One Eyed Jack's Lodge

[rewritable]

Crying Lightning made one final slow turn and came to a halt at its designated mooring point.

John Frial was working in hurry, overseeing the mooring procedure and dealing with inevitable paperwork. It was just a routine procedure, but he intended to finish it faster than usual this time to be ready to depart on one of the shuttles carrying passengers to Curacao's surface. One of them, he knew, was landing just a couple of miles from One Eyed Jack's Lodge.

Shuttle was slowly descending through atmosphere. It made a deliberate detour to show the arriving guests the beauty of planet's oceans from above. The view behind the window was magnificent, but John hardly had time to enjoy it while he was still reading and signing a couple of documents he hadn't had time to deal with aboard the liner.

Once the shuttle landed, John separated from the tourist crowd, which slowly inched towards the large vintage-looking sign "ARRIVALS", and went directly to employee ship park. Within minutes, he had a service Starfier in his disposal.

"Now, that's exclusive and luxurious even by Curacao's standards", John though, surveying the Lodge's territory from above before landing his rather humble craft in allocated place.

He walked leisurely to the entrance, where he was stopped by security. His identity confirmed, John proceeded and went looking for something that might be a bar.

"Seems I'm one of the first to arrive", John though, seeing that room he had entered was almost empty, except for a woman behind the bar.

"Hello there! One something with alcohol, if I may ask. I'll trust your choice" John smiled, "has anyone else arrived yet, by the way?"

"Ah, you must be one of the captains" Barwoman replied, while mixing something with countless ingredients in a large glass, "Captain Curtis shall return any minute, I believe he will answer all your inquiries"

John slowly sipped his drink and waited, admiring the elegant interior of the room.

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