Page 34 of Captain Santiago and the Sky Dome Waitress
And Sant—Never mind. What do you need to know?
A CONSORTIUM OF INDIVIDUALS AND THE CITY ITSELF HAVE POOLED RESOURCES. AS A THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICES TO THE CITY AND YOUR EFFORTS TO PROTECT ITS RESIDENTS, THE CITY WILL PAY ALL EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THE SELECTION OF A NEW BODY, AND YOUR REHABILITATION INTO THAT BODY.
DO YOU WANT TO TRANSFER TO A BODY?
A new body? ANY body?
YES. YOUR REGISTRATION OF INTENT TO CHANGE YOUR BODY WAS BROUGHT FORWARD BY THE CITYMIND WHEN THE TRIAL WAS UNDERWAY. I HAVE THE COMMON POOL CATALOGUE AVAILABLE. YOU CAN BEGIN YOUR SELECTION IMMEDIATELY.
Why not? There’s nothing else to do here. And I already know what I don’t want.
~ 13 ~
Lucie rose from the worn seat of the liner as the big doors opened, letting in the light and noise of the Charlton City docking bay…along with the faint aroma of warmed grease. The scent made her smile as she stepped up behind the last of the exiting passengers.
She moved down the ramp to the painted lines on the floor of the docking bay, and swung her pack over her shoulder. First things first. She would speak to Barney as soon as she spotted a public terminal. Then—
A hand gripped her arm. “Lucie,” Elijah said. His voice was hoarse.
Lucie’s heart hammered as she turned to face him. “You own this ship, too?”
“I own dozens,” Elijah said, his tone dismissive. He gripped her arms, as if she might bolt away if he let go.
He was just as tall and his shoulders just as broad as she remembered.
And her heart would not settle down.
“You sent me a message, to come and see you when I can,” Lucie said. “I’m sorry it took so long. I had to learn to walk againand silly stuff like that. Apparently a transfer caused by trauma doesn’t go as smoothly as normal.”
“You didn’t change your body,” Elijah said.
Lucie drew in a breath and let out a sigh. She looked down at herself, all nearly 180 centimeters of her. “No,” she said. “I couldn’t imagine looking any other way than this.” She looked up at him. “For better or worse, this is me.”
“Good,” Elijah said.
She raised her brow. “Good? But I thought… Wouldn’t it be easier for you, if I didn’t look like…like Blake?”
Elijah touched her cheek. Slid his finger along her jaw. “You look nothing like Blake,” he said softly. “Not to me. You look exactly the way you should. I can’t imagine you looking any other way than this, either. I’ve been trying to. I thought you would return as a brunette.”
“Or a petite blonde, perhaps?” She realized she was smiling.
A ghost of a smile touched the corners of his mouth. “I like redheads.”
“I know.” Lucie reached up to touch his face, the lines of which she had been able to visualize even without a body. They had stayed with her, a digital imprint upon her awareness. But she couldn’t bring herself to assume that he would welcome her touch. So she gripped the edge of his jacket, instead.
“You saved my life,” Elijah whispered.
“I didn’t mean to. It just happened.”
“You acted instinctively.” His gaze wouldn’t let her go.
Around them, the docking bay was empty. Just the bay crew were left, hooking up the umbilicals and hosing that would service the ship while it was in the bay.
They were very nearly alone.
Lucie squeezed the fabric in her fingers. “Elijah…”
He sighed. “You used my name.”
