"What do you mean I can't leave?"

The freighter pilot had lost track of time, having caught herself in an fiery argument with a spaceport official. Her employers had told Aelani that it was supposed to be an easy job, yet it was proving to be more of a headache than what she bargained for. Every second wasted correlated into one less credit in her account, and it was a certainity that her competitors would prefer Aelani to stay grounded somewhere as long as possible. Time was money, after all, and one less freighter out there meant less competition.

With an exasperated sigh, the official leaned back in his chair. He, too, was growing tired of the dragging conversation that seemed to go nowhere but in circles. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but the UEG states that—"

"To hell with the UEG! The longer you keep me waiting on this damned planet, the more credits I risk losing!" The reply had been instant, cutting off the official before he could finish. Frustration had taken over Aelani, and she wasn't about to play games in regards to official protocol or governmental business.

Glancing momentarily towards the clock in his office, the official's brow furrowed. Whilst it might be impossible to diffuse the tension, he needed to at least calm Aelani down to where he could get the freighter pilot out of his office. He had been under strict orders to not allow anyone to leave Canaan until the quarantine was lifted, and letting even one docked ship leave the planet would risk his job and allow whatever illness that had been spreading like wildfire to leave Canaan.

"Look, I can't let you leave this planet right now." The official stated, his tone stressed yet not entirely angry. "However, to ease the financial burden, Canaan will reimburse you for any credits you have to spend while the quarantine is active. Is that alright?"

A moment of silence would pass as Aelani considered his offer, filling the atmosphere with tension that could easily be cut with a knife.

"Damned Canaanites," Aelani grumbled under her breath, arms crossed. "Fine, but it better be everything! I'm not going to just let your forsaken planet shortchange me; I know how you colonists work behind the scenes."

Finding his chance, the official nodded to Aelani. "You have my word." He didn't wish to spend another thirty odd minutes arguing over the same topic, and now had been the best possible time to end this incensed meeting. "Now, if you have anything else to discuss, it'll have to be discussed later. I'm on a busy schedule."

Aelani had been perplexed by the man's response, not by how he gave his word, but the fact that he proclaimed that his schedule was quite full. The spaceport had absolutely zero traffic with the quarantine being up! What could he possibly have to do outside twiddling his thumbs with a dumbfounded look on his face? Still, as vexed as Aelani was, she had no interest in continuing this conversation. Without a reply, Aelani left the office without a word, yet smoldering anger could be felt with each and every step the pilot took.

Nonetheless, such irritation was bound to explode within the freighter pilot, whom found herself letting loose a hefty kick onto a nearby wall. A few onlookers were startled, but Aleani wasn't in the mood to deal with people that couldn't mind their own business. She needed a drink, but where would a stranger be able to find one on an icy backwater planet?