The Roam of Lindsay Bison

Bennu Station, 491:6

They fired Jannshek and Jannshek. Well, Shah did, but the company made him. I think he was able to choose who to let go, and the gallows humour going around was that it was easier to pick one name than two, a sort of psychological lessening of what actually took place. I just assumed that the compliance team was hired by Bennu, because it's the station that needs to ensure everything is up to the Concentric Code. We may be the only station on the tangent of the outer ring, but we still need to comply.

It turns out my assumptions were wildly incorrect. Shah, and all of us, work for some core conglomerate that licences individual operators. Shah is essentially running a franchise selling a compulsory service. I don't know why the station couldn't just hire Shah directly, but there are likely legalities and economic incentives that I am not aware of. Shah let each Jannshek choose what they wanted for a goodbye lunch, and they independently chose burgers; I guess there is something in a name.

At least Shah is a decent person. Corporate sent a memo that Shah was supposed to read, but instead he shared it at lunch and we all shit-talked the company. I'm not sure what the two Jannsheks are going to do. It's a long journey back to the core without fast travel. The station is pretty big, and they both seem keen on finding another gig here if they can. I don't think either of them---or anyone except Shah---is that enamoured with compliance. It's just a job that financed an adventure, and its hard to let that adventure go.

#bennu #eblo #scifi #sff #shorts #writing