A spinning, pearlescent titanium globe floated into the Ship Inn and moved towards Sophie.
"Uh, which one of the few remaining Fnordettes are you?" queried Sophie. "Do I need to reach for my blaster, or the primo 2KV DC tap...?"
*It's Dis, Sophie! I've given my notice at the Blossom. It seems Mal is lonesome. He just acquired a new tub, and sent me this sad, endearing, entreating comms to come down and join the TAZers. Apparently he needs the occasional sailing master when he's off up north wearing his other noses. So, I grabbed a wee X-Scow up in Toke, and I've been schmoozing the GMG and Zoners to get my new papers.*
"Well, that's a shock. I thought you were content up there rousting those soused Epsilons and KNT Traders! I know things haven't gone the best for the Fnordettes.. Merci off somewhere thru the rift with Beau.. Kitty gone rogue and possibley Nomad-infected.. Susan, Anne, Lawrence, the rest.. not a peep.. and Sophie Noire..." A tear crept on to Sophie's cheek.
*Yeah, that's sorta why I stopped off in Newark, girlfriend. Thought we could share a few memories of your namesake.. maybe get some closure. Why in Goddess' name Pops and Mal are keeping her "remains" in a box, I can't fathom. She deserves a decent burial in space.*
"She was a corker, ol' Black Sophie, facing that SCRA thug in his cruiser head-on in a bloody Raven's Talon. The gal had guts. Not sure why her planet-size brain was in neutral. Guess we'll never know.."
There was silence for a moment. *Soph.. I believe I will have some "juice" for the road. Pour yourself one on me. Remember that time she stole Pops' ship to go shopping in New London..?*...
((And so is born the [~V~]Chaogirl_Dis, and the [~V~]Malaclypse regains an old Pilot, F-unit, and dear friend.))