Personal Log 89: 18th - 24th January, 3302
07 Oct 2016Jemine Caesar
18th - 24th January, 3302 While the Bayliss Landing refinery worker had been spinning his tales, I hadn't noticed him somehow adding something to my zero-g drink pouches. Whatever it was, the effect on me was devastating. I woke in my room the next day with no memory of how I got there, but it was clear that I had not spent the night alone. The resulting hangover kept me on the station for another two days, too ill to move. I should have reported the rape to system security, but all I wanted to do was get off the station as soon as possible.
By the 20th of January I had recovered enough to take my leave of Bayliss Landing. I called Sam to tell him I was returning to Beta Hydri. I'd already been in touch to explain my indisposition, though I omitted the little detail about being drugged and raped.
Sam had some news for me.
"I've been promoted to Warrant Officer," he said. "So we're the same rank again." I congratulated him warmly. "And," he continued, "I was over at Bhritzameno the other day, on Feynman Terminal. I bumped into your friends, Bronwen and Myfanwy. They send you their love."
Back on Stevenson Base, Sam and I chatted about the recent lifting of restrictions on individual pilots landing on airless worlds.
"Of course," he said, "to make the most of it you need an SRV. I got one, they're really good fun to drive. Once you get the hang of it, that is."
I'd read about these new vehicles, designed to be carried in ships down to a planet and deployed from a purpose-built hangar. I paid a visit to the Stevenson Base shipyard to take a look for myself. Before too long I had become the proud owner of my very own SRV. But the very next day, while on my way to one of Beta Hydri's moons for my first drive, I was interdicted. My attacker was a Federal Dropship, armed to the teeth and deadly. My shields were knocked out in no time, and a few more laser blasts tore my hull to shreds.
My escape pod took me safely back to Stevenson Base. I'd had that ship for months. Now she'd gone. I was angry and distraught in equal measure. I went back to the shipyard and completed the insurance datawork for a replacement Cobra III. I decided to leave my SRV's first drive to another day.
Some delivery jobs occupied the next couple of days, with trips to Arangorii, Minmar, and then LHS 263, where I was once again attacked. It was a Viper, flown by a competent-rated pilot, but this time I got the better of the battle, picking up a 32,000CR bounty.
Returning to Beta Hydri, I called Sam, who had been out bounty hunting. We promptly decided to take a trip to LHS 3836 and land on one of the system's moons to take our SRV's for a spin. That first drive almost ended in catastrophe for me. No sooner had my SRV touched the surface than it shot off at top speed, careering over the rocky surface totally out of control.
"SAM!" I yelled into the comms. "HOW DO I MAKE IT STOP?!"
Sam's voice came back, sounding just a little amused. "Er, try the handbrake?" he suggested.
"Yes!" I replied, as the vehicle came to a grinding halt. "That works!"
With a little more practice and some settings adjustments, I was able to guide the SRV more or less capably. Sam and I had some fun driving around each other, then returned to our ships for the trip back to Stevenson Base.
*****
Next day, the 23rd of January, I took on more delivery jobs, with my destinations being LHS 3836, Luytens 205-128. I came very close to losing my ship for the second time in two days when a Diamondback Scout reduced my hull to 8% before I managed to escape into supercruise.
My delivery job at Luytens 205-128 took me to H.G.Wells starport. Sam called me, having completed a successful bounty hunting mission, and told me a little about the ancient Earth author after whom the starport was named.
"He wrote science fiction," said Sam. "Most notably 'War Of The Worlds' and 'The Time Machine'."
I had never heard of these books, or of H.G.Wells for that matter. Sam was so clever. He knew so many things, while I knew so little about anything. I suddenly felt quite stupid. I wondered why he put up with me.
We arrived in the Stopover system, and docked at Darkwater starport. I walked into the observation deck. There was Sam, waiting for me, a smile on his face.
"Jem," he said, placing a warm kiss on my lips. We booked into a room, and undressed. We lay together on the bed, and kissed again. Then we made love. Tender, soaring, amazing. I looked into Sam's eyes as his moment arrived. I may be stupid, but I was loved by a wonderful man.
And that was all I ever really needed to know.
*****
The week ended with a few more delivery contracts, which included a call at Feynman Terminal in the Bhritzameno system. I took the opportunity to call on my friends Bronwen and Myfanwy, who had some news to tell me.
"Jemine," said Bron, "We're so glad you're here! You're the first we've told! Myffy and me... we're engaged! We haven't set a date yet, but when we do, you and Sam are invited!"
This was wonderful news indeed. I told the girls I was very happy for them, and that I looked forward to my wedding invitation.
There were no delivery jobs on the bulletin board, so I decided to buy some farming equipment and checked the map for a suitable destination with an agriculture economy. I picked LHS 3356, locked the course into the navcom, and set off.