Accelerated Phenomena

by Lucillia

Shortly after the station opens for business, Commander Sinclair and Security Chief Michael Garibaldi have a brief discussion about what has happened to a section of the station.

"Michael, we've only been open for about two months right?"

"...Yes."

"And in that time we've somehow acquired an established slum complete with homeless people living in makeshift tents, and - as I've now been informed - there are parts of the station that Security is afraid to enter alone. A phenomenon that my sociology professor had informed me took years to develop."

"Not in space Jeff."

"What do you mean, not in space?"

"In space, these things turn up out of nowhere in a matter of hours. Back when I was a kid on Mars, they started showing up and settling around some third-rate restaurant. Within a week, that place was the "Bad part of town" and everyone knew not to go there."

"Do these things vanish just as quickly?"

"Unfortunately, no."