Due to the utterly massive size of some spacecraft, it would make sense to assume that the shipyards that manufacture them would be immense in scale. What one might not consider is that a shipyard will work on several spacecraft simultaneously, while also housing dozens for sale. Suffice to say that the shipyard before us dwarfs us in our relatively insignificant ship, we might as well be landing on a moon.
Everyone is on the main deck looking out at the shipyard, some of us in awe, some of us in anticipation. Personally, I am hoping that we can get a new entry for Star Fury without any hassle, the grandeur of the shipyard is lost on me I suppose. The welcome notification from the shipyard appears on the main display, containing directions to the main showroom and advertisements for their featured crafts. I suspect that we will have to go through the sales pitch process, and that feigning interest in buying a ship will be our best course of action.
“This should be fun, looking at all these new ships. If push comes to shove, we can all pool our funds together and buy a new ship if that turns out to be easier than getting a new registration entry for Star Fury,” Liam says.
“A new ship right off the showroom floor like this will cost you more than just an arm and a leg, hopefully it won’t come to that. Plus, there would be background checks, which I don’t think would come back clean now,” Gabriel responds.
Juno directs Star Fury towards the docking station for the main showroom and after a few more minutes we’re docked and heading towards the door. I make an effort to exit last, mine is the last face that anyone needs to remember here. The showroom is surprisingly small, it has a desk in the middle of the room and a display on either side showing advertisements for a variety of spacecraft. We are instantly and enthusiastically greeted by a short man in a suit.
“Welcome, Welcome! We’re so glad to have you here. What can we help you with today, is it a repair, an upgrade, or is someone in the market for a new ship?” he asks.
“We’re looking at acquiring a new ship, but I also want to talk to you about a modification to my current ship. Is there someone else here that can talk to Liam here about a new ship while I show you what I want done to my ship here?” Gabriel says.
“Of course, another associate will be out momentarily to talk to you about another ship Liam. What would your name be sir?” he asks, referring to Gabriel.
“Gabriel, I’m the owner of Star Fury,” he replies, gesturing back to the ship.
“Wonderful to meet you both, my name is Jackson. Is anyone else going to need assistance or is everyone else just along for the ride?” he asks. To which we all respond indicating that no one else needs attention. “Okay then, Gabriel, why don’t you show me what it is you want done to Star Fury,” he says.
Gabriel turns back towards Star Fury, gesturing for Jackson to follow him. The other associate emerges from the door behind the desk and walks over to us.
“Hello, my name is Adam, who was it that was looking for a new spacecraft?” he asks.
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“That would be me,” says Liam.
“Wonderful, right this way,” says Adam, leading the way towards the sliding doors on the back left side of the room. Liam and Cicero walk with him, asking him questions about the different models.
Everyone else follows Gabriel and Jackson back into Star Fury. I am not alone in feeling completely useless now that we have to find a way to get what we came here for. As I look to Juno, she shrugs as if to say that she doesn’t know what to do either. With any luck, Gabriel will bring up the matter with Jackson and it won’t be a big deal, I just wonder what Jackson’s price will be.
Thomas and Juno stay up on the main deck, but I follow Gabriel and Jackson down to the lower deck and wait outside the mechanical room. Gabriel starts opening menus on the diagnostic display and eventually settles upon the identification information and certification.
“So, here’s my problem, these registration numbers just aren’t working for me, they’ve been drawing some unwanted attention and I need new ones. It’s not really an option for me, it’s something I really need done, is there any way you can help me out with this?” he says. Straight to the point I see, even knowing that what he’s asking is crossing all the lines.
“Are you serious? Do you even know what you’re asking? The balls on you to be so upfront about it. This isn’t the type of thing that gets done for people out of the kindness of another’s heart. If you’re wanting to get this done, I hope you’ve come to the table with a healthy sum for both the operation and for me personally, because if not, you’re getting thrown to the wolves,” Jackson says, the polite salesman’s attitude all but gone. He says all this half serious, half smiling; with the look of someone who knows that one way or another, he’s coming out on top.
“Of course, I wouldn’t expect you to do me a favor without incentive, I plan to make it well worth your while, I just want this to be as smooth as possible, you name your price and it’s yours,” Gabriel says.
“That’s a dangerous game, giving me carte blanche. You’d be better off buying a whole new ship. A new entry for this vessel’s going to cost you, five billion for a new entry, six if you want to pick something specific that’s already in use. Luckily for you, based on what I know about your friend standing around the corner, that shouldn’t be a problem if you really need this as bad as you say you do,” Jackson responds.
Chills go down my spine, it’s not often that I am caught off guard on even a single front, presently, I feel affronted on two. I step out into the doorway as Gabriel turns around to look.
“I have eyes that see, and by complete chance, I happen to know of you. Evelyn, I believe, Neiko sends his regards, he’s long gone now, but he thought of you fondly and spoke of you often,” Jackson says, tapping his temple, apparently to emphasize whatever modification he’s had done to his eyes.
“You knew Neiko? It’s been so long, I never thought I would hear his name again. How did you two know each other?” I ask. He must have gotten out okay after all that happened, that’s good to know.
“He required our services here to repair the damage done to his ship, and he came up short on the payment. To make up the difference he worked here with us for several years. He was quite depressed by your absence from his life, you meant a great deal to him as I’m sure you know,” he says. Hearing what happened to Neiko is heartbreaking, especially because I was partially responsible for it. We were very close; he didn’t have many friends but the few he did have he held close. We spent a solid 20 years together exploring before we were separated in an exchange involving two hostile ships. “Regardless of our shared acquaintance, the price for your new entry is nonnegotiable, I take a large risk by even offering the service to you,” he continues.
“That’s completely understandable, we don’t expect any special treatment. What you ask is what you’ll get,” Gabriel says.
“In that case, I’ll start writing up the entry as soon as the funds arrive,” Jackson responds.