Malparadiso Station Season 2.9

Episode 19 Up the Spiral

Yroi delivers the packages

Episode 19: Up the Spiral

By the time Yroi got back to the Full Bowl, business had picked up. Half the tables were occupied with hungry sentients, mostly kleeks. Granny was busy making change, and taking orders.

Yroi needed to get back to Iabbeshank, and she was already working on what she would tell xir. Xe’d be suspicious since she’d been gone so long for such a short task. Xe might even fire her, send her back here, far from Myril.

She didn’t know what Slime would tell The Man about her. There was little trust with anyone other than with the terms of a contract, and no way to enforce that.

Finally the queue cleared. Granny beckoned.

“I’ve copied these data files,” she said. “I’ve not had time to look at them, much less analyze who might have collected them or whether they are even reliable.”

“I need to take them back, all of them.” Yroi slid beside the chair where Granny sat. “I don’t know which one my boss wants. Maybe xe’ll be happy if xe gets more than xe asked for.”

Granny slipped the small packages to her, one at a time.

Yroi hid them in different pockets. “What do I tell him about the creds?”

“Make something up. Tell him the truth. You bribed a tunnel kid to get you away from the trinket seller’s place.”

“I didn’t give you any more than xe said to spend, so maybe that will be all right.” Yroi pulled her hood up over her head. “At least if they track it, I wasn’t there.”

“Always good not to be where there was trouble.” Granny agreed.

Yroi made her way along the spirals, up and up to Lev2. She got out her map to find the sector again for Mistress Z’s entrance. It was a long walk, but there were few sentients around. Nobody ever paid attention to a kleckovan worker.

The Guard had sent everyone back to their pods, clearing the passages. One human guard stood watch at the entrance to Lev2, checking everyone’s ID.

“You work for Zabayaba, and you are down in Lev3? What business do you have there?”

“My grandmother runs the Full Bowl,” Yroi answered, keeping her lobe lowered and her throat exposed, like a good little kleek. “I just wanted some home cooking.”

“One of Granny Claw’s brood,” the Guard said. “Better get back to work then. I hear things are busy up on the surface.”

“Yes, Sentient.” She bowed slightly. Always subservient, always respectful.

“Wait. Were you anywhere else on Lev2 today?” The Guard studied her face.

“No, Sentient. I was given leave to go see my grandmother.” She did not look him directly in the face, as no good kleek would, but kept her eyes lowered.

“All right then. Get on with you.”

“Yes, Sentient.” Yroi moved on, not running, not even walking fast, but just moving. She hoped the dirt from the cave had not ruined her work outfit, or that it would cause further trouble. She just wanted to get the packages back to Iabbeshank, and get back to Myril.

For all she’d been in the Full Bowl, she hadn’t eaten, and now she felt it with all the unaccustomed exercise and anxiety. Myril would have food for her, and she could rest.

She walked to the section of Lev2 with the long, deep passage back to Mistress Z’s servant entrance. The Beanath checked her ID again.

“They are looking for you,” the snake woman said. “Something about a murder?”

“I don’t know about that,” Yroi said. “But I do need to see my boss as soon as I can.”

The Beanatha opened the door. “Go on in. Get there as quick as you can. Xe’s not happy.”