Personal Log 50: 14th - 20th September, 3301 (Part One)
25 Sep 2016Jemine Caesar
14th - 20th September, 3301 (Part One)The next day, Sam promised me that nothing had changed between he and I, despite the possibility that I carried the blood of those I have hatred for.
"Do you realise," I said, "that if I am Harold Duval's daughter, then it means Aisling Duval is my half-sister? I lay awake all night wondering what I would say to her if we ever met."
Sam nodded. "That would be something."
"Oh, Sam, I can't sink much lower, can I?" I wailed. "I'm a prostitute, a murderess and now I learn that I'm illegitimate!"
Sam wrapped a consoling arm around me. "The first is in the past, Jem," he said, "and the second was an act of retribution. And I doubt that your grandmother would have done anything with Harold Duval unless it was under duress."
I laughed bitterly. "Harold Duval, my insane father! Hah! Perhaps I'm insane, too! I don't know what I am anymore."
Sam assured me that I was a strong-willed, beautiful, intelligent woman. I smiled in gratitude for his confidence and reminded him that I had an appointment at Eravate to deal with. "I've already loaded my clothes and gear in The Last Thing," I said. "I leave later today."
Unfortunately my progress to Eravate was disrupted by three interdictions. I won them all, but at the expense of valuable time, forcing me to break my voyage at Zugen for minor repairs to the ship.
I continued to Eravate the next day, duly docked at Ackerman Market, and collected Rudolphus' cargo canister. Upon inspection, I was alarmed to note that the canister bore the symbol of Zachary Hudson.
"Just what is in this thing?" I asked myself. Once the datawork was signed off, I began the journey to Phra Mool. I plotted a course through Ngaliba, Panoi, Changthini, Alrai Sector OC-V B2-8 and LHS 3439, and made a short stop at Watts Ring in the Mutj system. From there I called to inform Rudolphus I was approaching my rendezvous point.
*****
"Hello Jem, how are you doing?"
"Hello, Rudolphus. I am very well, thank you. I have your canister in my hold. I am at Mutj, one jump away from Phra Mool."
"Can you tell me, on top of the canister, is there the decal of Hudson?"
"Yes, there is."
"I'm glad. Wait! I have another comm. I will keep this channel on so you can hear it... Greetings, Barry! I have received confirmation that it is the right canister, the one they painted the decal on, to trick Hudson's authorities... Yes, she will wear the dress as in the picture... She will be arriving at Darlton Orbital soon... Goodbye, Barry... Jemine, you did hear that?"
"Yes, I heard. Rudolphus, this man I am to meet at the Sundisk bar, his name is Barry? What does he look like?"
"He has black hair and mustache, and will wear a leather pilot jacket. To know it is he for sure, ask him what did happen in the elevator at Ackerman Market."
"All right, I will remember to ask him. I'll let you know when I arrive at Phra Mool. I will change out of my flight suit and into my red dress, as you asked. Then I'll go to meet Barry at the Sundisk bar."
"Thank you, Jem."
*****
And so, a short while later, I stepped into the Sundisk. Trying to hide my fear, I looked around the dimly-lit room for the man I had come to meet...