The Golden Token #3
“I’ll have my usual but I have to warn you management will only let me sit with you if you keep on buying me the overpriced drinks, whether I drink them or not.
Part of my job.” She shrugged, the robe slipping off one shoulder.
“No need for you to spend too much. I’ll go circulate in the casino like I’m supposed to, after. I wanted to say thanks.”
“Don’t rush off on my account. I can afford a few lousy drinks tonight.” He sat back as a robo waiter brought him a fresh beer and a glass of some pale feelgood for her. “Add this to my tab.”
“Plus a 20% gratuity,” the robot said. “Standard.”
Charlie nodded. As soon as the server rolled away, he said, “Where did you get your dance training?”
“Self-taught. I did the choreography too.” Rose took a sip of the drink, making a tiny grimace. “This stuff is swill. Public conversation is all I do, by the way, just to set the rules up front. No lap dances, no backroom encounters. Nothing personal.” She studied him over the rim of her glass.
“Always good to clarify the rules of engagement,” he answered, not offended in the least. He preferred plain speaking to games and hints. “This must be a rough place to work.”
“I like your attitude, neighbor. The miners don’t always take limits so well.
” She clutched at the robe as it fell off again, hastily covering a fading bruise on her arm.
“The casino’s not so bad—management treats me nice enough.
Gets crazy when the miners come to spend their paychecks though.
We’re slow this week, couple of mines closed down for good, so the guys can’t afford the ticket to come up here, much less spend credits to drink and gamble. ”
Watching her toy with the glass the robo had delivered, he said, “If that stuff’s so bad—and it looks awful—care for some of my beer?”
Raising her eyebrows, with a flick of her wrist she dumped the pale liquid into the faux plant behind her. Glass held out to him, she said, “First guy who’s ever suggested an alternative.”
In hopes of getting the conversation off the topic of the miners, who didn’t interest him at all, he decided to ask the question perplexing him the most. “With all your dancing abilities, how did you end up here?”
“I’m a Sector 47 girl, through and through. Miner’s daughter. Both parents worked the mines, dead now. I have a gramma on the planet, in the assisted living quarters.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Lost my folks years ago. One of the major tunnels collapsed, no survivors. No company pension either. Kumisarc’s a cheapskate employer but they’re the only one in the sector.
They own it all—mines, station, casino, shuttles—everything.
” She drank deep. Eyeing him as she licked her lips, she said, “Now this is the good stuff. Say, I hope you don’t work for Kumisarc? ”
Charlie shook his head.
“Smart man. I like your taste in beer. Are you sure you want to listen to my sad story?”
He raised his bottle in a toast. “To sad stories.”
“I don’t believe you have one to tell.” Settling into her chair, Rose crossed her legs and leaned her chin on her hand.
“Retired military,” he said, leaving out a lot of unnecessary details. His tongue got tied when anyone wanted him to talk about himself, not to mention most of what he’d seen and done was classified. Or too horrific to share with a civilian. “Now you.”
“That was short and sweet.” Her laugh was melodic to his ears.
She toyed with the cocktail napkin. “All I ever wanted to do was dance. My mother used to say I was born dancing. Of course there weren’t any studios in a mining colony, but my parents scrimped and saved, and bought me as many dance trideos as we could afford.
My Dad built me a tiny practice space in the living room, so I could work out, and Mom sewed me some costumes. ”
She drank more beer. When she spoke again he could hear the effort she was making to keep her voice light.
“I had dreams, you know? Wanted to go to an Inner Sectors’ school.
Even got accepted; parents took out a loan to pay for transmitting the trideo audition.
Full scholarship. My folks were so proud. ”
He studied her face. “What happened?”
“No credits for the spacefare. You know how much the cheapest cruise line wanted to take me all the way to Sector Five? And then there’d have been living expenses.
Scholarship didn’t cover those either.” Rose played with the fringe on her robe’s sash.
“Lot of fine print in that offer. Dancing on this station is as far as I got along the path to the dreams.”
He covered her free hand with his, searching for something to say, even though her attitude showed she didn’t want sympathy. “Hey, you got accepted, that says a lot about your talent. The competition must have been fierce.”
“And at least I don’t live on a mining planet anymore. I made it that far.” Frowning, she said, “I don’t usually talk about this, sorry. Here comes the damn robot again with my next expensive slug of swill. If I get up right now they might not charge you.” She moved as if to leave her chair.
He knew his account was good for as many drinks as it took to keep her at his table. “Not on your life. Do you have to do another show later?”
She nodded. “Two shows a night, followed by more socializing—or drink hustling if you prefer to call it like it is. Then I’m off.”
“Are you hungry? Want to grab a bite to eat?” He didn’t want to lose her company just yet. Now that he was starting to know a little bit about the person behind the beautiful face, he was intrigued, wanting to find out more.
“Not enough time. I’ll grab a snack later, before I have to perform again. I should probably walk around the casino floor a bit, keep my muscles from tightening up before the next show.”
“Well then, let’s go try some gambling. I remember you said you’re not allowed to play, but you can be my good luck charm.
” He’d rather sit and talk to her, all night if possible, but he’d noticed her giving the security guards nervous glances.
He guessed she wasn’t supposed to let any one customer monopolize her like this, even if he could pay for all the drinks in the bar.
Maybe if he kept moving with her, the staff would lose interest. Remembering the golden token, he dug it out of his pocket.
“I still have this—time to put it to work.”
She swung around to look at the large gambling floor. “Which game’s your choice?”
“You tell me. What would you play, if you were a gambling woman?”
“Roulette.” Leaning close to him as she stood up, Rose said, “It’s an honest wheel.
The casino does a few things on the shady side but the gaming is on the up and up.
Mostly.” Strolling toward the designated table, she tucked her arm in his.
“My dad made a big hit on the roulette wheel once, or so he told my mother and me. He never admitted how much he lost first though.”
“I’m not losing tonight,” Charlie said, feeling a mild buzz from the beer, but even more from her company.
He’d kept pretty much to himself on the cruise ship, decompressing from his final mission behind enemy lines, right before mustering out.
He didn’t have anything in common with any of the other, civilian travelers.
But he felt like he could listen to Rose talk about anything.
He plunked the golden coin down on red. “In honor of your dress,” he said to her.
The wheel spun, the ball hopping in and out of the pockets, settling at last in a red one. “Winner!” the croupier said. “We’ll credit your account with the Station or you can collect your credits when you leave.”
“Fine but give me my token back for now,” Charlie said. “It’s bringing me luck.”
“Sure, why not?” The man handed it to him with a wink and a smile for Rose. “Live it up, pal.”
They remained at the roulette table for a few minutes before moving on to some dice game he’d never encountered before, where he lost, to Rose’s amusement.
Then he tried the slots and came out even.
They laughed and joked, and it was the best evening he could remember in a long time.
Life in the Teams on active duty didn’t encourage a man to get to know outsiders.
Get drunk, get laid, train hard, go on the next mission.
The war was never ending, against an enemy both vicious and cunning.
But now he was far removed from the battle and Rose was a breath of fresh air for him, a reminder of all he’d fought so hard for.
She left a trail of her untouched drinks behind them all over the casino.
When she said it was time to prepare for the next show, he escorted her to the stage door.
“I really enjoyed your company. Want me to wait and walk you home after the next performance? After all, we are neighbors.” The thought of her strolling through the deserted corridors of the station bothered him, stirred up his protective instincts.
“Flattering.” Tilting her head, one eyebrow raised as if she was assessing the seriousness of his offer, Rose laughed.
“You do realize I walk home by myself every night normally and with a security guard when certain really rowdy miners are in port? Gallant of you though. Old time chivalrous. Thanks, anyway, but I can take care of myself.” With a wave she disappeared through the portal.