Commerce Planet
Chapter 3
This time as they approached the dark red planet, John did not bother trying to make conversation. He merely sat in silence watching as the gloomy, silent planet grew ever closer. It didn't look very inviting as the module entered its atmosphere and Chiana voiced his views by saying "It doesn't look as if there's any life." Pilot's voice came crackling over the radio; "the docking port is on the other side of the planet, you should be able to see it clearly." Aeryn swung the prowler round in silence and they flew to the port. As they module landed, the crew all exchanged confused looks (except Aeryn who was busy collecting her stuff.) The area they had arrived in looked like a small airport hangar. As they module had landed lights automatically switched on and it a door way was made clear on the other side of the area. "Oh well, here we go" sighed John to himself still watching Aeryn as she pulled on her helmet looking cross. He decided that now was not the best time and that he had better concentrate on the job at hand or he'd lose all sensibility while worrying about Aeryn.
As the group neared the rectangular doorway a small, red alien popped his head around the doorway. He spoke in an oddly mechanical voice; "I see you all have translators, please hand over any weapons." As they crew complied with his request John stared at the little man (he presumed it was male.) He was about 3 ft high with short stubby arms and legs. He was wearing an armoured suit and his face was shaped towards a snout. To John he looked like a walking, red pig, he sniggered at the thought. "Something wrong, John?" asked D'argo, turning to face him. "Nope, nothing" said John with a completely straight face." The alien led the group across a concrete- looking floor towards the only other exit in the room. The door swung open to lead out to a vast white sandy desert. While John was staring out in amazement, Chiana turned to the man and he smiled at her astonished look. "It's not real" he said "It's automated, this planet used to be inhabited by peacekeepers and they left us some great equipment!" "We?" asked Aeryn. "Oh yes" the alien replied. "There's a whole colony here, the commerce is just a very small section of us." "Now, what did you need to buy?" "Supplies" replied D'Argo "food, drink and a part for our ship." "Come this way" grinned the little red man as he led off through the office corridor that had replaced the desert.
He brought them out in a busy market place. There were no other sebacceans in sight, just many other red aliens. "What species are you" asked John curiously. "We are called Terovaks, this colony is the last remaining of our species, and we need very particular conditions to live in." He led the way through the crowded stalls, the crew received some curious looks but no one interrupted them. "Food and drink, that way" he pointed left "and for ship parts you will have to go to the workshop, it's over there." He pointed at a grey rectangular building in the distance. "Will you be needing any more help" he asked. "No" replied Aeryn, very business like, "you have been very kind." The small man nodded and disappeared into the crowd. "Right" Aeryn said quickly "I'm going with D'Argo to get food and Chiana can go with John to the workshop. We'll keep contact over the comms." The others were stunned by the outburst but saw no reason to argue. As they picked up their rucksacks John tried to make eye contact with Aeryn but she studiously ignored him. He sighed and followed Chiana in the direction of the workshop.
Chapter 3
This time as they approached the dark red planet, John did not bother trying to make conversation. He merely sat in silence watching as the gloomy, silent planet grew ever closer. It didn't look very inviting as the module entered its atmosphere and Chiana voiced his views by saying "It doesn't look as if there's any life." Pilot's voice came crackling over the radio; "the docking port is on the other side of the planet, you should be able to see it clearly." Aeryn swung the prowler round in silence and they flew to the port. As they module landed, the crew all exchanged confused looks (except Aeryn who was busy collecting her stuff.) The area they had arrived in looked like a small airport hangar. As they module had landed lights automatically switched on and it a door way was made clear on the other side of the area. "Oh well, here we go" sighed John to himself still watching Aeryn as she pulled on her helmet looking cross. He decided that now was not the best time and that he had better concentrate on the job at hand or he'd lose all sensibility while worrying about Aeryn.
As the group neared the rectangular doorway a small, red alien popped his head around the doorway. He spoke in an oddly mechanical voice; "I see you all have translators, please hand over any weapons." As they crew complied with his request John stared at the little man (he presumed it was male.) He was about 3 ft high with short stubby arms and legs. He was wearing an armoured suit and his face was shaped towards a snout. To John he looked like a walking, red pig, he sniggered at the thought. "Something wrong, John?" asked D'argo, turning to face him. "Nope, nothing" said John with a completely straight face." The alien led the group across a concrete- looking floor towards the only other exit in the room. The door swung open to lead out to a vast white sandy desert. While John was staring out in amazement, Chiana turned to the man and he smiled at her astonished look. "It's not real" he said "It's automated, this planet used to be inhabited by peacekeepers and they left us some great equipment!" "We?" asked Aeryn. "Oh yes" the alien replied. "There's a whole colony here, the commerce is just a very small section of us." "Now, what did you need to buy?" "Supplies" replied D'Argo "food, drink and a part for our ship." "Come this way" grinned the little red man as he led off through the office corridor that had replaced the desert.
He brought them out in a busy market place. There were no other sebacceans in sight, just many other red aliens. "What species are you" asked John curiously. "We are called Terovaks, this colony is the last remaining of our species, and we need very particular conditions to live in." He led the way through the crowded stalls, the crew received some curious looks but no one interrupted them. "Food and drink, that way" he pointed left "and for ship parts you will have to go to the workshop, it's over there." He pointed at a grey rectangular building in the distance. "Will you be needing any more help" he asked. "No" replied Aeryn, very business like, "you have been very kind." The small man nodded and disappeared into the crowd. "Right" Aeryn said quickly "I'm going with D'Argo to get food and Chiana can go with John to the workshop. We'll keep contact over the comms." The others were stunned by the outburst but saw no reason to argue. As they picked up their rucksacks John tried to make eye contact with Aeryn but she studiously ignored him. He sighed and followed Chiana in the direction of the workshop.