Ranma had visited quite a few of them over the years. Usually because of his father. He had seen people, he had met things. He had visited worlds where the sky was not the usual blue, but green or purple or some other shade.
His contact at the moment had come from one of those worlds. Squee had to wear a respirator while off his planet, as his species required a different mix of elements than most other species, and a lot of people were put off by the scent of his people. The more poetic described it as "old sweatsocks mixed with chlorine" or "gym locker #5" by the pundits. It was simply their biology though, and tended to put various species off. The Kahasi had no major contributions to make to galactic culture after all.
"Squee," said Ranma as he caught sight of the little amphibioid.
"Sah-oh-tobe," mangled Squee, though it was simply his mouth not being of proper parts to speak most names. "I almost greet you." For that matter, Squee was not his real name but more of a occupational title that he used as an identifier among other species.
"I make acknowledgement in your general direction," responded Ranma. Bipedal talking frog-things that had the whole "personal space" thing down to a fine art. The universe was indeed a strange one. "You have good news?"
"One might indicate fortunate circumstance," agreed Squee, a feeler whisker quirking upward. "One might even indicate success in current endeavors."
"Might one inquire to observe this?" Ranma asked, being a bit more direct than a Kahasi.
A disc was produced from a natural skin-pouch and set down on a neutral surface as if it had no impact on anything at all. "One might, if one were inclined."
Ranma tried to keep from snatching the disc and loading it up. He managed, though to a Kahasi it would seem overly hasty and impolitely direct.
"It's all here?" Ranma asked. "One would apologize for being direct, but then one must realize that one must interact with Centauri regularly."
"One that travels the spaceways must learn to understand such hardships," acknowledged Squee. "One might even consider asking about payment in such circumstance."
Ranma rested a pouch on the trashcan lid much as Squee had done. "This is good work."
"One might say so," said Squee.
Squee's people, the Kahasi, had absolutely nothing to contribute to galactic culture or science. They were a primitive people, mostly confined to their homeworld, and neither their music nor art had any real value. They were evasive, an unattractive and smelly species, and their air was poisonous to a vast number of species. The species itself was pursuing some philosophical non-tech manner of Enlightenment that seemed to involve fish somehow. Nothing to interest any of the other species. Except for one odd talent that the species had over the rest of them. They were very very good at figuring out puzzles. Particularly taking bits and pieces of unrelated data and ending up with a picture.
Or in this case, a map.
There were many treasures in the universe, lost items from prior civilizations and the like. For an adventurer (it beat working for a living) coming across such things was both weal and woe - a single find could either set one up for life or lead to a lonely death on a forgotten world.
Which was one reason that Squee was a good contact. His race was not noted for being particularly brave or adventuresome. Coming to this station was about the limit one could expect of any member of his species. He'd let someone else take the risks, thank you very much. The only case where the frog-people would show more backbone and directness was with the Centauri. They really really really didn't like the Centauri.
Ranma parted ways with the little frog, hoping they'd meet again. He'd have to move quickly on this, because eventually it would get out that he was in possession of a map that would lead him to:
(Posted Mon, 17 May 2004 10:29)
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