Burnt to Ashes chapter three
Once again thank you for the reviews, especially the grammatical advice, they don't teach us that kind of stuff in school. Anyway, I apologise for the long delay in the posting of this chapter. The reason - homework. Too much work and too few hours in the day!
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They'd been wandering the station for half an hour. Rommie kept pointing out people and asking, "Is that him?" and Bridget's reply was always no. From what Bridget had said she gathered that he worked as an engineer of some sort on the station.
She decided to try the quarters of the station core workers, which were all in the one section of the station. They knocked on door after door but to no avail. Bridget was getting tired again and Rommie was just about ready to give up.
There was only one last door in the corridor and Rommie rang the bell. The door opened and there was a man standing in front of her. She was about to begin with her now routine round of questioning, but the man spoke first.
"How can I help you?"
Just then Bridget spoke up from beside Rommie. "Hello Mr. Redner!"
The mans gaze left Rommie and focused on the child by her side. He smiled.
"Well hello there, Bridget isn't it? Your one of Benn's little ones."
"You know her and her father?" Rommie was relieved to know that she may not have to hand Bridget over to the authorities after all.
"Yes, my family lives near them and I work with her father Benn."
"Can you tell me where I might find him?"
The kind man gave them some directions and they were finally on the right track. Bridget was quite happy and was now skipping alongside Rommie, singing a little tune to herself.
They found themselves in another part of the station. 479, room 479. It didn't take them long to find it. Rommie lifted Bridget up so she could press the bell.
The door opened like all the others but as soon as the person standing in the doorway was visible, Bridget flung herself into his arms. "Daddy, daddy, I've missed you!"
Rommie stood there awkwardly as the family reunion continued beside her. Bridget's father, Benn, seemed very surprised at the appearance of his daughter.
As they hugged, Rommie took a better look at him. He was tall, sandy hair, medium build. He looked to be in his late twenties, early thirties.
Eventually he pulled himself away from Bridget who was clinging to him as if she'd never let go and invited Rommie inside.
She was about to decline the invitation when she realised he probably wanted to know how Bridget had gotten here. She walked inside his quarters. They were spartan, a few chairs, a table, two doors probably leading to the bedroom and the bathroom.
He gestured for her to sit and he sat down opposite her with Bridget sitting on his lap. And between her and Bridget they began to tell the story of Bridget's arrival at the station.
A while later...
"I got a message from Rachel when Toby died but then .. nothing. I got a friend of mine to check up on them but there was no-one there. Then Rachel was found in a hospital in the city. She had died of the fever. No-one knew what had happened to Bridget."
He had put Bridget to bed in his room and he and Rommie were talking.
"You have a very resourceful daughter" He smiled at her, not the way Dylan used to smile at her, it was different.
"Thank you for bringing her back to me."
It was Rommie's turn to smile. "I think you've said that eight times already."
"Well as I said, I am very grateful."
There was an uncomfortable silence, broken by a cry from the bedroom. Benn rose to his feet. "She's probably having a nightmare, I'll go check on her"
He was back a few minutes later and he sat back down.
"So, Rommie, tell me about yourself, how did you end up in a place like this?"
Rommie hesitated for a second, she wasn't sure she really wanted to tell this story or where to begin. And then she decided to start from the beginning.
"Well, my real name is Andromeda....."
She told him everything. Even about Dylan. It all just came together like one long Greek poem, she flowed from one part of her life to another. It seemed like hours before she was finished.
There was a silence for a moment or two before Benn spoke.
"Your adventurous life put my boring existence to shame. But it looks like neither of us have had much luck with life.
"I've lost most of my family and it seems that you have left most of your behind. But I have Bridget, and you have us. That is, if your going to stick around?"
He looked at her, waiting for an answer. She smiled.
"I suppose I could stay around for a while, but now, I have to go. I have cargo to deliver"
Rommie stood up to leave and Benn stood up to walk her the few metres to the door.
"How about dinner, tomorrow night with me and Bridget?"
"Thank you, that sounds lovely"
Benn leaned on the doorframe as Rommie walked into the corridor.
"See you tomorrow then"
"Tomorrow"
She walked back towards her ship. She was happy that Bridget had found her father. She liked Benn. He seemed like a good person. And he was kind of cute.
What?! What was she saying, the man had just lost his wife and son! What he needed most now was a friend and she could be that. She needed a friend too.
She was beginning to realise now just how lonely she'd felt before meeting Benn and Bridget. Maybe it would be good for her to have friends. In truth she missed the others but she knew she couldn't go back. She didn't want to be what she had been then.
Here she could make a new life. She could be something different. A person instead of an android and a warship. Maybe with Benn and Bridget's help that could be possible. Maybe.
. . .
Okay, just to let you know there's only about two chapters left to go. At least, that's my plan. And yes, there will be Dylan and crew appearing somewhere but of course, I can't tell you when or where. Next chapter due Sunday/Monday approx.
I hope you are still enjoying this story, and please read and review if you can. Comments, criticisms or strange facts all welcome.