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runswithferrets — A113-16s
Published: 2017-09-04 11:41:10 +0000 UTC; Views: 10164; Favourites: 48; Downloads: 115
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“I can’t …. just can’t … believe it…..Everything ….. it all worked before.. I’m so sorry” It took over a minute for her to get out the words through the tears. She had collapsed to the floor with her back against the dresser and her head against her knees.
Austin heard enough of the conversation with the machine to know it wasn’t going to work. Reality hadn’t set in yet and he was mainly focused on the sobbing giant. Deep inside there was a need to console her, but how do you hug a sobbing building?
“Tanya…..” There was nothing but sobs. He kept trying “Tanya…” Finally she turned around looking up at him on the dresser top. Her eyes were red and her face was soaking.
“I’d hug you and dry your tears, but I’d probably drown..”
She tried to smile a little at joke, but it wasn’t working.
Maybe we can figure this out. You’ve gotta tell me everything you know about that box and how you got it. Maybe there’s a way…”
She was still crying but at least she had something to focus on now.
“turn around so we can see each other…”
She scooted herself around with her left side pushed up against the dresser. She had to look up and to the left to see him. “Is this ok for you?”
“It’s kinda nice not having to bend my neck just to see your waist.” He waited for her to relax a bit. “This isn’t your fault. Could you tell me it’s story?”
“Spring-break. I was supposed to go with this guy on a road trip, but the night before I found out he date raped Susan. There were two others on the trip, but you know how it goes..” she paused and looked at him.
Actually he didn’t, but he didn’t let on.
“I broke it off and was stuck on campus with just my bike. I was pissed, so I decided to go on a long ride in the hills to work it off. About an hour out it was dawning on me that this wasn’t fun. That’s when I had a flat.”
“Did you have a tire kit?”
“Not even my phone.”
“All I could do it walk to a bigger road and hitch. I hid my bike behind some trees and had only walked a few minutes when I saw it - the reflection.” she paused for effect “It was coming from a tree. I was bored, so I had to check it out. That’s when I found him … I mean it.”
Now she had his full attention.
There was this metal suit with something in it leaning against the tree. Nothing clear, it was all some kind of metal. It didn’t have a place for a head and there were three legs and arms with clawish ends. It was moaning.”
“Weren’t you afraid?”
“It made me feel very calm. I naturally take care of hurt animals and don’t even kill insects. Maybe it sensed that. I said hello not expecting anything. Then it moaned and rolled on it’s side and told me it needed help.”
“It spoke English?”
“With a proper English accent. I don’t know if it was speaking or just talked to my mind.” She had a smile and was almost lost in thought remembering.
“And then …?”
“Oh. It was injured and needed help. It was too weak to move and a leg was broken, It asked for sugar, water and alcohol to start repairing. I had some ale and chocolate cake,. And coffee in a thermos.. It had me open a hatch and pour that in.”
“Anything else? Did it need anything else?”
“I tied a splint to it’s broken leg. A stick and my shoe laces. It just needed that to get started. In an hour it staggered around and then went to sleep for an hour. I hung around thinking I had to protect it. I don’t know what I’d have done, but that’s instinct for you. Finally it came to and asked for more ale and coffee so I gave it everything I had.”
“What did it looklike?”
“Mostly smooth and metallic and not very tall - about one and a half meters at best, but it was much wider and heavier than a person. It started asking me questions.”
“like what?”
“The standard. Did I have a family, had I mated, how old was I, and did I have any more alcohol. It went over to another tree and dug until it found a box. It said something to the box that I couldn’t follow and then came back and told me a rescue ship would arrive in four days,. Then it asked if I’d keep it company and bring it food until then.
“And you…”
“Of course I did! It needed help and was lonely and I didn’t have anything else to do.”
“How’d it go?”
“We talked about where we came from, our dreams, you know… I probably shouldn’t tell you about that now. Some of it is personal and none of it has anything to do with the box.”
“Do they visit regularly?”
“No… they try to stay off habited planets that aren’t advanced enough to trade with.”
“Was it a scientist?”
“No .. a trader. He, I mean it covers about ten inhabited planets. Do you mind if I say he ? Technically it isn’t, but he had such a beautiful accent.”
“Fine by me..”
“Anyway he goes into suspension during the long trips. It must be a strange life because you age so little with the fast travel and suspension. Everyone you knew gets old and dies. He tries to meet new people everywhere he goes, but it is sad when he leaves because he’s moving into the future much further than you.”
“ ‘sound like you liked him.”
“I did. And it was amazing. He told me stories of where he had been and I told me more about people here..”
“How did he get here?”
“His ship’s navigation got confused and went here instead. They always travel with at least two ships and it had followed, but was keeping it’s distance. When he called them they told him they’d be here in about four days. That’s when he gave me the box. Some of the beings in the system miniaturize everything to save fuel.”
“He just gave it to you?”
“He said it was very special - very expensive and a gift for saving him and being a friend. He showed me how it worked and then had it imprint on me. It won’t work for anyone else.”
“He didn’t tell you about the limit?”
“I don’t think he knew. It was a gift to him a long time ago that he had never used.”
“So he re-gifted you..”
“You’d rather have a gift certificate?”
“And he left.”
“It was too dangerous to be close to the rescue ship so I watched from about three kilometers away. There was a bright light and a humming sound. I couldn’t see the ship - just it’s motor.. He said that it would be invisible to us and our radar.. It stayed on the ground for a few minutes and there there was this loud sonic boom when it took off and the bright light it’s motor made. The boom was in the news.”
“I think I remember.” He paused… “So you started to play with it?”
“Think. You have the most amazing machine in the world and only you can use it. It shrinks things, but then you can return them.”
“So you thought about using it for a date..”
“I saw something about Gulliver’s Travels and somehow it seemed fun.”
“But you never read the book..”
“Not yet.”
She started to cry again.. “And look what I did to you!”
“shhhh… it’ll be ok.” He really needed to be holding her, but… “you showed me I can go on a date with a taller woman..”
She smiled a bit.
“What am I going to do Austin?”
“No, what are we going to do… I’m hungry and thirty. We could start with that.”
“There’s nothing here but peanuts and some energy bars. Are you ok with something fast from Burger Magic. I usually get the veggie burger..”
“Sure, we could share if you don’t mind.”
She stood up and gave a real laugh for the first time since the machine failed.
“You’ve got heels on?”
“Yeah.. I wanted to dress up for our date tonight. They make me feel sexy.”
“Can you walk in them?”
“These aren’t bad - it’s only four minutes - five if the light is red.” She felt for her purse.. “Shit! my purse is in my gym bag. My credit cards and phone are there too - all at your size.”
He thought for awhile. “They do online takeout don’t they?”
She saw where he was going. “I’ll do it on their page. Just go in my bag and use my MasterCard.”
“Let’s use mine. My wallet’s in my pocket.”
She bent over and put her hand down. “You’re going to get used to me and my hand, so we might as well start now..”
“Right.. he said as he climbed on. “Some day you’ll seem normal - or we’ll have figured this out.”
She put him down next to her laptop.
He pointed to his restroom box sitting next to the laptop. “This needs to go back where I can use it.”
“I’ll get it.” She picked it up with one hand and set it down next to the classroom. Then she picked up it’s ceiling and moved it over to the the desk of her old roommate. “It’ll be safe there, but don’t you think it makes sense to have your ceiling off for now..”
After arranging a spot for the restroom in the classroom she walked back over to her laptop and placed an order for a veggie burger, fries and a large Coke on his credit card. Twenty minutes later they were having an early dinner next to Room A-113 on her dresser.
“Look” she said holding something way above his head. -“Here’s this little liquor glass. Coke or water.”
“I could really use the caffeine about now…”
“Ok .. their’s are really strong” She took the cup out of the sack and bent the rim to fill the little glass. “Let me know if you need more..” Then he watched in amazement she drank several times his weight all at once. “Ooooo this is really good tonight! How’d you wanna share the burger. You could come over and break some off or I could do it for you…”
“It’ll take awhile to get used to seeing you eating. ‘ hope you don’t mind if I’m turned the other way..”
“Oh, I didn’t think about that. pretty gross, eh?”
“He was thinking about seeing her eat pieces of food larger than him in a single bite, but he didn’t want to say it. “Yeah … exactly..”
“Ok - come over and break off what you need.”
Walking back with a bowling ball sized piece of veggie patty he tried to change the subject.
“I don’t know how long it will be like this, but let’s spend some time figuring out exactly what each one of us needs to get through to next Friday. We can add, but for now let’s concentrate.
“I have three finals I’m staying here this Summer. …you…”
“I’m supposed to graduate and leave for my new job. “
“Shit! What about finals?>”
“I have one paper that’s mostly done, but all of the other classes are over. I’m gonna need your help.”
“What’s it on?”
“Ir’s a class that looks at the economics of other times. It’s on Texas during the 1840s. I’ve done all of the research and have typed up all but about five pages. Maybe I can dictate to you on my PC and you can email it.”
“Have you ever tried to use dictation software?”
“No …”
“Try it and we can go through it afterwards and I can type in the corrections. I don’t think you’re big enough to push the keys.”
He winced, but she was right. “What about yours?”
“I’ve got solid A’s in two classes and a B+ in the third.”
“See .. we’re going to make this.”
“I know. Just don’t turn around. I going to eat my burger now..”
“Tanya”
“yeah…”
“After you finish let’s hug..”
After some obvious chewing and drinking she answered. “You’ll be ok with another big cry?”
“ ‘ have any life rafts?”
__________
[the full size, more detailed 3200 pixel render goes out to donors]
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Comments: 8
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She is such a beautiful woman! I love how her legs look in those pants, her flowing hair and her delicate hands.
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Thanks - I keep having second thoughts about the long hair. It turns out to be difficult to pose, but when you get it right it looks great
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Looks like they have things figured out...for now.
Oh, and she needs to turn off the vacuum under the bed!
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naw -- it's charging
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