Today on Quantum Vibe: Person or property Strip 126 - Click strip above to goto the next strip.
First Seen: Mon 2011-06-13
Story & Art: Scott Bieser - Sci-Fi Adventure Monday & Thursday.
Quantum Vibe
A thousand years in the future, humanity has colonized worlds in nearly
100 galaxies, thanks to Quantum Vibremonic technologies developed five
centuries earlier. Other new technologies have created various
off-shoots of humanity and extended life expectancies five-fold. The
story begins with how a mad scientist and his plucky assistant, along
with their robot friend, brought humanity to the stars, and continues
with the adventures of some unique people in fantastic places.
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Panel 1
Still in the corridor intersection, Abdi takes leave of Nicole and Hitomi.
Abdi: Hitomi, if you're not busy, would you mind finishing Ms Oresme's tour?
Abdi: Captain Pinder has just called me to the control deck.
Hitomi: Certainly.
Panel 2
Hitomi and Nicole continue down a corridor.
Nicole: So … what is your status here? Are you free-contract? Are you property?
Hitomi: Would you ask that question of anyone else in this crew, Ms Oresme?
Panel 3
A bit embarrassed, Nicole follows Hitomi up a spiral stair-shaft
Nicole: Oh! Well, not unless human chattel slavery has been revived. And, it's Nicole.
Hitomi: Ah, well, it happens that such does exist, in certain parts of the system, Nicole.
Panel 4
Hitomi leads Nicole through a hatchway.
Hitomi: But to answer your question, I was once property, but now I am free.
Hitomi: I met Captain Pinder five years ago, on Huoxing.
Panel 5
The two enter a broad room with a very large, wide observation window. A few chairs and small tables give the room a lounge quality.
Hitomi: This is our observation lounge. I love to sit here sometimes and meditate on the stars.
Nicole: So what happened when you met Pinder?
Panel 6
Looking at Hitomi and Nicole from outside the ship, through the observation window.
Hitomi: We worked out a deal – he purchased me from my former owner, then took me off-world and manumitted me.
Nicole: Just like that?
Panel 7
Close-up of Hitomi.
Hitomi: I promised to work for him and his crew – doing what I do best, for three standard years.
Hitomi: Then I could go where I like.
Panel 8e
Two-shot of Nicole and Hitomi – Nicole looks a bit dubious.
Nicole: Three years … but you said that was five years ago?
Hitomi: I chose to remain – I now have an at-will contract and am paid a share just like the other crew-members.