Lana stepped to the console and inspected it. The holographic display was divided into several screens that showed a rotating model of their shuttle, a bunch of statistics, and bits of information she had no clue how to decipher. The left part of the monitor was labeled ‘Docking Services’. Lana shrugged and touched it.

The screen immediately changed and a loading bar with a ‘scanning’ message appeared.

Scan results:

Power cells at 45%. Charge: 1,100 piTec

Minor hull fractures detected. Fix: 600 piTec

Thrusters minor damage detected. Fix: 1,200 piTec.

Bulco and Nori approached and examined the screen as well.

“We should definitely charge up the cells and probably fix the thrusters,” The Engineer said. ”I’m pretty sure I can fix the hull back at the freighter, but this looks cheap and probably quicker.”

Nori nodded. “We’ll buy it all. Including the thrusters. I’m not keen on flying this thing with a half-busted engine.”

Lana nodded and selected the three options.

Total sum: 2,900 piTec

A small port above the monitor opened.

“You may insert a piTec gem as payment, or use a global galactic account,” Alzigo said. “But you’ll first have to open one at one of the large settlements.”

Nori nodded and took out the tear-shaped gem she kept and extracted the required amount. A second gem materialized in her hand and she deposited it inside the open port.

Time Estimation: 12 minutes.

Several robotic arms unfolded from the ceiling and started working on the hull, raising a shower of sparks as they patched the damaged metal. The floor beneath the shuttle glowed faintly and started sending pulses of light that were swallowed by the shuttle.

“Hey, this thing even has an upgrade menu,” Lana said excitedly. She continued sweeping through the offered options. “We can install a larger power cell … holy moly, that’s twelve thousand piTec. There’s also an option to add an armored layer that costs … oh … never mind.”

“What about a mounted weapon like you suggested?” Nori asked.

Lana sighed. “It’s the first thing I checked but the shuttle isn’t compatible with mounted weapons. I guess you were right all along.”

Nori shook her head. “Wish I wasn’t. It would have saved us a lot of trouble. Too bad upgrades are so expensive, it would have been nice to fly around in an armored vehicle.”

“I hope everything is to your satisfaction?” Alzigo asked, standing near the hangar’s exit.

“Very,” Nori said. “I think we’re done here.”

The tall alien nodded. “Right this way then, please.”

He led them through the docking tube back to the main deck. They walked through the huge open space toward an elevator and descended what felt like a hundred meters.

The elevator opened to reveal a clean white room. Metal tubes, half-embedded in the floor and walls, led up to a white, car-sized contraption sitting on a raised dais.

“I present to you, the Fabricator,” Alzigo said proudly.