Shoshone Station: The Galactic Consortium season 2

Episode One: Not a Good Day to Die #10

"Before you complain about how dull it is here," Shavinda said to Dhanvin, "just remember, you could be there." He pointed at the view screen as he said it.

Most of the economic workers were gathered in the front office. They had little to do, again today. The job requests were stacking up, but they weren't any different than yesterday. And they had no workers to send them anyway.

The view screen showed a scene of utter chaos. A dirty street was filled with brown skinned people, dressed in ragged clothes, shouting and throwing stones. Men in heavy military uniforms waded into them, turning the street into a huge brawl. They called it rioting.

"Again?" Dhanvin asked, "or is the footage from yesterday?"

"Again," was the reply.

"What I don't understand," Ghanish said, "is why there and not here? They are our neighbor, right?"

"Its a different country," Dhanvin said. "Much poorer. That's the problem." The rioting was occurring in Mexico City. "Desperately poor and the government is corrupt to boot. They want to escape, to find a better a life, that's all."

"You're an expert on Earthside politics now?" Shavinda joked with a raised eyebrow.

"Naw, just got curious last night and did some research," Dhanvin said. Aztec Station had opened yesterday, just as they had here on Shoshone Station. The difference was that Aztec had thousands of people trying to get on it, far more than it could assimilate quickly. Riots had broken out in the city below as people fought for admission. Shavinda was right, Dhanvin was glad he didn't have to deal with that.

The door slid open. Dhanvin turned and saw Sophia standing there. She was wearing a pair of blue tights with waves on them and a long top that might have been a shirt or a dress. The top was bound at the waist with a chain belt. She had a small purse at her side.

She looked much better today. Her outfit was laundered and she's showered and shaved. She'd slept off the worst of her exhaustion but she still looked worn and her eyes still held the haunted look.

"Good morning, Sophia," Dhanvin said. "I was hoping you'd come by."

"Hi, Dhanvin," she replied. "Yeah, you said you could help me find work?"

"Sure, step on into my office," Dhanvin said, ushering her towards his office.

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Dhanvin asked Sophia a bunch of questions about her job skills and interests. She kept shaking her head, "Sorry, no, not really." She was terrified the hammer was going to drop any moment. "We just don't have a position for someone with your lack of skills," he would say and she would be dismissed. She'd go back, find that spa, blow all the rest of her money on one last wonderful day, then the pills.

"I am willing to do anything," she said. She thought about the two men she'd met last night. Almost anything, she said to herself.

Dhanvin pushed the holo-display out of his way and stood. Here it comes, she thought. "I am supposed to go through the files and assigning jobs based on when they are requested and what priority they are, but I owe this woman a favor. Come take a walk with me."

Sophia followed Dhanvin to the main elevator. As they waited she asked, "so you guys just give anyone a job? Like it's a right or something?"

"It is, isn't it?" he answered. "Two rights, even."

The lift arrived. "Local run, two floors," Dhanvin said to the stewardess. She nodded and let them on.

"Two rights?" Sophia asked.