"You seem to know a lot about these kinds of things, why don't you come with me, Phantasma?" Zhi'an asked.

"All right," said Phantasma.  "What about Gauss?  He could be nearby as emergency extraction..."

"Hmm. I think you're right. Would that be okay with you, Gauss?" Zhi'an asked.

"Yes, that's sensible," said Gauss.  "I'm sure either of you can send me a clear and obvious signal."

"Oh yes, that won't be a problem," Zhi'an said.

"Are you going to bring your robot?" Phantasma asked.

"That's really up to her. Do you want to come?" Zhi'an asked.

"It might be for the best," said Kryten.  "This is a technological issue, after all."

"Yeah, good call there," said Phantasma.

"Okay, sounds good," Zhi'an said. "I am ready to go."

They soon returned to the secret base; the smell of meat cooking was unmistakable.

"What is that?" Zhi'an asked.

"Hopper's grilling sausages again," said Phantasma.  "Pretty tasty stuff, even if the sausages are kind of cheap."

"I look forward to it," Zhi'an said.

"Probably a few other things, too," said Phantasma.  "Chips.  Potato salad.  If we're lucky, something healthy will sneak in there, somehow."

"Healthy food is expensive, though," said Gauss.  "Sorry about that."

"Ah, so this food contains large amounts of sugars and starches?" Zhi'an asked.

"Some of it," said Phantasma.  "Fillers in the sausage, for example."

"Sorry, I was just trying to guess what unhealthy for Earthlings means," Zhi'an said.

"That, and a lot of fat," said Phantasma.  "...to be honest, it's more how much of it you eat, but it's hard to keep up a diet containing a lot of fresh vegetables in our circumstances."

"Do they also grow wild?" Zhi'an asked.

"Yes, but it's not exactly easy to gather them in a city," said Phantasma.  "There aren't that many, industrial pollution is a problem, and we are trying to remain hidden."

"I want to help with the food situation, but I am unsure how to," Zhi'an said.

"Well, don't worry about it too much," said Gauss.  "We get by.  We just have to take advantage of bulk sales and the like."

"Ah, okay," Zhi'an said.

"...but if you think of a way to help, go for it," Phantasma added.

"Making money on this planet would be difficult. You aren't part of any known republics and I have no ID that would be valid here," Zhi'an said. "Plus I don't look human."