(… continuing)

A few hours later Marr and Dukk were in a small café-restaurant recommended to them by Suzzona.
They had ordered. Dukk had just excused himself to use the bathroom.
Marr glanced around the small restaurant. Sitting at the adjacent table were a group of four. They looked to be finishing up and paying their bill.
One of the four, a woman, noticed Marr looking over. The woman smiled. Marr smiled back.
“The food is good here,” the woman volunteered. “I hope you got the steak of the day. Can’t beat it.”
“We did. I hope so,” Marr replied. “This place comes well recommended.”
“I see from your jacket you are with the Dinatha.”
“I am. You know of the Dinatha?”
“Not until today. We have just secured passage. We are boarding at four thirty. This is our last opportunity to get a decent steak before we go.”
“Yes, the steak here in Mayfield is good. Much better than on Earth which is surprising given it comes from Earth.”
“Yes, I guess that is surprising.”
“Why go back then?”
“You know yourself, surely. The Rule of Twelve stable population rule. If we don’t spend twenty, in fifty two weeks, in our citadel of origin, our IDs get recycled. We become non-persons and can’t get back into the citadel ever again. That would prevent us from ever retiring there.”
“Of course. So if you could get good steak in a citadel would you still be here?”
“That’s an interesting question,” laughed the woman. “It has always been our plan to retire to a larger h-pod in a nicer district of the outer ring. The credits we can accumulate far exceed anything we could be doing back there. Eventually, we’ll have enough.”
“Things feel pretty nice around here in this village. Why not retire here?”
“It is the light. The light here isn’t the same as the Solar System. You must appreciate that as a haulier. We miss real sunshine.”
“Yes, true that is something one craves.”
“Well, we are off. See you soon.”
“Yes. See you soon. By the way, my name is Marr.”
“Good to meet you Marr. I am Wendie, this is Marinata, Jemes and Karvine.”
Marr smiled as they left.

“What did I miss,” Dukk asked as he returned to the table.
“Not much. Just making friends.”
Dukk looked around. He shrugged his shoulders as he couldn’t see anyone remotely interested in them.

The conversation for most of the meal orientated around the fun that was had by Marr and Luna during the ski lesson. With the dessert done, Marr decided to shift the subject.
“You’ve done well, from what I hear, to make captain at your age.”
“I guess I applied myself.”
“So if you’ve made captain so young, what is next? Where do you see yourself, say in another fifteen years?”
“I am not sure. I can’t see myself retiring like Rachelle. Dividing my days between a small h-pod, exercise and a pub. That doesn’t sound meaningful to me.”
“What then? Keep hauling forever?”
“Perhaps, maybe I’ll eventually secure enough credit to get a better rig. Perhaps a rig with more power and comforts. Perhaps some defences. Perhaps take on much higher paying contracts.”
“Like the Interceptor that was parked next to the Dinatha?”
“Yes, something like that.”
“How long will that take?”
“Years. Probably, more than I have got!”
“Why? Didn’t you manage to accumulate the credit to get the Dinatha?”
“True. But the system isn’t that simple. I’ll never earn enough to actually have my own rig, even if that was possible under the Rule of Twelve. The rig will always belong to the citadel that commissioned it. Which in the case of the Dinatha is Kuedia. I only take a line of credit. The more I earn the more I can service the line of credit. That stands to me and over time a larger or longer line of credit is possible. But it will still require someone to sponsor me and that is where it gets really hard. Sponsors expect something in return. Favours need to be repaid. I am not sure I want what comes with all of that.”
“What else then?”
“Perhaps I could manage a station.”
“Like Ileadees, plump and slow, hidden behind muscle men?”
Dukk laughed. “Well no, perhaps a fitter version. And, I just realised that I am doing all the talking. What about you? Do you ever see yourself out from under Mentor’s wing?”

(to be continued...)

[Rule of Twelve, Double Take, Chapter 20 - Groundwork (Passage 3 of 5)]

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