B.9 Unpacking In Space
I am in my apartment looking out my window into space. Cool or what? In fact if I strain to look up I can almost make out the core and far down below is Earth somewhere. I still get a little disoriented knowing that the gravity that holds me down is actually the push from spinning around the core. I might order a light screen so I can chose to see space or a nice normal outside view.
The trip up was good even if it was long. There were protesters at the launch in Dallas. I guess they don’t like the fact that we, as HRC employees get a “free” ride up to the Orbs. The way I see it if we are being told we have to move somewhere, why wouldn’t they pay for the moving costs? Don’t they do that in the private sector too?
The launcher looks a lot different then the ship that took me up to the Orb last time. It’s built more like a one of Earth’s long range ships only 1/2 the size and it can enter and exit Earth gravity without excessive fuel.
Because of the protesters my launch time was set back from 3pm (Dallas Local) to 5pm. At first I was upset, mostly because there was nowhere for me to take a nap, but I changed my mind once I boarded.
I was sitting in Seat A (window seat) in Isle 15. In Seat F was a complete hotty in military get up. I love a girl in uniform. Of course it might have been better if she actually spoke to me. I tried several times, and yes I have them all recorded but I’ll save you the embarrassment I went through when my “looking forward to living in space?” kind of questions were met with mostly glares and rolled eyes.
It still took me five hours before I really got into Orb 3, but it wasn’t because of the flying time. Orb Security was set to the max. Way more checks and searches than the first time I came. I guess they don’t want anyone moving in who shouldn’t be. Everyone on the flight with me was an HRC employee so you think they would have been a little more relaxed but I got strip searched. Yes you read that right. I. Got. Strip. Searched. To say the least I was not impressed. I mean come on; if I was going to blow something up wouldn’t I have done it the first time I was here?
I think the hotty from the flight may have had something to do with it. She looked particularly happy when they pulled me out of the line.
When I came out she was already gone to collect her luggage. I thought for sure I’d lost her for a while, Orb 3 is huge, but apparently her luggage was misplaced and she was still waiting around for it.
I smiled sweetly at her when I grabbed my bags from the carousel and started to leave. That’s when one of the security guards came by to talk to her and, since I’ve figured out a way to edit what I record, I can tell you what was said.
“It’s going to take us a while yet. Do you want us to just send your bags to your residence?”
“Fine.” She rummaged in her pocket for a piece of paper and then read from it. The guard took notes. “Section 43, Westwood Manor, Suite 14.”
Now I have her address… but even then I knew it sounded very familiar. So when I left the docking ring I pulled a similar piece of paper out of my pocket and read it. My new address is: Orb 3-2A, Section 43, Westwood Manor, Suite 13.
Its fate I tell you.
I haven’t seen her since our encounter at the docking ring, but I did manage to learn her name. I was talking to my neighbour in Suite 11, Samantha Peirce. Older but nice Lady. She works as a Grant Application Administrator for the Colonies. I ran into her on the stairs when I brought home my first bags of space food (aka imported Earth groceries (and it is expensive). Introductions aside, I asked if she had met anyone else in the building.
“I’d like to get to know my neighbours.” I said.
“Knowing who lives around you is a good idea. Let’s see, well there is Mr. Guntum in suite 3, right below you. I think you may want to get to know him.” Ms. Peirce leaned in and whispered, “He likes to believe he can play the tuba.”
I didn’t groan out load but I was thinking it. I just smiled.
“Oh. One of my co workers, Jean, lives down the hall in 19. You’ll like her. She’s your age, and well I suppose Mira is too?”
“Mira?” I asked pointing at the door to suite 14.
“Yes, have you met her?” Ms. Peirce asked.
“Briefly yeah. She seems nice,” I lied. What? She’s hot but so far she hasn’t seemed very nice at all.
“Oh yes. Pretty thing. Shame she went into the Military. I’m surprised actually that she would have talked to you.”
“Why is that?” I asked.
Ms. Peirce laughed. “She has a thing against Liaisons.”
I asked her how she knew and apparently all HRC employee’s where given the identities of all the confirmed Liaisons so that if an emergency arose they would know who to contact. The contact information came with pictures. Suddenly, the fact that I pulled up my hood and put sunglasses on when we walked past the protestors in Dallas doesn’t seem so cliché.
“What’s wrong with being a Liaison?” I asked.
“Oh I don’t think there is anything wrong with it dear, but some people still have funny ideas about dealing with Alien races so closely. Some people look at liaison’s as the people who will sell Earth out in the end.” Ms. Pierce smiled awkwardly before we said our awkward goodbyes.
I think I should be more aware of the people around me. Even HRC employees.
Still. I know her name.
The long weekend is over (all HRC employees where given a day off to unpack) and I’m not finished yet. I went to work in the new IGL office this morning. It’s in Orb 3 which is better than the Office I’ll share with E’lish and Romi in Orb 2. The only down side is there are no real windows – lots of fake ones that let fake light in. Gary my boss asked me how I feel about not having an office to call my own. I told him that most of my life is digital so it didn’t really matter where I sat so long as there was a computer and webnet access.
Tomorrow I go to the other office. E’lish called and asked me if I wanted an apartment warming party this weekend. After replaying the recorded conversation I realize that I said yes. I don’t know why. There is no way I’ll be unpacked by then. Oh well.
Bring on my first week of living in Space.
Over and Out.
