David looked out into the deck, thinking that anywhere in the galaxy, a warehouse was a warehouse.David looked out into the deck, thinking that anywhere in the galaxy, a warehouse was a warehouse. The other three docking rings of this station were currently empty, a fact which surprised David very little; Terra was rapidly on its way to being little more than an interstellar curiosity. "Home," some people called it. "Sometimes, children grow up and leave home." "Excuse me, David?" Tasha asked. "Nothing, Tasha. Come on, let's find the stationmaster." It didn't take long; the stationmaster was also out to find them, and a few minutes later he strolled across the deck. David thought the long, flowing full-circle red robe with gold trimming to be appropriately ostentatious. Tasha leaned over and growled, "He looks like a priest." "Gatekeeper to the realm," David agreed, speaking out of one side of his muzzle. "Ah, Captain Elohim. How are you? I'm Marcus Aurelium, your stationmaster. I understand you have some... national treasures to return?" "Yes," David said, feeling the smell of money exude from Aurelium. "We have some exhibits from the Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. to return. They've been on exhibit at the Xenohistorical Museum of Pendor." He reached into his pocket and turned over a small memory chip. "That has all the details." "Excellent," Aurelium chimed. "Your payment will be eight hundred and twenty two thousand u-dollars." "In barter." "Excuse me?" Aurelium asked, surprised. "In parts barter," David replied, calmly. |