{"data":{"id":13075,"title":"A Human Perspective - Episode 2 - Roberts Space Industries","rsi_url":"\/web\/20140711233147\/https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/comm-link\/spectrum-dispatch\/13075-A-Human-Perspective-Episode-2","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-links\/13075","api_public_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/comm-links\/13075","channel":"Spectrum Dispatch","category":"Lore","series":"A Human Perspective","images":[{"id":29099,"name":"HumanPerspFI_Clean.jpg","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/media\/cmjxxjf2qh8uzr\/source\/HumanPerspFI_Clean.jpg","alt":"","size":3441449,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","last_modified":"2013-07-18T18:33:50+00:00","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/29099","similar_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/29099\/similar"}],"images_count":3,"translations":{"en_EN":"\u201cSorry!\u201d Charl apologized, then quickly translated as he ran further down the corridor. \u201cHee-naa!\u201d\nCharl hurried back to the orbital docking admin office, dodging among the many Banu spacefarers along the way. The admin clerks had been nice enough to let him dock the Reacher without paying the fee, accepting his promise to come right back after getting some funds into his account. He figured the least he could do was hurry up about it. That was something about Banu that he liked. Humans tend to distrust all other Humans as a matter of course. Banu at least give you the benefit of the doubt.\n\nOnce there, the Banu clerk pointed to her display and tapped a thick finger against the total he owed. Charl grinned broadly and flipped up his MobiGlas so she could see his suddenly flush bank account.\n\nCharl was glad to pay his docking fee and eager to get some other things taken care of, too. He had gotten confirmation that Lyshtuu received his acceptance message and minutes later the balance in his account went from red to green. Not a fortune, but more than enough to get him out of debt and on his way. And this was only the advance. He reminded himself to send a \u2018thank you\u2019 message along to Torreele, since they paid so well.\n\n\u201cNothing like a few Credits in your hands to put a spring in your step,\u201d he said to the clerk. He didn\u2019t bother to translate, but he was pretty sure she caught his meaning. Banu weren\u2019t Human, but they understood money just as well.\n\n\u201cYawr-woa-yee!\u201d he thanked the clerk in her native language, and she opened her eyes wide in surprise. Most Humans wouldn\u2019t bother. Most Humans wouldn\u2019t recognize her as a female.\n\nWithin minutes Charl had alerted agencies all over Geddon\u2019s orbital as to his needs and newfound means to pay for services rendered. He put in a refueling order, called for expedited repairs, and asked for security clearances along his proposed flight path. For a guy who normally liked to thrust along quietly beneath the radar, Charl couldn\u2019t help himself. He was too excited to get underway and back into meaningful action.\n\nAt one point he slipped out to an after-market parts vendor to get a new re-circulator pump (something he could replace himself while experts handled the more difficult, precision repairs) and on his return found a Banu waiting at his docking airlock. By his uniform he was some kind of Protectorate muckety-muck, and Charl was instantly apprehensive.\n\n\u201cWewl-whoa,\u201d he greeted his guest formally, raising an expectant eyebrow. But it turned out to be nothing. The Banu held out a MobiGlas with all his ID \u2014 a junior admin with Protectorate Alien Affairs \u2014 and a few screens of forms all ready to be signed and notarized.\n\nWow, Charl thought. As with any bureaucracy, he fully expected to go down to the Alien Affairs office himself and wait hours to get all this taken care of. In that regard, Banu red tape was no different than what Humans tangled themselves up in. But Lyshtuu must have greased some palms to get this kind of immediate service. And a house call, no less. Charl sat with the official in the Reacher\u2019s tiny galley and clicked through a dozen forms, got neural- and retina-scanned, signed here and there, and got all his clearances immediately. No fuss. No muss.\n\nAgain. Wow.\n\nCharl had been too excited until now to notice that his destination was Bacchus, the Banu homeworld. That\u2019s a bit odd, he thought. He had never met Lyshtuu on Bacchus before. On first glance it seemed a high profile spot to meet over what seemed like a fairly mundane mission. Oh well, whatever they wanted was okay with him. Maybe that was Torreele\u2019s Banu headquarters. No matter. His recently enriched MobiGlas felt warm in his pocket.\n\nWith the Alien Affairs business so conveniently out of the way, Charl quickly installed the re-circulator pump and then changed into clean clothes. He had several hours on his hands \u2014 the refit guys would be that long finishing up on the Reacher. He decided to take a long-overdue shopping trip through the market. Every orbital had one, Human or otherwise. A few inquiries later he was on the aft decks among exotic stalls and vendors. He\u2019d never set foot there before in his life, but he instantly felt right at home.\n\nOrdering provisions in bulk through Geddon\u2019s orbital was definitely the way to go, since it was always inexpensive and of good quality. Charl enjoyed most Banu food, so that was no problem for him in their space. Meat was meat, and vegetables were vegetables, he figured; it\u2019s all in the preparation. Still, there were some Banu delicacies that even Charl couldn\u2019t stomach. Regardless, if you wanted to pick up anything special, you had to go to the market.\n\n\u201cHuman! Beer!\u201d A huckster called out to him in fair \u2018Human\u2019 from a dark stall packed with clear bulbs of Banu ale. It was greener than he cared for, but what the heck, he thought, and haggled to an acceptable price on two bulbs.\n\n\u201cYawr-woa-yoo,\u201d he thanked the male seller and continued wandering the stalls. Other merchants tried to flag him down as well, selling all sorts of things from textiles to pleasure pills, quick meals to who-knew-what hanging dead on hooks. Spicy odors mixed with grease and fuel, and Charl drank it in. He wandered aimlessly, picking up a few things here and there, but couldn\u2019t find any cigars \u2014 a particular favorite \u2014 for love or money. He wasn\u2019t surprised, but he could always hope. They were one of the few things he missed from Human space.\n\nTorreele! he suddenly exclaimed to himself, remembering that they carried a few lines of cigars. Maybe they imported them into the Protectorate, and someone could fix him up with a box or two at the Bacchus meeting.\n\nThe last time he worked for Torreele had been through Lyshtuu, as well, and that gig was great. They imported exotic cuisine into the UEE, packaged it for Human consumption and sold it on their worlds. It was an enormous business. Torreele Foodstuffs was always on the lookout for new product, and for that job they hired Charl to essentially tour a couple of Banu districts, sample the local cuisine, and flag anything that seemed especially tasty to the Human palate. On reflection it was the best job he had ever had. They left him alone to do the job, with no other supervision. Eight standard months on a hefty expense account. Fine meals. Fine accommodations. No Humans. Only his waistline had suffered.\n\nCharl hoped this new job was along those lines. Maybe they had another planet they wanted him to check out. He quickened his pace, hoping the refit crew was finished so he could undock and get going.\n\nBasically, that\u2019s how Charl had made a living for the last several standard years. He hired himself out to different Banu traders who were always looking for a better way to make a profit in the UEE. He gave them insight into the Human psyche, something they could not easily gain themselves. An alien species is difficult to understand. What do they desire? How do they negotiate? Charl lifted that veil from the Banu traders\u2019 eyes.\n\nTake the previous Torreele job, for example. Charl could tell in one sitting if a Banu meal might appeal to the broader Human marketplace. And it wasn\u2019t just a matter of flavor. A Banu chemist could probably figure out what a Human would find tasty. Charl could evaluate it on all its facets \u2014 flavor, color, smell \u2026 was it too squirmy, too chalky, and so on.\n\nAnd his services didn\u2019t stop at food, though that was a particular favorite. He evaluated electronic devices, clothing, music \u2026 consumer goods of all stripe. Even though he was an \u2018outsider,\u2019 and probably unaware of the latest Human consumer trends, he retained his inherent Human sensibilities, and that\u2019s what his employers needed. His circle of Banu employers called upon him often, though there were uncomfortable gaps sometimes between paying gigs, like the money drought from which he had just emerged.\n\nMost importantly, his services kept him out of Human space, away from his native species. Not that he couldn\u2019t work for Humans, but they really bugged him, especially corporate types. Charl found Banu easier to work with.\n\nCharl hoped he was becoming one of that Banu trader\u2019s \u2018go to\u2019 guys. That might mean more steady employment. He had worked for Lyshtuu twice before, done his job well and kept his word. That was what it took with the Banu. Do what you say you\u2019re going to do and they respect that. Sticklers for contract details, though. Deceptively simple. Too simple for most Humans, Charl noted.\n\nBack at the Reacher, he stowed his purchases and checked with the refit foreman. One more hour and they would be done and he could depart the Geddon system. He spent that time checking the navcomp and presetting his flight plan. His entire travel plan was already completely updated, showing his high-priority clearance through every system along the way.\n\n\u201cThanks Lyshtuu!\u201d he said aloud. His trip to Bacchus should take just a few hours. It would be nice to thank his Banu friend in person.\n\nTo Be Continued \u2026","de_DE":"\"Tut mir leid!\" Charl entschuldigte sich und \u00fcbersetzte dann schnell, w\u00e4hrend er weiter den Korridor hinunterlief. \"Hee-naa!\"\nCharl eilte zur\u00fcck zum B\u00fcro der Orbitalen Andockstelle und wich dabei den vielen Banu-Raumfahrern aus. Die Verwaltungsangestellten waren so nett gewesen, ihn mit der Reacher andocken zu lassen, ohne die Geb\u00fchr zu bezahlen, und akzeptierten sein Versprechen, gleich wiederzukommen, wenn er etwas Geld auf sein Konto \u00fcberwiesen hatte. Er dachte sich, das Mindeste, was er tun konnte, war, sich damit zu beeilen. Das war etwas, das er an Banu mochte. Menschen neigen dazu, allen anderen Menschen zu misstrauen, das ist selbstverst\u00e4ndlich. Bei Banu kann man das zumindest bezweifeln.\n\nDort angekommen, zeigte die Banu-Angestellte auf ihr Display und tippte mit einem dicken Finger auf die Summe, die er schuldete. Charl grinste breit und klappte sein MobiGlas hoch, damit sie sein pl\u00f6tzlich gut gef\u00fclltes Bankkonto sehen konnte.\n\nCharl war froh, dass er seine Andockgeb\u00fchr bezahlt hatte und wollte auch noch ein paar andere Dinge erledigen. Er hatte die Best\u00e4tigung erhalten, dass Lyshtuu seine Akzeptanznachricht erhalten hatte und Minuten sp\u00e4ter wechselte der Kontostand von rot auf gr\u00fcn. Kein Verm\u00f6gen, aber mehr als genug, um ihn aus den Schulden zu holen und auf den Weg zu bringen. Und das war nur der Vorschuss. Er erinnerte sich daran, Torreele eine Dankesnachricht zu schicken, da sie so gut bezahlt hatten.\n\n\"Es geht doch nichts \u00fcber ein paar Credits in der Hand, um einen Sprung in den Schritt zu machen\", sagte er zu dem Angestellten. Er machte sich nicht die M\u00fche, zu \u00fcbersetzen, aber er war ziemlich sicher, dass sie verstand, was er meinte. Banu waren keine Menschen, aber sie verstanden Geld genauso gut.\n\n\"Yawr-woa-yee!\", bedankte er sich bei der Verk\u00e4uferin in ihrer Muttersprache und sie riss \u00fcberrascht die Augen auf. Die meisten Menschen w\u00fcrden sich nicht die M\u00fche machen. Die meisten Menschen w\u00fcrden sie nicht als Frau erkennen.\n\nInnerhalb weniger Minuten hatte Charl Agenturen in ganz Geddon's Orbital \u00fcber seine Bed\u00fcrfnisse und die neu gefundenen Mittel zur Bezahlung der erbrachten Dienstleistungen in Kenntnis gesetzt. Er ordnete eine Betankung an, forderte beschleunigte Reparaturen an und bat um Sicherheitsfreigaben entlang seiner geplanten Flugroute. F\u00fcr einen Mann, der sich normalerweise gerne unauff\u00e4llig unter dem Radar bewegte, konnte Charl nicht anders. Er war zu aufgeregt, um sich auf den Weg zu machen und wieder etwas zu tun.\n\nEinmal schlich er sich zu einem Ersatzteilh\u00e4ndler, um eine neue Umw\u00e4lzpumpe zu besorgen (etwas, das er selbst austauschen konnte, w\u00e4hrend sich Experten um die schwierigeren Pr\u00e4zisionsreparaturen k\u00fcmmerten) und fand bei seiner R\u00fcckkehr einen Banu vor, der an seiner Andockschleuse wartete. Seiner Uniform nach zu urteilen, war er eine Art Protektorats-Mistkerl und Charl war sofort beunruhigt.\n\n\"Wewl-whoa\", begr\u00fc\u00dfte er seinen Gast f\u00f6rmlich und hob erwartungsvoll eine Augenbraue. Aber es stellte sich heraus, dass es nichts war. Der Banu hielt ihm ein MobiGlas mit seinem Ausweis hin - ein Junior-Administrator bei der Ausl\u00e4nderbeh\u00f6rde des Protektorats - und ein paar Formulare, die er unterschreiben und beglaubigen lassen konnte.\n\nWow, dachte Charl. Wie bei jeder B\u00fcrokratie rechnete er fest damit, selbst zum B\u00fcro f\u00fcr Ausl\u00e4nderangelegenheiten zu gehen und stundenlang zu warten, bis das alles erledigt war. In dieser Hinsicht unterschied sich die Banu-B\u00fcrokratie nicht von der, in der sich die Menschen verheddern. Aber Lyshtuu muss ein paar Leute geschmiert haben, um diese Art von sofortigem Service zu bekommen. Und ein Hausbesuch, nicht weniger. Charl sa\u00df mit dem Beamten in der winzigen Komb\u00fcse der Reacher und klickte sich durch ein Dutzend Formulare, wurde neural- und retinagescannt, unterschrieb hier und da und erhielt sofort alle Genehmigungen. Ohne Aufhebens. Kein Durcheinander.\n\nUnd wieder. Wow.\n\nCharl war bis jetzt zu aufgeregt gewesen, um zu bemerken, dass sein Ziel Bacchus war, die Heimatwelt der Banu. Das ist ein bisschen seltsam, dachte er. Er hatte Lyshtuu noch nie auf Bacchus getroffen. Auf den ersten Blick schien es ein hochkar\u00e4tiger Ort zu sein, um sich wegen einer ziemlich banalen Mission zu treffen. Na ja, was auch immer sie wollten, war ihm recht. Vielleicht war das Torreele's Banu Hauptquartier. Aber egal. Sein k\u00fcrzlich angereichertes MobiGlas f\u00fchlte sich warm in seiner Tasche an.\n\nDa die Sache mit den Alien-Angelegenheiten so bequem aus dem Weg ger\u00e4umt war, installierte Charl schnell die Umw\u00e4lzpumpe und zog sich dann saubere Kleidung an. Er hatte mehrere Stunden Zeit - so lange w\u00fcrden die Jungs von der \u00dcberholung brauchen, um die Reacher fertigzustellen. Er beschloss, einen l\u00e4ngst \u00fcberf\u00e4lligen Einkaufsbummel \u00fcber den Markt zu machen. Jedes Orbital hatte einen, ob menschlich oder nicht. Ein paar Nachforschungen sp\u00e4ter befand er sich auf dem Achterdeck zwischen exotischen St\u00e4nden und Verk\u00e4ufern. Er hatte noch nie in seinem Leben einen Fu\u00df dorthin gesetzt, aber er f\u00fchlte sich sofort wie zu Hause.\n\nDie Bestellung von Lebensmitteln in gro\u00dfen Mengen \u00fcber Geddon's Orbital war definitiv der richtige Weg, da sie immer preiswert und von guter Qualit\u00e4t waren. Charl mochte das meiste Essen der Banu, also war das in ihrem Raum kein Problem f\u00fcr ihn. Fleisch war Fleisch und Gem\u00fcse war Gem\u00fcse, dachte er sich, es kommt nur auf die Zubereitung an. Dennoch gab es einige Banu-K\u00f6stlichkeiten, die selbst Charl nicht vertragen konnte. Wie auch immer, wenn Sie etwas Besonderes kaufen wollten, mussten Sie auf den Markt gehen.\n\n\"Mensch! Bier!\" rief ihm ein H\u00e4ndler in sch\u00f6nem 'Human' von einem dunklen Stand aus zu, der mit durchsichtigen Gl\u00e4sern mit Banu-Bier gef\u00fcllt war. Es war gr\u00fcner, als ihm lieb war, aber was soll's, dachte er und feilschte um einen akzeptablen Preis f\u00fcr zwei Gl\u00fchbirnen.\n\n\"Yawr-woa-yoo\", bedankte er sich bei dem m\u00e4nnlichen Verk\u00e4ufer und schlenderte weiter durch die St\u00e4nde. Andere H\u00e4ndler versuchten ebenfalls, ihn anzusprechen, und verkauften alles M\u00f6gliche, von Textilien bis zu Vergn\u00fcgungspillen, von Schnellgerichten bis zu wer-wei\u00df-was, das tot an Haken hing. W\u00fcrzige Ger\u00fcche mischten sich mit Fett und Benzin, und Charl trank sie in sich hinein. Er irrte ziellos umher, nahm hier und da ein paar Dinge mit, konnte aber keine Zigarren finden, die er besonders gern mochte - weder f\u00fcr Geld noch f\u00fcr Geld. Er war nicht \u00fcberrascht, aber er konnte immer hoffen. Sie waren eines der wenigen Dinge, die er im menschlichen Raum vermisste.\n\nTorreele! rief er pl\u00f6tzlich aus und erinnerte sich daran, dass sie ein paar Zigarrenlinien f\u00fchrten. Vielleicht haben sie sie ins Protektorat importiert und jemand k\u00f6nnte ihm auf dem Bacchus-Treffen eine oder zwei Kisten besorgen.\n\nDas letzte Mal, als er f\u00fcr Torreele gearbeitet hatte, hatte er auch \u00fcber Lyshtuu gearbeitet, und dieser Auftrag war gro\u00dfartig. Sie importierten exotische Speisen in die UEE, verpackten sie f\u00fcr den menschlichen Konsum und verkauften sie auf ihren Welten. Es war ein riesiges Gesch\u00e4ft. Torreele Foodstuffs war immer auf der Suche nach neuen Produkten, und f\u00fcr diesen Job heuerten sie Charl an, um ein paar Banu-Distrikte zu bereisen, die lokale K\u00fcche zu probieren und alles zu markieren, was dem menschlichen Gaumen besonders gut schmeckte. Im Nachhinein betrachtet war das der beste Job, den er je gehabt hatte. Sie lie\u00dfen ihn mit seiner Arbeit allein, ohne weitere Aufsicht. Acht normale Monate mit einem ansehnlichen Spesenkonto. Feine Mahlzeiten. Feine Unterk\u00fcnfte. Keine Menschen. Nur seine Taille hatte gelitten.\n\nCharl hoffte, dass dieser neue Job in diese Richtung ging. Vielleicht hatten sie noch einen anderen Planeten, den er sich ansehen sollte. Er beschleunigte sein Tempo und hoffte, dass die Umr\u00fcstungsmannschaft fertig war, damit er abdocken und loslegen konnte.\n\nIm Grunde hatte Charl so die letzten Jahre seinen Lebensunterhalt bestritten. Er verdingte sich bei verschiedenen Banu-H\u00e4ndlern, die immer auf der Suche nach einer besseren M\u00f6glichkeit waren, in der UEE Profit zu machen. Er verschaffte ihnen Einblicke in die menschliche Psyche, etwas, das sie selbst nicht so leicht erlangen konnten. Eine fremde Spezies ist schwer zu verstehen. Was begehren sie? Wie verhandeln sie? Charl l\u00fcftete diesen Schleier vor den Augen der Banu-H\u00e4ndler.\n\nNehmen Sie zum Beispiel den letzten Auftrag von Torreele. Charl konnte auf Anhieb erkennen, ob ein Banu-Gericht auf dem menschlichen Markt Anklang finden w\u00fcrde. Und das war nicht nur eine Frage des Geschmacks. Ein Banu-Chemiker k\u00f6nnte wahrscheinlich herausfinden, was ein Mensch lecker finden w\u00fcrde. Charl konnte es in all seinen Facetten bewerten - Geschmack, Farbe, Geruch ... war es zu matschig, zu kalkhaltig und so weiter.\n\nUnd seine Dienste beschr\u00e4nkten sich nicht nur auf Lebensmittel, obwohl das eine besondere Vorliebe war. Er bewertete elektronische Ger\u00e4te, Kleidung, Musik ... Konsumg\u00fcter aller Art. Obwohl er ein 'Au\u00dfenseiter' war und wahrscheinlich die neuesten Verbrauchertrends der Menschen nicht kannte, behielt er sein menschliches Feingef\u00fchl, und das war es, was seine Arbeitgeber brauchten. Sein Kreis von Banu-Arbeitgebern nahm ihn oft in Anspruch, auch wenn es manchmal unangenehme L\u00fccken zwischen den bezahlten Auftr\u00e4gen gab, wie die Geldd\u00fcrre, aus der er gerade herausgekommen war.\n\nVor allem aber hielten ihn seine Dienste aus dem menschlichen Raum fern, weg von seiner heimischen Spezies. Nicht, dass er nicht f\u00fcr die Menschen arbeiten k\u00f6nnte, aber sie gingen ihm auf die Nerven, vor allem die Gesch\u00e4ftsleute. Charl fand es einfacher, mit Banu zu arbeiten.\n\nCharl hoffte, dass er einer der bevorzugten Mitarbeiter dieses Banu-H\u00e4ndlers werden w\u00fcrde. Das k\u00f6nnte eine festere Anstellung bedeuten. Er hatte schon zweimal f\u00fcr Lyshtuu gearbeitet, seine Arbeit gut gemacht und sein Wort gehalten. Das war es, was es bei den Banu brauchte. Tun Sie, was Sie versprechen, und sie respektieren das. Allerdings sind sie sehr pingelig, wenn es um Vertragsdetails geht. Tr\u00fcgerisch einfach. Zu einfach f\u00fcr die meisten Menschen, wie Charl feststellte.\n\nZur\u00fcck auf der Reacher verstaute er seine Eink\u00e4ufe und erkundigte sich beim Vorarbeiter f\u00fcr die \u00dcberholung. In einer weiteren Stunde w\u00fcrden sie fertig sein und er konnte das Geddon-System verlassen. Er verbrachte diese Zeit damit, den Navcomp zu \u00fcberpr\u00fcfen und seinen Flugplan einzustellen. Sein gesamter Reiseplan war bereits vollst\u00e4ndig aktualisiert und zeigte seine Freigabe mit hoher Priorit\u00e4t f\u00fcr jedes System entlang des Weges.\n\n\"Danke Lyshtuu!\", sagte er laut. Seine Reise nach Bacchus sollte nur noch ein paar Stunden dauern. Es w\u00e4re sch\u00f6n, seinem Banu-Freund pers\u00f6nlich zu danken.\n\nFortsetzung folgt ...","zh_CN":"\u201cSorry!\u201d Charl apologized, then quickly translated as he ran further down the corridor. \u201cHee-naa!\u201d\nCharl hurried back to the orbital docking admin office, dodging among the many Banu spacefarers along the way. The admin clerks had been nice enough to let him dock the Reacher without paying the fee, accepting his promise to come right back after getting some funds into his account. He figured the least he could do was hurry up about it. That was something about Banu that he liked. Humans tend to distrust all other Humans as a matter of course. Banu at least give you the benefit of the doubt.\n\nOnce there, the Banu clerk pointed to her display and tapped a thick finger against the total he owed. Charl grinned broadly and flipped up his MobiGlas so she could see his suddenly flush bank account.\n\nCharl was glad to pay his docking fee and eager to get some other things taken care of, too. He had gotten confirmation that Lyshtuu received his acceptance message and minutes later the balance in his account went from red to green. Not a fortune, but more than enough to get him out of debt and on his way. And this was only the advance. He reminded himself to send a \u2018thank you\u2019 message along to Torreele, since they paid so well.\n\n\u201cNothing like a few Credits in your hands to put a spring in your step,\u201d he said to the clerk. He didn\u2019t bother to translate, but he was pretty sure she caught his meaning. Banu weren\u2019t Human, but they understood money just as well.\n\n\u201cYawr-woa-yee!\u201d he thanked the clerk in her native language, and she opened her eyes wide in surprise. Most Humans wouldn\u2019t bother. Most Humans wouldn\u2019t recognize her as a female.\n\nWithin minutes Charl had alerted agencies all over Geddon\u2019s orbital as to his needs and newfound means to pay for services rendered. He put in a refueling order, called for expedited repairs, and asked for security clearances along his proposed flight path. For a guy who normally liked to thrust along quietly beneath the radar, Charl couldn\u2019t help himself. He was too excited to get underway and back into meaningful action.\n\nAt one point he slipped out to an after-market parts vendor to get a new re-circulator pump (something he could replace himself while experts handled the more difficult, precision repairs) and on his return found a Banu waiting at his docking airlock. By his uniform he was some kind of Protectorate muckety-muck, and Charl was instantly apprehensive.\n\n\u201cWewl-whoa,\u201d he greeted his guest formally, raising an expectant eyebrow. But it turned out to be nothing. The Banu held out a MobiGlas with all his ID \u2014 a junior admin with Protectorate Alien Affairs \u2014 and a few screens of forms all ready to be signed and notarized.\n\nWow, Charl thought. As with any bureaucracy, he fully expected to go down to the Alien Affairs office himself and wait hours to get all this taken care of. In that regard, Banu red tape was no different than what Humans tangled themselves up in. But Lyshtuu must have greased some palms to get this kind of immediate service. And a house call, no less. Charl sat with the official in the Reacher\u2019s tiny galley and clicked through a dozen forms, got neural- and retina-scanned, signed here and there, and got all his clearances immediately. No fuss. No muss.\n\nAgain. Wow.\n\nCharl had been too excited until now to notice that his destination was Bacchus, the Banu homeworld. That\u2019s a bit odd, he thought. He had never met Lyshtuu on Bacchus before. On first glance it seemed a high profile spot to meet over what seemed like a fairly mundane mission. Oh well, whatever they wanted was okay with him. Maybe that was Torreele\u2019s Banu headquarters. No matter. His recently enriched MobiGlas felt warm in his pocket.\n\nWith the Alien Affairs business so conveniently out of the way, Charl quickly installed the re-circulator pump and then changed into clean clothes. He had several hours on his hands \u2014 the refit guys would be that long finishing up on the Reacher. He decided to take a long-overdue shopping trip through the market. Every orbital had one, Human or otherwise. A few inquiries later he was on the aft decks among exotic stalls and vendors. He\u2019d never set foot there before in his life, but he instantly felt right at home.\n\nOrdering provisions in bulk through Geddon\u2019s orbital was definitely the way to go, since it was always inexpensive and of good quality. Charl enjoyed most Banu food, so that was no problem for him in their space. Meat was meat, and vegetables were vegetables, he figured; it\u2019s all in the preparation. Still, there were some Banu delicacies that even Charl couldn\u2019t stomach. Regardless, if you wanted to pick up anything special, you had to go to the market.\n\n\u201cHuman! Beer!\u201d A huckster called out to him in fair \u2018Human\u2019 from a dark stall packed with clear bulbs of Banu ale. It was greener than he cared for, but what the heck, he thought, and haggled to an acceptable price on two bulbs.\n\n\u201cYawr-woa-yoo,\u201d he thanked the male seller and continued wandering the stalls. Other merchants tried to flag him down as well, selling all sorts of things from textiles to pleasure pills, quick meals to who-knew-what hanging dead on hooks. Spicy odors mixed with grease and fuel, and Charl drank it in. He wandered aimlessly, picking up a few things here and there, but couldn\u2019t find any cigars \u2014 a particular favorite \u2014 for love or money. He wasn\u2019t surprised, but he could always hope. They were one of the few things he missed from Human space.\n\nTorreele! he suddenly exclaimed to himself, remembering that they carried a few lines of cigars. Maybe they imported them into the Protectorate, and someone could fix him up with a box or two at the Bacchus meeting.\n\nThe last time he worked for Torreele had been through Lyshtuu, as well, and that gig was great. They imported exotic cuisine into the UEE, packaged it for Human consumption and sold it on their worlds. It was an enormous business. Torreele Foodstuffs was always on the lookout for new product, and for that job they hired Charl to essentially tour a couple of Banu districts, sample the local cuisine, and flag anything that seemed especially tasty to the Human palate. On reflection it was the best job he had ever had. They left him alone to do the job, with no other supervision. Eight standard months on a hefty expense account. Fine meals. Fine accommodations. No Humans. Only his waistline had suffered.\n\nCharl hoped this new job was along those lines. Maybe they had another planet they wanted him to check out. He quickened his pace, hoping the refit crew was finished so he could undock and get going.\n\nBasically, that\u2019s how Charl had made a living for the last several standard years. He hired himself out to different Banu traders who were always looking for a better way to make a profit in the UEE. He gave them insight into the Human psyche, something they could not easily gain themselves. An alien species is difficult to understand. What do they desire? How do they negotiate? Charl lifted that veil from the Banu traders\u2019 eyes.\n\nTake the previous Torreele job, for example. Charl could tell in one sitting if a Banu meal might appeal to the broader Human marketplace. And it wasn\u2019t just a matter of flavor. A Banu chemist could probably figure out what a Human would find tasty. Charl could evaluate it on all its facets \u2014 flavor, color, smell \u2026 was it too squirmy, too chalky, and so on.\n\nAnd his services didn\u2019t stop at food, though that was a particular favorite. He evaluated electronic devices, clothing, music \u2026 consumer goods of all stripe. Even though he was an \u2018outsider,\u2019 and probably unaware of the latest Human consumer trends, he retained his inherent Human sensibilities, and that\u2019s what his employers needed. His circle of Banu employers called upon him often, though there were uncomfortable gaps sometimes between paying gigs, like the money drought from which he had just emerged.\n\nMost importantly, his services kept him out of Human space, away from his native species. Not that he couldn\u2019t work for Humans, but they really bugged him, especially corporate types. Charl found Banu easier to work with.\n\nCharl hoped he was becoming one of that Banu trader\u2019s \u2018go to\u2019 guys. That might mean more steady employment. He had worked for Lyshtuu twice before, done his job well and kept his word. That was what it took with the Banu. Do what you say you\u2019re going to do and they respect that. Sticklers for contract details, though. Deceptively simple. Too simple for most Humans, Charl noted.\n\nBack at the Reacher, he stowed his purchases and checked with the refit foreman. One more hour and they would be done and he could depart the Geddon system. He spent that time checking the navcomp and presetting his flight plan. His entire travel plan was already completely updated, showing his high-priority clearance through every system along the way.\n\n\u201cThanks Lyshtuu!\u201d he said aloud. His trip to Bacchus should take just a few hours. It would be nice to thank his Banu friend in person.\n\nTo Be Continued \u2026"},"links_count":0,"comment_count":22,"created_at":"2013-06-29T00:00:00+00:00","created_at_human":"12 years ago"},"meta":{"processed_at":"2026-05-09 08:13:18","valid_relations":["images","links"],"prev_id":13074,"next_id":13076}}