| Episode: | Season 1, Episode 2 – Every Station A Menagerie |
| Location: | Docking Port |
| Written By: | Blake Preston Edward Brandt |
| Date: | 08/31/2026 |
| Word Count: | 1,060 |
Edward stepped down from his freighter, he turned and looked at the docking port that was wide open, and the elderly man had his arms crossed over his chest. There was a deep furrow across his brow as he wiped it. “One thousand tonnes of ore later…” He said sarcastically as he crossed his arms over his chest and went a little further into the docking bay of the station.
“That’s a lot of ore,” Blake said as he dusted his work pants off. “You know some day they’ll invent some sort of technology that makes this process a whole lot faster than anti-grav sleds and back breaking labor.”
Edward laughed, “Now that’s an idea.” He said to the dockworker, “Captain Brandt,” Edward said and stuck his hand out for the man to take it. “But, I swear to the heavens if you call me anything other than Edward…” He didn’t finish the sentence or the thought.
Blake laughed, “Blake Preston,” He answered. He had his arms crossed over his chest, but accepted the handshake before crossing them again. “The ore skimmers must still be down?” Blake asked rhetorically. That was typically how they got back and forth, were the skimmers that would transport the ore to the station for refinement.
The industrial district of the station had been quite busy, and engineering had been trying to help get the skimmers going again. “I take it this isn’t your usual haul?” Blake asked the older man.
“No,” Edward admitted rather sheepishly, “However, the logistical dispatchers thought it would be funny to assign me with this grueling task. Hopefully the skimmers come back online soon enough and I can get back to my usual route.”
Edward watched as the pack of dockworkers made it past them with the anti-grav sleds, “You must be a supervisor if you’re just standing there watching. Or, is this one of those moments where one guy works and the other five supervise?”
Blake laughed again, “Yeah I’m filling in for the supervisor today.” He told the elderly man, “And, the dockworker corps don’t do the whole one guy working routine. If we did things would never get done on time, and it would take us months longer than it should.”
Though, Blake had to admit that it would probably take years for them to get anything done at all. He’d heard stories of the ancient past, but Blake didn’t know if the elderly man knew those stories or not. He didn’t bring them up, “Is this your last load for the day?”
“Yeah,” Edward said. “Then, I get to do it all over again tomorrow, what luck.” He was still being sarcastic as he watched the group of dockworkers bringing out the first load of materials off his ship. “I think I’ll head to Dorian’s today.”
Blake was watching his men and women work, “You know Dorian’s does sound pretty great.” He answered, ever since the gala Blake had sort of become a regular at the bar. His daughter was with her mother, so that’s what he would go do. Blake had made a number of friends doing that, and he had talked to Freya about it.
She seemed happy that he was finally getting out and doing stuff that didn’t involve every waking second with their daughter. “There’s one more freighter filled with cargo that I’ll have to contend with before I’m off work though.”
Edward tilted his head, “I go to Dorian’s probably every day.” The elderly man said. “Maybe we can actually share a few drinks and talk there once you get there?” He asked.
“I’d like that,” Blake admitted. Then five docks away from where they were standing there was a grinding noise, and shouting. Blake was only supervising the three docking ports where he was standing. He turned and looked in the direction that was five docking ports away, “What in the hell?”
Edward happened to look in the same direction as the shouting, and the grinding metal. Not every freighter was hauling ore, there were only three freighters that had been assigned that duty since it only took three to transport the daily amount anyway. “Indeed?” The elderly man asked.
There was a loud squawking noise that came from the docking port. Blake was still looking in that direction, then there was a deep and low rumbling noise. More popping, metal grinding, and shouts coming. It was getting louder, more pronounced, every second that Blake watched. He was just about to go see what was going on.
Then, the ports shook, nearly knocking Blake off his feet. Some ore fell off the anti-grav sled as it came off Edward’s ship. Blake steadied himself in time to watch a very large variety of animals come tearing off the ship and out of the port. “Oh, that’s not…”
Edward was dumbstruck as he stood there watching it happen, it wasn’t good. He knew that was probably the rest of what the younger man was about to say to him. He managed to regain his balance as he watched. There were scattered dockworkers trying to catch anything. But, besides the one small chicken-like creature that one of them was now carrying, the animals had all gotten past them.
There were more noises, more shouting, and Edward turned to see the entries into and out of the docking bays as people scrambled. Some were trying to get out of the way, while others were trying desperately to catch the retreating wildlife. He was pretty certain someone yelled that station security was going to have a field day.
Edward wanted to laugh at the pure absurdity of the situation. But, something stopped him from doing so. He was in too much shock to do or say anything, “Oh hell…” He managed to say.
“Indeed,” Blake said as he stared. “Someone’s getting fired over this.” Blake started toward the docking bay to investigate. And, he wasn’t the only supervisor that was making there way over toward the docking port. “I’ll see you at Dorian’s,” He called out.
“Okay,” Edward said while rubbing his forehead. He waved, and made his grand escape from the docking bay. But, not before making certain they knew to seal his freighter as soon as the last load made it off. The last thing he needed was an animal on his ship.