Spike Harris

[Ant]

Canaria Cafe

The man walked into the cafe with a slightly bewildered expression on his face, his blue-gray eyes glancing around.
There were a few appraising glances in his direction from those already having an early breakfast.
Although not particularly tall or well muscled, the well used military grade blaster on his hip and armed forces style flightsuit made him stand out.
He rubbed a hand across his short cropped fair hair and walked over to order.

The young waitress smiles at him. "New to these parts?"

He smiles back, a scar on his jaw showing prominently. "Yeah. Just arrived from a parallel universe".

Her green eyes sparkle as she grins at him, "Good one...You are joking right?"

"Mind if I try my credit before ordering?"

Her face lights up. "Oh! You really did? Don't worry about your credit...
Let me buy you breakfast...as long as you tell me all about it. My shift's nearly over."

He grins at her, "Alright then, you've got a deal. Name's Harris by the way, Spike Harris."

She smiles again, "I'm Kate. We'd better not hold this other gentleman up any longer. What would you like Spike? Coffee?"

"Please. And a number 7."

"Coming right up. Take a seat and I'll bring it over in a minute."

Spike walks over and sits at a window table. Soon Kate hurries over with his breakfast and sits facing him.

He picks over his meal, uncomfortable eating with her eyes intent on him, "So what's your interest in astro-navigation?"

Kate twists a loose strand of her red hair around a finger, "Me? Well, I'm training at the space-flight academy, which means doing a navigation course at the university, where I got interested in inter-dimensional travel. The waitressing pays my way of course."

A scruffy looking man sitting in the corner speaks up. "Yer didn't seem interested in my story."

Kate narrows her eyes and looks at him, "Is that what you meant by "A bleedin' big bright light brought me here" Scutter?"

"Well... er... yeah... I'll be off now. Long trip ahead."

They watch Scutter hurry out the door before Kate speaks again, in a quieter voice this time.
"Anyway, did you come through a rift?"

"Yes. It appeared fairly stable, so seemed like a good idea at the time. Things were a bit dodgey at the other end. It was like this..."

Spike tells the tale of his interrupted fishing holiday as Kate listens intently.

"...and that was supposed to be a holiday after Cambridge getting bombed and all the Nomad and pirate trouble."

Kate looks aghast, "Cambridge was bombed? How bad was it?"

"Perhaps I could tell you about that later. My ship is still in the area of the Rift and cut off from communications traffic, so I need to take the shuttle back to check on it."

Kate brightens up a bit, "The Rift is still there? Do you mind if I come along for a look? I have the rest of the day off."

Spike stands up, "If you like. Ready to go now?"

Kate stands then looks down at her uniform. "Can we stop by my place first? I'd like to get changed first, so unless you have a spare flightsuit on your shuttle suitable for me..."

He looks over her athletic, slim but well curved figure. "Hmmm, I think the gear on the shuttle might be a bit unsuitable for your figure Kate. It was definately designed with a less attractive shape in mind. Perhaps we'd better stop at your place to get your kit."

Kate leads the way out the door, her cheeks flushing slightly at the compliment.

------

Although early morning on Gran Canaria, the more distant of the two suns was already high in the sky when Spike Harris approached the empty cafeteria. He held one hand behind his back and looked a little nervous.

Kate sat behind the counter staring off into the distance, her coppery mane of hair piled under a cap. She idly twisted a loose strand around a finger.

A broad smile crosses her face as she looks around to see Spike walking in the door. "You're up early."

Grinning back at her, he pulls his hand from behind his back. "Well I thought about your threat of searching me for concealed weapons next time I came in here, and then thought about the other customers who might be carrying concealed weapons...
Anyway, this is for you." He hands over a small gift wrapped box.

"For me? Why, thank you Spike!" she unwraps the box and exclaims at the contents. "A personal scanner? And a Mark 39 slimline blaster? A perfect compliment for my Mark 32 stunner! Thank you!"

He looks down, a little abashed, "Well, I guess I thought you might need it..."

Kate laughs and reaches over the counter to give him a quick hug. "It's a very thoughtful gift Spike."
She turns her attention back to the scanner and puts the display glasses on, turning back to look at him. "Weapons detection only?" she sighs regretfully.

Spike clears his throat, "Well, um, can I buy you a coffee Kate?"

"That's a difficult offer to refuse. Have a seat and I'll be right over."

Spike takes a seat at a nearby table, thinking about the events of the previous day.

They'd had a great time together flying out to the destroyer near the rift. Kate's practical navigational knowledge was limited but she learned quickly and was soon plotting trajectories all over the place.
Her pilot training was obviously fighter sim oriented and she'd struggled a little with the sluggish response on the shuttle.
She'd been fascinated by the automated destroyer YTC-2362 and the maintenance robot operating the ship...

And the way they'd talked while returning to Gran Canaria, it was like there was no tomorrow...he felt so conflicted over how close they were getting.
He tried to keep reminding himself that the past couldn't be changed...but could he stand the pain of losing her as he'd lost everyone else? He'd warned her about what had happened to everyone he got close to. Still, she'd lost everyone close to her as well...

His musings were interrupted by a coffee placed on the table in front of him.

Spike looks up, a melancholy expression on his face. "Thanks for listening to my sob story yesterday Kate. It feels much better to get that off my chest."

Kate's eyes shine in the light as she smiles ruefully and reaches over to squeeze his hand. "You're right. I don't think I've ever really talked to anyone about how I felt when my parents were reported missing. Thanks for listening, and for giving me a shoulder to cry on. There's been no-one really for me to talk to in the years since the evacuation."

Spike squeezes her hand back. "Guess we've both got the same reason for wanting to vaporise slimeys eh?"

"Yeah." Green eyes glistening, she looks out the window to see a man approaching the Cafeteria. "How about I show you around the area later anyway? There's some rivers and streams that might be good for fishing..." she stops speaking to wipe her eyes and nose with a tissue.

Spike smiles at her, "To tell the truth I'm not really much good at fishing, except for blue slimys... but I'd be glad of your company."

"My shift will be over in a couple of hours." She looks at him with a sly smile. "If you want to wait, I won't kick you out...unless you're just going to be a nuisance until then."

Spike feigns looking hurt, "Well if that's the way you feel, I'll just go now..."

Kate laughs, "Don't you dare!" She stands and reluctantly lets go of Spike's hand. "Looks like there's a customer that needs serving. I'll be back in a minute. Don't go anywhere!"

"What? Not even to the bathroom?" Spike replies with a grin.

"Why you..." laughing, Kate throws a folded hand towel at him before turning back to the serving counter, smoothing down her uniform and assuming a more composed expression.
As the customer walks in the door Kate glances aside at Spike, unable to keep a smile from returning to her face.

------

Spike Harris walks into the Canaria Cafe, a broad grin on his face. His expression is mirrored by an equal smile from the only occupant inside.

Distracted by something, Kate quickly turns her attention back to the display in front of her. "Know anything about the Omicron sectors Spike?"

"A little, what can I help with?"

"I've got a final exam coming up in my navigation paper and need more information on navigational hazards in the Omicron sectors. A lot of the sources seem to have conflicting data."

"Easy answer to that one. Let's go out there and do some mapping. When's your exam?"

Surprised, she looks up. "Next week. Are you serious about going all that way?"

"Why not? The shuttle should be capable of handling the trip with all the recent upgrades. Good chance to see what the fishing is like out that way as well." He winks at her.

She gives him a mock severe look. "You just want to get me alone again don't you?"

"You obviously see right through my evil plans!" His evil laugh is tempered by the grin on his face.

Laughing, she walks around the counter to hug him. "You'll regret saying that next week. It's a dangerous place out there." She rests her head on his shoulder. "We might not come out of it alive. At the very best we probably won't get any sleep."

Spike chuckles, "Only if you have your way!" His expression turns more serious. "You're right though, it will be dangerous. Are you sure you want to risk it?"

Kate looks up into his eyes, "You really need to ask?" she murmurs.

Intoxicated by her presence, the smell of her hair, the feel of her breathing, Spike's thoughts only slowly return to the matter at hand.
He clears his throat. "Well, the shuttle should be ready for an extended voyage by tomorrow if we get started on it this morning. I assume you can take time off your job here?"

Kate lifts her head from his shoulder. "Oh, I've already handed in my notice actually. I'm due plenty of leave as well and there's not long to go before training is finished for the year at the academy. You can teach me more about flying than that place and graduation is still a couple of weeks away. Shall we go tomorrow?"

"Right you are. I'll get started on resupply right away." Smiling, he taps his comlink. "Let me know if you need anything. A kitchen sink perhaps?"

She pushes him away. "So I can make you hand wash the dishes? Go ahead then! And because men stink, don't forget deodorant or I'll be getting off at the first stop!" Laughing, she shoos him out the door.