The first chapter of Final Contact
Fasi sat in the multi-species bar nursing a wine. Her contact was late, she would finish this glass and then if nothing happened she would leave. She had felt uncomfortable meeting here in the first place but she needed the job, she needed the money.
She looked about; for supposedly a human planet, they were in short supply, there were only three other humans in the bar, and all three had checked her out but fortunately had left her alone. It was still early; it would be another couple of hours after the normal shifts finished that it would begin to fill up. A group of Chipmunks sat at a table, they glowered at her. She wondered what she had done to upset them. No she hadn’t done anything; another human would have done something.
She didn’t even know what species her contact was. It could be any; the bar had a reputation for supplying any substance to any species that didn’t immediately kill it, therefore you could find members of any of the thirty-one intelligent species in the galaxy and it could be any one of them that wanted to hire her.
She just hoped it wasn’t a B, a Wasp or a Grall.
She noticed the door open and three aliens entered, an Über-slug, a Chipmunk and a Multipede, they looked about and spotted her. The Chipmunk walked over to the bar, said something to the robo-barman and then returned to his companions. Then all three walked over to her table.
The Über-slug put a translator on the table, switched it to privacy mode and then the noise from the rest of the bar became just background noise. The ‘slug changed colour and the translator remained silent. Perhaps it was broken, that bode well! The ‘slug adjusted the angle changed colour a couple more times and Fasi’s earpiece picked up the English translation as “Testing, testing. That seems to be working.”
Satisfied he stood back and then said, “Just so we can hear each other, well you can, noise is so inefficient.”
Fasi nodded.
“Do we have the pleasure of speaking to Fasi D’Al-Burrow,” the Multipede asked.
“You do,” Fasi replied. “I hear you wanted to hire me.”
“You are an archaeologist, specialising in the early days of the old Federation?”
“I am.”
“Do you have enough of your fermented fruit?” the Chipmunk asked.
“I do for the moment.”
“Good.”
You couldn’t just go and order anything at the bar. There were strict rules. If you wanted beer or wine, then you’d better have a human in he party. Streng Root? Then you should be a Dan, the reptilioids’ favourite narcotic was poisonous to most other species. Only Wasps could ingest it and at least not be seriously incapacitated.
“We are interested in locating an artefact from around that time and you may have specialist knowledge.”
“Can I ask what the artefact is?”
“You will not be told anything until we have secured your services,” the Chipmunk said, “and then only the minimum. It is a need to know basis.”
“Dubious legality? I like it.”
“We didn’t say it was illegal.”
“But you’re not denying it.”
“Perhaps the best word to describe it is dubious,” the Millipede answered. “You have a reputation for honesty.”
“I’m not sure about honesty.”
“Perhaps that was the wrong word, for a human you are very trustworthy.”
“Why thank you.” It was a bit of a backhanded compliment.
“We plan to recover something. We do require absolute discretion. Are you still interested?”
Fasi nodded. “I am interested but there are several things we need to decide. Such as my remuneration, expenses, how long I’m going to be occupied?”
“We are following up a lead. It is possible the item we are looking for does not exist,” the Über-slug said. “So the monetary gain might be nil. But if there is any monetary gain, we are thinking of cutting you in for a sixteenth.”
“A sixteenth? How many people are in this expedition?”
“The three of us, one other and then there’s the rest of my crew,’ the Chipmunk said. “But you will not be out of pocket.”
Fasi sat back and looked at the three co-conspirators. “You know something, a Chipmunk, an Über-slug and a Multipede, three of the most law-abiding and non-aggressive species in the wider galaxy. You don’t make a very likely criminal gang.”
“That’s why we want a human,” the Chipmunk said.
“Then you’re asking the wrong human. I’m an archaeologist and a bloody good one. I’m not anything else. I’m not a cat-burglar a jewel-thief, a conman or a politician. So if you’re looking for one of those, then …”
“No, we want an archaeologist and your name came up and we believe there are items involved of the type you specialise in. However you should know that we do not intend to break any laws at least that is or initial intention.”
“Okay then.”
“But we want to know if we can trust you,” the Multipede said.
“And how do I know that I can trust you. I don’t know, but I’m just going to have to go on my instincts.”
“And what do your human instincts say?”
“That I should not back out quite yet. But although there may not be any monetary gain, if there is, I want an equal share. So do your instincts say that you can trust me?”
“They do. So are you interested?”
Fasi nodded.
“So would you like another glass of your decaying fruit?”
“Are you having anything yourself?”
“I don’t like these places,” the Multipede said. “I don’t know why you wanted to meet here.”
“I didn’t suggest it,” Fasi replied. “It was your idea. Do you just want to leave?”
The three aliens all indicated yes.
She looked about; for supposedly a human planet, they were in short supply, there were only three other humans in the bar, and all three had checked her out but fortunately had left her alone. It was still early; it would be another couple of hours after the normal shifts finished that it would begin to fill up. A group of Chipmunks sat at a table, they glowered at her. She wondered what she had done to upset them. No she hadn’t done anything; another human would have done something.
She didn’t even know what species her contact was. It could be any; the bar had a reputation for supplying any substance to any species that didn’t immediately kill it, therefore you could find members of any of the thirty-one intelligent species in the galaxy and it could be any one of them that wanted to hire her.
She just hoped it wasn’t a B, a Wasp or a Grall.
She noticed the door open and three aliens entered, an Über-slug, a Chipmunk and a Multipede, they looked about and spotted her. The Chipmunk walked over to the bar, said something to the robo-barman and then returned to his companions. Then all three walked over to her table.
The Über-slug put a translator on the table, switched it to privacy mode and then the noise from the rest of the bar became just background noise. The ‘slug changed colour and the translator remained silent. Perhaps it was broken, that bode well! The ‘slug adjusted the angle changed colour a couple more times and Fasi’s earpiece picked up the English translation as “Testing, testing. That seems to be working.”
Satisfied he stood back and then said, “Just so we can hear each other, well you can, noise is so inefficient.”
Fasi nodded.
“Do we have the pleasure of speaking to Fasi D’Al-Burrow,” the Multipede asked.
“You do,” Fasi replied. “I hear you wanted to hire me.”
“You are an archaeologist, specialising in the early days of the old Federation?”
“I am.”
“Do you have enough of your fermented fruit?” the Chipmunk asked.
“I do for the moment.”
“Good.”
You couldn’t just go and order anything at the bar. There were strict rules. If you wanted beer or wine, then you’d better have a human in he party. Streng Root? Then you should be a Dan, the reptilioids’ favourite narcotic was poisonous to most other species. Only Wasps could ingest it and at least not be seriously incapacitated.
“We are interested in locating an artefact from around that time and you may have specialist knowledge.”
“Can I ask what the artefact is?”
“You will not be told anything until we have secured your services,” the Chipmunk said, “and then only the minimum. It is a need to know basis.”
“Dubious legality? I like it.”
“We didn’t say it was illegal.”
“But you’re not denying it.”
“Perhaps the best word to describe it is dubious,” the Millipede answered. “You have a reputation for honesty.”
“I’m not sure about honesty.”
“Perhaps that was the wrong word, for a human you are very trustworthy.”
“Why thank you.” It was a bit of a backhanded compliment.
“We plan to recover something. We do require absolute discretion. Are you still interested?”
Fasi nodded. “I am interested but there are several things we need to decide. Such as my remuneration, expenses, how long I’m going to be occupied?”
“We are following up a lead. It is possible the item we are looking for does not exist,” the Über-slug said. “So the monetary gain might be nil. But if there is any monetary gain, we are thinking of cutting you in for a sixteenth.”
“A sixteenth? How many people are in this expedition?”
“The three of us, one other and then there’s the rest of my crew,’ the Chipmunk said. “But you will not be out of pocket.”
Fasi sat back and looked at the three co-conspirators. “You know something, a Chipmunk, an Über-slug and a Multipede, three of the most law-abiding and non-aggressive species in the wider galaxy. You don’t make a very likely criminal gang.”
“That’s why we want a human,” the Chipmunk said.
“Then you’re asking the wrong human. I’m an archaeologist and a bloody good one. I’m not anything else. I’m not a cat-burglar a jewel-thief, a conman or a politician. So if you’re looking for one of those, then …”
“No, we want an archaeologist and your name came up and we believe there are items involved of the type you specialise in. However you should know that we do not intend to break any laws at least that is or initial intention.”
“Okay then.”
“But we want to know if we can trust you,” the Multipede said.
“And how do I know that I can trust you. I don’t know, but I’m just going to have to go on my instincts.”
“And what do your human instincts say?”
“That I should not back out quite yet. But although there may not be any monetary gain, if there is, I want an equal share. So do your instincts say that you can trust me?”
“They do. So are you interested?”
Fasi nodded.
“So would you like another glass of your decaying fruit?”
“Are you having anything yourself?”
“I don’t like these places,” the Multipede said. “I don’t know why you wanted to meet here.”
“I didn’t suggest it,” Fasi replied. “It was your idea. Do you just want to leave?”
The three aliens all indicated yes.