Tylen grins at the man's description of the local restaurants and  leans back against the wall to watch him tag up more of the cargo.  "I'll have to find something away from the port then.  Bound to be something that's decent, even if it is a bit expensive.  One of the advantages of this job, is you don't spend much between ports."

"I haven't been studying it for long, not seriously.  Just a few weeks, since you helped me find the courses.  But I read up a lot on it when I was at home on Frenzie, though there wasn't really any way to study it seriously there.  There was a magazine I liked - Basic Robotics - that was published by a company on Frenzie, and aimed at the general public, but every so often it had more technical information."

She picks up a book and laughs, "There you are!"  On the floor, where the book had been laying, is a small silvery disc attached to a fine chain of a similar material.  "I've been looking for this for days."

"Oh, I'm sure there's a few nice places about.  This station is a city, after all, with more than ten thousand residents." the transport driver affirms, "But asking me to name them would be like asking this cargo lifter for a critical analysis of a work of art."

The robot makes a noncommittal whirring noise as it starts to move again.

"And it can't even speak."

"You seem to have come a long way in a short time," Shui points out.  "Either you have been studying non-stop - and I doubt that, as you still play cards with our other passengers - or you have a real talent in this department." As in, near-savant-level from the sound of things, but she doesn't say that.

The steward's brows draw together as she continues to assist with the organization.  Curiosity, unsurprisingly, has struck.  "And what would that necklace be?  If you do not mind me inquiring."

Tylen cocks his head and listens to the noises from the cargo lifter " ... A dash, a dot, two short, two long ... I don't know.  Perhaps we have got that wrong?" the ex scout responds laconically.

"Not really." Keryn replies, "I used to get books and magazines on Frenzie - Basic Robotics was one.  And Popular Cybernetics was another.  And way back there was one called 'Bots Monthly.  I got most issues of all of them and even built a couple of simple robots using parts and instructions that came with the magazines.  They could do idiot tasks like following you about, or following a track that you laid out on the floor."

"I got books from the public library too.  I've been studying this stuff for about ten years.  But only officially since you got me the books.  I was alreay interested in all of this, I just decided it was time to move up a level."

She holds the necklace up for Shui to see, "It's a good luck charm.  I've had it for years."  There is a faint design on the disk, worn almost smooth and nearly illegible.  Some sort of creature perhaps?

On the ramp, the cargo robot continues its work, watched by the driver and the two Security officers from Profit Margin.  The driver makes his way back to his transport and inspects the way the machine is loading the vehicle.

Yas cocks her head at Tylen, and waves an arm to indicate the station in general, "I bet a big place like this has some sort of tourist office, or something, where you could ask about nice restaurants.  Better than asking one random stranger on the docks if you want to impress Sushi."

Without waiting for an answer, Brozzk starts pulling up a list of speculative cargo.  He stops and looks at Ash.  "Will you to have limits on speculative cargo?  Maximum tonnage?  Cultural restrictions?  Environmental requirements?  Cargo only that you expect to sell at Regina?  Or will you to hold longer for sale at other places?"

"Just making a bit of casual conversation." the ex-scout responds with a shrug.  "It has got to be boring running around keeping an eye on a dumb-bot all day."

Yas considers this for a moment, stifling a yawn.  "True enough, I suppose.  It can't be much more exciting than standing here watching him keep an eye on it.  Even if he does get changes of scenery."

"Maybe if we opened fire on the 'bot it would give him some excitement?  At the very least it would give us something to laugh about."

The grin that spreads across her face suggests that she might not be serious about this idea.

"But as soon as he has gone we can get on with other stuff.  He just has to go find another ship to unload."

However, he cocks his head sideways and consider the bot for a moment.  "So one shot with a small bore pistol.  Where would you shoot it?" he replies playing the same hypothetical game.

Pursing her lips, Shui nods along with Keryn's explanations.  "Even so," she muses, "all of this has been self-taught.  Which is impressive, Ms. Taylor; ten years, fifteen years, twenty years, for some people there are skills that will ever remain out of reach.  You have managed to insert yourself into a rather advanced field, all on your own."

Leaning forward, she studies the pendant.  "Curious design," she murmurs. "Is that a symbol?  An image of something?  I fear I cannot quite make it out."  Her hand rises, adjusting her glasses.  No, no help there. "From whence does it come, Ms. Taylor?"

"I'd avoid the chest for a start.  Sure, that's probably where it's power system is, and most likely its brain - at this tech level a robot's brain is probably too big to fit in the head with the bulky sensors - but the torso's probably the best armoured part."

The Security Chief grins.  "I don't like the look of it, so I'd aim for the face.  Might knock out those big old fragile sensors.  The eyes look really delicate.  A blind robot is pretty useless."

"I could never make it out either." Keryn replies.  "The medal's really old, and the metal's quite soft, so the design is almost gone.  I've thought it was different things over the years.  A man with something on his back, for example, or a winged creature.  Sometimes I thought it was a machine, and other times just a random pattern that looks like something when the light is right."

She shrugs.  "I think I see what I feel like seeing, depending on my mood."

"As for where I got it.  It was a gift from my grandmother, just before she died.  It was her who told me it would bring me luck."

Brozzk swivels the display for Ash and Jago to look at.  "You can to see that we are having mostly minerals available.  Krill is the second commonest, and products of krill - krill patties, flavoured krill, powdered krill... "

Copper ingots: 25 tons: Bids accepted until 320-1107 12:00
Iron ore     : 40 tons: Cr5,800/ton.  Cr235,200 total
Izun crystals: 40 tons: Cr4,800/ton.  Cr192,000 total
Krill patties: 35 tons: Cr3,500/ton.  Cr122,500 total
Izun powder  :  3 tons: Cr4,000/ton.  Cr 12,000 total
Dried krill  : 15 tons: Cr3,000/ton.  Cr 45,000 total

The list continues, filling the display.

Ash looks at the display listing with the speculative cargo with a marked interest.  His eyes bulge slightly as they are numbers that he is not used to seeing.  At least not in his personal finances.  He glances at Jago, since the Captain has more information about amount of cash he is willing to front.  Ash knows that he doesn't have a megacredit lying around, burning a hole in his pocket.

As he reviews the options, his head tilts slightly.  "What type of crystal is 'izun'?" he asks.  The lanky navigator considers himself to be fairly well-read and well-educated, but is unfamiliar with that term.  "Is it exotic?  I mean native only to Dinomn?" he prompts, glancing at Jago to see if the merchant captain knows more about them.

He does reconfirm the Profit Margin's cargo capacity, "We can take up to forty tons.  Absolutely.  And would be willing to speculate up to that amount.  If the price is right, of course.  We don't have any cultural restrictions at this point."  He didn't see anything on the list that might be offensive to anyone on the crew that he knew of.  Minerals and krill didn't seem overtly contentious - unless of course, there were some sort of local religious overtones attached to 'zocci' or 'izun' that he was unaware of.

Ash ran his long fingers through his short cropped hair for a moment, "Seems like either the copper, iron, or izun might be of particular interest to us."  He glanced once more at Jago to see if the price points were acceptable, "Do we know who the seller for the ingots is?  And what are the particulars of their auction?  Boss, are we willing to wait four days for the results of that?"  It seemed a long time potentially, especially if they were to lose out; a contingency would need to be developed then.

Brozzk nods, "Izun is clear red crystal.  Being used in electronics as conductor which shut down when current too high, but not burn out.  Works fine when power level drops again.  Only found here, far as I'm knowing."

Jago looks at Ash, leans forward, and mutters, "Nothing there we can't afford, so far."  Then louder, "It's not the four day auction that bothers me there.  It's the fact that there'll be a delivery time to account for on top of that.  You have any information on that... er... Brozzk?"

"Fifty hours." replies the Vargr, "Dinomn Metal Holdings LIC is guaranteeing delivery within fifty hours after they is receives payment.  Anywhere in orbit or on ground."

"That's acceptable." and Jago leans back in his chair to let Ash take the lead again.

"Curious." Shui turns the pendant over and over in her fingers, struggling to find meaning.  She could ask Keryn if her grandmother ever told her about it...but clearly she hadn't, so why ask?  "It seems to be a lesson in life," she continues.  "Everything - aside from universal absolutes - is perspective."

A small smile lights her face as she hands it back. "It is always good to have something from whence we came, is it not?  A small reminder of your past, an anchor...and most importantly, a reminder of your grandmother."  The steward pauses. "Assuming you both were on good terms, of course." 

Tylen grins as he turns to Yas, "I might just go for the on / off safety switch ...."

"Oh yes, I always liked my grandmother." Keryn confirms, "And I like that about perspective.  I'll have to remember that."  She smiles and looks around the room.  "And from my perspective, this is a tidy cabin.  I think we're about done here."

Yas chuckles, "Nah... that's an old myth.  You shoot a switch, and ninety-nine times out of a hundred you'll just break the switch without turning the thing off.  All you'll probably do is make it so that you can't manually operate the switch any more.  Same with locks.  Shooting a lock doesn't  automatically unlock a door.  Or lock it either."

"Don't they teach you anything in the Scouts?"

Eventually the robot makes one last trip into the hold and returns with the final case.  The driver goes in to check, and emerges smiling.

"That's the lot.  All offloaded.  If I could just get some signatures?"

He holds out a stylus, and a clipboard, bearing a sheaf of papers.  "Top copy is yours, the rest are mine.  Sign here and here, with dates for both, then write your name clearly here, here, and here."

He waits a few moments for the required signatures, then turns to leave.  "Have a good day, friends."

The hold echoes emptily, and there is no longer any need for Tylen and Yas to stand guard.  They can close her up, and go back into the warmth.

Shui escorts Keryn to her cabin, with its medical facilities, wher she gives the girl a thorough check up. 

Ash considers the available cargoes, then opts to play it safe.  Twenty tons each, iron ore and izun crystals will cost a total of Cr213,600.  Both are on-station, with 25 hour delivery to Profit Margin guaranteed.

Brozzk prints out a contract.  "Is standard contracts.  Who is signing, please?"

Finished her examination, Shui informs Keryn of the good news.  "The pregnancy appears to be proceeding perfectly well," she quietly states.  "Any discomfort you feel is...well, for wont of a better term, 'normal'." Switching off her equipment, she shoots the young woman a sunny smile.  "I'm pleased.  Are you feeling prepared for the child?  Is there anything about which you'd like to speak?"

Keryn bites at her lower lip for a moment.  "Just... just one thing I need to ask." she says, hesitantly, before falling silent and shaking her head.  "I hope you won't be offended.  Would you mind, if the baby's a girl, if I name it Shui?"

"Everybody on the ship has been so kind to me, and I want to say thank you."

Tylen lets Yas sign the cargo manifests, and  waits to close the ship up once the Security Chief has done.

"So what next?" he asks on the way back onto the ship, "or can I go get a coffee?"

"Well, unless the Boss-man calls and tells us otherwise, I don't think we have anything that really needs doing just now." Yas replies after a brief pause for thought.

"You can take a break, if you want.  I'll finish my security checks first.  Don't like being so close to another ship."  She looks across the docking bay at their neighbour, and shakes her head.  "Not one little bit."

Tylen nods.  "I'll be in the lounge or on the bridge if you need me." with that he makes his way to the crew lounge to get a cup of coffee.

Shui's eyebrows rise.  "Name her..."  Slowly she sits down, reaching out to take Keryn's hand.  "I of course am not offended.  I am, in fact, extremely honoured.  Surprised, as well."  In truth, she would have expected 'Yasmine'.

"My goodness," the doctor whispers.  For an instant, a touch of nervousness spikes through her...but no.  'Shui' is acceptable; even if the unthinkable happens and Keryn meets someone from her family, they would not recognize the name.

"You have completely taken me by surprise, Ms. Taylor," she continues, still a touch poleaxed.  "And this is not easy to do."  A small laugh follows.  "An honour...I said that, did I not?" Blinking, the doctor squeezes Keryn's hand.  "You have me at a loss!"

The laughter has ceased, but the smile remains. "In the rural language spoken on my world, Shui means 'water'.  Does it remain acceptable with that in mind?"

Keryn smiles.  "Knowing the meaning of the name makes it even more acceptable.  Makes it more exotic, if you see what I mean?  It's not just a random series of sounds - it has an actual meaning.  Not like my name - if that has any meaning, beyond sounding pleasant to some people, nobody ever told m what it was."

She laughs.  "I met a Vargr on Frenzie once... I'd sneaked away to a part of the docks that I'd never been to before, and I ran into this Vargr.  I was about ten, and I think he was younger.  His family were Imperial citizens, so he spoke pretty good Anglic.  Anyway, his name was Gnourked, or something like that, I could never quite pronounce it.  But he told me that in the language of his grandparents' home world, it meant One Who Moves With Grace."

"I thought that was nice.  That his name meant something, and that his parents had told him the meaning."

Out in the port, Jago and Ash take their leave of the broker and start to head back,  After a few moments, Jago says, "You did well.  Picked a good cargo, with a bit of variety.  That way if we find the bottom has fallen out of the izun market, we'll have the iron to fall back on."

Tylen settles into the lounge, with a coffee, while Yas continues her security checks outside the ship.

Pleased that Keryn finds the name acceptable, Shui listens to her story.  "Such a beautiful name, indeed.  I will now most certainly research more about Vargr names.  Names have meaning beyond a label for a person in many cultures; I find it a shame that we have lost that in our own, more widespread one."  She sighs.  "I am certain that, like my own world, there exist places where other languages still flourish with humanity, and cultures where names hold more meaning."

Her brows draw together.  "But then...I am also certain that your name held meaning at one time.  Hold a moment..." Rapid movement on her dataglove allows her to access information encyclopaedias. "Your name may have a link with similar sounding names that hold the connotation of purity or pure.  Also 'dark'."  She smiles.  "Which is not necessarily a bad thing.  In my own culture, 'dark' is not associated with something evil.  Rather, it indicates depth, secrets, quiet..."

Her voice trails off, then she laughs.  "I ramble.  My apologies."

Ash glances back and Jago, giving his Captain a slight, self-deprecating smile.  "Thank you for saying so, Boss." the lanky navigator notes with more than a touch of incredulity creeping in, "But, I didn't do much there; you knew all the real numbers and were required to step in at the most crucial point."  He shrugs slightly, which causes the padded shoulders of his duster to exaggerate the motion, "I don't know if I have much trading instincts there."  It seemed to him that education and book knowledge would only carry one so far in the trading game; and Ash knew the score there.  He wasn't the brightest bulb on the tree - no matter how reasonably well-read he might (believe himself to) be.

It did seem that the Captain was in a charitable mood, so Ash decided to swing with it.  "So..." he ventures a touch tentatively, "is there a speculative fund or some such that is available to the crew?"  He knows that Jago owns the ship and that each captain chooses how to do such things.  Some rent space to enterprising employees, others have a communal fund, or profit share.  And still others offer no such arrangements or benefits, at all.  That was one of the prerogatives of being a Free Trader; the freedom to decide such things.

Ash sort of feels compelled to ask, though.  His assessment of the Profit Margin's captain is that he has good character, given his relationship and track record with the crew.  And it is obvious that Jago has done well for himself and could likely manage his money better than Ash could himself.  "I don't have much of a nest egg, but I would be willing to contribute what I can..."  He pauses thoughtfully, nervously rubbing his hands through his short hair for a moment,  " I ... I probably could even contribute a portion of my monthly salary to such a thing ...  Or, perhaps, rent space or expertise on the Profit Margin to help me invest my assets more wisely?"