James done effed up...

Sixty

Tori had to admit she felt a little excited. She was standing outside the terminal, checking her watch as she bounced from foot to foot waiting for the caterers. It was close to the time they were supposed to depart, and she didn't want to either miss the ship or miss the dinner. 'C'mon... c'mon…"

From where she was standing, she could see the bridge that connected the port to the rest of San Francisco. At this time of night, in this time of the year, it was probably the only major roadway in the vicinity bare of traffic. But that helped Tori's mental state because she knew she'd see the big catering truck before it got anywhere near the terminal.

If she looked behind her, she could now see lights beginning to come on aboard the ship. Jade had their bags inside, and she'd heard rumors that they were being assigned cabins. From the few she'd stuck her head into over the past weeks, Tori was pretty sure she'd rather sleep on the deck. The musty smell, and the grungyinterior hadn't seemed appealing in the least but she did appreciate the ship's attempt at hospitality.

Ah. Her eyes caught a white panel truck cresting the rise and heading in her direction. Unfortunately her peripheral vision also caughtMichelle Graver approaching, obviously intent on talking to her. "Pig farts." She composed her expression, and half turned, giving the oncoming woman an inquiring look. "Hello Again."

"Hi." Michelle mounted the two low steps to the foundationTori was standing on and approached her. "Listen, can we talk?"

Tori watched the truck out of the corner of her eye. "Uh..yeah, sure.. we're about to tie things up here but.." She drew a breath in. "I've Got a minute."

Michelle faced her. "Look, you're screwed."

The truck parked right across from where they were standing,and the doors flew open, allowing two sweating men to jump out and run for the back. "What do you mean?" Tori asked, edging over a little so Michelle was forced to turn her back completely to the truck to talk to her.

"C'mon, Tori. You're not stupid. You were behind a day, and now with this.. there's no guarantee when they'll let the ships back into port."Michelle said.

Tori watched what appeared to be an entire football team worth of men pour out of the back of the truck, dragging carts and a whole lot of other things out after them. "And?" She cocked her head slightly. "Forgive Me, Michelle, but shouldn't you be kicking back a beer at that? Why talk to me about it."

Michelle sighed. "Look." She ran her fingers through her hair. "None of the other bidders are friends of yours."

"Ah.. you are?" Both of Tori's very browneyebrows lifted.

"No. But they aren't either. You don't get anything out of them getting the contract." Michelle said. "On the other hand, if we get it, and you help us get it, maybe you will get something."

The wind was fortunately blowing from behind them. It carried the noise of the catering men setting up away, and almost left them in a sound vacuum. Probably a good thing considering Tori felt like her sense of moral outrage was caterwauling at the top of its imaginary lungs.

"What exactly are you offering here?" Tori asked warily.

"This doesn't have to be a losing situation for you." Herrival said. "You know you can't win the bid, hell, I bet you can't even get all your systems working by Friday. It's not your fault."

"Michelle, please cut to the chase." Tori spotted a line of perspiring caterers headed her way, pushing laden carts. "What exactly do you want from me?"

"Join with us." Michelle said. "You and Jade, and your us win the bid, and we'll cut a deal with you. There's enough business on this account for both of us."

Tori looked over at the ships, then at Michelle. "From this guy? C'mon, Michelle. We both know there 's something sourer than lemons about this whole thing."

"Not from him." Michelle moved a step closer. "From the rest of the industry. We both know who's watching."

Ah. Tori backed up a few paces and took hold of the door handle, pulling it open as the first of the caterers carts clattered up the cement handicapped incline. She half turned to look back atMichelle. "You're serious?"

Encouraged, Michelle moved closer to her, giving the carts a brief look. "Serious as a heart attack. You've proved yourselves. You're a tough adversary, everyone knows it, hell they have it on film. And for the record, I did check that shipment and it did get delivered to her by a clueless trucker. So thank you."

"Careful." Tori cautioned a rushing caterer. "Back there,that's right. Out that door." She indicated the back of the terminal.

"What do you say, Tori?" Michelle asked.

"Whoops." Tori put a hand out and steadied one of the women, who gave her a brief nod of thanks. "Let me talk to Jade." She finally responded to Michelle. "I'll tell her what you said, and see what she thinks."

"Can't make up your own mind?" Michelle almost laughed. "Funny,I didn't have you pegged as a bottom."

Tori's brow creased momentarily. "Jade's my boss." She said."It's her decision, Michelle. You do realize a chief information officer does outrank a VP, right?"

Michelle just shook her head.

"Anyway, I've got things to do, so I'll have to bid you goodnight." Tori prepared to follow the cavalcade of catering. "Enjoy your night off."

Michelle reached for the door. "What's with all the food?"She asked, since Tori seemed to be genially ignoring her jibes.

"Jade's hungry." Tori shrugged and smiled. "Gotta go." Shepulled the door shut and locked it, then waggled her fingers at Michelle beforeshe turned and headed for the back door.

Well, she would talk to Jade, and she would tell her whatMichelle said. And then, probably, they both would get a good laugh out of it and maybe share a beer.

Okay, maybe not share one. Tori liked her beer, and if she wasn't mistaken, the last big cart they'd taken through had a distinctive tinkle of bottles in it. She checked quickly into their office, and found it empty. She locked the door and went to the back, where she could now see dockworkers preparing to let the ship loose from its moorings. "Uh oh.. not without me you don't."

She shoved the back door open and headed for the gangway. At The top of it she saw the last of the catering carts vanishing, and behind them, she spotted James directing traffic.

Just as she was scooting across the pier, she heard a rattle of the fence behind her. Turning, she spotted Ceci on the other side of the locked gate. "Hey!"

"Let me in there!" Her mother in law yelled.

Tori veered, and got to the gate as she spotted two bigsecurity men heading their way. She quickly threw the latch and opened it,letting Ceci in as the men started to yell. "Oh oh."

"Oh, please. I've seen more dangerous things than those kids swimming by the boat in the morning." Ceci replied with a touch of testiness. "What is this crazy nonsense about all of you going out on that thing?"'

Tori took her arm and headed towards the ship. "Can we argue about this onboard? I don't want to tangle with those guys no matter how not dangerous they look."

"Hey! You there! Stop!" The guards broke into a run. "Hold it!"

Tori broke into a run too, with Ceci right behind was a fairly long stretch of pavement, but they had a shorter distance than the guards and a better angle to the ship.

"Just how I wanted my evening to start." Ceci yelled.

Tori sucked in a lungful of humid air and just ran could hear the pounding steps of the guards closing in on them, and she pulled Ceci up by the arm and pushed her ahead, towards the ship. "Go go!"

They reached the gangway and bolted up it, as James stepped to the edge of the opening and peered out. "What's all that there noise?"

"Us." Tori scrambled past him, hauling Ceci with her. "The damn punky fake police are after us."

"Hey!" The guard nearest the ship yelled. "Stop!" He pointed at them. "That's an illegal intruder! Stop!" He skidded to a halt as Jamesunclipped the gangway and it swayed. "Hey! Put that back! Hold it! I'm warning you!"

"S'alright, relax!" James uncoiled a rope tied off to the gangway and hooked it security to a crane hoist dangling nearby. He put his fingers between his teeth and let out a sharp whistle, and after that no one could hear anything because the crane started up and began to hoist the gangway off and away from the ship's side.

"Hey!' The guard mimed, waving his arms. "Stop! Stop! I'll Call the police!"

James waved amiably back at him, then stepped back and cleared the opening. "All right, young fellers. G'wan and close this here." He indicated the hatch.

Ceci backed up against the wall, and Tori joined her, to stay out of the way. "You know something?"

"What?" Tori asked, wiping the sweat off her forehead. Her heart was racing, and she felt a little shaky from the unexpected chase, even though she didn't really think the guards were any physical danger to them.

"I've never seen this from this side."

The crewmen unsurprisingly obeyed, working the various wheels and levers as a counterbalanced steel door slowly moved down and slammed into place with a grinding shudder.

Tori felt her ears pop, just a little. Now that the outside was closed off, she could smell the scent of diesel and oil much more strongly,and as she watched the crewman mutter something into an aged phone set she felt the rumble of the engines as they engaged. "So.. what do you think?"

"Hate it." Ceci went over to James and put a hand on his arm. :"Hey sailor boy."

Tori's nose wrinkled, and she wiped her forehead off again."Yeah, me too." She sighed. "I'm going to go find Jade." She viewed the milling caterers. "Ithink.. wait." She turned and found one of the crewmen edging past. "Excuse me."

The man looked at her warily. "Yes?"

"This stuff's all for the crew. Where can they put it? Is There a kitchen near the main dining room so.. uh.." Tori watched in bemusement as they were surrounded by crewinstantly. "So they can keep it warm for you?"

"For us?" The man asked. "You're kidding, right?"

The crew members started peeking into the trays on the cart,whispering to each other in muted excitement.

"Uh.. no." Tori shook her head. "So, is there a place?"

"Sure." The man said. "C'mon, we'll take them to theelevator." He motioned for the caterers to follow him. "Taki taki.. let's go."

"Elevator?" Tori queried. "They told us it wasn't working."

"Not for anyone but the crew." The man cheerfully explained. "Sorry!" He started off, leading the carts with many willing assistants. "Hey, is that alcohol?" He rattled the biggest cabinet. "All right!"

Tori put her hands on her hips, then she looked over atJames. The big retired seal shrugged,and half grinned at her. "You know something, that's not very god damned funny."She said. "I had people lifting hundred pound switches up those stairs."

James blinked at her in some mild surprise. The crewman also turned and looked after.

"I' Tori pointed at her own chest. "Paid for all that. Soy ou can take your crew only rules and stuff it up your butt, buddy." She pointed at the crewman, whose eyes widened. "You better rethink that attitude right now!"

"Hey! Hey.. relax, okay? It's not my rule!" The crewman stammered, backing off. "You can come on the elevator, okay? Take it easy."

Tori glared at him, then caught motion in her side vision and turned her head to see Jade rambling down the last few steps in the stairwell. "Hey."

Jade walked right through the crowd, expecting it to part. It Did. "What's going on?" She asked, giving everyone a dirty look. "Did all the food get here?"

One of the caterers came up to her. "Yes, ma'am." The man said, handing her a list. "It wasn't easy, Ms, West."

"Or cheap." Jade reviewed the bill, then handed it to Tori. "Why were you yelling?"

"Did you know there was an elevator?" Tori asked. "A Working one?" '

"No." Jade looked at the nearest crewman. "Is there?"

The man nodded.

"Then get this stuff up stairs." Jade directed. "And let our people all know where it is so they can get the rest of your new computer gear in place."

The man nodded again.

"Scoot." Tori nudged him. They watched the crowd start to sort itself out, and the now chastened crewman directed the carts towards a double set of doors at the end of the cargo hold. "Jesus."

James cleared his throat. "Ah do not think they meant to be bad fellers."

"Oh, bull hockey, Jimmy. They certainly did. I know you seamen – if you don't have twenty voyages under you you're not worth a navy bean." Ceci snorted. "Please!"

James managed a relatively sheepish look.

"You okay?" Jade took the opportunity to attend to more important matters. "Got our space squared away. Want to go see it?" She gave her parents a look. "They've got a room for you guys too."

"Bigger than a twenty four inch rack?" Ceci asked drolly. "Oh,be still my beating heart. I thought we'd camp out on the fantail." Sheindicated the stairwell. "Let's go watch this thing try to get out of the channel. That could be as entertaining as seeing Jerry Springer in Judge Judy's Court."

Tori squared her shoulders and let the tension flow out of her as she followed Jade towards the door. There would be time later, she hoped, when she could sit down and talk to her partner about what Michelle had now, just the thought of changing her clothes, and relaxing for a little while was very appealing.

"You okay?" Jade asked again, lowering her voice.

Tori exhaled. "Yeah." She put a hand on Jade's back. "I think I just need a protein bar."

"How about a roast beef sandwich?"

"That'll do." Tori felt Jade's arm settle over her shoulders, bringing a very welcome comfort despite the humid air. "Matter of fact, yeah, let's go up on the deck. I want to wave."

"At the port?" Jade asked, puzzled.

Tori merely chuckled, and kept on climbing.