On the Spacefront
by Jeff Gaba
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Table of Contents parts 1, 2, 3 |
part 2
When he sat down, Grillo felt the chair creak under his vast weight. He felt good; reaching 135 kilograms was an accomplishment. Grillo glared at the man sitting across from him. The man, Grillo thought, was a schmuck and couldn’t weigh over 95 kilos. Still, he thought, we need people like him.
“So, Sami,” Grillo said soothingly, “tell me about this Terran you’ve let hang out with our people.”
“Yeah,” said Sami, “Bloom’s alright. He’s a bit of an ‘elite’ and the boys think he’s funny for slumming with us, if you get me. Says he’s some kind of teacher who wants to study us and turn us into ‘Terran Toffs’ like him.”
“Funny?” said Grillo. “So you think it’s funny to have some TT studying us and our business?”
“He’s harmless,” said Sami, “and we could all use a laugh while we wait for our next job. Sitting around in this place waiting to ship out is no joke. The women’s hair is alive here, very creepy; puts a man off, if you know what I mean. Besides, we’ll ship out soon and he’ll be gone.”
“He’ll be gone before then.” Grillo glared at Sami, “I want you to make sure that this TT is no longer around. I didn’t come to this piss-port to take care of your messes. You’re dumb enough to let him in, now you can make sure he’s let out. ‘If you know what I mean.’”
“Sure, sure,” Sami replied. “He’s nothing to me.”
* * *
Bloom sat in one of the spaceport bars with one of his Spacer friends. “Quixel?” Jid offered. “You look like you could use it. What happened to you? You look like someone slapped you around good.”
“Green girl,” Bloom replied.
“Yep, they’ll do that,” Jid said. “Myself, I don’t much like the rough ones. But every man to his own tastes.”
“Don’t worry about me,” Bloom said. “You’re the one who looks like you could use a drink. You’re the thinnest Spacer I have ever seen. Not much status in being thin around you Spacers.”
“It’s a Spacer thing,” Jig said. “When you’re weightless in space, fat don’t matter. Being a ‘biggun’ means you’ve shipped out a lot and would rather be in space than planetside. For as long as there have been Spacers, being a ‘biggun’ meant one thing - ‘screw you, Terrans.’ That’s what I think of Terrans, too: they can all get real fat and die in a gravity well. Not countin’ you of course,” he added.
“Of course,” Bloom replied.
Bloom and Jid downed their drinks and ordered more. “Remind me how long you’ve been stuck on this rock, Jid,” Bloom asked a little groggily.
“Too long,” Jid replied. “But I hear there is another freighter due here soon. Should be able to take a bunch of us. Freighters always need crew members, and I’m rated an ‘Able Spacer.’ They’ll likely take me before some of the others this time. And most of the others are real losers. Doesn’t take much to work as crew on a freighter. Push some buttons and mind your own business. I’ve been on trips where I didn’t see anyone else on the whole voyage. Officers certainly don’t mix with us Spacers. But I still need to hit space again. God, I hate this place, and money’s running low.”
Bloom sat forward. “I still don’t get the money bit,” he said. “I’ve been here a little while, but I don’t know how you and the others survive. You guys are good at eating, drinking and otherwise spending money, but where do you get it? Not by working. from what I’ve seen.”
“We work hard enough in space,” Jid said contradicting himself. “We’ve all got a little money put away for when we’re stuck onshore. The Union doesn’t do nothing but take our money, but Spacers help each other. It’s what we do. But Spacers don’t talk about money, and if I was you, I wouldn’t ask too much.”
“Sure, sure,” Bloom said and ordered another round for both of them. They sat staring at their drinks.
“Hey, Jid, I’ve heard you Spacers hang out at a Union Hall. Take me around to see the guys.”
“You’re getting kind of pushy aren’t you, Bloom? I’m not so sure you’d be welcome. Sami has let you hang out with some of us, but you’re still a Terran. I’m sure some of the Spacers would rather stick a knife in you than gossip.”
“I get it, but gossip’s my profession,” Bloom said. “Take me.”
Jid shrugged. “OK, but not before you buy another round.”
* * *
An hour later, Bloom and Jid were in a largely barren warehouse in an even seedier part of town than Bloom’s hotel. There were tables along one wall which held piles of cheap food. The walls held posters of various freighter companies, and a video display had information on the schedule of freighters in this part of the galaxy. Old cargo moving equipment littered one wall. A few Spacers sprawled on sofas watching a video screen showing some movie with a lot of spaceships blowing up a lot of other spaceships. Bloom recognized some of the Spacers, but not all of them.
“Home away from home,” said Jid. “Hey, assholes,” Jid shouted to the room. “You guys know Bloom. And watch your language, he’s very genteel.”
“Keep it down,” one Spacer replied. “What’s a Terran doing here?”
“He’s OK, Krisp,” said another. “Sami vouched for him, so it’s OK. Grab a beer, Bloom, and pull up a couch.” Bloom grabbed a beer from a cooler by the table and joined them. Only a few openly glared at him.
Bloom was more than a little drunk when the last spaceship was blown up and the movie ended. It was then he looked up and saw Sami and a really, really large Spacer standing near him.
“Bloom,” said Sami, “how are you doing? What are you doing here?”
“Just hanging out,” Bloom replied. “Jid brought me along. Nice place you have here.”
“Do you know Grillo?” Sami asked.
“I don’t,” Bloom replied, “but it’s hard to believe I missed him.” Bloom struggled to his feet and offered his hand.
Grillo stared at him and took his hand in a handshake that was just a little too tight. “Good to meet you,” Grillo said. “Sami told me about you. You’re the guy who thinks we’re little bugs to study under a microscope. Is that right?”
Since Grillo was a least twice his size, Bloom decided to answer carefully. “That’s exactly right. Bugs really interest me. I like to see how they wiggle. On the other hand, we’re all bugs in the eyes of the galaxy, aren’t we?”
“Ballsy little guy,” Grillo responded to Sami. “He’s a philosopher, and we don’t have many of them around here. I like him.”
Grillo turned to Bloom and said, “Well, Sami and I were just leaving, but I’m sure I’ll see you around.”
After they had left and Bloom had had another beer, he vaguely wondered where they had been when he entered the warehouse.
* * *
Soon enough, another freighter arrived to unload its old cargo and load up with new cargo. The only thing that Bloom learned was that a few Spacers, including Grillo, had gotten jobs and were leaving Sigma V. He was not surprised that Grillo had been selected; he was a ‘biggun’ and an experienced spacer. Jid, despite being rated an Able Spacer, was not selected. Poor Jid, he thought, he and I are going to die here.
The freighter was now loaded with cargo and crew and was locked tight. Nothing would be going on or off the freighter before launch. The freighter would be leaving very soon, and Stark would be expecting something from him. Time was running out for him, if Stark was to be believed, but believing Stark seemed oxymoronic to Bloom or maybe simply moronic.
He had nothing but felt he was missing something. Flic physics was flic physics, and nothing was on the freighter that hadn’t been accounted for in the assessment of its mass. But Stark was sure the Spacers were somehow involved in smuggling the critical mineral from Sigma V, and Bloom thought so, too.
All he could think of to do was to check in back at the Union Hall. Sami opened the door for him. “What are you doing here, Bloom?” he said, sounding a little irritated.
“I’ve come to commiserate with all the Spacers who didn’t get a berth,” said Bloom. “I’m just that kind of sensitive guy. I feel your pain.”
“Funny you should say that,” said Sami. “What the hell, come on in. I think you’re here just to get a beer.”
“I’m sorry Grillo is leaving on the freighter,“ said Bloom. “He seemed like an interesting guy.”
“Grillo interesting?” Sami laughed. “In my experience one Spacer is pretty much like another. But Grillo’s locked up tight on the freighter, and he’s getting out of here a lot sooner than I ever will.”
“Sami,” Bloom said, “there’s something I’ve been wondering. Grillo gets a job, but Jid, an Able Spacer, stays stuck here. You’re a real smart guy, but how long since you’ve had a berth? So tell me, how does hiring work? Do you have to bribe the Union guys or what?”
Sami stared nervously at Bloom. “If I knew, do you think I’d still be stuck here? And you ask a lot of questions.” Sami stared for a few moments more. “Actually, I’m glad you turned up,” he said. “I’ve got a stranded friend I want you to meet. He’s someone who can answer your questions. This guy knows more about Spacers than anyone. You’ll think he’s a really interesting guy. Come meet him; better than sitting around here anyway.” Bloom was sensitive enough to detect that something was “off” with Sami, but Bloom put it down to Sami’s not getting a berth on the freighter.
He followed Sami as they wound their way through increasingly shabby parts of town. “Damn,” said Sami, “even I’m lost. Wait here while I check on something.” With that, Sami vanished leaving Bloom standing in an alley littered with trash and smelling of god-knows-what.
Bloom wasn’t too worried until he heard a snorting sound coming from behind a pile of garbage by the alley wall. The snorting did not sound friendly, and it began to sound actually chilling as he detected different snorts and grunts. One brave critter stepped out into the open. It was one ugly creature Bloom thought: a cross between a nightmare and a chihuahua with long, twisted and very scary teeth. It was a Hina, a fierce, feral scavenger that roamed the cities on Sigma V.
The lone Hina was soon joined by a dozen others who started to surround him. “Interesting,” thought Bloom, “coordinated social behavior.” He almost started to analyze their dominance hierarchy before he realized it was time to run. But running didn’t seem to be an option with the critters on every side. Their snorting became a much more threatening clattering of their teeth. Bloom, thoughtfully considering the situation, began to wet his pants.
“Sami!” he yelled desperately, as one of the creatures advanced towards him. Clumsily, Bloom pulled out the small blaster he always carried on this planet. As the creature crouched to leap at him, Bloom aimed and shot wildly. To his amazement, the creature screeched in pain and fell to the ground, spilling blood and intestines from the hole in its abdomen. Other Hinas stopped and stared at the writhing mass in front of them. A group charged and began ripping at the injured Hina.
Bloom pointed his blaster in the mass of snarling Hinas, and this time his aim was careful. A number of Hina’s yelled in pain and collapsed to the ground. In a moment, the entire pack of Hinas had leaped into the mass and all began tearing at one another.
Forgetting everything he knew about dealing with wild animals, Bloom turned his back on them and started running wildly into the street behind him. A few minutes later, he collapsed gasping on the ground and looked back to see an empty street.
* * *
Copyright © 2025 by Jeff Gaba
