Chapter 8
Starliner Athos Nexus Main Chat
Chattykaffi: A galactically big welcome to all those joining us from Aetrea! We look forward to getting to know you and showing you our amazing starliner, the Athos. The orientation programming begins in one hour in the Galaxy Amphitheater. Refreshments will be available. And to all of our cruisers who are departing, thank you for your stay and we eagerly await your return. Bon voyage!
Moonbeam24: It was a great cruise. Can’t wait to do it again!
MajorTom: Excited to see what the ship has to offer.
Starliner Athos Nexus Chat 2
JanuaryGirl: I just heard a crew member passed away! Thankful it wasn’t Ragesh, but so sad. Much love to all the staff and crew on the Athos.
TrishLovesChocolate: Very sad. Who was it?
PTSmith: Passed away? That’s not what I heard. Seems they’re trying to keep the truth from the paying guests because I heard murder.
Chattykaffi: Dr. Andrew Woolsey was found deceased in his quarters. The Athos Security Force is currently investigating the incident. We ask that you respect the privacy and feelings of those who knew him. Please refrain from spreading rumors.
PTSmith: So you’re not going to tell us how he was murdered? What else are you keeping from the passengers? Is there a killer on the loose? We have a right to know.
PTSmith has been banned from this channel
Starliner Athos Nexus Chat 3
MaintenanceMark: So … who did Woolsey in?
KelinHK: Should we really be discussing that?
RedPlumber: Someone was murdered on board. We have every right to discuss it.
HotTots: I hope whoever did it gets airlocked.
1001Stories: If he was murdered, whoever did it deserves to be punished, but we don’t know how he died yet. Best to wait until cause of death is revealed before jumping to any conclusions.
DrVee: Well said.
New Direct Message
DrVee: Are you all right? I heard the ASF questioned you?
1001Stories: I’m fine. I’ll tell you about it at dinner.
DrVee: Are we still going planetside at Aetrea?
. . .
. . .
1001Stories: Yes
A fter my shift, I took Harry back to our quarters, changed into jeans, a blue-and-white striped tee and a light linen jacket. I put on my best walking sandals, stuck sunglasses, my wearable translator and a tube of mineral sunscreen into my crossbody bag, made sure I had my international passport, changed out the scarf in my hair for a blue one, then kissed Harry goodbye on his sweet little head.
I went to meet Vashti in the Saturn Lounge, the crew debarkation point. The space, decorated in shades of blue with geometric bits of metal art on the walls, was packed. I scanned the crowd for Vashti but didn’t see her.
Officer Lu said the ASF preferred I stay on board. Not that I was under any kind of restriction. And as I wasn’t guilty of anything, I saw no reason not to keep my plans to visit the port and take a quick trip to Aetrea.
Vashti wasn’t here yet, but I saw another familiar face. Well, I saw a lot of familiar faces, but there was one in particular that made me smile. “Hi, Frank.”
“Ellis.” His slow smile and nod sent a frisson of warmth through me. “Headed planetside?”
“That’s the plan. You, too?”
“Figured I might take a look around. I heard the Aetrean luang jerky is a real delicacy.”
“Luang? Isn’t that some kind of water lizard?”
“I believe so. Not to your taste?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve never tried it.” My wristband vibrated with an incoming message. I glanced at it. “Excuse me, Frank, I need to answer this.”
It was Vashti. I’m not going to make it. One of the embarking passengers fell and hurt their wrist, possibly broke a rib. It’ll be hours before I’m free. I’m so sorry.
I lifted the wristband to my mouth and spoke into it. “That’s all right. Do what you need to do.” I looked at Frank as I continued my message back to her. “I’m sure I’ll find someone to go with.”
As I dropped my wrist back to my side, his eyes narrowed ever so slightly. “Your date canceled on you?”
“Sort of. She’s one of the ship’s doctors and has an injured passenger to deal with. We were going to do a little shopping and have some dinner.”
He nodded thoughtfully. “The kind of shopping that a man wouldn’t be welcome at?”
“Only if those men have a problem with excessive amounts of snacks and sweets.” I grinned. “I like my souvenirs edible. I feel that’s the best way to really get to know a place. Through its food.”
“I like your style.” His eyes twinkled. “It’s very much akin to my own. Would I do as a replacement for your friend? I’m no doctor.”
“You’d do wonderfully. So long as you’re amenable to dinner?”
“Did you already have a place picked out?”
“No. We like to be spontaneous. See what we find or what’s recommended to us.”
“That works for me.”
A chime announced disembarkation had begun. We got in line, passports at the ready.
Frank stood behind me. I glanced over my shoulder to talk to him. “So, how was your day?”
He exhaled. “All right. Busy. Had to fix a couple of vuums. One was full of glass fragments.” He shook his head like he couldn’t imagine how that had happened, but those things sucked up anything in their path. Suddenly, his expression turned curious. “I’ve gotten a few more chapters of your, uh, recommendation read.”
“Oh?” He was incredibly handsome. Even without cider in my system. “And how do you like it?”
“More than I thought I would.” One side of his mouth hitched up like he was amused by his own expectations.
“I’m glad to hear that.” I really needed to get that book read so we could talk about it. Tonight, no matter what time I got home, I was reading at least the first two chapters.
We moved forward at a steady pace, inching closer to security.
I had a small moment of panic, wondering if I’d been red-flagged. I glanced at Frank. “There is something I should tell you.”
His gaze shifted from the entrance of the walkway that led to the starport to me. “What’s that?”
I chose my words carefully. “You’ve heard about Andrew Woolsey?”
He nodded. “I think everyone has by now.”
“Right.” I chewed my bottom lip. “Well, I may have been the last person in his quarters before he was found dead. The ASF sent an officer to question me today. They mentioned they preferred me not to leave the ship, but…”
After a moment, he gave a little nod, eyes holding some concern. “But you didn’t do anything and see no reason to change your plans because of their assumptions.”
“Yes, exactly.” I was glad he understood. “I was only there to drop off a book he’d asked me for. That’s why I went to the library. To get the book.” Frank had walked me there. “It’s really frustrating that they think I’m in any way involved.”
“Are you changing your mind about going to Aetrea?”
“No, not at all. Just letting you know that you could be getting yourself involved in something you might not want to be involved with. By going with me.”
He was quick to answer. Like he didn’t even need to think about it. “I’m a grown man. I can handle myself.”
I had no doubts about that. “I just thought I should tell you.”
“I appreciate that. Honesty goes a long way with me. You didn’t have to say anything. I wouldn’t have known.”
“But you’d have found out eventually, and then I would have seemed shady, and I didn’t want that.” Dishonesty, no matter how vague, was no way to begin a friendship. Which was what I thought was happening.
“Thank you.”
“So you’re okay with it?”
“I am. I’m more than okay with it. I’m pleased to have your company.”
I exhaled. He said the nicest things. “Thanks.”
The line moved again, bringing us to the security machines. We scanned our passports, each in turn causing the red light on the scanner to flip green. I’d been reasonably worried mine wouldn’t get the green light, indicating I wasn’t approved to disembark, but thankfully, that didn’t happen.
Apparently, the ASF hadn’t done anything about their preference for me to remain on board other than telling me that’s what they wanted.
I breathed a sigh of relief as we strolled through to the starport and got in line for the next shuttle to the planet’s surface.
Aetrea was a terrestrial planet with larger ice caps than Earth. The bulk of the population lived near its equator, which was where we’d be headed. The tropical climate and vegetation were said to be much like parts of South America.
The area we were going was mostly rainforest. We’d be visiting the city of Ecoterra. As much as I wished Vashti could have come, I was pretty happy to have Frank for company.
The shuttle landed. I dug my translator out of my bag and hooked it over my ear. Frank took his out of his pocket and did the same.
We only had three and a half hours to explore, and part of that time would be spent having dinner, so I wasn’t sure what we’d get to do.
As we left the shuttle behind and entered the visitor center, Frank pointed. “What do you think about something like that?”
I looked in the direction he was pointing. The sign was in several languages, one of them English. “A guided tour would be all right. Especially for it being our first time here.”
“Let’s go find out the details.”
The tour took ninety minutes with three stops at the ruins of an ancient Aetrean temple, a greppery, which was a place that made greppa, the famous Aetrean liquor, and Pyp’s, a confectioner that specialized in chocolade. I didn’t need a translator to tell me what that last one was.
“Let’s do it,” I said. It was a little on the expensive side, but when were we going to be on Aetrea again? And I figured Frank had already seen the price, so he must be okay with it.
Twenty minutes later we were on the bus, wearing wristbands that indicated we were part of the tour. All the seats were paired and faced the windows, meaning there were only twenty-six passengers. The small number was nice and worth the extra price. We took two seats near the center and settled in.
I glanced at Frank. “I’m a little surprised you wanted to do this.”
He looked confused. “The tour? Why?”
“I don’t know. I guess you don’t seem like the sort who’d want to do organized things like this. You strike me as someone who’d want to do their own thing. I don’t mean anything bad by that. Just an observation.”
A slight smile curved his mouth. “You’re not wrong. This wouldn’t be my usual choice. I’m definitely more inclined to hire a vehicle and make my own way. Explore on my own terms. But this isn’t the States. Not only that, we have a short window of time here, and you wanted to do it, so why not? I’m sure it’ll be fun. And it gives us time to eat and shop when we get back.”
So he’d at least partially done this for me. I was touched. It was a kind gesture. I placed my hand lightly on his arm. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
If he was trying to make me like him more, kindness wasn’t a bad way to go. The fact that I could potentially be facing down a murder accusation wasn’t far from my mind. I wasn’t about to turn down a new friend.
Especially one as competent and caring as Frank.