I don`t see many of you around this wing of our galaxy! You`re a Trinidon aren`t you?
You know of my race?
I`m quite knowledgable about the known races in our sector of space.
A refreshing change from the low life I`m forced to deal with on a daily basis. Welcome to Zantis, such as it is, and thankyou for honouring me with my native title.
You`re welcome. Are you a tourist, or are you here for another reason?
I`m here on business. Wartime in a leaderless society has advantages in certain areas of commerce.
You mean flogging stolen goods and not getting caught.
I see you are a being of great observation as well as breeding.
I`m also a being of moral flexibility, so what are you selling?
Selling is too strong a word. Let`s say I deal in exchanges. At the moment, I`ve come in search of Zantis ocean memorabilia.
In exchange for?
Business hasn`t picked up much. I`ve only mugged five people, and even then, only two had anything of value. I`ve some transporter cards, a nice watch and a small blob of white podgy substance that I`m still studying.
I hope you didn`t beat up the victims too much. If there is one thing I really can`t stand, it`s senselessness.
Would you like to buy something?
The transporter cards sound the best buy of the bunch, I`ll have to have them! Here`s a very rare zantis shell called a sinicon shell.
Thankyou. It`s perfect. Here`s your purchase, have a nice day.
Hey, that transporter card was a joke! It dropped me no more than fifty metres away from here.
Sorry, I hadn`t tested them. Didn`t want to risk being scattered too far, you understand.
I need another!
Why? What`s the rush.
I`m looking for a very important person, and it`s a fair bet he`s been held somewhere in the hotel!
I see. It so happens one of the regretable victims was holding a card to a very exclusive area of the hotel. It`s located on Z deck, where the science labs are.
Labs?
The scientist in question seemed awfully upset with my interuption. Moreso than the usual reactions I get. He`s basically snake shaped, and very big in regards to you.
You think he kidnapped my missing monster.
He was carrying a very large, very active sack. I might have taken the sack too, but it kicked me, so I let him be.
And you took his transporter card? So that means he`s not in the hotel!
I cannot say. It is not impossible that the scientist had TWO cards, I didn`t search him thoroughly. What with the abuse I recieved from the sack! I`ll give you this card if you bring me another shell.
Can I have the card then? I mean, if I bring you something else. Maybe another shell?
Bring me a different shell, and I`ll give you the scientists transporter card.
Here`s your shell. Give me the card.
I cannot accept that, it`s disgusting. Please take it away. I only accept nice, clean, new shells. Not bloody stained, leftovers.
There you go, one presentably excellent shell for your collection.
Yes, that will more than do. Here`s your transporter card. I hope your quest goes well.
Having a nice day?
No, I`ve not mugged anyone is hours.
I ate a Zantis bird once. Tasted like chicken!
2
Yes, I`m interested in those transporter cards!
Can I have the watch?
I can take that blob of podgy stuff off you, if I may?
Certainly, my fee is a relatively rare Zantis ocean roamerrock. I believe the Urfanian translation is shell?
I won`t take less than two thousand gold for a very fancy watch! Very very fancy watch. Second thoughts, I`ll keep the watch. You, er, pick another thing.
Er, no, I`m rather fascinated by it. Pick something else.
