Chapter 3 Greetings

Asami could hear the girl curse:

- Shit, Shit, Shit... too late.

The engineer got closer to greet her:

- Hello, lady. I think that...

- Don't bother me please... She answered. I don't want to buy anything.

- I'm not a here to sell things. Just...

- Talking about religion? I don't care, I'm not in the mood.

- No it's.. just... that...

As Asami was mumbling, the tanned girl took a look at the speaker, noticing that she was holding her bag.

- You have my sack! She realized. I didn't even see I lost it.

Asami raised her hand to give it to her. The other girl took her belonging ashamed of her behavior. She put it into her backpack then apologized for being so rude:

- Thank you so much. I'm sorry, it was so disrespectful. I shouldn't have...

- That's fine. I figured out that you missed your ship. There is a flight every two days. You'll get another one. You'll just have to pay an extra fee to exchange your ticket.

- Oh, all right. Well, so be it. She answered, I shouldn't have taken a nap anyway. But... that trip made me sleepy.

- You're from Glacia, aren't you?

- Yeh, a two days long trip to Tera, also called earth kingdom.

- Traveling for work ?

- Sort of. I'm a cartographer. I go to many places to make maps.

Asami got what she thought to be a brilliant idea. She would have liked to change her habits in term of listening to stories. Bolin's tales were nice but she would like to hear about a native's stories. She had in mind a favor in exchange of a service:

- How about I get you a ticket without extra fee.

- Really, could you do that?

- Yeh, I know someone who owns me. He could exchange your ticket.

- That'd be great. Nothing in return?

- A little thing. I'd like to hear about your home world.

- Wait, you mean like stories? A ticket against stories? That's it?

- Yes.

- But, I mean... why... there are plenty of them on the network.

- There is not network here. No server to store data.

The girl from the ice planet frowned. Asami then explained more deeply:

- Well, all websites, social networks, and other web services are hosted on servers right?

- Yeh, I think I get that.

Each planet in the system has its own servers to store big data such as videos, books, etc... But all contents are local to the planet they have been created on. This is a little station, there is no need for such services. The network here is only used for communication.

- Must be annoying...

- Well, we have some videos and musics but not so many choices. So sometimes, we need some new things.

- All right then, we have a deal.

- Let's meet in the area 5 at 7 pm. I'll bring a friend of mine who also likes stories.

- Ok, great... Thank you. See you tonight then.

As the engineer was turning around she realized she didn't even introduce herself.

- By the way, my name is Asami.

- Mine is Korra.

- Nice to meet you.

Both left the place at the same time. Korra looked for a cheap restaurant to have lunch and Asami returned to the floor she had to work in. Arriving at the room, she saw that Mr Varrick was waiting just before the door.

- So, leaving your work place, really? He yelled.

- Come on, sire. Just a few minutes. I just had something to deal with. That's it.

- Not so diligent... how could I give you a ship engine to take care of. You ask me for risky work but can't even deal with pipes.

- All the clients whose the ships were fixed by me have always been satisfied. One day I'll be the only one left able to work on your damn ships. Then you'll feel lucky to have me.

- Something that you have kept repeating for more than one year. And so far, I feel you're only worth pipes. For now, fix what you have been asked to fix.

- You should give me a chance to prove my worth. Why treating me like this? Because I'm a girl ?

- You forgot that Zhu Li, the person I count on the most is a woman. I only don't trust you because you have never had the courage to get a diploma. Five years of study or internship makes you a true expert. You have neither, that's why I think you're not fit for it. But don't worry, as a person... I actually like you. I just don't think you're worth working as an engineer.

- Let's stop talking. I've heard enough.

- All right, as you wish. Just get the work done before tonight.

Asami's anger for him had increased a lot after that discussion. As she was fixing the pipe, she pictured herself drowning him into the dirty water that she was getting out of the conduit. She had got tired of him for months but he was the richest guy on the station and she had to endure his sayings. He ran most of the hosting of the station and owned a dozen of ships. The only guy she needed to be given an engineer work, which meant a way to maybe get paid very well.

Depending on him was a burden. She would have chosen to leave the station earlier if it didn't mean spending her heritage. Using the only thing that she had left from her father was an option to consider only in case of true emergency.

She quickly finished working on the pipes then went to see other clients. She had finished all her work in the middle of the afternoon. She first went to the public showers to clean her body of all the dirt. She then returned to her pod to call Bolin and invite him to the story telling. After a few seconds of waiting, she got an answer from the boy :

- Yeh. What's happening? I'm on duty right now.

- I know there is not so much action on your side at this time.

- Right but my boss should not see me doing something else than my job. What do you call me for?

- I'd like to invite you to a dinner tonight, 7 pm area 5. With a girl I met who comes from Glacia. She'll tell us stories about her world. What do you say?

- Seriously? Damn. I'm in. Do you want me to bring something?

- I'd like some dragon fruits.

- Ok, I'll get you that. Thank you Asami. See you tonight.

Asami ended the call then started waiting for her meeting. She played a playlist music whose the first song was "live alone by Yuksek". She enjoyed it watching the scene that the red moon was offering.