:AAO: The Voyage of the Curtains Shadow, ch1

:Intermission: 

Alo sang softly, humming to carry the melody. She lilted about slowly, turning in circles as she made a few cups of cocoa. Ali hung his head for a moment, wearily; not downtrodden, but contemplating.

Curtains Shadow was a Tatsmis model #077c. They had declared it legal salvage by sheer luck. (that is another story) but tldr: AAO passed the exam, Ali had scars to show his loyalty to the camera, Alo guessed the password. They paid the toll, named their vessel and were considered legal haulers. 

The bell had only tolled a peso past, and they wanted to leave the hub before traffic picked up. Tatsmis crews usually leave before dawn. The twinned tree of the mainsail sparkled and flickered in the morning sun. The crews know when to walk and when to run.

  Alo walked up to the printer in the cabin, slowly cut the ribbon from the readout, and replaced the clasp. Wondering what the next job would be, scrutinizing  

Alo, held the printout up to the light, trying to make out the tiny lettering... "follow the smallest speck?"

'Now what could that mean?' She thought momentarily, before sashaying over to Ali and handing him the note. They looked it over quietly, barely moving a muscle.

"Is it a secret? I can't make out the meaning of it, at least there is a vector attached." Ali whispered.

"For better or worse" Alo replied timorously.

"And you remember the antimatter from last time we went through there?"

"Of course, darling, we are never really lost."

So they finished their morning chores, checked the bell's readings, and posted the toll. Curtains shadow decoupled from its mag locks gently, and drifted out of the station. Unfurling its sails to the solar wind, the vessel retracted its tow cable, gliding into the starry sea.

Old parsecs behind them now, shadowed like dust in the wake of a dwarf star.  Ali had been breathlessly steering along in the stern. Alo was up the mainmast with a looking glass, like a lovely lass all aflutter. Much like the silver sails, painted with the twinned tree of ivy and jasmine. The mast towered at a modest span, for a vessel only 40 cubits stern to tip.

AAO had been given an unclear pin, they were told where to go but not how to get there. Usually they followed known routes, just a basic laundry service. She has enough cunning for both of them, his wits, their trust. They had work, it pays well, but xenowaste containment is not for the faint of heart. Like cave explorers of earth, they tread dark material.

 //glitch

 "Follow the smallest speck?"

So they looked it over, standing there waving their arms about and gesticulating madly, making no sound. AAO went together into the common room and sat down a while, putting their feet to ground. The tinny bits of static had to be isolated before either lover could speak.

"Is it secret, is it sage?" Ali whispered. "Avast we, nary a clue bout this ponderous note."

"For better, i say, than worse."

"You can take us under the band of antimatter? It is hazy upon the other side, we were late last time."

"Of course darling, we are never lost."

They walked back up to the deck, wandered aimlessly for a few minutes, then reconvened in the cabin.

Unglitch//