Common sense is not that common, this most people know.
When you lack even that basic knowledge, it's sad how things can go.
They were listening to the instructions of the flight attendants as they had boarded their flight from the station. It was the usual routine safety instructions that all flights normally gave, and the usual "Here is what we do for this type of emergency" thing. Except, this time, a person scoffed, rolling their eyes, refusing to listen to a word. Then, half-way to the solar system that held the vacation resort they were going to, there was a system-wide malfunction. The gravy drive got sick, and the gravity was out. Of course, the scoffing person was screaming conspiracy and how it was "just to get back at them for not being sheep", and the rest of the passengers were getting really sick of their horse-droppings. -- DaniAndShali
"Thank you for choosing Barg'hain Transport, as soon as all passengers are seated, the safety briefing and launch will commence." The message was on automatic and repeat while those headed for Resortia found their seats, stored their overhead luggage, and settled in.
Reis and Ney had heard it all before. For them, it was white noise. They were far too used to public transit safety briefings, automessages, and cardboard-tasting peanuts. So they did their best to get on, get settled, and get out of everyone else's way as efficiently as possible.
One passenger, two rows ahead, was loud and annoying and refusing to co-operate. "You can't tell me what to do! I am a free citizen, I know my rights. I don't have to operate to your dictatorial screeds!"
Good grief, it was a miracle that they were present to board. Reis and Ney shared a Look. Without telepathy, it said, We got an anti-authoritarian with us. Best look out for them if the fecal matter hits the air circulator. They had enough experience between them to look after themselves and adopt a free-range idiot. Temporarily, anyway.
Of course Loudmouth was the last person to take a seat, demanding to speak to the Captain, the Pilot, the Barg'hain Administrator, and so on. They seemed like the kind of person who would take their grievances to The Powers That Be[1] if they could get away with it... and they believed intensely that they could get away with it. It wasn't until a rather muscular heavyworlder[2] asked very nicely that Loudmouth finally took a seat.
...and immediately plugged themselves in to personal entertainment from their datareader while the safety briefing launched.
If anything was a sure and certain portent of doom, it was purposely ignoring safety protocols to prove a point. Ney, who had the aisle seat, put their feet into Launch position. All the better to spring towards a panicking idiot if crunch time came.
Every transit vehicle was just a little different. Every set of passenger emergency equipment was different. It paid to pay attention to the briefings. This was one of the more... 'economical' transit companies. Their equipment was surplus, old, and likely finicky.
Loudmouth was a plague to everyone around them. Demanding to be 'comped' on everything they had a complaint about. They knew chapter and verse of their rights but would not stand to be quizzed regarding their responsibilities.
And it was three hours to Resortia. This cogniscent could make three minutes with them seem like an eternity in the punative afterlife of choice. Reis went over the safety booklet, making sure all the procedures were in mind for her and Ney.
This vessel, a rarity in Alliance space, was not equipped with the Hungry Caterpillar Debris Defense System. So of course it encountered a solid strike with a micrometeor. Of course the gravy drive had not been visited by a Nae'hyn techie-priest[3] in recent history. Of course things went mammaries-up in the least possible time.
...and there went Loudmouth, pitching a screaming fit about it all.
Ney had fastened their breather mask as if they'd been doing it their entire life, then decoupled from their chair, launching on a vector towards the free-floating mask and the flailing Loudmouth. Reis had popped a gumball before donning her mask, and was now sailing about the cabin, zeroing in on the whistling.
The rest of the passengers were mostly calm. Some were infected by Loudmouth's panic, and were distracting the cabin crew.
Reis found the hole. Prepared their gum wad. Deep breath in... lift mask, spit, return mask... and plug. It would not hold for long, but it would hold for long enough. Next up, enlist the heavyworlder's help to get Loudmouth nice and tractable for the rest of the trip.
After all, they needed the cabin crew to put a proper patch on the hole before the gum snapped.
Ney, halfway between anger and education, wanted to say two things at once. The usual lines of, "Are you okay?" and, "Have you learned?" merged in their ire and came out as, "ARE YOU FLAKKING LEARNING?"
Loudmouth, at least, learned to be quiet and listen for that trip.
[1] Pick your favourite deity/deities.
[2] Not to be confused with Havenworlders. Heavyworlders come from planets with a little more gravity than usual. As a result, their physical presence is amplified.
[3] The Nae-hyn are the only people capable of making gravity drives and practice a peculiar form of animism meshed with a cargo cult that actually works. They maintain that gravy drives are born, and need companionship. Every single one has a personality, and some are more independent than others.
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / foldyart1980]
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