Celestine stands near my ship projecting a friendly smile, but I know deep inside it's a judgmental smirk. Just seeing her and remembering out rich history makes me indifferent towards her. If it wasn't for her free flowing auburn hair, porcelain skin and charming attitude I would've hated her
She isn't alone, the man she's with about six feet tall, devilishly handsome and dressed in a turtle neck. Which puts all my defenses even higher than it was just with Celestine. I mean what can I say? Turtlenecks feels a little shady for bodyguards.
I walked passed both of them, ordered C.H.R.I.S. to open the doors. He opened it, I walked in and Celestine followed. She signaled the man to wait for her.
"Nice to meet you again Celestine" She gave a somewhat mocking impression of me.
I minded own business ignoring her. I went to the wall where I put all my McGuffins, which for those you who don't know what a McGuffin is, basically a plot device with little to no narrative explanation. Well for me I just use that's term for unsalable trinkets but is too good to be trashed. I saw the near end of the shelf, it was a nearly obliterated gun encased in a zip-bag labelled 'McGuffin #44'.
"Wow, not a single insulting quip?" She asked me.
I continued to pretend she is not there. I search for a pen, she found one an offered it up to me.
"C.H.R.I.S. can you tell me where I put my spare pen?" I asked my AI.
"You've put one in the Captain's chair sir" He informed me.
I went to the cockpit and got the pen. I took out the orb and wrote '45' on the tape. I walked back and placed McGuffin 45 next to well, 44.
"Pretending nobody is here. Real mature" Celestine raised her voice.
"C.H.R.I.S. do a system diagnostics, check for any rattling."
"All systems clear." C.H.R.I.S. informed me.
"Good, play me something... And make it loud" I ordered, the music began to play. I can see Celestine being a little frustrated.
"Shut it down" She ordered, and the AI obeyed. "Can you talk to me?" She me asked rudely.
"Look, what happened to us, Professionally was unprofessional. I get it. But you don't have to bring your boyfriend here to scare me" I remarked.
"You thought I came all the way here so that I can find you and scare you? with my boyfriend?"
"Frankly, yeah"
"I'd never be that petty"
"Oh thank goodness"
"I would rather be on the other side of the galaxy live my life normally than make an effort to come here just to scare you"
"You're not the first woman to put in effort for me" I quipped.
"And I regret that"
"Me too... Any ways, good to see, now get out the door" I pointed the door out.
"Last I checked this was my ship" She tried to assert her dominance.
"Last I checked your ship was destroyed and I paid for overhauling this thing to be practically new"
"I never told you to pay for the repairs. You just paid for them, and I thought it was a sign of good gesture. Until you flew off leaving me with nothing"
"For the record, I left you your cut of the pay. Plus I slipped in an 'IOU', remember?"
"I neither forget nor forgave you for all that has happened to me"
"All seems a little petty don't you think?"
"I am not that petty. I should be on the other end of the galaxy doing my job. Instead I am here talking to a child"
"So why are you doing this instead of your job?"
"Because I need your help." She spoke softly.
"My help?"
"Yes"
"Thanks for clarifying that to me. But I don't do charity work"
"I'm not asking for a favor, I'm offering a job"
"Not interested."
"I know, you weren't my first choice to begin with"
"If you're done roasting me, you can leave now"
"I need people I can trust" she said in her soothing voice.
"I thought we established that I can't be trusted?" I match the tone of her voice.
"I'm not talking about the person, I'm talking about the work" her tone begins to return to what I could say a barking puppy corgi.
"I love the transparency between us. I'm just too busy" She looked at me with an obvious restrain. "I don't think my schedule could even squeeze this conversation bu-"
"One million credits. half up-front, half when you're done"
"One?" I asked surprised. My holowatch binged, I looked at it only to see a credit transfer of 500,000.
"Yes, and I believe it just went in."
I was dumbfounded with what is happening "I just realized I forgot that I took the month off. I'm free"
"I know"
"What's the deats?"
She stepped outside and talked to the man waiting, I couldn't hear a word. But the man nodded and walked away.
"There's a briefing once we reach the Frontier" She told me as she started my ship and sat on the captain's chair. "Get us off planet and expect to be hailed and hauled". I did what she asked me to do.
"Can't believe you're sitting in my chair" I told her.
"On your dresser, there's a uniform in there. Please wear it"
"You went in my dresser?"
"I did you a favor by fixing it for you. Just go there and wear the damn uniform"
"C.H.R.I.S. take the wheel for me real quick" I asked him, I looked at Celestine and went downstairs to get the uniform out of my dresser.
She did clean my dresser, I saw a leather jacket and jeans. It was color white with blue accents in it. I wore it, and it fits on me like a glove. I admired myself in the mirror telling myself 'this is not bad' under my breath. I walked back to the cockpit, Celestine looks at me proud, I smiled a little.
"Alright, the people I work for is well funded don't be surprised alright?" She informed me.
"I don't get that surprised that easy"
Our ship received a hail, Celestine answers. "There's our ride" She continued.
I paused and audibly gasped. Celestine was laughing at me for being completely blown away.