4

"Five?"

"Yeah, and I can barely afford that. I don't know how the others do it." Ness poked her head into the bedroom. She pulled a chair out from under the table and sat down. "Do you know what's wrong with the ship?"

Tox laughed. "You mean besides the fact that it's a hundred years old? First of all, there's something wrong with the diagnostics computer."

"There is?"

"Yeah, it doesn't have one." Tox opened the chiller and looked inside. "I haven't done any shopping yet. I've got water?"

"That would be nice, thanks."

Then he had to find a clean glass. "So, with no computer and the engines not running at all now, I don't really know where to start." When he'd handed Ness her drink, he leaned against the bench and drank straight from the bottle. "I've decided to just start stripping down the engine and see what I can find."

Ness nodded thoughtfully. She opened her mouth to speak, but a sound erupted form the cockpit.

Tox spun to look. "What the hell's that?" It didn't sound good. He moved quickly thought the short passage and started to look. Ness followed close behind. She was the one who found the radio flashing.

"You have a call," she said, pointing.

"Nobody even knows where I am." Tox hit the button and turned the mic on. "Hello?"

"Is that Tox Intya?"

"Yeah."

"Greetings, Tox. I am Captain Calit Dramil from the Flight Academy."

"Yes Sir. Of course. I know who you are."

"Excellent. I thought you might. We received your application today-- your tenth in a row-- and thought we would get you in for a bit of an informal chat before we make any decisions on the short list."

"Yes, Sir. That would be wonderful."

"Are you available soon? Say, at Blue 2?"

It was less than 2 hours away. "Of course."

"Right. Why don't you come to the Flight Deck Bar then and we can see what we can see. You can bring your friend if you like, though of course she will have to do without your company while we talk. I'm sure she will be able to amuse herself."

"Thank you, Sir. I'll be there."

"Of course you will. If you want to come early you can have a drink while you wait. The guards will be expecting you."

The radio went dead.

Tox spun to look at Ness. She had a shocked look on her face. Tox knew he probably looked much the same.

"That's amazing."

"I'm not in yet. I'm not even on the short list yet. They're probably just sick of me and intend to tell me to leave them alone."

"You think Captain Dramil usually makes calls like that?"

"Well... no..." Tox had to get ready. He nudged past Ness and back into the living quarters of the ship. "So do you want to come?"

"Me? Why? I..."

"He said you could come."

"But how did I know I was here?"

It was a good question. Tox looked around as if he might see a camera he hadn't noticed before. The ship was too old to even have on board cameras. "I don't know. Does it matter?"

"Umm... No. Do you know how many people like us get invited to the Flight Deck?"

Tox laughed as he stripped of his clothes and inserted himself into the cramped confines of the san-cubical. He hadn't tried it yet and hoped it worked without any assistance from the ship's driving components. "I don't even know of anyone who's gotten above the 150th floor of Keel Sector, let alone onto the flight deck." The water was hot and steady-- better than he'd ever gotten in his unit in Groat Sector.

"I knew a guy who stepped through the door on level 150. He made it three steps before he was shot."

"Ouch."

"Yeah, to say the least."

"No. Sorry. I just hit my elbow. This thing is bloody small."

"Oh, right. You could probably install a larger cubical now. The kitchen could be halved in size with newer equipment."

Tox turned off the water and climbed back out into the open. He towelled himself dry while he looked around. "You're probably right. If I had the money I could probably double the size of the living areas." He tapped the wall opposite the equipment. "The life support module is in this wall. It's huge."

"Like I said, 'nice' isn't exactly the right work, but it could be."

"If I had the money." Tox went into the back room and threw the towel on the bed. He opened his pack-- he hadn't had a chance to organise anything yet-- and started to sort through his clothes.

Ness followed and sat down on the bed to watch. "You don't want to over do it. You don't want to look desperate."

Tox laughed. "Two points, Ness. One. I've applied ten times-- they already know I'm desperate. And two. I work in a spare parts shop and live in a 100 year old space ship. Or is that two points? Whatever. Anyway, over doing it isn't really an option."

Ness was smiling as she looked at the choices. "How about this?" She held up a lime green skirt that was just flared enough to almost be in fashion.

"Hmmm... Maybe. I don't know."

"You put it with this shirt." A bright blue one with concertina sleeves. "And you uses this head scarf as a cummerbund. "

"It might work." He started to get dressed. "So are you coming?"

"Of course."

"Do you want to use the san?"

"No thanks."

Ten minutes later, Tox was ready to go. "So what do you think?"

Ness smiled and nodded. "You won't embarrass me."

They climbed the ladder back into the storeroom then made their way quickly out into the passage. A Knuckle sauntered past, as if out for an innocent stroll, as Tox locked the door. Tinner's would be left alone, but someone else was in for a surprise in the morning.

#

Tox took a deep breath. He looked back at the lift, as if getting back on really was an option.

"Don't back out now," Ness said. "You've wanted this for five years."

"I've wanted this all my life."

"Right. And besides, you can tell them you aren't interested later-- after we have a drink on the Flight Deck."

"Tell them I'm not interested." Tox laughed, and it was exactly what he needed. He smoothed his skirt and walked towards the door. Ness strode along by his side. The door opened at their approach, sliding silently into the corners.

Beyond were 13 heavily armed guards. Twelve stood as still as statues. The final one stepped crisply forward.

Tox took another deep breath, but the man didn't look concerned. "Mr Intya, welcome aboard." He bowed slightly, without lowering his gaze.

"Ahhh... Thank you."

"Miss Taflo." Another bow.

"Ummm... Hi."

"If you will kindly use the lift at the far end." He gestured. "The button for the Flight Deck is clearly marked. You may want to avoid exiting on the incorrect floor." He smiled a little smile.

"Right. Thanks."

The lift was an express that skipped the first 45 of the fifty floors. Each button was as a breakfast bowl. The Flight Deck was clearly marked. Tox carefully pressed the button. He smoothed his skirt. He fixed the collar on his shirt.

"Stop fiddling."

"Right." He cleared his throat. "Right."

The lift opened directly into the bar. It was nothing life Tox had ever seen before.