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Starliner Athos Nexus Main Chat

Chattykaffi: Good morning, cruisers! Yes, it’s true, we have officially entered our fallow phase.

Even so, I am still here to take care of those of you who’ve remained with us.

The crowds may have diminished, but the fun on board has not.

Want proof? There’s karaoke in the Andromeda Lounge this evening starting at nineteen hundred hours, led by the best voice on the Athos, the fabulous Twinnie Nguyen.

Who wants to sing some Elton John with me?

Ms.Cruiser: I can’t get my library app to work.

W e were headed into six weeks of relative downtime with only a small handful of cruisers, and while I loved interacting with new guests when they came into the library, I was looking forward to the slowdown.

Since leaving our last port of call, the starport that served the planet Roon, the Athos had begun what was known as its fallow phase.

One of the definitions of fallow was“characterized by inactivity,” and that pretty much summed things up.

Because there were six weeks and three days between starports, there were few guests who had the time or money to be aboard the Athos for that long.

There were a small number of cruisers, a handful of the galaxy’s wealthiest, who would be with us during the fallow phase, but it was something like fewer than twenty. I wasn’t sure of the exact number, and it didn’t matter.

I just knew every member of the crew and staff was breathing a collective sigh of relief and looking forward to the next six weeks as much as I was.

Everyone was getting a break. Entertainment on board would be on a reduced schedule.

Food production, especially at the buffets, would be scaled back.

Hours for the retail shops would be cut back, housekeeping could run on a skeleton crew, and the agricultural department would have a chance to catch up and restock.

All in all, it was good thing. A time for all of us to recharge a bit.

Even the library had trimmed its hours. Fallow phase also meant reduced staffing at the library, so all of us were getting an extra day off.

I’d still have to go to work Monday morning, like most everyone else, but I now had Fridays off, making my weekend a day longer.

Pretty sweet. But Monday was tomorrow, and right now, I was getting ready to meet Frank at Deck 18 for a two-mile walk, then we were going to breakfast at my dining hall.

After that, we planned on taking Harry and Grace, our respective cat and bird compdroids, to the botanical gardens for some leisure time.

Harry was stretched out on the bed, which I hadn’t yet made. How could I when he looked so comfortable? All that orange and white fluffy feline goodness.

I finished tying my sneakers, then stood, contemplating giving his soft, round belly a good rub. “Harry, if you don’t move, I can’t make the bed, and I’d really like to do that before I leave. Don’t you want to go watch birds on the big screen?”

His head came up as he seemed to consider the offer. “Could it be fish instead, Mum?”

“Of course. It could even be insects. The botanical garden has a live cam, too.”

He hoisted himself to his feet, did a big stretch, then sat down and yawned. “I think I’ll stick with fish.”

“All right. Let’s go.”

He jumped off the bed and ran ahead of me into the living area. I turned on the screen, which was preprogrammed to the main Athos channel.

The Morning News Report was on. Anchors Claire Weatherall and Kent Murakami seemed to be talking about the fallow phase. Everyone was, so no surprise there.

“What are you looking forward to the most, Claire?”

“I’m not going to lie, Kent. I plan to spend some extra time at the spa, but I’m also going to take a virtual class in Interstellar sign language.”

Kent’s smile never wavered. “Spa time and a new language? Self-care and self-advancement. Great plan, Claire.” He looked into the camera. “How are you spending the fallow phase? Drop your comments in the Nexus chat, and we’ll share some of the most interesting ones tomorrow morning.”

He frowned unexpectedly. Not something either of them ever did, unless they were reporting on something super serious. The last time that had happened was when a couple of Loessaian guards had been found dead on board.

“We’ve got some breaking news, folks.”

“Mum, fish?”

“Hang on, Harry.” I turned the volume up a notch and took a seat on the couch beside Harry, who was now curled up in his charging bed.

The camera stayed on Kent. “It seems the Athos has picked up a distress beacon from a disabled starcraft, and we will be making a slight detour to offer assistance. This will have no effect on the length of our fallow phase. At this time, that is all the information the Morning News Report has been given.”

“Interesting,” Claire added. “I hope we’re able to help.”

“So do I, Claire.” Kent’s smile was back. “In agricultural news?—”

I switched to the fish channel. The disabled ship was interesting news, but if there was anything more to it than what had been reported, I could probably find that out from Hazel, my daughter, who also happened to be the ship’s vice-admiral.

Until then, I had a date to keep. I kissed Harry on the head. “Be a good boy while I’m gone, baby.”

“Always, Mum.” His android eyes were focused on the screen.

I smiled to myself as I got up and headed for the door. “Back in a bit.”

“Okay.”

I left, making my way toward Deck 18 and Frank. As I walked, I checked my wristband to make sure I hadn’t missed any messages from Hazel. Nothing from her or any of my friends, but it was Sunday morning, and those who could usually slept in.

I reached the elevator bay, pressed the call button and got into the car as soon as it arrived.

I would have slept in, too, not so long ago. But since meeting Frank, I’d gotten more active. I’d always been a walker, but now he walked with me, and I went to the gym with him. I couldn’t believe it, but I’d actually seen some changes in the definition of my arms and legs.

Crazy at my age but proof it was never too late, I supposed. And just for the record, I wasn’t doing it to impress him. He was a former Space Marine, very fit, and I just wanted to be able to keep up. Plus, I knew it was good for me, and I really liked it.

Hitting a heavy bag was a great way to work out the day’s frustrations, in case that was something you ever needed to do. I highly recommended it.

Of course, with the start of this fallow phase, I probably wouldn’t have as many frustrations, but it was still fun. Even my friends, the girls I usually hung out with and joined for dinner, had commented that both my physique and my mood had improved since I’d started seeing Frank.

I smiled as I stepped off the elevator. How could my mood not improve around that man? He was handsome, kind, generous, and, not that it mattered, wealthy beyond belief due to his skills with technology.

He waved as soon as he saw me, jogging to meet me and planting a kiss on my cheek. “Morning, beautiful. How are you?”

“I’m great. How are you?” He was in gray track pants and a gray Space Marines T-shirt, his usual sneakers and, of course, his wristband. He could have been in a burlap sack and he still would have looked good.

“Better now.” He winked at me. “Ready to walk?”

“Yes. And then I am definitely going to be ready to eat. I didn’t even have coffee yet this morning.”

He mocked a look of shock and surprise. “You mean, I’m getting Ellis Uncaffeinated?”

I laughed. “Yes, you are, so you might want to take that as a warning.”

He chuckled as we started around the walking track that made up the Deck 18 observation loop. “Forewarned is forearmed.”

“Did you see the news?” I asked as we picked up speed. “About the detour?”

He shook his head, his expression shifting to one of curiosity. “No. What detour?”

“The Athos received a distress call from a disabled starcraft, so we’re headed to it to help or offer assistance.” I shrugged. “That’s pretty much all they reported on the news this morning. Oh, and that the detour won’t lengthen our fallow phase.”

“Hmm.” Frank’s gaze went to the windows that surrounded us. He peered into space.

“Are you looking for the ship?”

“I’m sure it’s not visible yet, but I would like to see it.”

“Any particular reason why?”

“Risk assessment. But that’s just the Space Marine in me.” He chuckled, clearly amusing himself. “I’m sure that’s already being done. Did you talk to your daughter about it?”

“Not yet. I figured if she had something to tell me about it, she would. This probably has her busy. And on a Sunday. Not that she ever really takes a day off, but still.”

“You didn’t want to bother her.”

I shook my head. “I didn’t.” I thought about what he’d said. “You think this ship could be a threat?”

“I think everything could be a threat until proven otherwise.” His smile was broader this time.

More genuine. “It’s just my nature and the training I will never shake.

Forget I said it. I’m sure it’s nothing.

They’re probably just having an engine issue.

Or they’ve run out of fuel. Something like that. ”

I frowned. “Right.”

He nudged me with his elbow and deftly changed the subject. “So, you going for a full stack of pancakes today? It is Sunday. And there will be brunch options.”

He was shifting the focus on purpose, but I let him.

He thought he’d upset me, and he obviously didn’t want that, so he’d moved on.

It was sweet of him, but I wasn’t really bothered.

“It’s okay. I’m not upset by you thinking there might be more to this distress call.

I’d rather be prepared. You don’t have to pretend otherwise for my sake. You should know that by now.”

“You’re right. I do know that. But we’ve got a nice day planned out, and I didn’t want to ruin that.”

“You haven’t. I swear.”

“Okay. Good. Sorry for thinking you needed to be … sheltered from the possibility.”

“I like that you want to take care of me that way.” I hooked my arm through his, pulling him closer for a moment. “It’s sweet.”

He looked sheepish, but he’d survive. “You know what they say.”

“I do. Once a Space Marine, always a Space Marine.”

He grinned. “Come on. Let’s get moving and get these two miles done. I’m sure your daughter has this all under control.”