The ship’s social bar had not seen much use in the first week. Now suddenly the place was packed. The social bar played music and there was a dance floor and various colored blinking light and hologram effects. And of course there was the bar. There was no alcohol served in the social bar but they did have a wide variety of drinks with many different colors and flavors and novelty shaped ice cubes and little decorative objects to hang on the side of or stand up in a glass. It had been Junitha’s idea to come here and Janessa did not mind it. The loud garish music helped keep her from thinking too hard. She imagined that’s why a lot of people were down here now; they did not want to think too hard because if they did they all might start to freak the hell out.
“Where did you get that white jumpsuit?” asked Janessa.
“I made it,” said Junitha, “It was supposed to look like Wonder Woman’s old kung fu outfit but then I added a few extra things to it.”
“Hey there how are you guys doing?” said Zemwell Tickbird as he came up to Junitha and Janessa at their table.
“Are you guys having a good day?” he asked, “I’m trying to have a good day.”
“Are you feeling okay Zemwell?” asked Janessa.
“You can call me Zem,” said Zemwell, “And yes I am feeling very okay.”
“You look smashed,” said Junitha, “that’s quite a feat considering there isn’t a drop of alcohol on this ship, trust me I checked.”
“I got these little yellow capsules from a guy,” said Zemwell, “he’s a staffer. And before you say anything, they are not illegal. They are all organic and stuff. You like organic stuff right.”
“I’m going to see if they serve anything here that might even him out,” said Junitha as she got up.
Zemwell sat down next to Janessa and put an arm around her and said, “You are really pretty you know that. Therazan, she’s pretty too. No she is gorgeous. I like her.”
“That’s great, Zem,” said Janessa, “and I get that you have some kind of mood altering substance in your system, but you need to move your arm so its not on me.”
Zemwell was not listening to what Janessa said. He was looking at the social bar’s main door where Therazan Sajan was standing. Janessa might have made an effort to say things were not what they looked like but she was not sure how involved she wanted to get with Zemwell and Therazan’s affairs. It became a moot point as Therazan left and Zemwell bolted after her.
“Thera wait,” Zemwell called as he caught up with Therazan in the hall, “let me explain.”
Therazan stopped and said, “You don’t have to explain. I don’t care. If you want to grope some natural hipper chick go right ahead it does not matter to me.”
Then Zemwell smiled and said, “Yes you do, it does. You are totally jealous.”
“Shut up,” she said.
“I know it looked like I was trying to hit on her but that’s not how it was. And you know just because you’re jealous you don’t have to say mean things about her. Anyway I met this guy and now I feel good and I think I can finally say it.”
“What is wrong with you?” said Therazan, “Did you have too much sugar today or something?”
“I love you Therazan Sajan,” said Zemwell Tickbird.
“Excuse me,” she replied.
“I love you,” he repeated, “and who knows what the future may hold. We might get married someday and live on a farm. Do you like farms? I’ve never lived on a farm. Farms are nice right? But we don’t have to get married. Maybe we can just have sex again. If that’s what you want, if you ever need me to meet you in one of those closets again, I will do it because I am in love with you and I will take it anyway.”
Therazan just stared at him for a moment as he smiled at her then she said, “I am going to go now because I have work to do. And I hope you recover from whatever the hell is happening to you because I do not have time for this crap.”
Therazan walked away and Zemwell called after her, “I’m still in love with you.”
Zemwell was feeling good about this. He thought it would probably not last. He would probably regret everything he just said once the little yellow capsule high he was on wore off. But for now he felt good and he was going back to the social bar for a drink and maybe to get more of those little yellow capsules from that guy. Zemwell did not find that guy. Zai, last of the Raath found that guy first.
Duron did not know what to make of it when Zai entered the command and control center and threw one of the staffers on the floor. When the staffer fell a container he was holding broke open and little yellow capsules scattered across the floor. The staffer lied on the ground shaking with fear. Zai picked up one of the little yellow capsules and held it up for everyone to see.
“I believe the proper term for these is lemon shots,” said Zai, “they are a legal stimulant supplement you can get over the counter at pharmacies all over the Earth. However they are known for being addictive and over time having a detrimental effect on the human liver. I understand it is a crime to distribute these if you are not a licensed pharmacist. I am turning this man over to you Commander Ardiniero so that you may discipline him by your laws and regulations.”
Zai kneeled down and got close to the staffer and said, “If I should find your species unworthy I want you to know that you will have helped contribute to that outcome. If I find your kind to be worthy then it will be in spite of men like you.”
Zai stood up again and before leaving he said, “If I catch anyone else on this ship dealing in this sort of substance again or something worse, then I will not turn them over to you Commander Ardiniero. I will deal with them in my own way.”
Duron had head of security Sajan crack down and search for any possible sign of unregulated substances on the ship. They did not find much. A few crew members would have to be turned over to the police before the Daedlus left the Solar System.
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