A long-awaited trip

[Savs]

26.11.834

"Well, Inverness isn't too interesting," Gerry said.

"Sure ain't."

There was silence for a moment.

"Actually, wait a second." Gerry turned around to look at his uncle. "Think about this. This time not two months ago, like you'd been doing for years, you was flying some boring route in an asteroid field with that yellow-brown of Bretonian space all around you--"

"Aye, and look at me now. Out in the independent worlds seeing the sights!"

Uncle Keegan's lined face brightened considerably.

"See, we've just got to take a more positive view of things!"

They turned their attention to the planet coming up on them. The scanner indicated it was called Forres.

"You know, I reckon the universe wants us to be here. How else could I've gotten that Junker bloke to send us on this errand here?"

"We might even turn a small profit from this venture!"

"There some sort of station around the planet there? Might be nice to pop in for a quick break? Me legs are getting a bit stiff."

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After a brief negotiation with docking control at Freeport 14, they were admitted and found their way to the bar. While Uncle Keegan was doing some stretches, Gerry went to take a look at the news and jobs board.

He screwed his face up after some reading and muttered to himself "Vagrant?" He turned to the bartender and asked "What's a Vagrant? Some local faction of bandits?"

The bartender was fiddling with something behind the counter and didn't look up. "Yeah, something like that. The pilots don't say too much about 'em."

Gerry shrugged and turned to walk to the table he and Uncle Keegan had claimed.

"Right, so where's this package going?"

"Invergordon Shipyards, one of the assistant administrators."

"The day is wearing on, let's get going, eh?"

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Later, on Invergordon

"Did you see that blue light out toward the star?"

"Nah, probably just some trick of the light. The star is kind of blue, too, ain't it?"

"Maybe, I just thought it was moving or something."

"I didn't see nothing. But where do we go next?"

"Oh yeah, what now? Maybe the barkeep will have an idea."

Gerry got up and ambled to the bar. He signaled the bartender and asked quietly, looking around surreptitiously.

"Hey, uh, listen, my uncle and I over there," he gestured with his thumb briefly, "we're on a little walkabout and just looking for interesting sights. Do you know of anything to see before we head on back to House space?"

The bartender took a look over Gerry's shoulder at the gesture and returned with a low whisper, "If you're willing to brave a minefield to get to Ontario, I hear there's an astounding ancient alien site with some crazy lights. I bet with the right... motivation... you could even find out where the jump hole is." After a moment, Gerry realized what he meant, and slid him a chit. The bartender nodded and smiled, and said "Give me your datapad and I'll give you the coords."

A moment later, Gerry sat back down at the table with Keegan. "I've got it, something spectacular the bartender promised."

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Spoiler

"That is something."

"Aye."

Spoiler

"This made this trip worth it."

"Aye."

"Those aliens sure made something incredible."

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= Gerry's long-awaited trip =