[center][h2]The Uninvited Guests[/h2][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/lECs9U6.jpg[/img] [/center] Edina had opted to spend the night in. The lower deck passenger lounge was the perfect spot for the evening. She sat on the couch beneath Abby’s orchid drawing, legs crossed ‘lotus style,’ a book open upon her lap. The story was amusing, but hardly one to demand her full attention. Instead, her greater pleasures were derived from the tactile delights of pages beneath her fingers. For all she knew, she was alone on China Doll. At the urging of ‘Hook the Cook,’ Captain Strand had led a shore party off in search of drinks and diversions for their last night on Greenleaf. She’d been invited, but Edina felt that this hardworking crew needed its’ liberty from paying passengers now and again…not to mention the allure of a quiet night was just too great. She conjured the pilot was off on her own. Rumor had it she was a native. As for the Skye family, Edina had no idea. They kept the hours of club kids the ‘verse over, and seemed otherwise to keep to themselves…a trait she’d emulated all too well since rushing aboard on New Melbourne. However, the urge to hide herself away had faded with her bruises. China Doll possessed a vibe, an easy, no nonsense familiarity that flowed from the captain throughout his crew. Cal Strand seemed at ease with the idiosyncrasies of his people, and they in kind with him and each other. Abby’d mentioned that most of the group had first arrived on Persephone. Edina quietly marveled at the growing rapport among them, and the way they’d welcomed their newest member, the mechanic. She’d only met Yuri in passing, but had sensed the polite confusion of all ‘new guys’ sussing their place among a fresh band of shipmates. He sported scars and bruises of his own. If nothing else, that was a bond they shared at once. She’d almost forgotten Rex. Edina wasn’t quite clear on his function. To her eyes he’d taken China Doll as his personal shuttle from one brothel to the next…but she couldn’t rule out her own prejudices in that assessment. Abby seemed to veer between grudging humor and outright disgust at his antics, but the older members of the crew appeared unfazed. [i]To each, his own,[/i] she’d ultimately decided. They would all soon return, and China Doll would reverberate with the pleasant hum of a boat preparing for space. But for now, she was at her ease, save for the occasional tick and pop of the old hull casting off the day’s heat, or the hiss of her climate system. The boat was at peace. Edina was worlds away from her abuser, among good folk. Like China Doll, she could feel the tension draining off her bones. They shared in the comfort together. A loud metallic banging suddenly echoed through the open cargo bay hatch. She recognized the sound at once, an old wrench that dangled on a piece of twine next to the personnel entry. [i]Back so soon?[/i] the woman mused as she rose from the sofa. Another series of clangs greeted her as she stepped into the hold. “Coming!” Edina shouted, unsure if she could be heard at all as she padded on bare feet across the empty deck. Hook had taught her the art of ‘cracking’ the personnel hatch so that its’ locking shafts would only permit a narrow opening. As she took in the sight of three rough looking characters on the ramp, Edina was profoundly grateful for the lesson. “Yes?” she asked. Two men. One woman. All three wore combinations of weatherbeaten denim, heavy engineers’ boots, and matching black leather vests. The point man looked to be in his forties. A grizzled face hung gaunt beneath shoulder length hair. One blue eye met her in a fierce scowl. The other was concealed behind a black patch. “We’re lookin’ for a Shepherd. Goes by ‘Collins.’ Heard he’s here.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry. I don’t know. Just a passenger.” “Then go ask,” the woman stepped forward, her dusky voice the result of one too many ciggies. “I’m really sorry. The crew’s all out right now. If you come back in the morning…” “Why don’t you let us in and we’ll have a look?” The leader cupped his hand, fingers pressed into the gap to test the door. Now the fear in her belly rose along her spine. “Can’t do that,” her voice cracked slightly as she answered. “Captain says…” The sound of her fear raised three toothy grins. Like sharks smelling blood in the water, the three pressed forward. “You see Collins,” the leader’s voice growled, “tell ‘im he’s late for his meeting at the Twirling Rabbit. And we got long memories.” “Um…” Edina stammered, “if I see him…okay?” The ruffian gave the door a deliberate shove, its’ inward swing abruptly halted by the lock shafts striking the inner bulkhead. With a decisive jerk, he removed his hand, fingers splayed as he fixed her with a predatory smile. “Toodle-oo,” he waved goodbye. The machines they rode had just coughed to life as Edina resealed the personnel hatch. Fright cascaded through her body as she hurried to her room. There, her hands trembled as she tapped out a message on her cortex. [b]We got shepherd aboard? Collins?[/b] After pressing ‘send,’ Edina listened for a soft answering buzz from Abby’s room just up the hall. When none came, she returned to the lounge, drew herself into a ball, and watched her own reader for any sign of a response. She didn’t have to wait long. [b]Yes. #2, port side. Everything shiny?[/b] Edina knew that the truth would have Cal and his whole crew back here in minutes. No matter how reassuring that sounded, she didn’t want to squelch their big night together over her jangled nerves. [b]Just got a msg. I’ll deliver. Have fun![/b] [b]Doc & Yuri gonna teach me dance moves. Cap says I got 2 left feet. Come join![/b] Despite herself, she giggled. The toughs had worked up that old fear within her, but as she made her way toward the Shepherd’s room, Edina Wyman found herself beginning to feel better. “Shepherd?” she knocked upon his door. “Shepherd Collins?”