Play Date, Part 1
“I’m glad I took the night.”
“Mm.”
“It’s a great night for a walk on the beach.”
“Mmmhmm.”
“You’re really enjoying that ice cream, aren’t you?”
CJ glanced at Mitchell sideways, “Yes. And I’m glad too. Even if it took several days to pony up for tonight.”
He shrugged his stooped shoulders, “Sorry. I got caught up. I think there’s a real story written on those walls.”
She smiled fondly, remembering his excitement at every small discovery from those tombs. They may known each other only a few short months, but they’ve grown close. She felt happier when he was happy. Hitomi had seen fit to tease her more than once, with Alana giggling in the background. Like they had a right to tease her. She snorted lightly and tossed her hair.
“What?”
“Just thinking. How’s your ice cream?”
“Apparently not as good as yours,“ she glared playfully, “But still good.”
They walked in silence for a while, finishing their cones. It really was a nice night for a walk on the beach, she thought. The sunset was going to be wonderful.
They sat down on a small patio just off the beach. The tables were almost sculptures, heavy concrete circles with curved benches hanging down. There were even cushions on the benches.
They sat watching the water wash over the sand from the patio for a bit, before CJ felt Mitchell’s hand sneak into hers. She looked at him and smiled. She really liked Mitchell. In their line of work, there wasn’t often opportunities to meet men, especially men who shared the peculiar interests she’d accumulated in her life. She finally found someone who didn’t mind the outright danger she was in.
Granted, she hadn’t been in any over the last few months, but she’d told him stories. He seemed more interested by the things about the world he didn’t know. She smiled at him again, then moved a bit closer, moving in to kiss him.
“Now this is a great night,” he murmured.
Almost as if on cue, however, a loud thump sounded and assorted people started screaming and running past the patio. CJ sighed inwardly, looking into Mitchell’s eyes.
“What is it?”
“I don’t know, but judging from the noise, I think it’s coming this way.”
Reluctantly, CJ stood up and grabbed her communicator, “‘Omi, you there?”
Static crackled, CJ cursed as she recognized a jamming pattern. She turned to Mitchell, “Stay here, okay?” She didn’t wait, and took off at a lope toward where the people came from. Coming toward the beach at a slow pace was a large robot. CJ stopped at blinked a few times. It was not a new machine, and looked distinctly run down. Of course, it didn’t need to be new if it was loaded with weapons.
A small pod on top of the robot looked like it was searching the area. It turned toward CJ and brought a pair of very dangerous looking guns and started firing.
“Dammit,” She turned and sprinted back towards the beach. Behind her, she heard the robot start walking again, faster this time.
She picked up the pace. Catching sight of Mitchell, she motioned for him to run, but he just stood there and pointed behind her. She shook her head and grabbed him before diving behind the table they sat at. Bullets tore at the ground as she dove. Shoving Mitchell behind her, she ripped the table up and put it between the robot and them.
“Friend of yours,” he asked mildly.
She grunted as bullets slammed into the table. She didn’t think it would hold long.
“Mm.”
“It’s a great night for a walk on the beach.”
“Mmmhmm.”
“You’re really enjoying that ice cream, aren’t you?”
CJ glanced at Mitchell sideways, “Yes. And I’m glad too. Even if it took several days to pony up for tonight.”
He shrugged his stooped shoulders, “Sorry. I got caught up. I think there’s a real story written on those walls.”
She smiled fondly, remembering his excitement at every small discovery from those tombs. They may known each other only a few short months, but they’ve grown close. She felt happier when he was happy. Hitomi had seen fit to tease her more than once, with Alana giggling in the background. Like they had a right to tease her. She snorted lightly and tossed her hair.
“What?”
“Just thinking. How’s your ice cream?”
“Apparently not as good as yours,“ she glared playfully, “But still good.”
They walked in silence for a while, finishing their cones. It really was a nice night for a walk on the beach, she thought. The sunset was going to be wonderful.
They sat down on a small patio just off the beach. The tables were almost sculptures, heavy concrete circles with curved benches hanging down. There were even cushions on the benches.
They sat watching the water wash over the sand from the patio for a bit, before CJ felt Mitchell’s hand sneak into hers. She looked at him and smiled. She really liked Mitchell. In their line of work, there wasn’t often opportunities to meet men, especially men who shared the peculiar interests she’d accumulated in her life. She finally found someone who didn’t mind the outright danger she was in.
Granted, she hadn’t been in any over the last few months, but she’d told him stories. He seemed more interested by the things about the world he didn’t know. She smiled at him again, then moved a bit closer, moving in to kiss him.
“Now this is a great night,” he murmured.
Almost as if on cue, however, a loud thump sounded and assorted people started screaming and running past the patio. CJ sighed inwardly, looking into Mitchell’s eyes.
“What is it?”
“I don’t know, but judging from the noise, I think it’s coming this way.”
Reluctantly, CJ stood up and grabbed her communicator, “‘Omi, you there?”
Static crackled, CJ cursed as she recognized a jamming pattern. She turned to Mitchell, “Stay here, okay?” She didn’t wait, and took off at a lope toward where the people came from. Coming toward the beach at a slow pace was a large robot. CJ stopped at blinked a few times. It was not a new machine, and looked distinctly run down. Of course, it didn’t need to be new if it was loaded with weapons.
A small pod on top of the robot looked like it was searching the area. It turned toward CJ and brought a pair of very dangerous looking guns and started firing.
“Dammit,” She turned and sprinted back towards the beach. Behind her, she heard the robot start walking again, faster this time.
She picked up the pace. Catching sight of Mitchell, she motioned for him to run, but he just stood there and pointed behind her. She shook her head and grabbed him before diving behind the table they sat at. Bullets tore at the ground as she dove. Shoving Mitchell behind her, she ripped the table up and put it between the robot and them.
“Friend of yours,” he asked mildly.
She grunted as bullets slammed into the table. She didn’t think it would hold long.
Comments