sTNzg.png]

“Of course, we probably will have to check with a gastronomist and a few sensoria specialists but I’m sure we can manage it... Along the way we should get an excellent view of the starship reclamation fields. It’s always lovely to see them blooming when a new ship comes into dock. Although I must admit that sadly your convenience is very low on the waste materials and radiation leakage. There will probably be a fertility festival on your departure to keep the poor dears nourished, Now over here you will see impact scoring from the great refueling rupture. We’ve since rebuilt everything but-”

Omega started tuning out the endless stream of cheerful words. It was strangely comforting, this figure acting so much like an academy orientation. Endless tidbits that honestly she was not going to hold in her head.

There was a sudden shift in her tone that drew Omega’s attention out of the old doubled up memories of attending one academy or another.

“-now I must inform you, we will be traveling through several swapper communes, please don’t concern yourself with them. If they take the relay in some misunderstanding of need don’t worry I can have a new relay built if I am unable to get it back from them. Simply follow my non-verbal directions and we will get out of it fine”

Omega blinked a moment.

“What do you mean if they take the relay? Do you mean if they steal it? So crime and stuff is still a thing for you aliens?”

The figure paused a moment and just stared at them. Omega got the distinct impression their guide would have blinked owlishly if she had eyelids.

“I’m sorry Omega... that word is problematic to translate. There are actions that could be called this ‘theft’ you said. But they don’t have the same connotations. I think our closest word for that sort of ‘violation of trust’ context would equate to ‘hoard’ but it’s almost the exact opposite concept. That is the main crime relating to property that should concern you during your stay. In fact I would recommend not using the word theft if you can avoid it, without proper context of your status as visitors some one might accuse you of conspiracy to starve”

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Aleph spoke up first.

“Wait... you don’t have a word for theft? But you are practicing trade with Pylo... uh so you understand exchange right? And ownership? So what do you call it when someone takes something that is not theirs?”

Their guide had come to a stop and looked around, there was still a crowd of figures occasionally stopping but apparently most had other tasks to attend to and thus could not afford to gawk at the strange aliens.

“Excuse me, I’m not a theoretical ethicist but um, how can someone take something that is not theirs?”

Aleph looked between Omega and then back to Quarti.

“Uh... well this bubble we are in and the air it provides, we need it to survive, if someone took it we would die”

The orb rolled forward and back in a nod.

“Yes that is obvious you should continue to have it and anyone who tried to take it away from you and KEEP it would be hoarding, but if they just took it a bit you could just swap it back if you needed it. That is why we call the less well off neighborhoods swappers... well we call it our own words but swappers is a good fit”

Aleph raised a brow.

“So I could... take anything I want... as long as I don’t try to keep it?”

Their guide sounded flustered.

“Of course not, you take what you need, if you need it you utilize it.. Of course there are deferred need accounts. And there are individual, incorporated and ministry requisite needs for larger projects and the whole thing with market accountings of need distribution. I work with a quite a few clerks and accountants when I’m not doing linguistics and cultural exchanges. Do any of you do accounting?”

Omega shrugged a bit.

“I can sometimes but I don’t have the skills shared up right now, so I only remember the basics. So you have money?”

Their guide rolled a bit one way then the other.

“That is another strange word. I mean we have receipts for services and such... but um... I’m sorry I don’t think we have a word close to that beyond fuel and food services...”

Aleph frowned a bit.

“You call poor people swappers? As in they swap things around a lot? Don’t hold onto things for long”

The guide bobbed a bit and rolled their gaze all around a bit as they talked.

“Well yes, how else are they supposed to make ends meet without swapping what little is available? I mean I guess if you REALLY want to see a Swapper neighborhood I guess I could take you. But there are not a lot of good services there and I wouldn't want to be a burden on them as it is.”

Omega frowned a bit.

“I thought you just said you supply to needs... wouldn't the Swappers need a lot?”

Their guide trembled, the skin of their spherical body rippling and quivering a bit.

“We do supply what we can, but there is a lot of work that requires a lot of things. Some of those things are very important and have very large requisite need accounts. We can’t spare to give everyone their own spire wing and all the food they want. We would all die trying to do that... Look I’m sorry I know I’m your guide but I’m not comfortable talking about this any further. If you really want to delve into this I could go find you one of the Commons Ministries and you could talk with them about it. Or I could get you three to a gastronomist and get you something to eat?”

Omega hummed a bit then looked at Aleph nodded.

Quarti laughed.

“Oh yes pleaze Let me has some delicious alien delicates!”