“Only if you will call me Fran.”
“Fran, Julie has requested a spot for a ride back to the port. Can you show her what we have to offer.”
“Sure Xavier, Julie if you would come with me I can show you our Jumpseats and if that is not to your liking I could show you our other jumpseats.”
“Oh I don’t know dear. Riding all the way back to the port in a jumseat might not be healthy. I may just have to take a jumpseat.” Both ladies were suppressing laughter by this time.
“Ok, comedians. Just keep it up and I’ll strap you to the top.”
As Fran stepped aside to let Julie enter the APC, her move brought her near to Xavier. “Xav, did you notice that she is not speaking local? I haven’t kicked in the codex yet.”
“She says she is and isn’t a local. I don’t know quite what to make of her. She looks elderly but moves almost like a kid. She knows about dodging port fees but nothing about her worries me. And THAT worries me.”
“OK, I’ll show her around inside and see what Tasha makes of her.” Fran stepped in behind Julie as she moved forward.
Xavier stod watching the pair for a oment and then turned back to looking around outside the craft. Green plants grew everywhere. Short single bladed growth covered most of the ground except for areas that looked like paths.
Taller plants with green leaves and a brownish stalk sprouted around the towns peremiter.
As he stood and stared he saw movement at the edge of town. People in some finer clothes leading a group in what appeard to be work cloths.
Turning toward the interior he spoke. “Fran, looks like they are interested in trading after all. There is a group headed this way.”
From the inside he heard Julie respond. “That is my fault Captain. I had requested a few minutes to talk to you before they swarmed and took all your attention. I will go and pack and bring the few things I have here. That is if the offer for a seat is still open.”
“Yes Julie. We can certainly take you back to the starport. After that I am not sure. We already have two passengers on board and I am not sure what my engineer may have contracted for in our absence.”
“Quite right. I understand. I should have passage already taken care of but…” Julie trailed off as she stepped from the APC. “That is an impressive vehicle. May I ask how you came to own it?”
“An advisory company got in a little to deep on one of our last planetfalls. His original transport bolted rather than pick him up. I arranged to pick up the contract and then found out that they did not have a bond to cover them. They used the APC as a partial payment.
“Hopefully you got the better end of the deal.”
“We are still trying it out. Hauling it between the ports is a bit expensive but our cargo hold was never completely full anyway. Having this means we can go out to the locals. We get better trade goods. They get things they want a little cheaper and more things actually make it out past the port walls.”
“A humanitarian Captain?”
“No, just practical. If I can get things out to the locals, rather than someone in port transshipping them. I can build up a semi-regular route and that should increase my profit margin. But first I have to know what the locals want and need.”
“It looks like you will have your first chance here. I will take my leave now.” Julie turned and walked back towards the town. As she came near a man dressed in clean if outdated finery, Xavier saw her gesture and saw the man’s lips move in a reply.
Xavier and Fran spent the next few minutes carrying items out of the APC and arranging them on the ground. With the two of them to service the whole town things went in a blur. Items were brought forward. Inspections by either Xavier or Fran and sometimes both. Prices named and haggled over. Pots, pans, silverware, household appliances all traded quickly. Until only one item remained.
The gentleman in the finery had been bargaining for quite some time but had never come near the minimum price that Xavier thought he needed to cover his expenses. Most of the townspeople had settled into watch the dickering. A few had gone into town and returned with food. Some returned with other items that they placed in separate piles and that the gentleman quickly included into the bidding.
As the sun started to settle towards the horizon Fran and Xavier saw Julie returning with several young boys carrying bags. She walked to the two traders and said, “May I interrupt for a moment?”
Both men looked at her and then at each other. As they nodded, Julie began to speak. “Gentlemen. You both clearly wish to make a deal. This unfortunatly does nto seem to be happening. Stop, think about what you are offering and what it is worth and then start again. Now if I may see Captain Xavier for a moment?”
Julie walked to the APC and stood in the open rear. Xavier followed and looked at her expectantlt. “Captain. Why are you trying to sell this town a ‘fresher?”
“Ma’am.” At the stern look, Xavier corrected himself, “Julie. This is not just a ‘refreshment cubicle’. This is a ‘fresher assembler. It is slow compared to the new stuff out but it will take garbage and make its own power and usually and excess. While doing that it will extract anything it can use and make parts for new ‘freshers. If the users toss in extra ‘stuff’ like certain chemicals or minerals this can make the parts faster. It has instructions on its own maintance and the building of others.”
“You said you were trying to create a market. If they can make their own then why would they want to buy anything else from you?”
“Julie. If they buy this I can plan on offering them the chemicals and minerals to make more faster. Sure I lose out on selling them ‘freshers, but I could not carry them in fast enough and they would cost too much. This way they build them at a rate they can sustain, at a price they can afford while I make my profit and keep my ship in the sky.”
Julie stepped away from Xavier and walked to the group clustered around the gentleman in the finery. As she approached they parted like water and then closed back in behind her.
Fran stopped loading items and stood near Xavier. “What was that about?”
“You know, I really don’t know. She had me explaining myself like I did to my first captain on my first ship. ‘Boy, why did you do such a dumb thing? I thought it was a good idea at he time Captain. Well Boy, now you know different.’ I actually felt tiny.”
Julie broke out of the crowd, followed by the gentleman. “Captain. With what has been offered, can you name your lowest price? I have explained that this is not a onetime sale. That this item will help them modernize the whole town in time.”
When Xavier mentioned his new price, he heard Fran gasp. “Consider it a loss leader. If we can get them started they will want more, faster. We can sell them support items.”
“Captain Xavier, My name is Brant Gardner. I am mayor of this town and I accept your offer.”
“Thank you Mayor Gardner. And you Lady Julie.”
As the offer was accepted most of the townspeople stood and headed back into town. Some carrying many items fro the trading, some leaving with nothing.
“Where would you like the ‘fresher set, Mayor Gardner? We can move it closer to the town.”
“No. Thanks you. I believe here would be beneficial to the town. It will show that the wealthy do not solely own it and that all who wish to use it must travel. That will change but I hope the point will be made.”
“There are smells due to some of the processes. So downwind is best.”
“Then this is the best location for all reasons. Is assembly difficult?”
“No Mayor. The instructions are in basic, but there are pictorial directions also. Mainly it is making a few wiring connections and holding walls vertical for a few hours.”
“This we can do. Thank you Captain Xavier.” The mayor said and retreated several steps.
Loading the remaining items only took a few minutes as Fran had been packing for a bit.
As they were unloading the boxed ‘fresher. Xavier heard Fran start. “Xavier.”
“Fran, not now please.”
“Xavier…”
“Fran, I really….Hello Julie. We will load your baggage last so that it will be easier to get out.”
Several young men moved her baggage from near the wheels to the ramp, then turned and walked back into town.
“Thank you Xavier. I am ready any time you wish.”
“Fran, can you settle her in while I take a final walk around. I would not want to move if something had rested in the shadow the vehicle.” Xavier stepped out and began a walkaround. As Xavier returned to the rear of the vehicle he noticed that all the townspeople had returned to town.
“Julie, You can have your choice of seats. There are a lot of spaces open.”
“I think a seat near the center of the vehicle might be best. There should be less bouncing.” Looking around Julie settled into a seat near the commander’s console that Fran had manned on the trip out.
Both women looked towards the rear as Xavier stepped on board and toggled the intercom. “Sorry about that Tasha. I should have let you leave your seat. My mind was elsewhere. Would you like rest up for a bit and I’ll drive.”
“Captain, no offence but I have seen you drive. I wish to return to the ship in one piece.”
“That was an aircar and a damaged one at that. And no I was NOT the cause of the damage.”
“Still and all, Sir I request permission to return us to the ship.”
“Go ahead. Since I am not driving I will take a nap. Wake me if there is something interesting.”
“Door closing.”
The whine of the ramps motor cut through any remaining conversations and the starting of the engine with the door still open killed any thought of talking over it.
Xavier saw that Fran had resumed her seat at the commander’s console and that Julie had been strapped in place. Laying down across several of the webseats was uncomfortable but he had rested in rougher spots. Even before the vehicle had started moving he was asleep.
