[TheNoir] Noir Log 040627-The Blue and The Green
- From: VanirEWagner@xxxxxxx
- To: thenoir@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 27 Jun 2004 10:11:50 EDT
Xid Sllih was not a happy man. For the umpteenth time he cursed the Ferengi
trader whole sold him those used replicators. Which weren't working.
Again. Sure the two women (both Orion like himself) working the games tables
might lure people into the place but to keep them? How was Xid expected to
get
people full and drunk enough to spend money if there were no working
replicators?
Vanir walked along the promenade of the space station, trying not to
draw attention to himself. Nevertheless, he was very aware of the curious
looks
he was getting from the non-Humans and the hostile stares he was getting
from the Humans themselves. Even after a lifetime of dealing with those
stares,
they still bothered him. Whether it was here on the station or back home,
he still felt as though he was going to be pursued by a rabid mob at any
moment. He didn't want to be there, not that he knew exactly where 'there'
was.
While he trusted the Professor at heart, he wasn't so sure this middle of
nowhere was any better than the situation at home. Worse still, he was out
here, alone, with just a backpack full of what he thought he would need for a
three day visit to a friend's. He somehow doubted that he would be out of
this
place in three days and he knew the credit on his data card was extremely
low. He paused on his walk long enough to look at the entrance of what
appeared
to be a bar. No, he didn't have much credit but surely there was enough for
a cup of coffee.
Xid narrowed his eyes. He'd seen some odd looking people in his life
but this one took the Vulcan Spice Cake. Had the appendages of a Human but
Xid
couldn't recall ever seeing a Human with yellow irises and skin a darker
blue than an Andorian. Gods, even the man's hair was blue! Right now,
though,
the blue man was shying away from the advances of the two table girls.
"What's the matter, blue man? You think maybe you clash color?" Xid
asked, then he laughed at his own joke.
"Ah, no, I have no interest in gambling," Vanir said, still trying to
back away from the women. It was the truth but not the complete truth.
Complete truth would require him saying that the costumes the women wore (or
didn't
wear really) embarrassed the life out of him. It really was not proper
never mind it left nothing to the imagination. "I was just hoping to get a
cup
of coffee."
Funny looking, Xid thought, and funny sounding. "Go away, blue man.
Unless you can fix replicators, all there is is gambling."
Vanir shrugged and raised one pale blue eyebrow. "What's wrong with
them?"
"Does Xid look like a mechanic, blue man? It. Don't. Work," Xid
growled.
By then, Xid was towering over Vanir. Vanir could see the jewels
encrusted on the Orion's teeth and it was all he could do to not shrink back
from
his body odor. That smell would put dragon breath to shame, he thought.
"Would you like me to take a look?" Vanir asked mildly.
Xid narrowed his eyes. "You a mechanic, blue man?"
"Of sorts," Vanir replied, moving Xid's sausage sized finger from his
chest. "and my name is not blue man."
"Blue man, you fix Xid's machinery and Xid will call you whatever you
want," Xid stated.
"Then lead the way," Vanir told him.
Vanir made a face at the condition of the floor then sat down in front
of the access panel. He pried it off then leaned forward. Hmmphing softly to
himself, he opened his backpack to look for his toolkit.
"You going to fix it, blue man?" Xid asked.
"Patience, my big green friend, patience," he muttered softly as he
began poking at he replicator's innards.
It took some time (and not a little softly said cursing) but Vanir
finally stood up in front of the delivery port. He looked up at Xid.
"Is this programmed for Standard English?" he asked.
"Unless you changed it to your funny speaking Standard, blue man," Xid
replied.
Vanir shook his head and said, "Computer, coffee black and sweet." A
mug materialized in the proper place. He picked it up and sniffed. It
smelled
like coffee. He sipped cautiously. His vati made a better brew but it
wasn't bad as replicated stuff went. "It's good. I think you're all set."
Xid clapped one meaty hand on Vanir's shoulder and chuckled heartily.
"Good for you, blue man! You have made Xid very happy. Ah but now Xid can't
call you blue man. How do you call yourself, funny looking?"
"My name is Vanir Erik Wagner."
"You a Human, Vanir Erik Wagner?" Xid asked, his eyes narrowing
speculatively.
"Well, that is a very long story..."
Vanir Erik Wagner
I might have already tried travelling back in time to help myself, but I
just wouldn't listen to myself... you see, I just wasn't willing to trust a
stranger. I guess I should remember to level with myself at the beginning.
OniTzuka (2004)
Other related posts:
