"That will be three hundred credits," the cafeteria lady remarked, extending the sizable payment machine toward Aldrich.
Aldrich blinked, staring at the machine in disbelief. "Three hundred credits? I only ordered a bunch of stuff."
She raised an eyebrow, her voice carrying over the noise of the crowded cafeteria. "You mean you only ordered ten plates of fried rice, enough to feed twenty men, four chunks of heavy meat, plenty of fried plantains, and a wine to top it off. All in all, you have enough food here to last a man a whole week, so yes, your bill is three hundred credits!"
Aldrich felt his face flush with embarrassment as the cafeteria lady called out his order, the volume of her voice drawing the attention of those around him.
The line behind him seemed to grow longer as he stood there, feeling all eyes on him.
With a sigh, he reluctantly accepted the payment machine and placed his wristband on it for scanning.
