Euridice
Part 4
Author: Joyann (joyann@psnw.com)
Disclaimer: Read part 1
Rated: PG
The sled paused as it entered a freight elevator. Farve glanced at the control panel, DOWN. He jumped from the sled and pulled Anna away just as the doors slipped shut. They found themselves in a corridor with elevators lining both sides. Voices came from around the corner. They ran, frantically searching for a place to hide. The elevator doors would not open without an Ident key. They came to the end of the hallway, there was no place to go. The voices were nearer, soon they would be seen. Just then the nearest pair of doors slid open and immediately began to close again. Stacks of boxes filled the car from floor to ceiling. Ian thrust his arm into the opening and shoved at a stack of boxes. They gave and slid back just a little, but it was enough. Ian pulled Anna after him as he quickly hopped onto a small crate. He pulled her tightly to him as the doors brushed against her shoulder blades and snapped shut. She leaned heavily against him as she caught her breath.
Ian was discovering he rather liked holding her in his arms. "Are you alright? Did I hurt you?" She looked up at him. He reached up to brush the hair away from her face as he stared intently into her big brown eyes. The concern on his face touched her. He was so gentle. Not like other men she had known. But he was not at all like other men. She shook her head, she was just being silly. "I'm ok just a little tired, that's all." She buried her head against his shoulder and enjoyed the feeling of safety in his arms.
They sat in a dark corner of a small store room. Anna surveyed the contents of the black bag. She had forgotten all about it. Ian had emptied the contents into the pockets of his coat while she was sleeping. There were several small packets containing $500 in local currency, 2 fake ID's, a key, cash card and a list of contact numbers. On the back of the number list was another list of words that didn't seem to mean anything. Tidalwave, Tea cup, Steam iron, Windmill ect. At the bottom of the list in her fathers handwriting, Hotel Calliope. "These must be some of Daddy's contacts, maybe they can help us. "
"I will attempt to reach someone using the eComm terminal in the hotel lobby." They peeked out of a service hallway, having entered through the hotel kitchen. Luckily the hotel was just a few blocks from mining headquarters. They had waited until the change of shift and blended in with the throngs of miners and support personnel leaving the grounds. "No, you are too conspicuous. I'll go." "Anna, I don't think it is wise to..." He called after her retreating form. After a few moments of indecision, he followed. He could see the eComm terminal at the far end of the lobby from where he stood in at the hallway entrance, trying to look inconspicuous. As much as a 6"4" broad shouldered man in a filthy suit could look inconspicuous.
The milling crowd partially blocked his view. The lobby decor was early techno hideous. The bold carpet and abstract furniture has seen better days. A number of scantily clad women caroused with men in various stated of intoxication. Ian realized what sort of place they had taken refuge in and edged further back into the shadows.
Anna was heading back to him. She looked over her shoulder at a short burley man in a uniform. She had noticed him watching her from a nearby desk. He stepped into the crowd and headed in Anna's direction. She glanced back again before slowing her pace. Her pursuer paused to see what she was doing. There were very few women here who were not employees.
Anna leisurely approached Farve with a silly grin on her face. She placed her hands on his chest and ran them down his body. Ian stepped back his mouth open in surprise. "Anna?" She pressed her body against him. As she caught his face between her hands, she whispered, "Hold still". She planted a none to gentle kiss on him..After a moment she came up for air and turned her attentions on his earlobe. Ian was so overcome he could not seem to think. His mind knew her actions were totally inappropriate given the situation but he did not care.
The uniformed man turned away as if disgusted by their behavior. Security guard in a house if ill repute was not a job for someone with delicate sensibilities. She paused in her attentions, "Is he still watching us?" "Who?" Ian stared dreamily onto her eyes. "The security guard." He glanced at the crowd. The man had disappeared. "No, no he's gone."
They stood outside room #573. The door was answered by a strikingly handsome young Chinese man. "The teacup is broken." It was a strange thing to say, but he was totally serious. Anna stepped forward, "The tidal wave is rising". The young man motioned them into the room. "You will be safe here until tomorrow." The door closed and he was gone before either of them could ask any questions.
The room was tacky and rundown but spacious by Martian standards. The Calliope had been a good tourist hotel in its heyday. But nowadays the guests didn't have time to worry about the decor. A note lay on the bedside table. Real paper and ink, expensive but leaving no electronic trail. "At 10:35 there will be a truck from Apollo Laundry parked behind the hotel. Give the third password from the list. Wear the clothes provided"
Ian sat looking at the downtown area the vague rusty pink landscape beyond the dome. The shower thrummed softly in the background. Empty take out cartons lay on the bedside table. Once again he wished David were here to give him some advice.
Part 4
Author: Joyann (joyann@psnw.com)
Disclaimer: Read part 1
Rated: PG
The sled paused as it entered a freight elevator. Farve glanced at the control panel, DOWN. He jumped from the sled and pulled Anna away just as the doors slipped shut. They found themselves in a corridor with elevators lining both sides. Voices came from around the corner. They ran, frantically searching for a place to hide. The elevator doors would not open without an Ident key. They came to the end of the hallway, there was no place to go. The voices were nearer, soon they would be seen. Just then the nearest pair of doors slid open and immediately began to close again. Stacks of boxes filled the car from floor to ceiling. Ian thrust his arm into the opening and shoved at a stack of boxes. They gave and slid back just a little, but it was enough. Ian pulled Anna after him as he quickly hopped onto a small crate. He pulled her tightly to him as the doors brushed against her shoulder blades and snapped shut. She leaned heavily against him as she caught her breath.
Ian was discovering he rather liked holding her in his arms. "Are you alright? Did I hurt you?" She looked up at him. He reached up to brush the hair away from her face as he stared intently into her big brown eyes. The concern on his face touched her. He was so gentle. Not like other men she had known. But he was not at all like other men. She shook her head, she was just being silly. "I'm ok just a little tired, that's all." She buried her head against his shoulder and enjoyed the feeling of safety in his arms.
They sat in a dark corner of a small store room. Anna surveyed the contents of the black bag. She had forgotten all about it. Ian had emptied the contents into the pockets of his coat while she was sleeping. There were several small packets containing $500 in local currency, 2 fake ID's, a key, cash card and a list of contact numbers. On the back of the number list was another list of words that didn't seem to mean anything. Tidalwave, Tea cup, Steam iron, Windmill ect. At the bottom of the list in her fathers handwriting, Hotel Calliope. "These must be some of Daddy's contacts, maybe they can help us. "
"I will attempt to reach someone using the eComm terminal in the hotel lobby." They peeked out of a service hallway, having entered through the hotel kitchen. Luckily the hotel was just a few blocks from mining headquarters. They had waited until the change of shift and blended in with the throngs of miners and support personnel leaving the grounds. "No, you are too conspicuous. I'll go." "Anna, I don't think it is wise to..." He called after her retreating form. After a few moments of indecision, he followed. He could see the eComm terminal at the far end of the lobby from where he stood in at the hallway entrance, trying to look inconspicuous. As much as a 6"4" broad shouldered man in a filthy suit could look inconspicuous.
The milling crowd partially blocked his view. The lobby decor was early techno hideous. The bold carpet and abstract furniture has seen better days. A number of scantily clad women caroused with men in various stated of intoxication. Ian realized what sort of place they had taken refuge in and edged further back into the shadows.
Anna was heading back to him. She looked over her shoulder at a short burley man in a uniform. She had noticed him watching her from a nearby desk. He stepped into the crowd and headed in Anna's direction. She glanced back again before slowing her pace. Her pursuer paused to see what she was doing. There were very few women here who were not employees.
Anna leisurely approached Farve with a silly grin on her face. She placed her hands on his chest and ran them down his body. Ian stepped back his mouth open in surprise. "Anna?" She pressed her body against him. As she caught his face between her hands, she whispered, "Hold still". She planted a none to gentle kiss on him..After a moment she came up for air and turned her attentions on his earlobe. Ian was so overcome he could not seem to think. His mind knew her actions were totally inappropriate given the situation but he did not care.
The uniformed man turned away as if disgusted by their behavior. Security guard in a house if ill repute was not a job for someone with delicate sensibilities. She paused in her attentions, "Is he still watching us?" "Who?" Ian stared dreamily onto her eyes. "The security guard." He glanced at the crowd. The man had disappeared. "No, no he's gone."
They stood outside room #573. The door was answered by a strikingly handsome young Chinese man. "The teacup is broken." It was a strange thing to say, but he was totally serious. Anna stepped forward, "The tidal wave is rising". The young man motioned them into the room. "You will be safe here until tomorrow." The door closed and he was gone before either of them could ask any questions.
The room was tacky and rundown but spacious by Martian standards. The Calliope had been a good tourist hotel in its heyday. But nowadays the guests didn't have time to worry about the decor. A note lay on the bedside table. Real paper and ink, expensive but leaving no electronic trail. "At 10:35 there will be a truck from Apollo Laundry parked behind the hotel. Give the third password from the list. Wear the clothes provided"
Ian sat looking at the downtown area the vague rusty pink landscape beyond the dome. The shower thrummed softly in the background. Empty take out cartons lay on the bedside table. Once again he wished David were here to give him some advice.