The next morning AnaMaria was up early, ready for the day to start. She showered quickly and dressed in a simple dark tank that hugged her curves and baggy khaki pants that were held loosely by a red sash. To complete her outfit she threw on her well worn cloak.
"Man, I wish I had my hat," she mourned quietly. When she had reached for her hat only to realize that is was now probably only a pile of ashes in the destroyed Benbow Inn, the girl cursed her luck. She had gone through many troubles to find a hat such as that one and protected it fiercely since the first time it was laid upon her head. She could kick herself for forgetting it so easily, but there would be more hats one day soon, if only she could be patient.
With thoughts of grander, better hats shoved to the back of her mind, she grabbed her pack which now contained only a small amount of clothes and very little money. The last thing she grabbed were her two rattan sticks – simple wooden sticks that served their wielder well. She tucked the sticks into the back her waist band and cleverly covered them with her cloak. She set out after that, intent on finding a job.
Luck was apparently on her side today because as she passed by a quaint little pub the sight of a familiar dog faced man caught her eye through the window. Very much relieved that he was in fact all right she entered the pub to see why he was around this part of town. The pub may have been quaint but it was still in the part of town where one had to watch one's back.
The doctor was surrounded by a group of unsavory characters when AnaMaria slid up beside him. She shot the group an intimidating look, silently challenging any of them to try and cheat the good doctor out of his belongings. She was pleasantly proud of herself when the bunch left, grumbling begrudgingly under their breath.
"Good to see you well, doctor," AnaMaria greeted. She smiled softly at the shocked astrophysicist.
It took him a second to place her face but once he remembered her striking hazel eyes he jumped to thank her. "Thanks to your quick thinking, the Hawkins and I owe you our lives!" AnaMaria waved off his praise.
"Think nothing of it. But I must ask, Dr. Doppler, why are you here, surely this isn't the kind of place you come for lunch?" She glanced around the pub, frowning slightly at some of the more disgusting patrons. The doctor was quick to give a reason.
"You see, I have come across some valuable findings and have been given the permission from my fellow colleagues to finance a voyage! However, a voyage calls for a crew and I know of no one who has a crew at the ready, thus explaining my current reason as to why I am in a place such as this." AnaMaria nodded her head in understanding.
"A voyage you say? May I ask to where you are sailing?" To her surprise the doctor denied her request.
"That information is only to be known by myself and the ship's Captain, I am sorry." This piqued the girl's interest considerably.
"Have you any room for one more on this voyage?" Much to her delight the doctor agreed to allow her on his journey.
"It is the least I can do for you, Miss AnaMaria," he replied casually. "Our voyage takes off in two days time. Please meet the crew and I over at the port 8 am sharp! We will be flying on the RLS Legacy." AnaMaria nodded her head to show she understood, a wide grin spreading across her face.
"I look forward to sailing with you, doctor," she admitted, giddy about the entire idea. The doctor nodded in agreement.
"And I, you, Miss AnaMaria." And with that the two parted ways, destined to meet again in two days time. However, before AnaMaria truly let the doctor leave her sights, she made sure he returned safely to his side of town.
