FREEBASING

by Mr. David R. Dorrycott

"Station Control to Star Diamond. Docking in Bay Seventeen confirmed. Please release Navigational control to Station in twenty-seven seconds. Thank you."

Snowaters yawned, she'd missed more sleep than she'd gotten caring for the ill Melanie. "Station Control, Confirmed" she replied. Looking up at the ceiling she yawned again.

"Print it out, I'm too tired to focus on the screen" the Diamonds owner answered. "Tell Freebase I'll meet her at the airlock."

<Confirmed.>

A small printer spun, spitting out a single sheet of paper within Snowy's reach. Picking up the document she giggled.

"I've been asked out on a date."

"Send this reply. Accepted, tomorrow evening at 2000 hours your time. I'll meet you at the Port Building, VIP lounge three."

"Sure, he says there's a dancer I might like to see."

She rubbed her eyes, fighting the exhaustion. "Have the suites been confirmed yet?"

"Gods" she whispered. "I may even lose money on this planet."

"Well, it WAS an impulsive buy. Still, after I heard what AA bought them. . . Come on, I couldn't let that trio upstage me, could I?"

"Besides, wait until Mimi and Casey find out what I sent her them for their birthdays."

A slight lurch announced the Diamonds hard dock. Groaning, Snowaters stood and headed to meet Freebase.

Hours later the four organic members of Snowaters family dropped their bags in the station's master suites. Sitting on the bed Snowaters started pulling her shoes off.

"Yuki, please see that Eve and Dawn get settled in. I hated to wake them."

"Yes Mistress" the plant being answered. With a slight wirr of power the mobile plant led two half sleeping children toward another room, and their own beds.

A communications system next to the bed chirped, almost absently Snowy activated the system. A middle aged mans face filled the screen.

"Lady Snowaters?"

"One and only" she half yawned.

"Final clearance on the project has been given. It's almost six P.M. here, we'll start construction tomorrow morning. Wilmore Labs agreed to have an on-site inspector available." He paused, checking his papers. "I made an inspection. The freeze pretty much destroyed the structure, what with shattered pipes and stuff. It will have to go. Is there a problem with that?"

“No" she answered. "Just as long as the new structure is as close to the old as possible."

"Gotcha. That's it then, hope to see you at the site. Goodnight."

"Night" she replied, turning off the system. In moments she was laying across the beds covers, sound asleep.

Snowaters looked up from her drink, half drunk she stared at Steamboat through fogged eyes. "Okay" she almost slurred. "I admit the dancers here are pretty good. So where's this 'really really cute dancer' you've been raving about?"

"Out next, 'think" Steamboat replied, tossing down another overpriced martini. "You'll love her, everyone does. 'Should see her tabledance too. 'sss..Nice what you did fer Melanie."

Setting her own half full glass on the table she looked hard at the man sitting across from her. "I'd do it for any friend" she answered. "But you, you have a real problem."

"Wass that?" he asked, a puzzled expression crossing his face.

"Melanie's got it bad for you. Real bad. She kept talking to you in her delirium. Begging your forgiveness for her stupidity, crying out. Your going to have to make a choice, and real soon."

"Yeah, I know she's hung up. Keeps sending pheromone laced leaves in the mail an stuff. Don' need a girl, full times I mean."

"Good, then you won't mind telling her you don't love her. To her face I mean."

"HUH?"

"Its simple" Snowaters continued. "Either you accept her, or reject her. Only you better make your choice before she's so locked into you she can't accept another."

The announcer saved Steamboat from any further travel down that path. Greatfuly he sat back to enjoy one of his favorite dancers.

When the woman started dancing Snowy groaned slowly. It quickly became obvious that the little blond was probably one of the best Snowaters had seen in sixty or more years. Still, it had been a long time since her loves last visit. It was going to be a long, lonely trip back to the station and a cold bed waiting.

Looking over at her 'date' she growled slightly, catching his attention.

"I'm gonna kill you Steamboat" she whispered. Turning her back on the confused mage, she watched the dancers act.