Malparadiso Station Season 2.3
Episode 13 Clothes Make the Mission
Episode 13: Clothes Make the Mission
Yroi made her way back to her quarters, four levels down, five sections around. She met the servant who was carrying her new outfit. He handed it to her and turned on his heel, package delivered without a word. She’d been used to that kind of behavior but now resented it. Myril was not so subservient, commanding his staff as if he were The Man himself. She liked being treated as an equal, not a kleek.
Myril was in their quarters when she got there, lunch in hand.
“How did your meeting go?” He laid out the containers and set the table.
“I have a new boss, Iabbeshank, Assistant Provisioner.” Yroi set her package on a chair. “I have an assignment on Lev2, to pick up and deliver a package.”
“I hear he’s tight with his provisions,” Myril said. “I have not dealt with him personally.”
“It,” Yroi said, “I don’t know the species, but it is not gendered. Seems straightforward enough, but the kind of person to let you fall on your face if you don’t know your way round.” She went into the other room to take off her robe, wearing just her room shift. She didn’t want any spills on either the robe or her new garb. “What’s for lunch?” She could smell the savory combination of ingredients.
“Just a bit of this and that. A sort of curry.” Myril dished the food out. “No big dinners today, so not a lot of stuff to work with. Staff seemed pretty happy though.”
“Your cooking is wonderful with just firebugs and roach cream.” She came and sat.
“Should I go with you to this Lev2 place?”
“No, you’d be more noticeable than I am,” Yroi said, tasting a tidbit of some vegetable, “and I know better how to hide down a side tunnel than you do. I’ll be fine.”
In that moment, Yroi wondered if she would be. Lev2 was not as dangerous as the lower levels, but it wasn’t safe either, rarely cruised by the Guard, and mostly controlled by local thugs. She was sure she’d seen Jerzy Shales before, but didn’t know him. No point in worrying Myril. “Have you heard any more about Mistress leaving the Stone on some kind of journey?”
“No, the gossip centers on whether The Man will attend the big soiree next tenday.” Myril scooped up the last of the curry. “Word is he and Mistress have a disagreement, though no one knows what it is about.”
“Maybe I’ll hear something outside the compound.”
“I’m not sure about your going out,” Myril said. “I know you are bored here, but at least you are safe. Out there, anything can happen.”
“Anything can happen in your own kitchen,” Yroi said, “This way, when she takes you off planet, she will take me too, if she thinks I’m useful.”
“I guess you’d better be useful then.”
They finished lunch, and Myril washed up. He gave her a hug and went back to the kitchen.
Yroi put on her garb, very serviceable, but not new, clean but not remarkable in any way. She wore a tan shirt, brown work pants that accommodated her tail, solid boots, and a brown knit cap that smoothed over her lobe. She looked like any other working stiff, the colors designed to blend in with the tunnels. She put the credchip in an inner pocket under her arm, a difficult place for pickpockets to find who didn’t want to disable a mark. She didn’t have any tools, which would just make her appear to be looking for work.
It was as good as she would get, and now she’d find her way out of the compound and back to her own world. She didn’t have a time limit, but the sooner delivered the better, and first she had to find the person.