In A Starship's Wake

Chapter 49: Back Under Way

Joseph's phone beeped with a message from Charlie. The ship was loaded. He suppressed a sigh, then laughed at his own inconsistency. It saddened him that it was time to depart, he'd enjoyed the conversations with the residents of Four Machines. Sadly, random talk wouldn't help Great Mandan Laker make money, no matter how informative it was. They still had a job to do.

"Looks like our time is up." He rose from the table where he and Savannah had continued their conversation. Rhett had gone back to the control room when Joseph returned to the ship to help reposition it, but she'd come back once his shift on the bridge was over.

"I wish that would have taken a little longer." Savannah stood as well, stretched, and stifled a yawn. "Still, I knew it wouldn't be much more than eight hours, otherwise I would have gone to bed by now."

"Sorry to keep you up late."

"Don't be. One late night won't hurt me, especially since I don't have to help them guide the tug in."

Other members of Joseph's crew scattered around the common area also got to their feet. Charlie had saved him the effort of rounding everyone up.

They joined the little stream of people headed into the corridors, all bound for the gangway. Each of the Laker crewmembers had at least one miner along, unwilling to end their respective conversations any earlier than necessary. Nathan and a balding man slightly older than Rhett discussed which teams from the Atlas Cluster Combat League were likely to make it into the national championship. Gordon and Samuel, both young fathers themselves, helped entertain some of the smaller children. The peculiar look on their faces reminded Joseph to check the shipment schedule. He wanted to keep the gaps between the mens' visits home as short as he reasonably could.

"Does it usually go like this when you get visitors?" Joseph gestured to the little groups that ambled along the hall.

"You're the first we've had, so yes," Savannah laughed.

"Oh. I figured supply ships would have visited at some point."

She shook her head. "We go get supplies with our ship. It doesn't need a big crew, so it's only two or three people that leave for those trips. A lot of us, myself included, haven't been out of the system since we arrived."

"Does that bother you?" Joseph couldn't imagine what it was like to stay in one system for a whole year anymore. Once he and Tyrone left home, the travel bug had bit him. If he was in one place more than a week, he started to get antsy.

"Yes and no." Savannah made a face. "I don't mind that I'm in one place all the time, especially with our occasional trips to the planet's surface. The part that bothers me is what we talked about earlier with my dad, the small population and rare opportunities to make new friends. On that subject, it was nice to meet you," she added as they reached the gangway.

"You too. I'll send you a message in a few days." Joseph smiled at her and wished vaguely to stay longer, but they were out of time.

"Good." She smiled in return. "Keep an eye on the station as you leave. Our tug is almost here with the asteroid now, so you should be able to watch part of that maneuver on your way out."

He looked back once more as he started up the gangway, and she waved. After that the station's airlock slid shut. They stepped aboard the Laker and Joseph closed the airlock on their side, officially ending the visit.

Rebecca emerged from one of the corridors that led aft to join the men as they came aboard. "Charlie is on the bridge already. He said he would wait to disconnect until we all joined him. The cargo bay is secure, I just checked the intake ports."