"Phew!"  A young woman with blue hair, golden eyes, and something to prove wiped her forehead as she stepped off the tiny boat that had carried her from one mess to another.  "Another day."  She sighed, shaking her head.  "Another sweltering day."  Out of the many things Abbygail could stand, hot days, full of humidity, were the worst.  If it were up to her, she'd just turn around, and go right back into her the ship to cast off until she found somewhere cooler.  It wasn't up to her though, not entirely.  Yes, in some ways she had a choice, but in others, she had duty and that nullified any illusion of free will.  So with a grunt, she heaved her sack over her shoulder and started making her way to the town proper.

"Hey!"  A commanding voice called after she managed to make a few steps.  "What do you think you're doing?!"

"Damn."  Abbygail sighed.  "That was fast."  Clenching her hand, wrapping it tight around something in her pocket, Abbygail tensed as she turned around.  

"Hey!"  The marine, thick and wide like a bear who shaved.  "You can't leave taht ship there?"

"I'm sorry?"  She turned her attention to the ship.  "It looks fine."
	
"Look."  The marine swallowed.  "Boats just can't be put there.  You've got to go through registration over there."  The marine pointed to a dock, further out than the others, with a small hut at the end.  There was a line of ships next to it.  

"Registrations?"  

The marine nodded.  "Yeah.  They implemented a toll here.  So you need to pay to leave your boat."

"Tolls?"  Abbygail arched an eyebrow.  "That's new.  When did it start?"

"Uhm."  The marine looked away momentarily.  It was a brief pause that most people woul'dve missed.  "It's new.  The uhm, the commanding officer decided to instate it, as a way to raise money for the forces here."  He swallowed and looked down at his feet, obviously uncomfortable with what was going on.  "Hey, look, I don't make the rules.  I'm just here to let you know you can't leave the boat there, or it'll get repossessed by the patrols."

Abbygail nodded.  "Eh.  It's fine."

"Huh?"

"It's an old little dingy.  Take it.  I'll get something else."

"But..."  The marine raised his hand to say something, but the young woman was already on her way out.  He paused to look down at her boat.  "well, at least she's got all her stuff.  Nothing left on there but a seat and oars."
****
"Hey how are you doing?"  Abbygail said to the forth random person she passed on the streets, and like the rest all the woman did was giver her a nod before hurrying off.  Which was lucky, the rest just hurried off.  "Hmmm."  She rubbed her chin as she adjust her sack.  "They weren't kidding about this place.  The marine commander really does have a tight lip on everyone."  She stopped to look around before settling her sites on a nearby tavern.  Her stomach growled

"Well I'll get to that later."  She mumbled, checking her pocket to make sure the camera was still inside.  "But first I want something to eat, or I'm going to faint."