SciFi Voyage Of Truth #Wattys2016

Chapter 7

Lieutenant Nulo enters Sharlo's Diner, a tavern frequented by active lieutenants and commanders, and is greeted by fans and fellow soldiers. Nulo salutes the bar regulars and tickles Sharlo, who has her back turned. "Psst," Nulo whispers.

Sharlo jumps and greets her good friend. "Hey there."

"How's your day been?"

"You know...the usual screaming and fighting, followed by threats. Then there's me asking myself why I'm still working here."

"That pretty much sums up my last couple hours."

"I heard there was a close call in the arena today. Are you okay?"

"I'll tell you about it. Could you cook me up the usual and I'll pay once I finish talking to the doc?"

"Sure, coming right up."

Nulo limps through the busy bar and travels through the kitchen. He enters a secret series of doors and obstacles and stops at a key-padded wall. He types in the four-digit code and proceeds inside the Arvelee's exclusive black market.

The Cove is a dark gritty room filled with candles in open jars mounted along the walls. It holds a mixture of smells and several aisles of stacked crates. Nulo locates his mentor, Dr. Ribonu. "Hey doc, you might want to change the passcode or relocate the Cove, because some youngsters just got busted right out front."

Ribonu slaps his forehead. "I told them not to take their cards out until they got back to their rooms."

"Can the cards be traced to you?"

"Do I look dumb to you? Of course not."

Nulo shrugs. "Alright, enough with my fake concern. I need another box of resus cards."

Dr. Ribonu turns to Nulo with disgust. "Another one? That's two in a week. Who's trying to kill you now?"

"It's nothing like that. I got into it with some knuckleheads earlier and I sprained my ankle in the arena."

"Now tell me the real story, like how you got demoted for your carelessness."

Shocked, Nulo stutters, "How did you hear about that?"

"I'm Dr. Ribonu. I know every bit of gossip that travels this city ship." Ribonu hands Nulo a dozen resuscitation cards and accepts Nulo's q-points from his TDA.

Nulo quickly opens the box and inserts a few cards in his slots. Nulo asks, "If you know all the gossip, why did you ask me?"

"Because I wanted to see if you were going to tell me the truth. Which you obviously didn't."

"I really did fight a couple of maphletes."

"Oh, I believe you. These days you're making more enemies than friends."

"So be it. I like my circle small. The only ones who understand me are the Iota sponsors and, in my eyes, that's more important. Look, I got an extra 10,000 points just for being Nulo."

"But they're not your friends. They're using you for their entertainment. Can't you see the Iotas are marketing you as a 'successful soldier' so others will get inspired?"

"What's wrong with that?"

"Let's be honest, you're not the best to work with on board because you're stubborn. But yet the Iotas pay you more than anybody else for your over-the-top foolishness. That translates and inspires other soldiers that this is how you act to become successful."

Nulo takes an awkward moment and scoffs. "I guess you have the answers and you're my real friend, huh? An old washed up soldier who sells illegal Iota cards for a living."