Back in Koilingen, the archeologist-turned-accountant Irina Herzog was busy sorting through the commodity list of her husband's mercantile endeavor. She was not an official employee of his, but as a supportive wife, she felt it was natural that she would help out. It was basically a family business, after all.
For as rare as a married spacer couple like them, she was truly enjoying their time together, traveling the stars to make their living.
"Whew… I think that's all… right? This place is so remote that the demand for goods from the central nations is neverending… Ehehe, this is a great chance!" Irina pumped her fist while feeling elated. It was already afternoon in GST but she was feeling as energetic as ever. Today had been a great day for her.
The smooth running of their business was of course a factor, but the greatest thing that had happened today was her meeting with Milanor Milestone this morning. He was someone Irina had met during one of her archeological works a few years ago when she was still an aspiring young single woman who had a big dream and hope.
Right, she was still a young woman back then. Not to say she was an old lady today, nope. The long human lifespan dictated that she would only be considered 'old' when she reached a hundred, yes. That was what she decided.
However, unlike Irina justifying her youth five years ago, Milanor was actually the real youngster back then. Like, kid young. A boy his age would usually still pursue higher education after they were done with their compulsory one.
Or rather, a boy with enough economic leeway at the very least. Still, while a teenager entering the galactic workforce wasn't uncommon—especially in lower-class worlds—the boy Milanor's choice of profession was as rare as planets orbiting a triple-star system.
If possible, when the time came for Irina to have children of her own—the question of whether that was something that would happen in the future notwithstanding—she hoped that they wouldn't have to be put in such harsh circumstances.
She meant that not as an offense to Milanor though. Or rather, in reality, she wasn't even sure if Milanor of five years ago was forced into that kind of circumstance. Considering his personality, she wouldn't be surprised if he told her that he became a freelancer due to his own accord.
Perhaps it couldn't be helped. That although her current and last job both have close connections with outer space, she never heard of the name White Streak…
"Excuse me, Miss. Can I ask some questions? I'm uh, kind of new in this area."
A somewhat tall man called to Irina as she was focusing on her holographic tablet. She was currently standing in front of a three-story building that housed the office of some business. Her husband had gone inside to conduct transactions while she waited outside, sorting through their inventory in the meanwhile.
"Hmm? Oh, you're asking me? I'm not really familiar with this place myself actually…" she answered the man.
He was wearing a rather uncommon black suit and a dark shade covering his eyes. If this were an upper-rank city located in the inner worlds, his garments probably wouldn't feel that out-of-place, but here, he was rather striking in comparison to the people around.
"Oh, is that so… I apologize, then. Forgive my rudeness, but are you perhaps a trader?" the man asked after glancing at the small mini-hovercraft beside Irina. Several boxes were placed atop it, containing the samples of wares she and her husband were peddling.
"Ah, yes. We just arrived this morning. My husband and I, that is."
"I see. To be honest, it is surprising to see independent traders coming this far out. Oh, I'm sorry, but I assume you are independent, correct? I do not see any company emblem," the man said after looking at the hovercraft and Irina herself.
"Yes, that's true actually. We just started a few years ago, so we're really not that big. I know that small, startup merchants like us don't like to take the risk of coming so far in the frontiers, but… That's where the big chances truly are, do you know?"
"My, is that the case? Fascinating… I take it that you have some interesting trinkets that came far from here, then?"
"Oh, you bet! Are you perhaps interested? How about taking a look at what we have? Just wait a bit, my husband should be done inside there soon," Irina said, sounding quite excited that a prospective customer came to her on his own. Judging by his sophisticated appearance, she could guess in confidence that he was quite well off.
"That sounds like it would be a fun experience. I'm curious about the products of the far-off interstellar nations… Maybe even some rare curiosities from a restrictive planetary culture I haven't heard of?"
"Hehe, why don't we find out soon, yes? Are you from somewhere around here, Mister?"
"Indeed, Miss—Sorry, Madam. Not as remote as this satellite city, no, but it was still a rather isolated place. I've spent many most of my life in planetside, you see, and I am still rather unfamiliar with spacer life since I just launched only recently."
"Oh, I think I know the feeling. Most non-spacer experience that early on, I heard. I see, I see. I suppose you must be very curious about the other places from all around the known galaxy, then."
"You are correct, yes. Although I don't know much, I'm still very interested. Can I ask you to maybe provide me with some information about the life of a spacer? Oh, but I hope I'm not imposing," the man said the last part while lightly bowing his head.
"It's fine, it's fine! We're waiting here, after all. And it's rather amusing that you ask that. Can you believe I just met a spacer friend I knew of long ago? Just this morning, in fact. He's one of those bouncy freelancers, you know?" Irina's speech began to relax as their conversation went on.
"Freelancers!? I know them from the news. An exciting occupation, for sure. I believe I saw them at times when I arrive in ports in the places I traveled so far… I'd like to get to know one in the future."
"You do, huh? They're energetic bunches, always moving from place to place, never staying still. It's like a cosmic coincidence that I met him at all, I'm pretty sure. What is the chance, I wonder…"
"Can I ask about this good fellow you are associating with? I'm curious," the man urged Irina.
"Oh, his name is Milanor. A young man, barely in his twenties I think? Good guy all around. Unfortunately, I believe he's already left the city… We parted ways around noon, so…"
"Ah, what a shame… Where is he heading to, may I ask?"
"Oh, you probably shouldn't follow him. That place is… troubling, to say the least, if a bit frank. It's not somewhere people should be suggesting to other people," she explained. "But I guess telling you won't do any harm. He's going to Qwattor, an autonomous planet."
The man's eyebrows raised a bit, although with his shade it wasn't visible to Irina. With a tiny difference in his tone so slight that she wouldn't notice it, he responded. "I see… A… dangerous destination, is what you are saying?"
"Yeah, I think that's how it is. My husband often warned me about those kinds of places. But with Milanor, I'm sure he'll be fine. He's one of the most reliable guys I know of, you know? Behind my husband, of course."
"Haha, is that so…? That's heartening to know."
"Oh my, what are you making me say, Mister! Ehehe! Ah, um, sorry, I never told you my name, did I? I am Irina Herzog!" Irina put one of her hands in front of her chest.
"Nice to meet you, Madam Herzog. I… don't have a family name, but my friends do call me by the name of Aratus," the man introduced himself in response.
When Irina's husband finally came out of the building, she introduced the two men to each other. Moving into a diner nearby (a proper restaurant this time), they chatted while having an early dinner.
The three of them got along swimmingly, conversing about the life of the people of outer space, and when the man again asked about the freelancer named Milanor, Irina enthusiastically told what she knew about the young man.