Alpha One - Chris Burton [103]
“You were trying to get lucky tonight Steve. I thought you were holding out for Carla?”
“Not much chance of that, is there? She buggered off and left me. It’s been a while and I think I stand a chance with one or two of them. I said we would see them again tomorrow night.”
“Tomorrow is Friday night and we have the Top Gun final on Saturday morning. You need to make up your mind how you feel about Carla. She is in a potentially dangerous situation and all you are concerned with is your bloody loins.”
“If you’re so bloody worried about her, why don’t you go after her? I think you are after Carla again.”
Jake resisted the temptation to respond to Steve’s confrontational and drunken challenge. This was going nowhere and he decided to change the subject.
“Don’t be daft. We need to concentrate on our studies and the Top Gun. There’ll be plenty of time for ladies later.”
On Friday morning, Jake awoke later than usual, with a hangover. He drank far too much last night. He was cross with himself for letting Steve influence him so near to the Top Gun and, more specifically, to his deadline for a decision as to what to do about Carla.
He checked his comm link and server for messages and then took a long shower. He felt apprehension again. It was three days since Carla’s original message and her sixth day gone. How far has she got and how did she get there? She didn’t have access to a fast ship, which meant she either hitched or hired a cruiser.
This didn’t fill him with confidence. He also had a conflict to deal with. Did he participate in the Top Gun or not? If he went after Carla, should he follow now or on Sunday after the Top Gun? What would he say to the Academy if he did go, and how long would he be away? He didn’t have to wait long for the answers to his questions. Carla sent Jake a further delayed portal message which sat on his server as he accessed his comm station for the second time today. The message this time was longer and more self-assured. She seemed more confident in her actions but expressed anxiety as to why she was doing what she was doing.
“Hi Jake. I am really sorry to keep sending you delayed messages, but it is really important that you don’t follow me. I left my parents last Sunday and charted a light cruiser from Melbourne Space Port. Cost me a fortune, but I felt I must go. I felt compelled to follow Joely about two days after Christmas. I put it off at first, but the feeling became stronger. I can’t really explain it, but all I know is I must go. I am on route to the Tri-Star system to rendezvous with Winterburn’s research vessel. The cruiser has SD capability so it should only take a few weeks. I sent a message to my parents and another message to the Academy, so all should be okay. I miss you but you must not follow me. I will contact you again soon. Love, Carla xx”
Jake’s worst fears were coming to light. There was something strange about Winterburn. Jake witnessed it first hand before Christmas, but he could not put his finger in it. Winterburn compelled Carla and others to follow him. Why? That was too big a question, but Winterburn certainly influenced her in some way. Jake must follow her, and yet she twice asked him specifically not too. Why was she doing this? He was grateful she had contacted him again, but what was she getting herself into? Jake let out a deep sigh and opened a comm link to Carla’s parents. It was time to decide what action he should take and when. He could not just let her go to Winterburn. This was not jealousy; he was concerned about her safety.
Carla’s parents received a message from Carla a few hours before, and had spent much time discussing it. They quickly asserted their wish for Jake to go after Carla. Her father prepared his yacht; he insisted Jake use the ship. He would bring the ship to Jake’s apartment tomorrow, and Jake should leave on Sunday. They both knew this was important for Jake personally and insisted that he defer his chase until after the event’s completion. Jake