Whoever "borrowed" my flash drive without permission finally saw fit to return it. Soooo we are back on a normal MWF schedule. Very sorry for the delay. I'm blaming random flash drive thieves, um borrowers.
Chapter 7
The run to port was uneventful, for which Elena was glad. The nerves she had ignored about the opening of the store had returned to dance in her belly. Spaceside it seemed like a crazy dream. Earthside made reality hit home hard. As they approached port, Elena noticed the changes made to the area since she had first seen it.
At first sight it had been mostly abandoned as the commercial traffic decreased. Empty warehouses with bankrupted company logos fading in the sun stood as depressing sentinels with only a little recreational activity on the beach to the south. In early February the bathers were still a distant dream but it was obvious the area had gotten a bit of a face lift. The warehouses had been more secured and routine patrols looked out for extra activity. Currently several dockhands were gathering near her berth to unload the Storm Chaser.
“At least I know I’m on schedule,” she muttered to herself as her eyes continued to scan the area. It wasn’t just the facilities she used that had received the upgrade. Her grandfather’s ship, the Wind Dancer and Gregori’s Dream belonging to Peter Baranov, her partner in Nibbles, had set up areas for their use. She knew they were now routinely patrolled. Several others also looked like they were undergoing renovation and repair if the various work crews circling like ants around sugar cubes were any indication.
Benjamin’s prediction that her home port would soon be a place to watch seemed more valid. The non commercial areas also seemed to be getting some attention. One of the more noticeable changes was an old restaurant. On previous trips it had been boarded up, its paint cracked and faded. Now new glass sparkled in the sun, a fresh coat of paint made it look prosperous and a big sign was placed out front. From this distance all Elena could read were the three foot high letters that read, Opening Soon. What was opening she would have to ask later.
“Amazing,” she said to herself. “The guild has only had a presence here for a little over three months.” She shook her head and guided the Storm Chaser into port. As Freddie and Elliot jumped to work, tying the ship to dock with practiced efficiency, she wondered what the area would look like after a full year had passed. Their crew duties complete, Elliot and Freddie gathered their belongings. She waved them off when they looked to her for permission to disembark. With a nod of thanks they headed down the gangplank and off to a waiting vehicle.
“It was a pleasure sailing with you, Captain.” Benjamin said as he hefted his bag to his shoulder.
“And with you as well Mr. Valentine,” she replied, the corner of her mouth quirking up. “Do you have my landside contact in case you need a ride back?”
“I do,” he replied.
“Good,” she said. “Your help in the galley is well worth the price of passage.” He smiled and headed for the gang plank and a second waiting vehicle. The dock crew’s manager boarded and came over to her. She quickly explained what needed to be done and he and his crew went to work while Elena gathered her things. In very short order the cargo was moved into the warehouse and secured.
“At least I know I’m on schedule,” she muttered to herself as her eyes continued to scan the area. It wasn’t just the facilities she used that had received the upgrade. Her grandfather’s ship, the Wind Dancer and Gregori’s Dream belonging to Peter Baranov, her partner in Nibbles, had set up areas for their use. She knew they were now routinely patrolled. Several others also looked like they were undergoing renovation and repair if the various work crews circling like ants around sugar cubes were any indication.
Benjamin’s prediction that her home port would soon be a place to watch seemed more valid. The non commercial areas also seemed to be getting some attention. One of the more noticeable changes was an old restaurant. On previous trips it had been boarded up, its paint cracked and faded. Now new glass sparkled in the sun, a fresh coat of paint made it look prosperous and a big sign was placed out front. From this distance all Elena could read were the three foot high letters that read, Opening Soon. What was opening she would have to ask later.
“Amazing,” she said to herself. “The guild has only had a presence here for a little over three months.” She shook her head and guided the Storm Chaser into port. As Freddie and Elliot jumped to work, tying the ship to dock with practiced efficiency, she wondered what the area would look like after a full year had passed. Their crew duties complete, Elliot and Freddie gathered their belongings. She waved them off when they looked to her for permission to disembark. With a nod of thanks they headed down the gangplank and off to a waiting vehicle.
“It was a pleasure sailing with you, Captain.” Benjamin said as he hefted his bag to his shoulder.
“And with you as well Mr. Valentine,” she replied, the corner of her mouth quirking up. “Do you have my landside contact in case you need a ride back?”
“I do,” he replied.
“Good,” she said. “Your help in the galley is well worth the price of passage.” He smiled and headed for the gang plank and a second waiting vehicle. The dock crew’s manager boarded and came over to her. She quickly explained what needed to be done and he and his crew went to work while Elena gathered her things. In very short order the cargo was moved into the warehouse and secured.
Felix, the crew manager signaled Elena and she untied the Storm Chaser. Together the crew on land and she on ship guided the Storm Chaser into a sheltered berth that could be enclosed, keeping the ship shielded from prying eyes. The ship was tied off again and Elena gathered her bag from the ship. She walked down to solid ground, the earth feeling slightly strange under her feet after so long in both artificial gravity and ship board. Spin followed a few paces behind Elena and she glanced down at the small gray kitten. Spin mewled plaintively and walked like a bowlegged drunk. She turned doleful eyes up at Elena who shook her head.
“You’ll get used to it faster if I don’t carry you.” She told the cat, silently hoping she was not walking with the same gait. Elena headed over towards a small bank of lockers set into the far wall. So far only one of them had a lock on it and setting her bag down on the ground in front, Elena quickly spun the combination and clicked it open.
That morning she had dressed in jeans and a t-shirt for the trip into port so a change of clothing would not be necessary. Elena loosened the neck of her duffel bag and pulled out a small waterproof case. In it were things such as the key to her suite and a few other Docking Facility items that didn’t need to go with her. Normally she would have taken them home and just put them in a drawer but with the possibility of military visitation she didn’t want to take any chances. From the locker she took her cell phone and a purse. She turned the cell phone on and was immediately rewarded with an electronic spasm of beeps and bells.
“Apparently, someone called,” Elena told spin. The kitten had finally managed to recover her equilibrium and was now grooming herself. Spin looked up at Elena’s words and then with cool distain returned to grooming herself as though the previous indignities had not occurred. Elena smiled and shook her head. A feline was a feline.
“You’ll get used to it faster if I don’t carry you.” She told the cat, silently hoping she was not walking with the same gait. Elena headed over towards a small bank of lockers set into the far wall. So far only one of them had a lock on it and setting her bag down on the ground in front, Elena quickly spun the combination and clicked it open.
That morning she had dressed in jeans and a t-shirt for the trip into port so a change of clothing would not be necessary. Elena loosened the neck of her duffel bag and pulled out a small waterproof case. In it were things such as the key to her suite and a few other Docking Facility items that didn’t need to go with her. Normally she would have taken them home and just put them in a drawer but with the possibility of military visitation she didn’t want to take any chances. From the locker she took her cell phone and a purse. She turned the cell phone on and was immediately rewarded with an electronic spasm of beeps and bells.
“Apparently, someone called,” Elena told spin. The kitten had finally managed to recover her equilibrium and was now grooming herself. Spin looked up at Elena’s words and then with cool distain returned to grooming herself as though the previous indignities had not occurred. Elena smiled and shook her head. A feline was a feline.
Elena flipped her phone open and scanned the missed calls. Most of them had unknown caller in capital letters in place of a telephone number. Elena grimaced. She didn’t really need three guesses to figure out who that was. Smith wasn’t taking Elena’s disappearance lightly. The calls seemed to average about five a day. Scattered in the unknowns were a few numbers she did know. Elena picked up the hands free device from the bottom of the locker. Those she would call on her drive home. Elena dug her keys out of the purse and then tucked the small bag inside her duffle. She tied it closed and swung it over her shoulder. After locking the locker again she looked back down at spin.
“Are you ready to go home?” She asked. Spin stopped her grooming and stood. She let out a loud meow Elena took as consent and the two walked out of the ships shelter. The door snicked shut behind them and the security guard gave her a quick once over before nodding and moving on. Elena glanced back at the door and tugged on the handle to make sure it was securely shut. It was and the red light on the pin pad next to the door warned her that her code would be needed before she could re-enter.
At the car, Elena unlocked the door and tossed her cell phone, hands free apparatus and keys on the driver’s seat. She then bent down to scoop up Spin. The cat was placed in the passenger’s seat, where she circled, kneaded the seat with her claws and then curled up for a nap. Elena connected all of the hands fee stuff, put the Bluetooth in her ear and picked the keys back up. She slid into the driver’s seat, closed the door and put on her seatbelt.
“Are you ready to go home?” She asked. Spin stopped her grooming and stood. She let out a loud meow Elena took as consent and the two walked out of the ships shelter. The door snicked shut behind them and the security guard gave her a quick once over before nodding and moving on. Elena glanced back at the door and tugged on the handle to make sure it was securely shut. It was and the red light on the pin pad next to the door warned her that her code would be needed before she could re-enter.
At the car, Elena unlocked the door and tossed her cell phone, hands free apparatus and keys on the driver’s seat. She then bent down to scoop up Spin. The cat was placed in the passenger’s seat, where she circled, kneaded the seat with her claws and then curled up for a nap. Elena connected all of the hands fee stuff, put the Bluetooth in her ear and picked the keys back up. She slid into the driver’s seat, closed the door and put on her seatbelt.
As her keys turned in the ignition, the car came to life. She patted the dashboard affectionately. It didn’t have the purr of the sleek council owned cars but she kept the ten year old Toyota in great condition and it returned the favor by behaving dependably. Secretly she always thought the higher end cars always acted up much the same way purebred dogs always had some kind of genetic health issue. Elena eased out of the parking lot and onto the empty road. Taking advantage of the straight road and no other traffic, she started to return her missed calls.
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