Marmite.
Normally, M'riik loved living and working on a relatively small station. It was peaceful and the views were always amazing. But there were times, like now, when living and working on a relatively small station was a pain in the anatomy.
The freighter had diverted from its logged course because of engine trouble, which meant paperwork and a freight inspection to make sure nothing was going to escape while the two vessels shared air.
Normally, a vacuum-sealed cargo hold would go without inspection, but this was Terran cuisine. Four hundred cubic units of irradiated cheese and something called Marmite.
M'riik had looked it up. It was on one of the red-lists.
Unicellular fungal culture had to be inspected for signs of life. No matter how processed it was.
Rumours about the Glunk had inspired such safeguards.
“Marmite isn’t that bad,” said the human. She was following M'riik around as she scanned every last crate in the hold. Making sure M'riik wasn’t going to help herself to a sample. “It just tastes bad. I never liked the stuff. I’m more into Vitam-R, really. Now if you want foul, you should try Vegemite. That stuff’s nasty.”
M'riik could see why freighter captains and Hitchhikers got along so famously. It was a chance to talk that lasted long enough for the topics to run out.
“I’ve no desire to try most of the things you humans call food. My species is barely past level two on the ascent from Havenworld fragility.”
Sam the freighter captain whistled backwards. “Ouch. The taste alone might kill you.”
“I’m well aware.”
There were no life-signs. Good. The sooner this lot was vacuum-sealed again, the better.
And, M'riik was pleased to note, Sam was paranoid about containing her own cuisine in her personal quarters. M'rick added her note of inspection to the ratings tablet in the pilot’s office.
“Yeah, I like clean,” said Sam. “Anyone looking for a ride to Rest Stop? I could use a chance to chat.”
“We currently have no transients or nomads aboard. Sorry.”
“Worth a shot. Gets a little boring, talking to the cat.”
M'riik was secretly glad to see her go. Humans were inherently dangerous. But, alas, they were also everywhere.
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