Tempest turned and walked past Estaban. She headed out of the bridge and towards the Mess. She was starving and needed to check to food stores to see what other supplies Meria could pick up on Earth. But when she walked in she saw Meria and Holy Star.
"Oops, sorry, didn't mean to interrupt," Tempest said stopping in her tracks as she walked down the stairs. "I'll be going now."
No, it's no problem Tempest. Please, have a seat." Meria gestured to a chair at their table. "Holy Star would like to meet some of the crew."
"Ah," Tempest said coming further into the room. "And of course the best way to do that is to stow away aboard my ship."
"I’m sorry about this Tempest," Meria said just as Holy Star said, "I hope I didn’t cause you any trouble."
Tempest pulled out a chair and then turned it around so she could straddle it as she sat down. "No, no problem at all for me, but a few moments ago the Space Patrol scanned our ship, if you had been discovered you would have been fined, you know."
"Oh, no I didn’t," Holy Star said.
"I think it might be best if you got off at Earth," Meria said. "I’ll introduce you to a few crew members, we can have lunch and then you can take a passenger ship back. It will be a lot nicer than this one."
Holy Star frowned and Meria looked to Tempest, silently pleading for the captain to back her up.
"Uh...actually, its a little more complicated than that," Tempest said eyeing Holy Star. She turned fully and faced Meria. "I've made some supply appointments for us. Since its so rare that anyone ever wants to charter us for Earth, I thought this is a good time to get some market supplies and not that backworld stuff we are usually trying to adapt to our engines. I got Tuesday and Drake going with the twins to see Merrick."
Tempest turned to Holy Star. "Merrick supplies a lot of high end and specialty items," she explained before turning back to Meria. "And I was hoping you wouldn't mind getting us some decent Earth food stocks."
"No problem." Meria said to Tempest before turning to her wife. "See Holy; this is what it is like for me on the ship. I don’t get that much down time. I really don’t have that much time to spend with you. I’m sorry."
"Well, maybe I can help you," Holy Star said.
"I’m not sure if you can, honey," Meria said, "I’m sorry."
Tempest narrowed her eyes at Meria. She wondered what was eating the woman she considered the muscle on her ship.
"But, there is the matter of the fare you owe me," she added catching Meria's eye before turning to Holy Star. "Since you stowed away on board for a free trip, and you're most likely will be needing a ride home, then I think we should put you to work...while you're on board."
"Fare?" Holy Star said. She hadn’t thought of that before. Wouldn’t Tempest let her stay for free, since she was Meria’s wife?
"See, Holy, these are the things you didn’t think of before you did this. It cost Tempest money to take on passengers." Meria explained.
"The air you breath costs me money," Tempest said standing up and indicating the vent system. "I pay a monthly fee to have the air recycler cleaned. And the space you occupy, although you will be sharing it with Meria, is one she pays me a monthly sum for as well."
Tempest turned back to face Holy Star, catching on to what Meria was saying to her. "Although I do charge for her bunk space, I also pay 10% commission, which is 3% more than most others get," Temp explained. "Except for Chavez, who is my legitimate and unfortunately not-too silence partner, all my crew pay room and board."
Tempest went to the pantry. "I give them the money for the supplies, which is separate from the money I give them for pay, and they buy the stuff I ask them for," Temp continued as she pulled out a loaf of bread. "Fresh supplies cost the most, of course."
"Could I just pay for my fare?" Holy Star asked. "I do have some money with credits. How much would it cost?"
"A lot," Tempest said, then busied herself slicing off two pieces of bread before restoring the bread to the cupboard. She then moved to the refrigeration unit and took out some pre-sliced bologna. "Since our replicator is low on power, we're going to have to get by on actual food stocks, Meria," Tempest said then paused. "You know, I think I'll give you a little extra money for a new power booster for the replicator. If I have it."
"Sounds good." Meria nodded. "Since I picked up weapon supplies at our last stop, I think were all set there. What do you want Holy Star to do?"
"Holy can help you to determine what food stocks are best," Tempest said with a slight nod. She bit into her sandwich. "And cook for us, of course to earn her keep."
"But we’re going to be at Earth in what…" Meria check her chronometer, "half an hour. She won’t have much cooking to do."
Tempest raised an eyebrow at that. "I see, you don't wish us to take Holy Star Home?" Temp asked eyeing Meria carefully.
Holy Star gave Meria a look.
"Holy Star, I’m going to be to the point." Meria said addressing her wife, "I love you. But when you’re on this ship, you’re a distraction to me, a pleasant distraction, but a distraction nonetheless. I think it would be best if you stayed on Earth for a little bit and maybe just go home with Raven. You said he was attending a camp program on Earth right?"
"I see, I’m just a distraction." Holy Star said coldly. "It is best if I stay off your ship and out of your life. You can just come home when it is convenient for you. I can be your wife when it is convenient for you and when it isn’t, it’s like I don’t exist. Isn’t it?"
"Holy," Meria groaned. "You know, this is exactly what I’m talking about. How can I work when I’m busy arguing with you?"
Tempest tried her best to blend into the wall. She slowly edged her way towards the door, taking her bologna sandwich with her and hoping either of the two warring women noticed as she slipped out. |
Submission Name: Portside Drama
