With a slight shrug, I stop a passing woman and politely ask for directions to the exit. Although she found the question strange, she politely told me to follow the yellow line on the floor; it would lead me to the main entrance. Doing just that, I meandered along in no particular hurry to get anywhere. This is a good time to watch those around me and see how their culture compares to my own. Glancing in offices and what seems to be conference rooms along the way. I don't see that the culture is much different, but this is an office, so how much could there be.

Following the line for a while, I notice I am getting strange looks. Looking down, I realize I am still wearing khakis and a Hawaiian shirt cringing slightly; I veer off to a restroom I see nearby walk into a stall and change into my usual business suit. Leaving, I still get looks, but they're more fearful now... meh, ill take it. At least I don't have to keep dodging around the short sprites.

"Excuse me, sir, can I help you find where you are going?" I hear from a nervous young dwarf. (first I have seen)

Looking down at the four-foot-tall young man, I smile. "Sure, I was told if I follow this yellow line, I would exit the building. However, that was nearly twenty minutes ago. I am unsure if I got turned around our what."

"May I ask from where you are coming from, sir?"

"Port-Master Harlen's private shuttle bay I spent the night in my ship. However, I was lead there previously, and I wasn't paying attention to the directions, so I got lost."

The young dwarf paled slightly. "Sir, you are on the six-hundredth floor. This line will lead you to an elevator, but as you were unaware, you have probably walked right past them several times. Also, Master Harlen should have a private teleportation pad in his shuttle bay."

"Huh, interesting, well, could you be so kind as to lead me to the nearest elevator, young man?"

"Sure name's Jack," he said, holding out a hand.

Apparently, he decided I wouldn't bite it off as he no longer seems so nervous. Grasping his hand, I carefully shake it. "Names Slate, glad to meet you, lead the way, Jack."

With a grin, Jack turned to the door beside me and pressed a button on the jamb. It opened up to a typical elevator. Frowning, I look down at the yellow line that doesn't break off or lead to this door in any way. Raising an eyebrow in annoyance, I point at the line. "How is a person supposed to know the elevator is here?"

"Dunno, it was a mistake when the building was being built, I think. We just got used to it. Also, guests rarely walk around unsupervised this far up." Replied Jack.

A few minutes later, I shook Jack's hand outside the massive building and thanked him for his help. Then began walking down the street, looking through the various shop windows along the way. They seemed to be restaurants and small electronics stores. Most shops in this area probably focus primarily on ship crews, coming down to spend their time off.

After about three blocks, I saw a sign that piqued my interest,+

A.I. companions for all occasions. Walking inside, I almost turned to leave immediately; however, I addressed my own A.I. with a crooked grin while staring at a redheaded anatomically correct elf doll. "Hey, Al, would you like a body of your own." I could feel Al focus his attention on my surroundings for a split second before he receded back inside. I guess that's his way of ignoring me and my antics.

Chuckling to myself, I continue to look around. There are many versions of the um, pleasure dolls, I guess. However, there are also various animals and what look to be simple cubes or spheres. Stepping up to the cube, it read. {tired of the same monotonous voice. give your A.I. an upgrade with a full spectrum of dialects and emotions.} "Quik question Al. do the ships A.I. have a personality, or is it just the basic program that all federation ships have?"

"It is a basic program; however, I did sense a burgeoning personality. An upgrade would do her good. Personally, I feel the sphere on the right would fit her perfectly." Replied AL enthusiastically. Turning to the sphere in question, I read the card. {Young Elven female eager to learn and serve}

Turning to the shopkeeper who had been nervously watching me since I entered, I waved him over. "Does this upgrade have any strange pre-programmed nonsense?" I say while waving toward the dolls on the other side of the store.

Although the shopkeeper seemed to relax slightly, I could tell he was still wary of me as he drew closer to see what I was interested in. "Ah, this, no sir, it will only learn what you teach it." After a slight pause, "or those around you as the A.I. watch everything around themselves. May I ask, what kind of system do you intend this for?"

"My ship," I say.

"I see well most of my customers prefer a more mature personality for their ships, but to each, their own, I assume the ship is relatively new?"

"Yes, she has never even flown before."

"Hmm, interesting, I take it this will not be the usual freighter, hauling goods back and forth, but a personal yacht?"

"No, this ship will be for exploration," I say conspiratorially.

In a whisper, the shopkeeper says. "Outside the system?"

With a slight nod, I return to the sphere, "I think ill take it."

"Excellent, sir, and I apologize for my earlier behavior. I thought you were from the council, come to get your monthly fee. Also, if you're interested, I have some additional guard A.I.'s they just came in this morning state-of-the-art from Yarlath."

"Al, where is Yarlath?" I ask.

"Yarlath is the capital of the dwarven homeworld according to the information I got from the Port system."

"I am interested. Please show me."

"Right this way, sir, they are still packaged in the back. I was about to open one when you arrived."

The little shopkeeper took me to a loading dock in the back of his shop where fifteen crates were stacked neatly. Walking to the closest, I pulled the top off with ease, making the shopkeeper drop the crowbar he had been about to pry the lid off with. Looking inside, I see a five-foot-tall dwarf wrapped in protective packaging. "Please tell me you supply them with gear, or do I need to buy that separate."

Pointing to another crate in the back larger than this one, he said. "All their gear, weapons, and charging ports are in that crate. I believe there is, if they didn't mess up my order, five each of dwarf, Elven, and orc models. If you buy in bulk, I Can throw in A.I. personality upgrades free and install the charging ports on your ship."

Grinning ear to ear, I say. "I'll take them all and pull out a single brick of tritarium."

The shopkeeper quickly ran to the front of his shop and closed the shutters, shutting off the open sign, then returning. "Sir, this is far too much for everything in the shop."

"Ah. but I am also buying your silence for my purchases, as well as what you will see when you personally install those ports for me."

"Half the brick then, I can't move that much tritarium without raising flags that would bring hell down on this world." Said the serious shopkeeper.

"Done," I shake the man's hand then awkwardly ask, "do you have a method to cut this in half? I left my tools in my basement."

"I don't hear, however, if you leave the brick with me. I Can get it cut, and I will leave your half with this guard when I deliver your goods in the morning. How does that sound?"

With a shrug, I hand over the bar. Not like it matters to me if he keeps it or not. I have plenty more. Plus, the method to make more. I make a quick call to Jarlen to let him know I made the purchases. But he said to give the shopkeeper Harlen's contact info as he already accepted his way overqualified resume. Apparently, he put Harlen in charge of logistics while he was working on the personnel issue.

Turning back to the shopkeeper, "here is the contact information for my logistics manager. Get ahold of him when you got my purchases ready." After shaking the man's hand, I walk out of the store to continue my exploration.

As I walked out, however, Jarlen called me back. "I forgot to mention I found us a cook. Apparently, Harlen's wife is a three-star cook at a nearby hotel. She agreed to join him on this voyage on the condition that their daughter comes along. I have met the kid on a couple occasions when hanging out with Gregory. She is a good kid. However, we may need to purchase some educational programs for her to study on the trip. Is that alright with you?"

"Sure sounds good, it's always nice if family's stay together. Have Harlen and his wife pick up whatever she needs, get some advanced courses too if they were gone longer than expected. She may want to join the crew someday. Who knows."

After pondering for a moment, I ask. "How is it going? Did you get in contact with your engineer friend or sister?"

"Henry, my dwarven friend, that is. He is in the middle of an experiment and said he could meet up in a week. As for my sister, I had to go through Mother to get her to agree. However, as far as Mother is concerned, we're just a bunch of friends off to explore a nearby system for fun. Anyway, she is out on a hunting trip and will be back in the capital in a week. So I guess we're on standby as far as they're concerned."

"Hardly," I say. "We need at least that long to get things for such a long trip. Remember to let Harlen know more is better, far more. You keep working on the people part of things we should have about twenty-five to keep the ship in order, even if most will be red-shirts."

With a puzzled voice, Jarlen asks, "what do you mean, red-shirts? Do we need to make up a uniform?"

"Ah, nevermind forget I said anything, just something from my homeland. alright, call me if you need me."