Malparadiso Station Season 2.10
Episode 20 Packages Delivered
Episode 20: Packages Delivered
“Where in the Name of the Core have you been?” Iabbeshank glowered at her, xir expression fierce. “Did you kill Shales?”
Yroi was shaking from hunger, fatigue, and now fear. “No, he was dead when I got there. I’ve been hiding, so I could get back here.”
“Did he give you the package? Give it to me now.” Her boss held out xir digits.
She pulled each package from its hidden pocket. “I didn’t know which was yours, but I thought there might be duplicates, so I brought them all.”
Iabbeshank inspected each small box. “Did you look inside?”
She shook her head. “I would have been back sooner, but the Guard was coming down the spiral...”
“Did they see you?”
“No, I don’t think so.” Yroi wanted to be as transparent with her boss as she could. “I was careful about the cameras in the store too. They might could see me in the store, but not in the back.”
“You might not be as dumb as you look.” Xe cocked xir head as he gazed at her. “You used my credchip down on Lev3 at the diner. That was a pretty big lunch for a little kleek like you.”
“It wasn’t for me,” she said. “I bribed a tunnel kid to get me off Lev2 without being seen. I know him. He works with Granny Claws, so I made a deal.”
“A big lunch for him too.” Iabbeshank’s smooth face wrinkled further.
She hadn’t had much choice. She had to pay for Slime’s help. “It was for the tribe, and for future favors. Granny helped set up the deal.”
“Tunnel kids, eh?” Iabbeshank’s expression changed, not so angry. “You trusted this kid to follow him into one of their caves? He might have killed you. You’d make several meals even for a dozen kids.”
Yroi shrugged. “He helped when Myril was poisoned. He’s really smart for a tunnel kid.” She remembered how Slime had been there every day, showing Myril what he could and could not eat or cook.
“What’s this kid’s handle?”
Yroi didn’t answer immediately. Slime probably saved her life, and she didn’t want him to get into any more trouble than he’d bring on himself. “I’d rather not say. He trusts me, and I want to keep it that way.”
Iabbeshank nodded. “Then you’d better get back to your quarters and clean up.” Xe studied her again. “Things are going to be busy around here for the next few cycles, and I need a helper who can keep her mouth shut.”
“Yes, Sentient.” Yroi bowed slightly, wondering what else her boss might require.
“Stay in your quarters until I call you. I’ll have more for you to do once I’ve analyzed these packages.”
Would this be her punishment for the unauthorized expenditure and late return? She nodded again. “Of course, Sentient.”
“Tell your sape that I put in some extra supplies for the soirée.” Iabbeshank smiled. “It would be very nice if some of those supplies appeared in my office - a security measure, you understand? Taste testing. Quality control.”
“Certainly. Have you particular preferences?” Maybe she was not in trouble. Good cooking was not easy to come by at any level, and Myril was a genius. While kitchen staff ate well, not everyone else did. Anything that would help the cook would help them both.
“I could use some that tunnel cuisine that he is so famous for.” Her boss’s smile widened. “I grew up in the Lev2 tunnels myself.”
Yroi bowed again, trying not to show any reaction. No wonder Iabbeshank was so tough. “I’ll tell him and deliver the samples as soon as I can.”