Escape to New Atlantis

16 Bubba Bubbles

Catalina

It's good to be out on the street, under the stars. I rose early to have a fun day with Sawyer while his home was being moved. It seemed like a simple plan. But then a rogue wave struck, his building sank, we found a communications security breach, and I caused Mr. Fix-It to be arrested. And I'm still leading Sawyer around like a puppy. Yes, his face melts my heart, but I could use some "me time." A long, warm bath would be heaven.

I glance at the heart-melting face and remember the poor guy's homeless. Regardless of my feelings, or my level of exhaustion, helping newly arrived kids adjust to New Atlantis is how I earn my running-around money. When their home sinks, they need me the most, so how can I be the best help now? "I'll bet you're as famished as I am, Sawyer. Let's go forage at my place."

When I open the apartment door we're enveloped in the magical scent of enchiladas. Sawyer's mother sticks her head out of the kitchen and says, "Kids—you're right on time for Millie's feast!"

I haven't even closed the door when I get a message from Benedict. "Need to see you and Sawyer. Where?"

"Mi casa—about to dig into enchiladas."

"¡Bueno! See you soon."

Sawyer and I each wash up and hurry to the dining table. Daddy's home, a surprise given the rogue wave, so I introduce him and Sawyer. Hosting new arrivals is Mother's thing, as Daddy is the living cliché of a software geek. But being introverted doesn't make him rude: he greets Sawyer warmly and encourages him to call him Hector. Even makes a lame computer joke that only Sawyer seems to find funny.

"Where's Delia?" I ask, secretly glad she isn't here.

Sitting down, Mother says, "Still performing her infrastructure duties, I presume. Frankly, I was surprised to see you two back."

I fill my plate. "Well, you see, we kind of got interrupted..." And I tell our long, sordid tale.

When I finish, Daddy wipes his mouth with his napkin and takes a last sip of his sweet tea. He stands and gives me a kiss on the top of my head. "Sweetheart, I know you're devastated. But you did the right thing. The brave thing. I couldn't be prouder. But now I've got to get back to the information center. Great to meet you, Sawyer." Then, from the front door, he calls back, "Benedict's here!"

The big guy rolls into the dining room and gives Mother a hug. "Millie, I can't believe these cretins left some of your enchiladas on the plate." She gives him a big grin—everyone always gives Benedict a big grin—and tells him to take Delia's place while she gets him a plate. Before he sits, he goes around, kneels by Sawyer's mother, and introduces himself. "Ms. Landry, Olivia, if I may, please accept my deepest apologies for the sinking of your home."

Olivia blinks twice and replies, "OK, but don't make it a habit." Then she breaks out laughing. "I'm sorry, Benedict, but your expression is just too cute. I'm sure this is an expensive loss for you, but for us it's just another bump in the road. And by the way, I love those clothes you, um, baked for Sawyer. Thank you."

He gives her a thumbs-up and takes his seat next to me. "Actually, the relocation contractor's insurance will completely cover my loss. Yours too—I expect you'll receive a few thousand NAD, that's New Atlantis dollars, as compensation for your disruption." He takes a big bite of an enchilada, gives Mother a wink of approval, and turns back to Olivia. "You may not be aware, but you were the only people living in that building. The company that runs the street-level liquor store is the beverage distributor for the entire city. From the start, they rented the sub-street levels for storage, then expanded by snapping up any residential unit that became available in the building. They finally just bribed the remaining residents to move out in mass so they could occupy it all. Until a few weeks ago, when the Resident Experience Ministry demanded they return one apartment as 'proper housing' for the two of you."