| Jovian APAworks | Volume 1, Number 8 | August, 2001 |
Carolyn hated waiting, especially at the dockport. Sarah’s THC transport was running a few hours late. A surge in solar wind due to flare activity that had affected communications in-system was now causing Jupiter’s Radiation Zone to interfere with shipping lanes. Carolyn tried to make the best of the stale-smelling waiting room with its tacky, multi-colored, retro-style, vinyl chairs. In a hollow of revelation, she was beginning to think she might be understanding what Ms. Beatieux had shared about regarding bad taste in fashion and interior decoration.
"Hey," Christine interrupted Carolyn’s thoughts. Carolyn phased her attention toward Christine. "I’m going to get a soda," Christine continued. "You want one?"
Carolyn waved her sister off calmly. "No thanks, Christine. I’m fine."
"Will you be OK if I leave you for a while?"
"Yes, I’ll be fine," Carolyn rebuffed, smiling politely. "Now go."
"OK." With that Christine left the room.
Carolyn hadn’t wanted Christine’s company, but her papa had insisted. The paramedics had not found a single thing wrong with Carolyn. Strangely, she showed no signs of any medical reasons behind her dream escapade last night. Still, a doctor made the assigned house call earlier this morning. Still, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. The doctor had given her a clean bill of health. Despite the reluctance of her parents, Carolyn had gotten the doctor to persuade them that she was fine to go out but not to exert herself too hard. As far as anyone could diagnose, Carolyn’s incident was a stress-induced nightmare, a moment of fear and panic, little more.
Carolyn knew better though. Something unique and frightening was going on. She hadn’t told anyone about the specifics of her dreams, only enough to dissuade further inquiry. She had determined there were few people she should entrust. With self-suspicions against Clotho, IGS and her own sanity, Carolyn wasn’t sure where to begin. On top of it, her disturbing encounter with Isabella was even more confusing. Isabella had referred to Carolyn’s sister, Catherine, as her mama, at least that is what was to be deduced, but Catherine had no daughter nor did Carolyn think that Catherine and her husband wanted one. The whole thing just didn’t make a lot of sense.
Suddenly, the intercom spoke, "Flight 936 from Stevenson Station will now be docking at Gate 57 in five minutes. All people waiting to receive passengers from flight 936; please move to waiting room 16 outside customs receiving."
"Great," Carolyn exclaimed aloud, sounding disappointed.
"You ready?" Christine’s voice intruded, having just returned with a soda.
"Why do they always seem to land at a different gate than scheduled?" Carolyn asked Christine coyly.
Christine shrugged, sipping her soda through a straw. "Maybe it’s a universal law of chaos, the inefficiency coefficient and something else that I can’t remember. I don’t know. I’m only a freshman in business management." Christine winked.
"Sounds good to me," Carolyn smirked, getting up. "That was a good one," Carolyn thought to herself, chuckling silently.
When Sarah emerged from customs, she looked angry and frustrated. "Arhhh," she moaned, dropping her bags. Turning, she cursed back at the customs agent tending the door. "Do you know how hard it was to get those? Those were a very expensive gift." The guard glanced at Sarah and then looked away.
Carolyn and Christine walked up to help Sarah’s overloaded arms. "Is everything OK?" Carolyn asked, bracing for the answer.
"They are probably going to eat them all themselves, selfish bastards," Sarah responded, still in her temper. "Do you know how hard it is to get chocolate-covered almonds out here, and I am not talking about those almond paste candies either. ...A whole pound, confiscated. Insect Quarantine,...humph." She sighed, steadying her breathing. "I’m fine,...just upset."
"Really?" Carolyn jested. "You,...upset at customs. Now wouldn’t that be a change."
"Carolyn, shut up," Sarah rebuffed. "You should know to never ridicule a chocoholic in grief. ...And by the way, long time, no see." The two women smiled and hugged.
"It has been too long Sarah," Carolyn holding back the tears of joy.
"It has been much too long, Carolyn," Sarah affirmed.
The women patted each other on the back and un-embraced. Sarah looked at Christine. "Christine, what a surprise. It is good to see you too." Christine and Sarah hugged.
"It is good to see you too Sarah." Christine acknowledged.
Breaking the embrace, Sarah started to pick up her bags. "Can either of you help me out?" Both sister’s nodded and each took bags. Christine unfortunately took the heaviest.
"Dang, what’s in here, depleted uranium?"
"No, just clothes," Sarah stated plainly. "So Carolyn, it looks like I’m going to have an extended stay here. The interview at NewHome was rescheduled for a month from now. I have an interview with Madam Aria Beatieux scheduled in three days. I may also have another story to do as well, but that depends."
"Depends on what?" Carolyn inquired.
"I am not at liberty to discuss it, yet. The details are still being worked out with our contact leads. I’ll be able to sneak you a hint in a couple of days," Sarah answered.
"Sound positively sneaky," Carolyn relied, a bit of glee in her tone.
"So, how is everything at the Rueda-Johnson home?" Sarah asks, clearly appearing changing the subject."
"Carolyn fainted," Christine responded.
"I’m fine," Carolyn followed, stating plainly.
"Hmm, I’m fine, and Carolyn fainted?" Sarah smirked. "So, what happened Carolyn?"
"It was nothing," Carolyn consoled. "I had a nightmare."
"Yeah, she thought she was suffocating in space," Christine interjected.
"Huh?"
"I thought that I was suffocating in space," Carolyn affirmed. "I had a nightmare that I was floating in space suffocating." Carolyn tried to play the topic down, but Sarah was clearly hooked.
Looking at Carolyn ponderously, Sarah asked, "So, Christine, what happened then."
"Well, Carolyn screamed and stopped breathing. We had to call the paramedics."
"Paramedics?" Sarah exclaimed in astonishment. "Sounds like the Rueda-Johnson family had a very exciting night."
"It was just stress," Carolyn consoled.
"Really?" Sarah replied. "Carolyn,...stressed. Now, that would be a change." Sarah winked at Carolyn.
Authors Note: This multi-part piece on Carolyn is intended as a prequel to her stationing on Stevenson Station described in Carolyn's bio, published in the V1R1 issue. You reach the beginning of Carolyn's prequel story here.
| Jovian APAworks | Volume 1, Number 8 | August, 2001 |
Jovian Chronicles is © 2001, Dream Pod 9, Inc. All rights reserved. Jovian APAworks is not affiliated with Dream Pod 9 in any way. Submitted material remains the property of the creator.