Editing Laatstekans (section)

====Rat Market====

The stairs led up briefly, across a metallic walkway and then down the swirling flight of stairs. Basil had lost sight of the Ferengi and Dark Maiden's captain. Instead his other senses began to sing, mingling spicy smells wafted up from the depts of the stairs followed by a deep murmer, almost hidden by the humm of the station but soon became an echoing cacophony.

Basil smiled - he knew there was something missing from the station and he and the doctor had found it. They had reached the bottom of the stairs where a long sooty grey corridor led towards the curvature of the station's ring. Here in the bowels under the station's shops are be storage rooms, large ones. The sounds emanated from the open double breasted steel doorway. 

"Doctor," Basil forgot in his excitement to address her by name, "I believe you wish for food is granted."

He led her to the opening and with a dramatic swish,

"Welcome to a Rat Market!"

Inside the large cargo room was the broadest spectrum of human and alien life walking amidst wooden, bamboo, and multicoloured cloth structures where bartering, cooking, arguing, talking and all matter of trading was getting underway.

Candle could see a question in the doctor's face,

"This station encourages a transitory nature. Ships would come in, drop off folk and then return. Most folk won't be able to afford a permenant structure so ... chances are the owners realised this so converted a couple of cargo bays. Then they would . unofficially encourage people to come here , for a modest fee. Its not a constant feature and if there trouble these would be the first to run ... like rats"

He shrugged at that, "Where there is life there is always a market, trade will find a way."