Strata 7 Jarome and the Scritters, (Trade and Barter) by Sarnia de la Mare

Welcome to Immersion, you have reached Strata 7Jarome and the Scritters, (Trade and Barter)
 
Humans have developed uniqueness from animals through a process of cognitive evolution. They are exceptional cultural learners and can read situations. 
These skills have enabled them to develop complex trading tools. They rely heavily on these skills to create abstract cerebral and linguistic representations when placing themselves in various situations.
The cultural and socio-political environment in which humans have evolved has led them to acquire the cognitive skills, particularly mathematical, to support a sophisticated disposition along with a capacity for reciprocal cooperation. Humans understand conceptual ideas of property and exchange value. 
Humans are savvy, humans broker deals.


Outside there was an optimistic sun and the people busied around the market unaware of any of the commotion that had occurred in the bank.
*POS informed Renyke that he had lost negligible battery power and there was no damage to his mechanical structures.
The *robot-dog and the cat had waited patiently outside the bank and now trotted diligently at their sides.
Maybeline returned to Renyke's pocket for a nap.
'You got my *bits?' asked the woman
'For nearly getting us killed?' Asked Renyke contemplating the difference between, irony,  sarcasm and humour. POS began to explain but Renyke shut her out. He really did not want to know at this juncture.
'Listen Mr whoever you are, there's many a hiccup ahead. You are in the *zones now, you need to get used to the hiccups. 'Sides, I gotta feed my cat. She ain't no robot like that mutt.'
The robo-dog gave a little yelp and lowered its head in shame.Queenie's cat moved closer to Renyke and sniffed the air for any scent of lunch.
Renyke took something from the bag, the smallest nugget he could find, and handed it to Queenie. 
'That is very generous of you,' she said, taking the payment and subtly raising an eyebrow with the tiniest of smiles. The payment was excessive and the cat would eat for a month. Renyke was none the wiser. 
Then Queenie was gone, running into the crowds as lithe as the cat behind her. A blue feather shimmied to the ground. For some reason Renyke was compelled to pick it up and put it in his pocket and Maybeline wrapped it around herself. 
Back on the main street Flex approached smiling and jaunty. Renyke was reassured to see him.
'I need a vehicle Flex, something to get me to where I am going,' said Renyke.
'Yes, yes, yes Mr. Leather Man, where you goin' is where I'm goin'. Let's find a veee-hicle. Jerome, he is the car man, he got cars, and bikes and *scoots..... and *copters, and airships so they say.'
'Take me to Jerome,' said Renyke.

****
Flex took Renyke into a disused concrete building as the robo-dog curled up and waited outside.
There are the echoes of voices, activity and motor engines being revved from another part of the building. There is a smell of fuel and mumbled communications.