Five
She left me in reception while she popped upstairs to turn over the memory card from the video camera. Vinnie attracted some attraction here, a few puzzled looks, one or two double takes. I sat there reading one of the old magazines, idly flicking through for pictures.
I was wondering if she loved me a bit more after our sexcapade. I’d do anything to keep her, to make love to her properly. Thoughts of the countdown clock also intruded. We had dinner then the afternoon session to come. Maybe four hours from now she’d be naked in my arms again, this time with her panties off.
She came back down, the concern on her face turning to a smile as she saw me. I was up and walking to meet her.
“Shall we go for lunch?” she asked as we met.
She linked my arm as I nodded my yes, steering me down a corridor. I felt pleased to be connected to her, walking with her by my side, feeling the warmth of her arm around mine. It was as if the only thing of any importance was centred on her.
When we got to the canteen Vincent attracted more interest. I had Rose make for an empty table by the wall but there was no hiding Vinnie floating along behind us. For those who worked or visited the micro G zone, seeing things apparently floating wasn’t unusual, but even those were looking on mystified.
We ate a quick meal with several people making detours past our table for a closer look.
“What do you think they’ll say?” I asked. “When they realise they were getting the first look at the future.”
“Well, the secret’s out now,” she replied, pushing her empty plate forward.
I nodded as I took my last mouthful.
“Do tokat escort you want to see my house?” she asked. “It’s only a short walk.”
“What, meet your folks already?” I joked.
“I doubt there’ll be anyone home. I was going to get changed and there’s that apple juice to finish off,” she said, taking me more seriously than I’d intended.
I put my empty plate back on the tray. “Do I get to see your bedroom as well?”
She laughed. “You can help me change.”
We dropped the tray at the hatch and with Vincent drawing open stares we left. I was surprised no-one came up and questioned us, but again, maybe I’d have been hesitant about confronting a floating barrel with binocular eyes. I was the first time.
We walked the short distance to her house. Instead of the open spaces of my home this had close neighbours in the tree lined avenue. She led me through to the kitchen first, collecting the apple juice before taking me through to her bedroom.
My pad chimed a message. I sat on the bed and took it out.
I looked at Rose, who was pouring the juice. “It’s my father.”
I tapped the screen and his face came up.
“I need you to come to my office,” he said with a weary look on his face.
His look and the tone of his voice told me it was something unpleasant.
“What’s happened?” I asked, fearful of them wanting more access to Vincent or something.
“I’d prefer to tell you in person. I need to explain things as well,” he replied grimly.
“Dad, come on, I’m not a little boy who stamps his foot.”
“Meet me at your mother’s office, then. yozgat escort This is something that she needs to know as well.”
“Alright. .. But I’m with Rose, I’d like her to come along as well.”
“Rose? The girl who’s doing the recordings?”
“Yes, I can present her to you both. She’s going to be my wife when she makes up her mind,” I said.
I looked at Rose who was looking at me open-mouthed with a smile in her eyes.
“This is sudden,” he said, a look of confusion flickering
“I know, but I love her. Anything concerning me I want her to know.”
“Well, it’s going to be no secret, your little walk around already has tongues waggling here. If you really must know we’re sending you and the robot to Earth; we’ve made a deal with them. I’ll explain everything at Ann’s office.” My screen went blank as he cut the connection
Earth, the word hit me. Going to Earth. Then the word ‘Deal’ and my half born smile faded. I looked at Rose still looking at me, her face narrowed with her lips tight.
“Would you like to come?”
Her face lit up. “Yes, you’re damn right I’d like to come.”
My heart soared. I tossed the pad aside and stood, holding out my arms to her as she came to me. We kissed, falling back onto the bed, arms and legs entwined. I ended our kiss, pushing us apart a little.
“There’s a catch. I think I might have to explain things out for them as proper Q it was the rescue ship as well under normal circumstances. One thing puzzling me was why we had civilian crew. Were they the only ones qualified?
Ron was sitting next to Janie when Bill made his zonguldak escort appearance. He was dressed in shorts and came smiling over to take the chair at the head of the table.
“Welcome to the captain’s table,” he said, looking at us as he sat. “Any questions so far? Phyllie give you the rundown?”
“Yes, I think we’ll get along. I’m sorry this has been imposed on you,” I replied.
Phyllis laughed. “This is for our retirement fund. They’re paying us ten times what we get from a single trip.”
“Ah,” I said.
We chatted on for a while until Ron and Janie finished their coffee and went to get changed. I nodded to Rose and we took the opportunity to escape back to our cabin and our low grav bunks. I took out my pad to check the new time, see how much time had shifted and when dinner was.
“Does this ship have a library and things?” she asked.
“Yes, you can call it up on your pad. There’s a big screen in the lounge,” I answered. “I wonder what their relationship is. They spend months on their own. I think Phyllis is top dog here.”
“There I agree with you, but let’s not get too involved with them. We’ve got three weeks of doing nothing. I’d like us to talk more. I want to know more about the inner you,” she said, holding out her hand.
“The inner me dreams of a better life. Vincent’s going to achieve that. When we get back I’d like to help the team researching replication. Ah, if only I had Maggie’s brains. I was going to be an engineer, maintaining ships like this one. Now I’m going to have to learn more about science, physics or whatever realm it is.”
With Vincent’s help I was hoping that I could be involved in designing the prototypes to help understand the engineering aspects. There was no need to test theories; we had only to understand how the processes worked in terms of component assemblies. It was an engineer’s job to turn the scientist’s facts into functions.