Personal Log 20: 6th - 12th July, 3301
10 Sep 2016Jemine Caesar
6th - 12th July, 3301The next day, July 6th, Sam and I discussed what I had learned from Cassandra Lee the day before. So far we had chanced to meet two girls who, like me, had been seduced by a man whose real name we did not know.
"I wonder how many more of us there are, Sam," I said, sadly.
Sam told me he had been reading about the research being done to find a cure for the NTUP virus. "Ready to go to Sol?" he asked me.
I took a deep breath. "I'm ready." A short time later, we were in the Sol system and heading towards Earth.
"So," I said, "this is the cradle of humanity. It looks so... small."
As I stared at the planet's unfamiliar continents, my comms panel flashed an incoming message alert.
"Oh, my! It can't be!" I said, as the message appeared on my HUD.
Sam asked what was up. "I've just received a message," I told him. "It says, 'Hi, Jem. So glad you were able to make it. Meet me at the Sphere in Battery Park, New York City, July 11th at 3pm local time. Caz." My head started to spin.
"Well," said Sam, "at least you won't have to search for him."
That was true, I thought. But how did Caz know I'd arrived?
Sam and I docked our ships at M Gorbachev starport. "I've taken the liberty of booking us a double room," said Sam.
I put on a short blue dress, and took more care with my makeup than usual. My relationship with Sam had quickly become more intimate over the few weeks I had known him, and I had come to trust him completely. I was ready for the next step. After a drink at the Vostok bar, owned by Sam's old schoolfriend, Vlad, we went to our room and made love.
*****
When I woke the next day, Sam was gone. I began to cry, and almost didn't notice my dataslate flashing a message alert. It was from Sam.
"Sorry for my sudden exit. I've been taken into custody by the Feds. Seems somebody of my description has been causing havoc at Alpha Centauri. I'll be released this evening if they don't find reason to charge me." I sighed with relief. At least he hasn't left me, I thought.
I took The Last Thing out for an orbit of Earth's moon. Swinging around to return to Gorbachev, I was attacked by an Eagle, armed with missiles. I won the battle, but only just.
As I made my final approach to Gorbachev, a k-cast came in from my friend, Nagita. I told her I was at Earth.
"I would like to visit Earth," she told me, "but I don't have a permit yet. I have joined the Federal navy, and I am a midshipman, so I now wait for the permit."
I said I hoped it wouldn't take long for it to come through. "It would be good to meet up for a girls night out," I said.
"Yes," Nagita agreed. "I will message you when I get my permit, then we can meet for a drink."
With Sam still being held at Mars, I busied myself with some cargo delivery jobs between Sol and Duamta, all the while thinking about my impending rendezvous with Caz. I had a brief k-cast chat with Stanchion Ra. He told me he was feeling disillusioned with Alliance politics.
"I'm thinking of ceasing my support for them," he told me.
"I haven't committed myself to any of the powers," I said, "because I don't really understand politics. I like to think I'm more of a free spirit."
Soon after Stanchion signed off, I called Rudolphus, and told him about my planned meeting with Caz. Rudolphus warned me to be careful, and asked if Sam was going to be with me.
"No," I replied, "I have to deal with Caz alone. Sam knows that, and he understands."
Rudolphus didn't sound convinced. "Well," he said, "It is a dangerous thing for a woman to do. I think you should not do it alone."
Sam returned from Mars on July 9th.
"I was being held on suspicion of murdering some minor politician," Sam explained as we sat in the Moonraker bar on Galileo station. "Their interrogation methods were a little rough, to say the least," he said, rolling up his sleeve to reveal his cybernetic left arm. It was badly damaged.
"That's barbaric!" I cried.
Sam told me the murder took place at Alpha Centauri four months ago, before I met him. "Fortunately I was able to give them an alibi," he said, adding, "I don't think they were too happy with that!"
The next day was July the 11th. The day I was finally to meet Caz again. A shuttle took me from Galileo to JFK NYC spaceport, then a short monorail trip brought me to Manhattan Island. I set off towards Battery Park, my heart pounding in my chest.