Personal Log 131: 22nd - 28th August, 3302
10 Nov 2016Jemine Caesar
22nd - 28th August, 3302 The Coney Enterprise shipyard salesman gave me an approving nod.
“Aye, I don’t blame you for getting shot of this tub, chuck,” he said. “Happen these new Cobras aren’t as good as they were first cracked up to be. I think you’ll be more than pleased with the ViperIV, though but. We’ll have her kitted out with the modules you asked for, and she’ll be ready to pick up tomorrer. Now, you say you want to keep the name of your old ship. What was it again? The Best Thing I’ve Done?”
“The Last Thing I Do,” I corrected. “Yes, that’s right.”
“Odd sort o’ name. Then again, I’ve come across all sorts of odd names for ships. Usually wi’ a story attached. What’s yours, chuck?”
“A long one,” I replied, and left it at that.
*****
My new ship was ready the next day, just as the salesman had promised. There was still no sign of Miriyan Thiessen, so I carried on running errands for her father’s faction, Elite And Real.
A significant number of these errands involved taking data to the nearby Gliese 506.2 system. It was here that I came across a starport of a type I’d never seen before; Adams Enterprise is an ordinary Coriolis design, but with a pair of enormous arm things sticking out from its sides. On my first approach I narrowly avoided being swatted by one of these ridiculous appendages, and quickly learned to be more circumspect on later visits.
On August 26th I received a k-cast from Natalie Hudson.
“Hey, Jem!” said Nath. “I decided to take a break from hunting the bad guys. Now I’m hunting for minerals in Feuma. Not very exciting, huh?”
“I’m sure it’s a pleasant change,” I replied, and looked up Feuma on my navcom. “I see you’re 177LY from me.”
“Yeah, but I got a surprise for you, my friend. Where are you headed next?”
We arranged to meet at MCC 858 and, shortly after docking at Kondratyev Port, were exchanging our news in the Korna Bar. Nathalie s surprise proved to be a belated birthday gift to me; an Imperial-style knee length dress made from scarlet satin.
“Oh, thank you, Nath!” I said, happily. “It’s gorgeous!”
Though definitely gorgeous, the dress was impractical without modesty straps to prevent the skirt from floating upwards in the zero-g environment of Kondratyev Port.
“It’s good to speak with you again!” said Nath. “But, you know, I wish we could spend more time together.”
“I’m in no hurry,” I assured her. “I’ve completed all my deliveries, and there’s no rush to return to Bactrimpox. Why don’t we take a room here, have dinner, and then see what happens?”
Nath smiled. “I like that idea very much,” she replied.
And so, as it turned out, did I.