The Galactic Brew and the Unexpected Visitor

Previously

…Barnaby just smiled. The Galactic Brew was quiet once more, but something had shifted. The scent of ozone had faded, replaced by the comforting aroma of Darjeeling. And Barnaby, the slightly anxious proprietor of a forgotten tea shop, knew that his quiet existence had just become a whole lot more interesting. He even found a small, metallic cube tucked beneath his apron pocket. It looked like a universal power converter. And beside it, a single, perfectly folded piece of paper. On it, written in elegant, alien script, was the equivalent of a thousand Earth credits. The tip. Zorp, the polite, chaotic alien, had indeed enjoyed his cup of Earl Grey, and then some.