Nothing's Free on Donner Station: Science Fiction

It was free, and that was the only reason he could put his finger on later. It was free, and so he took it. Never mind that nothing was ever free on Donner Station, and that that small detail was so well known that it not only made the orientation packet and the tourist brochures, it was even casually used as a tie-in in most of the news about the station. "In Donner Station, nothing is free, as so-and-so found out when--" Well, now he was the so-and-so.

Inspiration: I don't even know.
Story Potential: High.
Notes: It's not really a plot idea, but it's entertaining, and I find myself pulled in. Maybe I'm just easily entertained this morning.