Dellwellians

The Dellwellians are a humanoid species whose homeworld (Dellwell) is in a relatively small, but very populous galaxy, which they call The Circle. In most galaxies, the meeting of two intelligent species is a momentous event, but with over a thousand species in a pretty tight space (cosmologically speaking), it’s pretty standard here. When Dellwellians invented their version of telescopes five centuries ago, there was enough activity present in their skies that there was no doubt, they were not alone in the universe. First contact came and went, and the Delwellians joined a galactic neighborhood that was active and lively.

Some Dellwellians do leave the planet, but many just remain on the homeworld, which has become very built-up and over populated. The planet’s location, near galactic shipping lines, makes it an ideal stop for spacefarers of other species.

Masgel is a typical young Dellwellian. She has given birth to one child, and raises it while she pursues her own education. When she is older, she will abandon her young and go on to a career. She is hoping to get into the entertainment industry.

Chisnee is one of those few Dellwellians who spend more of their life off Dellwell than on. Working with a shipping company, Chisnee is a translator who tries to keep language and customs operating smoothly between the many different species encountered on a regular basis. Since the galaxy has been operating like this for a long time, there are vast databases on the subject, but it seems like there’s always some new thing that alien species will find to hate about one another.

Skeedoy is the Dellwellian equivalent of a private detective. If someone needs a problem solved, they hire Skeedoy to do what he can to help. Because of this occupation, Skeedoy has seen the worst that Dellwell has to offer, and the worst that the rest of the galaxy brings to the planet. He’s become a very cynical and bitter sort. He’s not just world-weary, he’s galaxy-weary.

A Fact About Dellwellians: When Dellwellians reach sexual maturity, they are female-like in nature, possessing something similar to the egg and womb system of humans. When they run out of eggs, their body switches to a more male-like form, providing the sperm equivalent. After that they spend the last half of their life asexual.

Universe: Orange

Yesterday, I got out of jury selection because I am too poor. That kinda counts as a victory, right?

I got the summons to appear for selection for jury duty. I did that. I had to wake up to be at the place for 8:15 in the morning, at time when I am usually beginning my day’s sleep. The place was crowded with a few hundred other such potential jurors. There was a roll call done by verbally calling out names and responding with “here” that seems like an outdated method of dealing with this in this, the age of computers. Anyway, that took half an hour or so and then we had to wait another long while before the crowd was ushered into two courtrooms (because we couldn’t fit into one). The judge was introduced. Then we got the chance to ask to get out of it for “Medical, Employment, or Personal Hardship” reasons.

I overheard the judge tell one of the people asking to get let go that the trial was estimated to run about twenty days. Though jurors do get paid about forty dollars a day, that would leave me pretty darn broke. I got into line and presented my reasoning to the judge, that being on the jury is something I can’t afford. It seemed to me (or maybe I was just projecting my own guilt onto him) that the judge thought I was just being whiny, but he did accept it and allow me to go. That’s what really matters. And it isn’t like I was lying. I spent half of this year in shoes that were a size too small because I couldn’t afford new ones. Maybe I’m not going to die if I have to be on a jury, but it could seriously make me unable to pay bills and such.

And I didn’t even get into the fact that being awake in the daytime is a hassle. I would have been a real risk for falling asleep during the trial.

Anyway, it’s kind of a shame, because if I was in a financially stable situation, I’d actually be pretty interested in serving on a jury. Maybe someday down the line.