Fate of the Reasoner

[Fab]

Midshift. Ramón and Martin sit on the same table on dock C's cafeteria. The space is more crowded than usual, with lots of chatter and movement across the room.

Ramón
Amigo Martin! Glad to see you. How's things, holmes?

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Martin
Hola, Ramón. To be real with you, I've been worried about the whole thing we got going on. We're a few tries from foreman Juarez to breathe down our necks.

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Ramón
Compreendo, amigo. Compreendo. Sooner or later we'll need to deal with him. Maybe get him on our side. That would be much easier.

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Martin
Si, si. One less pair of eyes to worry about. Got any idea on how to do that?

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Ramón
Samuel mentioned the whole place being a treasure cove. Te acuerdas? With luck, we can give him a little trinket. Who doesn't likes a good ol' trinket?

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Martin
That's counting on our luck too much, don't you think?

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Ramón
Si. Got any better ideas? Want to spend some of your savings, eh?

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Martin
Hard to argue with that...

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Martin takes a look around the cafeteria, feeling something's wrong. Ramón notices and catches his attention.

Ramón
What's wrong, amigo? Didn't you hear about the news? Some electrician working on the docking bay found an altar below the runway. Crazy hombre told everyone what he found. ISA stepped in and suspended him for practicing religion during shift. They say it was him himself that made the altar.

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Martin
Well, uh... if you ask me, that's plausible. You know how some hombres are, right?

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Ramón
Of course I know, Martin. But doing that on a work shift? When have you heard that happening? I tell you, Martin. There's something strange about this ship. It always felt odd to me.

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Martin
Dios... Of course it is, Ramón! What, never worked on a liberty ship before? I've worked on at least a dozen!

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Ramón
Hah. funny hombre, ain't you? Maybe sooner or later you'll get it. Sometimes, this ship gives me the real creeps. Been worse since we opened up that hole.

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Martin
Don't hit me with those haunted ship stories, Ramón. Those get old. Let's finish up. Ration time's almost over.

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