Today on Quantum Vibe: A better mousetrap Strip 795 - Click strip above to goto the next strip.
First Seen: Fri 2014-03-21
Story & Art: Scott Bieser - Colors: Zeke 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.
Back To Normal... Yay! [ Jul 22, 2024 ]
And we're back! Scott's power and Internet was restored a few days ago, and Scott spent that time since diligently working to get the next strip up. Also, please consider supporting Scott through Patreon or Subscribestar to help keep Quantum Vibe going! You can find links to them on this page, and enjoy today's fresh strip!
Panel 1
Back to the present: Adileh, Murphy and Seamus in Adileh's 'office'.
Adileh: 'Somebody should do somet'ing about dis,' he said. So I did somet'ing.
Murphy: What did you do?
Panel 2
Adileh leans back in her chair, smiling.
Adileh: Well, the Loonie way would be to petition the Lunar government, or the company, to change its rules. Stage demonstrations, talk to the media, write agit-prop, rouse the rabble.
Adileh: The El-fiver way is to set up a superior, competing system.
Adileh: So, I went into business with Archie the bartender, and some other people I brought in for specific jobs.
Panel 3
Another flash-back scene – looks like a classical Roman bath-house, with barely-clad, happy women (and a few young men). A customer is being welcomed by a hostess.
Caption (Adileh): 'Creme de la Creme' was modeled on the very best bordellos in L-5 City.
Caption: 'I brought in some fresh sex-workers, but before long the Rising Sun girls were flocking over, begging us to take them in.'
Panel 4
Back to the present.
Murphy: And the miners here had enough money to support such an establishment?
Adileh: Well, I did spend a lot of money, and it was years before I recouped my investment. But there was another factor ...
Panel 5
Flash-back again: Adileh is in a conversation with a trio of well-dressed, 40-ish women.
Caption: 'It turned out there were other women on Ganymede. Some executives and wives of executives, who remained in enclaves out of sight of the hoi polloi.'
Caption: 'Some of them felt just as trapped as the girls at the Rising Sun brothels.
Panel 6
Two of those women are working in a back-office, doing back-office kinds of work.
Caption: 'Most of them weren't suited for sex-work but my business also needed support staff – clerks, janitors, nurses, etc.'
Caption: 'Most just worked long enough to earn a ride home. Others stayed on for the long haul.'
Panel 7
Back to the present, in Adileh's office. They're standing now, Adileh is giving Seamus a hug.
Adileh: Sorry I can't visit longer – business matters are pressing.
Adileh: But when Nicole is out of the spa you'll all join me for dinner tomorrow, yes?
Seamus: Of course.
Panel 8
Adileh hugs Murphy, as Seamus is adjusting his cape-clasps.
Adileh (whispers to Murphy): You may call me at any time, okay?
Murphy: Sure.