Gingerly, she stepped off the large, circular transporter pad and took a deep breath. She actually felt nervous; partly afraid this was a dream and she'd wake up back in that horrible firefight with the Reman warship. The image of that giant, black monster of a ship had haunted her dreams lately. She shook the image from her mind and actively tried to fill it with the image before her. The smell of roasted cashews blessed her nose and she breathed in deeply. Perhaps she could put those memories behind her and enjoy her time with her parents and friends. Eagerly, she ran outside to take in the late-Autumn Montreal evening.
Elaine passed the open front doors and found herself at the busy Papineau Avenue. Transports of all shapes and sizes flew past. A few of public transports would occasionally stop in front of the Hub to pick up or drop off passengers. Between the cold air and the bare trees lining the street, it was easy to tell the time of year. She also found herself without a coat and getting rather cold. She quickly flagged down a taxi. A bulbous, yellow transport quickly pulled over and the back door slowly raised.
As she climbed in, the overweight driver turned to look to her with a mock-critical eye. With a thick French accent he asked, "Don't tell me, mon ami, you wish to go to a store and get a coat, oui?"
The door closed as she sat down with a smile. Perhaps a coat would be wise, but no. She really needed company, preferrably the company of her friends. She knew where they would be. "No thank you. I feel like enjoying the weather for now. Do you know where the Nightlight Dance Club is?"
"I do." He nodded.
"Then, please take me there." She said with a smile. "A little dancing ought to warm me up just nicely." For as long as she could remember, she loved to sing and dance. If it weren't for the pragmatism of her parents, she would never have joined Starfleet Academy and taken a shot at theater. Hopefully, she could catch up with her school friends. Before she left for the Academy, they always hung out at the Nightlight on Friday and Saturday nights. A few drinks, a few unhealthy deep-fried appetizers, and a few friends would be just what she needed to forget some of these memories. Although syntholol was the preferred drink in most public gathering establishments, there were a precious few that still carried the old-style beverages. The Nightlight was just such an establishment.
"As you wish, my dear," the driver replied. With a jolt, the taxi was off for downtown Montreal.
The twenty-six year old let the inside of the taxi warm her as it headed towards the lights of downtown. She suddenly remembered that although she was wearing civilian clothing, she still had her hair in a bun. Carelessly, she pulled out the pins and shook her head, letting her long, blonde, wavy hair fall down to her shoulders. "This time," she thought to herself, "I'm going to stay in control and I'm NOT going to do something stupid." She had completely forgotten that she was supposed to contact her parents once she was planetside.
