Mabel and Benson's "Back Then" Bodega
03 Aug 2019Jimi_Jazz
29 July 3305Yarruci System
The void of space warped momentarily before a metallic rectangle appeared - as if out of nowhere - in the emptiness several hundred thousand miles above the Yarruci star. The Lakon Type 6 oriented itself towards Yarruci 3 before sending a system wide general broadcast:
"Come one, Come all!
To the Galaxy's most unique shopping experience!
The "Back Then" Bodega lets you step right right into the life of your ancient ancestors and browse a wide array of authentic goods from the far flung past!
This educational and enriching experience is great for all peoples of all ages
Tickets available via GalNet!"
Mabel and Benson Zraffe, both 86, have spent the last several decades traveling the expanse of human space operating the "Back Then" Bodega. Having spent their younger days as traders, the Zraffes have long since abandoned their pursuit of profits, and had dedicated their retirement funds to converting the cargo bays of their transport vessel into historically accurate, fully operational models of the "mom and pop" style convienence stores humans use to frequent in the 20th, 21st, and 22nd centuries.
The ship's computer was capable of rearranging the model to represent 5 presets, each one for a specific year in humanities past. Their current model was set in the year 2015 and sported checkered linoleum floors, bright flourescent lighting, and 2 rows of shelves in 7 columns, creating a total of 15 aisles packed with 3d printed replications of ancient snack foods, candies, grocery ingredients, magazines, clothings, books, trinkets, carcinogenic ciggarettes, accesories for ancient "laptop" and "cell phone" personal computers, the list goes on. Much of the snack foods, cigarettes and drinks contained chemicals and ingredients have long since been deemed unsafe for human consumption, and banned in most places throughout the galaxy. However, because the Zraffe's registered their store as a museam/ educational attraction, they were technically only selling their goods as novelties, and most social governments recognized that.
Despite being in operation for many years, this is the "Back Then" Bodega's first authorized visit to the Yarruci system. Both Zraffes had refused to adhere to the apartheid system the Party of Yarruci had in place, and thus had not been allowed to operate at all. Ever since they had recieved transmissions showing that a social revolution had taken place and that the rule of the Party was no more they were eager to visit.
"More freedoms for the people in this cluster, don't see that everyday" Benson remarked to their pilot, a young man named Jo. Aside from Jo, the Zraffes employed 3 other crew members, engineers under most cases, and cashiers when they had passengers.
"We're looking at a simple trip, two major starports both run by the government. We can load up at Kandel, do a trip to... Onyu-Free-Yenko Hub, and back" Mabel said, looking over the system map on her console. Ever since the Yarruci Union took over, they opened GalNet information systems to all citizens. By the time the T6 dropped into newtonian flight above the fortress city Kandel Barracks, 3 school classes and several individual groups had reserved a seat, filling all 60 spots.
"Passengers are loading now, all cashiers to places. Begin pre-flight checks and ensure model is set properly" Mabel said into the ship's internal com.
Benson walked out of the cockpit, through the crew quarters and control rooms, and into the store model that made up the majority of the vessel. He checked that all the paper signs detailing sales and deals were in place, that the anti-grav locks were engaged on floor displays and that, at the end of every aisle, goods with the archaic "as seen on TV" logo were organized properly. He opened his personal console and switched his flight suit to his uniform preset, the fabric instantly modifying itself into a white and blue pinstriped shirt with an apron - a look perhaps more accurate to the 1950's but still fitting for the overall ancient look they were going for.
Ready for another showing, Benson walked through the rear ports of the store into the passenger seating area. Here, children, teachers, a few young couples and several more middle aged tourists filed into their seats. Seating was required when docked or in gravity conditions. Once in space however, people would be free to roam.
Benson gave each passenger the uniquely warm greeting of an 80 year old spacer as they entered the vessel. He explained that there would be a short documentary that detailed how grocery stores of the 21st century fit into ancient life. Before the time of instant delivery, home shopping consoles, and personal computers that tallied your needs, people would create lists of what they needed, and physically peruse places like these, where large quantities of items were displayed for purchase. Many bawked at such tedium and effort for an every day activity. Indeed they did not have the luxuries we enjoy today. Once the documentary was finished, everyone recieved an allowance in the appropriate currency and quantity for their model - this time $50 of 20th century paper money.
Back in the cockpit, Mabel plotted the course.
"5000ls to the starport, straight shot, easy." She said plugging the route into the flight log. Jo finished the pre-flight check just as Benson returned from greeting the passengers.
"Lakon Bravo-Tengo-Bravo, you are cleared for liftoff" the calm voice of the flight control said. Within seconds the thrusters had flared and Bodega was racing away from the surface of Yarruci 3, fsd charging.
Mabel and Benson, now both in their "mom and pop store" costumes, floated into store section before activating the mag-locks. The cashiers were in position and people were moving into the aisles. They got busy showing individuals around, explaining to them the different products available and what they were for - helping people to understand such a long gone slice of life. This was what they loved, and they got to do it everyday.
The Bodega was now within 1000 light seconds of Onufriyenko hub and began it's approach. Mabel and Benson - drained from trying to match the energies of school children - were still at it, and despite their old age were not slowing down.
"Why did they call it M and M?"
"Its just solid sugar and people ate it?"
"How did people carry more than two things to the checkout?"
"How could one open this without gravity?"
The questions were endless, and Mable and Benson loved every second of it.
"We have a bit of a problem here, can I get one of you to the control room?" Jo's voice interupted them over the internal coms. The speakers in the cockpit played syntehsized sounds to relate to what is happening in space, and even in the short voice communication, both heard the unmistakeable sound of an interdiction tether.
They raced to the cockpit, apologizing profusely to the confused visitors as they passed. By the time they reached Jo, the Bodega had been ripped out of FTL, their frame shift drives in emergency cooldown. The computer's voice warned them of a manifest scan.
"Type-6 Vessel. Power down your drives and heed my commands, or this gets real violent real fast". The cool, exacting voice of the pirate came over the loudspeakers, her tone almost suggesting she wants to pick a fight.
"Power down the drives, send a crime report to the authorities, let's buy ourselves some time." Benson commanded.
"Transmissions are failing, captain, they're blocking the signal somehow" Jo responded as he tried to get a crime report through to the Union's naval offices. Benson let loose a heavy sigh. The only vessel within range was the Cobra MK 3. that had interdicted them.
"This is Lakon BTB, we have no cargo aboard. We are not traders. Please let us go."
"Don't play coy with me, old man." the pirate responded cooly, "I see your ship listed as a museam vessel, that means antiques, rares, valubles. You are also carrying several young passengers, Sothian slavers pay top dollar for kids. Make this worth my while, and the rest of you can go"
Mabel and Benson were mortified. She could not be serious, though they both knew she was.
"That is absolutely out of the question! We will give you our goods, but we canno-" Mabel's protest was cut short but a loud bang that shook throughout the vessel.
"She's fired on us captain! Fixed pulse directly to our power plant! Integrity has been cut down to 45%" Jo reported. One more shot and they would be goners.
"Perhaps you didn't understand me clearly. I will not accept an excuse. Only the cargo. Load up canisters with all the goods you have, as well as 10 children younger than 14 years of age and jettison them. Then you can go. Refuse and all aboard your vessel die today. You have ten minutes. Clock is ticking." She said firmly before cutting the comms link.
Benson's heart sank. The Bodega had 3 turreted pulse lasers on it, but even with the swivel tracking, they would still be easily out maneuvered by the pirate Cobra. They could not fight, and no help was coming. They had no options. Benson pulled at the little hair he had left in despair, should he give up 10 innocent children to save the remaining 50? How could he live with himself? Would that be better than not living at all?
He lamented, staring out at the cold, sinister vacuume of space, occupied only by the Cobra as it sat guns trained on them.
A heavy silence fell over the cockpit. Suddenly Mabel perked up. Her mind ablaze.
"Tell them we will do it. We will jettison the cargo, and they should position for retrieval." Mabel commanded to Benson's horror.
"Mabel!" Benson shouted, before being cut off by her.
"We'll jettison cargo alright, a bunch of these!" She shouted in excitement, pulling up an image of one of their antiques on her console. Pictured was a small red aluminum can of carbonated sugary drink - a "soda" popular amongst humans of the 21st century.
"Hear me out" Mabel said "We pack a couple canisters with these, send em out, and as they float towards our attacker we fire a shot through them. The pressurized contents will blow all over the place. Between us and them. They're aiming visually... so it SHOULD give us enough time to escape" she said, working out the plan in her head.
Benson chuckled in awe of the woman he loved. It was crazy but it was brilliant.
"W-would that work?" Jo stammered.
"Aye lad. If she thought it up, it will work" Benson responded. "Let's go. Get the engineers packing any extra canisters we have. I'll try to get ahold of this pirate and buy us more time."
"Attention passengers, due to unforseen delays we will be arriving at our destination later than planned. Please return to your seats and enjoy the in-flight entertainment until further notice" Mabel said calmly into the ship's loud speakers.
The rest sprang into action, packing cans of soda as tightly as they can into spare canisters stored on the lower deck of the ship. Within 7 minutes, they had 3 one ton canisters loaded with every form of ancient soda pop they had aboard. They sat them in the cargo scoop bay, ready to be jettisoned.
Mabel returned to the cockpit where Benson continued to attempt to raise the pirate who remained hovering outside.
"We have your cargo ready, we will comply with all of your demands. We will jettison the cargo shortly, prepare for retrieval" he said.
"Good. I was growing impatient" she finally responded, before shifting her ship below the T6's cargo hatch.
"Ready on the turret" Benson said, logging into the weapon controls. On the external camera feed, he could see the Cobra. Roughly 500 meters away, they would have to time this just right.
Mabel commanded the ships systems, and prepared to jettison the cargo.
"Once that shot hits, I need you to engage the engines and the fsd, she can still shoot us. Im only hoping she will miss enough critical systems to get us the hell out of here!" Mabel warned Jo. "Be ready." Jo nodded.
With the push of two holo-buttons, the canisters were released into space, and began tumbling towards the open cargo hatch of the Cobra, which still had its weapons trained right on the T6.
"Hold it..." Benson said to himself as he watched the distance on the holo display tracking the canisters.
100 meters... 200 meters... 300 meters
.. NOW!
He squeezed the trigger and the pulse laser fired a single shot, piercing all 3 canisters and sending their contents spewing into space. The rapid depressurization caused the ancient cans to explode, sending hundreds of 12 ounce portions of soda flying in every direction. The beverages instantly crystallized in the cold vaccuum, forming a massive cloud of ice, sugar and carbon.
"-Ack!" The pirate screamed in suprise before firing off shots at random. Laser fire pock marked the Bodega's hull, sending sparks and flares all throughout the ship, but it's critical systems remained intact.
"GO!" Mabel screamed as the drives roared to life. Hot hydrogen gas fired from the thrusters as Jo slammed the throttle forward and engaged an engine boost. The Bodega lurched forward.
"Engage frame shift drives!" Mabel shouted. The Cobra roared through the obscuring cloud, and angled for a killing shot.
"ENGAGE!" Mabel shouted again in panic. More laser fire ripped into the hull of the Bodega. The sound of explosions drowned her out.
Just at this moment, the frame shift drives took control of the ship, and in a flash, the Bodega was hurtling at hundreds of meters per second away from their attacker.
Smoke hung in the cockpit, choking them as Mabel, Benson and Jo let loose heavy sighs of relief.
"I'm getting too old for this shit" Benson chuckled.
Despite the damages the Bodega touched down in Onufriyenko Hub without drama. The excited children streamed out of the passenger exit. Arms full of candies, chips, ice creams, toys, paper magazines - no soda. Only a few of the adults seemed aware that something had been strange. Still, they were either too polite to ask, or didn't want to know. They all left and posted resounding reviews for the Bodega experience.
"Okay, repairs are underway, courtesy of the station services. It looks like we just sold our last ticket for the return trip as well, if we will take them" Jo reported, reading off of his console.
Mabel looked at Benson, who only smirked and shook his head.
"Okay" Mabel responded. "Load them in."