No Refunds

Posted on Wed 12th Apr, 2017 @ 4:34pm by

1,090 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Wrongs Darker Than Death Or Night
Location: Scent of Love, Deck 635
Timeline: MD02, 0700

Strolling along Deck 635 of the Promenade on her way into Orchids & Jazz, Jade Lantz stopped now and then to peer into windows, gaze at jewelry, admire a dress, and then resume her leisurely stroll. There was no reason to hurry today, nothing special happening, no appointments on her schedule. She had even left the morning coffee bar up to Serena this morning.

She spotted Flavia Smith's shop, the real goal of her ramble along this deck. When she stepped across the threshold, four tones signaled an alert the owner of the presence of a customer. Jade headed directly for the refrigerator filled with orchids. She had orchids everywhere in her club, and quite a few in her personal quarters, but there was always room for more.

"Ah, Miss Jade. I should have known it was you this early in the day. And drooling over the orchids again, are you?" smiled Flavia.

Jade turned toward the woman who had walked up behind her. "Of course. You can never have too much of a good thing," she smiled back. She meant that, literally, when it came to orchids.

"I have a new one," Smith said, knowing the El-Aurian woman couldn't resist the temptation to look.

"A new variety? A new hybrid? Where did it originate?" asked Lantz eagerly.

"I thought I'd get your attention," the florist laughed mischievously. "Come on to the back with me, and I'll show you. I'm just getting them ready for the box here." She nodded at the refrigerated floral display in front of which Jade stood. "But you can have a sneak peek, since you're such a good customer."

"You mean because I spend so much latinum in here," Jade responded drily, following the woman into the back area of the shop. Here, there was a large wooden table, the top six inches thick, with sturdy legs spaced evenly on each side. It was obviously old, water-stained solid wooden strips running the width side by side, cuts and scratches from years of use marring the surface, yet it lent an air of competence and authenticity to the room. It said this was a no-nonsense place, but the scents wafting from buckets of flowers and shelves of plants said something different. They spoke of love and caring, joy and sorrow. Altogether, it was a room Jade liked.

Flavia laughed. "Have it your way, but wait right here. Close your eyes. You aren't going to believe this beauty. It isn't a hybrid, and it isn't from Earth."

Lantz raised her eyebrows. "An orchid not from Earth? But I thought that was the only place they grew."

"Shut your eyes now, and I'll answer all your questions." Her voice came from farther away, inside the shop's main refrigerator where temperature-controlled sections kept different plants in the ideal climate for each. "You have 'em closed?"

Obediently, Jade shut her eyes and responded. "I do." She heard rustling and footsteps and then a clunk as a pot was set on the work table.

There was another bit of rustling before the florist spoke again. "Alright. Now you can open your eyes."

When she did, Jade gasped. Before her was a multiple blooming orchid, looking like a Brassolaeliocattleya, or Blc, as they were commonly known. The shape may have been familiar, but the color was unlike any she'd ever seen. "What is it?"

"As you no doubt guessed, it's from the Brassolaeliocattleya ancestry, or something darned similar in parallel evolution. The man who sold them to me called them fire dragons. The colors are really something, aren't they?" Flavia asked, quite satisfied with Jade's reaction.

"I've never seen anything quite so ... well, so," Lantz responded. The orchid had three elongated petals with smooth edges. If the points of each were connected, it would make an equilateral triangle. Their color was the softest peachy rose. On top of those, extending upward between the rounded petals, were two with fluted edges that began rosy on the edges but became brighter toward the center of each petal, like the source of heat, a deep red with hints of pink to it. The best part was the third top petal, which was more of an orange center flare with a dark royal blue lip. Fire was certainly one way to look at it.

"I bought all he had, and that was only six," the florist told her. "You're the first to see them. Would you like one?"

"One? I want all six!" Jade exclaimed. "But where did he get them?"

"Gamma quad, he said. Small rain-forest planet where he trades. Locals are still tribal, and he beams down in the thick of the forest near their village, walks in and trades things they might need for things he thinks he can sell." Smith shrugged, "He doesn't know anything about orchids, so he killed half of them on the way here, but I still got them for a good price. Told him I'd take more, next time he's through there. You can only have five. I'm keeping one to try propagating myself."

"Six, and you can propagate from two of mine," Lantz bargained. "By division, but not in the same year. Of course, if you want to set up a sterile lab for trying it with seeds, I'm sure Mr. Block can be convinced to spare some space for you. Cookies usually bring him around, and I know you make wonderful cookies."

"I'll hold that possibility in reserve. We'll start with division and see how that goes," Flavia agreed. "I'd say the largest one I have can probably be divided in a few months. These are all mature plants, but one is much larger. That's the one I wanted to keep."

Sensing that Flavia had not yet dug in her heels, Jade continued to bargain on price and propagation until they had an arrangement both felt benefited them. "That's it then. 18 strips of Latinum and you propagate three plants, only by division, no two in the same year. First plant, the largest, you may divide in six months. When divided, I keep a part of the plant with a lead," she nodded in satisfaction, offering her hand to seal the deal.

"Done," Flavia agreed, having gotten more money than she hoped, but not a plant for herself. Nevertheless, in a few months, she would have several, even if the trader never came through again. Provided this species didn't prove too fragile to survive at all. "No refunds if you kill them," she added.

"No refunds," Jade solemnly agreed.

 

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