Getting out there

Posted on Wed Nov 27th, 2019 @ 8:05pm by Skyplex Administration Scarlett Wilson

Mission: Opening Shop
Location: Deck 2 - Retail Bazarre
Timeline: 9:30am

"We have a convoy of freighters for Jiygin arriving at 1100 at bay 4-8. Its still early in the week. It's going to get crazy around here."
"What else is new Moira. Clear them for docking and get Oksanna over to set up customs. We don't need any of their religious craziness going on." Scarlet responded into her bulky Cortex receiver.
"Copy that Ma'am. We'll get them checked in real through like. When are you fixin' to be back into the office?"
"Didn't I just leave?! I'm doing a visual inspection on Deck 2 to make sure folks are right prepped for the circus coming to town." replied Scarlett in her most professional sounding voice.
"If you say so. Can you pick us all up a dozen or so tasties from the Czar."
"Who signs your paychecks?" Scarlett scolded back. "A dozen mixed donuts. Got it."

She slid the cortex unit into the holder strapped to her belt and stepped off the escalator onto Deck 2. The corridor bustled with activity as visitors headed between shops. The corridor split into two curving passages that quickly branched off into even more avenues. Bright lights, music and sales pitches formed a blur of atmospheric sound. Signs in at least four languages were visible everywhere attempting to attract visitors from whatever background they happened to hail from. Scarlett walked down the main corridor breathing in deep the smell of commerce. She loved the shops in the morning. Not that there was morning in the Skyplex. Store owners had a solid agreement with the station to keep lighting at a constant level of brightness that made customers feel at ease and ready to spend more of their credits.

"Zǎo shàng hǎo, Sandra." Scarlett said with a wide smile as she approached the Amoeba Wave store. "Anything new and exciting?"
"Shang Hao, Miss Scarlett. We have a new Wave from Alexis Steele, live from Angel Falls Ampitheater on Shinon. You should Check it out."
Scarlett nodded. "Good Seats? I dont want any cheap recordings from some bozo in the upper balcony.:
"No Miss Scarlett, you know we only got the finest recordins."
"Shiny. I'll be round in a bit to check it out." Scarlett said with a wave as she kept walking the deck.

A pair of security officers patrolling the deck stopped and offered her a salute. She rolled her eyes and waved back at them. "Jennings, who's the cub?" she inquired.
The older of the two answered back. "This is constable in training Chen. Just signed up last week."
Scarlet extended a hand to the young Constable. "Officer Chen, glad to have you with us. How did you hear about the position?"
The young man stood at stiff attention. "Mum, I caught a recording on the cortex saying y'all were hiring."
Scarlett nodded. "Need all the hands we can get about now. Listen to everything Jennings tells you. He's the best. One of the few around here that ever caught me." She said giving Jennings a knowing smile.
"You are fortunate your father ever let you out of the Brig Ma'am. Glad you are on our side again." Jennings answered.
"We all grow up Jennings." she said as she turned to resume her 'inspection'.

Scarlett spent the next 30 minutes wandering deep into the labyrinth of shops that made up the Bazaar on Deck 2. General Mercantile, curio shops, weapons dealers, specialty clothing, lingerie, building materials and every conceivable type of store packed the the corridors. A million ways to part a customer of their hard earned credits. Emerging onto the main thoroughfare, Scarlett called one of the lifts, which arrived shortly to deposit another group of shoppers in the Bazaar. She climbed in and hit deck three on the controls.