| Jovian APAworks | Volume 1, Number 9 | November, 2001 |
The three women had waited patiently in line for a PUV to come available, bags surrounding them. Sarah looked at her watch. "We've been in line for over an hour. This is worse than trying to flag a taxi in the New York Arcology," Sarah exclaimed. "Is the dockport always this busy?"
"Yes and no," Christine answered. "Elysee is a main port, but the holiday season always increases traffic. Still it shouldn't be this busy."
Suddenly, the intercom crackled to life. "Your attention please, the PUV dispatch system is experiencing technical difficulty. Delays will likely persist for the next hour. We wish to apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. We ask for your patience."
The women moaned a sigh of grief, all except Sarah. "Oh God," Sarah exclaimed. "This is intolerable." Sarah picked up her share of the bags and left the line, moving toward the departure pavilion at the head of the line.
Carolyn and Christine, a bit startled, grabbed their bags too. "Hey Sarah," Carolyn exclaimed. "Where are you going; it couldn't last that much longer. We'll lose our place in line."
"Girls," Sarah replied. "It's time to find alternative transportation. Let's go."
"Where?" Christine asked.
"I'm not sure," Sarah yelled out over her shoulder as she hurried away. "Come on."
Both Christine and Carolyn readjusted their load of baggage and staggered to catch up. "Sarah," Carolyn exclaimed. "There is no other transportation."
"Oh you of little faith," Sarah responded. "There isn't unless you have one of these." Sarah flashed a ZOnet USN Ambassador IDcard.
"When did you get one of those?" Christine asked excitedly.
"You know, that other job that I couldn't tell you about girls?"
Carolyn and Christine answered in unison. "Yes."
"Well now you got a hint."
When the door shut, the bustle of the pavilion outside faded. Soon the luxury PUV, purred to life and pulled out into traffic, heading away for the dockport. The angry stares of the disappointed people still in line soon faded behind.
"That's more like it," Sarah sighed.
"Wow," Christine exclaimed. "That was impressive. I think that we just took this PUV from that wealthy, fashion designer Pierre Gestauv. He and his anemic girlfriend looked positively miffed."
"Uh Sarah, do think that was wise?" Carolyn interjected.
"Well, politics over business," Sarah acknowledged. "At least, when you're dealing with dockport security." She smiled. "Ah, is that champagne?"
"Holy cow!" Christine squealed with excitement. "This is so cool. I've never ridden in a luxury PUV before."
"Hold on a sec." Sarah pressed the comm button. Driver," Sarah called. "Could you take us by Everet Park, Street 10A, Block C before heading to the Eysee Presdient's Hotel. ...And take a leisurely route, please."
"Yes ma'am."
"Christine, why don't you pour." Sarah moved to sit next to Carolyn.
"Sarah, I still don't think that this, I mean, that was a good idea," Carolyn rebuked kindly. "You aren't an ambassador."
"Oh, I don't know about that," Sarah smiled. "The security staff at the dockport seemed to think so."
"But...."
"Here you go." Christine handed Sarah two champagne glasses.
"Carolyn," Sarah consoled, holding out a glass. "It's alright. You worry too much sometimes. Just enjoy yourself, OK?"
There was a brief pause till Carolyn let a smile crease her face. "OK," she acknowledged, taking the glass.
"Great!" Sarah exclaimed. "Cheers." The women clicked their glasses and Sarah took her first sip. "Oh God," Sarah screamed.
"What?" Carolyn and Christine asked, panicked.
"This is Chanson Piendon," Sarah exclaimed. "This stuff is five hundred plus a bottle."
"Mmmm," Christine acknowledged, after taking her first sip. "This is absolutely fabulous."
Carolyn stared at her glass for a while, before Sarah broke in to her train of thought. "You're supposed to drink it Carolyn." Carolyn playfully sneered at Sarah, sticking out her tongue and then took a sip. Her eyebrows went up. "Pretty good, huh, Carolyn," Sarah poked.
"Well," Carolyn stated, suppressing her newfound fascination with expensive champagne as much as she could. "Yeah."
Sarah burst into laughter. "Carolyn, we have been away from each other too long, you and me."
Carolyn looked at Sarah, then at her glass, taking another sip. She then just smiled, letting herself sink into her chair, letting out a wink toward the other women. They all burst into laughter as the PUV continued down the motorway toward home.
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 9 | November, 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.