The Outer Worlds: Tragedy On The Halcyon Hyper-rail!

A Game Over Dinner

"Tell me Captain, are you fond of games?" Terrance asked nursing a glass of Spectrum Vodka: Ultraviolet.

The two men were stood outside in between the carriages, cooling off in the Terra 2 winds as the train moved slowly along the tracks. Inside the carriage behind them, which was much larger than the rest, something akin to a ballroom dance was entering his second half.

Young socialite women humouring the men they accompanied as they attempted to impress with their latest money saving scheme of how they improved productivity in their workforce. Felix would pipe up with his displeasure of the Board, already deep into his cups, while Parvati shuffled shyly to the music in the corner, her mind turning to thoughts of Junlei on the Groundbreaker.

"About as fond of them as I am this drink" he replied swirling his own glass filled a quarter full of Iced Age Whiskey, "I was under the impression that my crew and I would be treated like bureaucrats?"

Terrance chuckled and breathed sharply through his nostrils, "I am sorry about that, seems Holly, that is, the steward went over my head. Got a wireless from Rizzo's themselves. Not to let you touch a drop of the stuff."

"Shame, was looking forward to it. Although you could just let me get a sip now?"

"Trust me I'd love to but..." he gestured with his drinking hand to an area above the carriage door "even when on the move, the Board has eyes everywhere."

The Captain clicked his tongue "Ah slag em, I'll stick with the whiskey then" he grumbled sipping the drink frustratedly.

"Regardless, you still haven't answered my question. Are you fond of games?"

The Captain thought for a moment, recalling memories of his childhood on Earth, "I suppose I was. When we weren't working or sleeping, I did enjoy a game of impromptu Tossball. Was a lot chubbier back then so I was always stuck as goalie."

"I was the same, once upon a time. Always roughhousing with the boys in the town, coming home caked in dirt and fresh cuts for ma- my mother to clean up."

"Can't drop your accent can you?"

Terrance laughed lightly, "Try as I might, I'll never speak like a natural Byzantium, just don't have it in me, d'you mind if I speak without airs?"

"Not at all" the Captain reached into his inside pocket and handed Terrance a Spacer's Corona which seemed to set Terrance more at ease.

"You have no idea how much I've missed these. It's all Wentsworth . It's all Perfecto and High Society Cigarettes these days. Stuffs good don't get me wrong, but there's nothing like the nostalgic taste of your first cigarette. Take my advice Captain, if there is some wisdom I can impart on you" he took a long drag of the cheap cigarette "always spend your bits. Don't hoard them, don't invest, just spend them or give them away. Because when you have as much money as the rest of us have... everything just becomes so... dull."

The Captain went to say something but was stopped when the lamp light painted Terrance's face. The shadows were harsh, revealing the lined features of a man who had everything and yet nothing.

"They all hate me you know. Won't say it, but I can tell. When they give me the odd sideward glance, or how they stiffen up when they shake my hand. They know I came from the lower ranks, worked my way up, wasn't handed anything like the rest of them. I earned this, they were just born with the names of their grandfathers and grandmothers l, the real deal. Maybe I just remind them of their own mortality. That if not for their predecessors they would be on the assembly line. Putting Pep Pills into plastic packs."

The Captain smirked. "Fairly certain they've removed human influence on Pep Pill packing."

"Shush, don't ruin my analogy. Where was I? Ah, who cares anymore. My point is, don't hold on to money. Lest you become one of us."

"Part of the bureaucracy?"

"Part of the ass-kissing-bureaucracy. None of them, not a single one earned their place in society. Ancestors were generals, corporate-executives, asteroid tycoons. I think the person with the highest rank on board is the Mandatory Brigadier Hofstetter. Mandatory Brigadier! Can you believe it? The girl has had no military career, no training with a rifle, and yet she was given the title because it was required they fill the role or they don't get a budget increase. I asked her what she did. Stamp blank papers. That's all she does. Puts an official seal on a piece of paper and then the higher-ups just write whatever they want on it."

Terrance breathed sharply through his nose, his cheeks flushing red with every sip of the Ultraviolet. His blinking became slower, until eventually each eye was blinking separately at different intervals.

"Shall we play a game, Captain?" Terrance asked pouring the remainder of the bottle into his glass.

"What kind of game?"

"Riddles! I loved them as a child. Gramps used to throw them at me when I was bothering him too much."

The Captain swirled his drink and pondered. He put out the Spacer's Corona in a nearby ashtray and agreed to the game. "Let's see here..." he began, "If I'm not the best choice, who am I?"

"O come now! Please be a bit more daring. Spacer's Choice is clearly the answer. Now my turn. Hmm. Through no fault of my own, I live a life of crime. Though I am free, I am still chained to  corporate greed. Who am I?"

The Captain thought for a moment. "A Marauder?"

"Very good Captain! Your turn."

"Damn... uh... I run there and back, from Sunday to Friday, I always smash the adversary, to achieve ultimate victory. Who am I?"

"Easy! You're an Eighth Back for a Tossball Team!"

"Void dammit! Felix told me that one a while back, had me stumped for hours."

"Well he doesn't take me for an enlightened sort, no offence to Mr Holt of course, he's a charming fellow. Right last one and then I'll be to bed." He drank the last few drops of Ultraviolet and with a loud wet grunt he chewed his bottom lip for a moment before speaking, "You are aware of my function, my presence aboard and the end I bring. Yet you cannot see me. Where am I Captain?"

There was an unnerving silence between the two of them as the locked eyes with one another, each both glazing with their inebriation.

"End of the line" the Captain finally answered, "the end of this trip, at the station once we make the round around Terra 2."

Terrance smiled, "I suppose that could be the answer. But it wasn't the one I was thinking of. Think on it tonight and tell me in the morning, it'll do you in trust me!"

The Captain watched as the host returned to his guests entertaining them for a while before retiring to his personal carriage. He reached for the Terrance's glass, hoping just for a few drops of Ultraviolet, but to no avail, he had cleaned out the entire bottle, leaving not a single drop

"Never liked the stuff anyway" the Captain slurred before he too rejoined the others inside the carriage.