come please, I'm callin', and, oh, I scream for you (part XCII)

(Roleplay entry. Continued from part XCI.)

Justine secured the Someone Else's Problem to the mooring mast above Caledon II and turned to Rusty. "Stay here and keep the ship ready for a hasty departure." She climbed down the stairs and picked up the mail on her way into the house, flipping through it. The quiet in the house felt eerily unnatural and she found herself straining to hear anything: birdsong, the hum of an appliance, the passing of the trolley. There was nothing.

Climbing to the third floor, Justine made her way to the box safely stashed in the attic and knelt beside it, data padd in hand. Her fingers danced over a control panel on the box, initiating data transfer. Glancing at the readings, she frowned, noting some worrying points of quantum fluctuation for later study.

"I've got it. Coming back," she commed to Rusty, "get those engines warm and ready."

"I've got something warm and ready for you," came the cheeky reply.

Loading the box onto the hover skiff she guided it down the stairs and out of the house. She tethered the box to her and carefully drew it up beside her to the waiting ship where Rusty held the door open. They settled the box safely in the cramped gondola and made their way to the bridge, setting course for Gearhaven and home.

Justine engaged the autopilot then realised she was shaking. "I could use a drink," she said.

"Have you ever had absinthe?" Rusty asked, leading her to a seat in the passenger area.



(Continued in part XCIII.)