As my ship finished the jump, I arrived on a system that is home to certain planet that I am very well familiar with, Pangea. This planet is home to any and all walks of life, from the ones who walk on land, water, and even air. Since my ship is on autopilot I prepared everything that I will need while I'm there, the orb, my bag, and few tools.
"Approaching Pangea" C.H.R.I.S. informed me in his thick Australian voice.
"Notify the Pangean Space Monitor that we wish to land and stay for business" I ordered C.H.R.I.S.
"Will do sir."
I finalized all I need double checking everything especially the orb. I looked at my guns and realized that this is a safe planet, relatively speaking. I looked the cockpit, grinned a little, and stood a little proud and relieved because I can see the planet's silhouette. I can hear C.H.R.I.S.' speakers recite the ships code and other necessary details that will allow us to land safely on Pangea. I walked to the cockpit and sat on the pilots chair, I looked over the on board computers and saw a text that says 'Approved for Landing'.
"We have been approved" C.H.R.I.S. informed me.
"Noted. Give me the controls C.H.R.I.S. I'll take it from here." I ordered the AI.
Pangea looks just like Earth but brighter. The view of the planet in space looks like it has three distinct areas; a bright area, a normal area, and a metallic dessert of some sorts. Let me explain a bit further the bright area is known as 'The Great Life' which is basically the planets night life capital, home to every casino games known throughout the cosmos. Here you can waste your entire retirement plan in just an evening and you'll get a hell of a time. Next is the normal area, known as 'Planet Proper' lame name I know but this is where the business and the people flourish. This is where locals live and aliens goes to field trip in hopes of knowing the planet. All you can see are business buildings and apartment. And lastly the metallic dessert is what they call 'The Mines' creative, I know, well as the name suggest this is where some retrieve either gold or other stuff. The planet is rich on all sorts of minerals and metals that mining just a square-feet would set you good for about 10 whole years. The only one that populate this area are miners, mining supervisors, and sometimes space scavengers.
The geographical tier system of the planet is amazing to see from the outside yet if you ask me it's like the planets' way of saying 'I know my inhabitants will segregate themselves so why not do it myself'. The division within the planet is only visible on its terrain because every citizen of this planet, local or alien, has been living peacefully ever since the planet was declared a safe haven for all walks of life. This planet has no civil unrest, no financial hierarchy. It's just a fun planet for everyone.
My ship entered the planet's breathable airspace and you can admire the lights of the tower buildings as well as the different hover cars and spaceship. I traveled to the Great Life not for fun but for business. I approached the docking bay, and carefully parked my ship.
"C.H.R.I.S. do me a favor and put the ship on lock" I asked the AI as I turned off the ship.
"Will do... Please don't come here drunk" C.H.R.I.S. replied
"I'll be back when I'm sober"
"Please enjoy your business sir."
"I always do."
I stepped outside and the doors automatically locked. Good thing is I arrived on the afternoon which makes the street less busy, which would make travelling cheaper so instead of renting a car or bike I opted to walk outside the dock and saw a line of taxi waiting, I got in one.
"Hello morning. where we headed?" The cab asked me.
"Morning, Gold Duck Bar. Make it cheap" I replied.
The cab knows what I mean and he immediately dropped me off to my destination, the Gold Duck Bar. It is called that because that bar is a central hub for all space scavengers looking to buy-and-sell the loots they found. The name was derived from two code used commonly by every scavenger, Gold for the obvious good loots and Quack for the bad useless ones. Well nobody would like to go on a bar called Gold Quack so they named it after the animal that sounds off that word, ducks, hence the now well established name, Gold Ducks.
About thirty minutes travelling looking at all the nightlife clubs and bar so silent covered in the light of the sun. I have arrived on my destination, the bar looks dead like the other establishments I've passed by, but this bar is open twenty-four seven. I opened the door and saw the dance floor alive with techno and people dancing high, due to drinks or drugs. There are also dining tables where you can drink and dine, but mostly deal with their loots, either by selling or trading. I walked towards the bar whilst looking around for familiar face, which I nod if I see one. I saw an acquaintance of mine on a table talking to someone, I smiled.
I saw the bartender, an AI Drone that manages the place. He is just a small flying drone that projects a noir bartender although he is a drone, custom drink are served pops out through the table and drinks from tap are delivered by a conveyor to where you sit on the bar.
The bar is not the only AI Drone in this bar but also the DJ, Servers, and Bouncers which means all the owner of the bar needs to do is software update and oiling up parts he can get all the profits without paying a single person. I sit on an empty chair and smiled at the camera of the drone.
"Did you have a rough day?" the bartender asked.
"Well yes, but give me something melodramatic please" I replied.
"Something melodramatic coming up" he informed me, he was silent for a few seconds. My drink popped in front of me "Enjoy"
I sipped my drink leisurely, looking over the dance floor, I could dance but I'm here on business. A lady sat besides me, ordered the same drink as mine. I tried to strike a conversation which is me low-key flirting.
"Hey"
"Hey" the lady replied.
"You new here?"
"Yeah, well I'm just passing by, you?"
"I've been here long time ago, but I don't live on this planet."
"Are you here on business or pleasure?"
"For now? Pleasure" I smiled, she giggled.
I was about to get her name when we heard a loud crash. Everyone pause to see what happened, it was my acquaintance who slammed the person he was talking to.
"If you're going to scam someone and it doesn't work, walk away. Don't try and threatin' them their life" He shouted and spat at the person he floored.
The bouncer threw the guy on the floor out. He settled back in his chair, catching his breath. The music resumed and everyone continued what they were doing. I looked at the lady, smiled awkwardly
"Now it's business" I told her, I looked at the bartender mouthing the word 'beer pitcher with two glass'. The bartender severed me the beer. I looked back at the lady "I'm sorry, I gotta go"
I brought my beer and glasses, walked to my acquaintance. I placed a glass in front of him and poured a beer.
"Sorry, rough day is kinda expensive" I said sarcastically.
"Rover" He sipped the beer.
"Giddens, how many more and why do you have to slam people who tries to scam you to the ground?"
"Just to prove to them and to spread the word that they can't scam me" he looked at me pissed.
"I am just a haggler, not a scammer"
"What do you got?" He asked, I took out the orb and showed him. "Where did you find it?"
"Yakron. Nearly died for it"
"Lasers?" He inspects the orb.
"Defrosted wolves"
"But Yakron is not inhabited by anything or anyone"
"Those things were in cryotubes. It was activated when I took that out"
"Why?"
"No idea, I mean I took it out from where it was placed then it lit up with color green that fired a short pulse blast."
"Do you have any idea who made this?" He asked me with concern.
"No, but do you know?" I asked him back.
"No, and I'm afraid I can't buy this from you Rover"
"What? Why?" I was slightly frustrated. "I nearly died for that piece of crap."
"I'm sorry, but I only deal with ancient know artifacts. Not this unknown orb"
"Maybe it's very old?" I tried to find a way to make him but the orb.
"Judging from the design and metal, this is not from any known systems and there are no evidence of it being that old"
"Well I can't come home empty handed. Do you know anyone?"
He looks at me, trying to find a compromise "Well I know a guy, he's from the center of this town, they call him Antique"
"Antique?" I asked for further information.
"He buys old and weird stuff. He has a store called Losses Pawnshop, buys and sells all type of crap and he knows them all too. Kinda pompous if you ask me but I think he'll probably buy that one."
"Thanks man." I took the orb, finished my beer, and walked out of the bar.
This Antique guy is new, but if I want to sell this thing I might have to venture in new territories.