Acme Time Travel Incorporated - Volume 2
Comfort from their proximity 20th Sept 2180

The starship was parked in a small valley on the outskirts of Seville. It was late afternoon. Its cloaking was activated. Gabriel, Ginny, Sara and Zackery were standing in a small glade nearby.

“What are those trees?” Gabriel asked.

“Some are almonds, and some are carob trees,” Vicky said. “The almonds will soon be nearing their harvest time, I believe.”

“The air ... it smells so fresh and clean,” Gabriel said.

“This place looks idyllic,” Ginny said. “And we caught it just right. Look at the long shadows from the trees. Look at the egg-yolk yellow sunlight.”

Gabriel looked over at Ginny. He hadn’t seen her smile for a while, so he was pleased to see her so entranced by this lovely place.

“We’d better get going,” Zackery said. “The sooner we get ourselves lost in some general populace, the happier I will feel.”

Gabriel nodded, saying “You’re going to need to keep your heads down ... I’m sure that you know that, but ...”

“I think we’ll just try to keep up-to-date with whatever happens to ACME INC,” said Zackery. “I’m guessing that investigations will be going on. Maybe we can try to get in contact with those investigative teams.”

“Just be really really careful,” said Ginny. “If someone in ACME is trying to keep a lid on things ... trying to fend off any blame, then they won’t be grateful if you guys turn up to spill the beans. As Swan said, until Gabriel and me turned up with Vicky, there was no evidence that any of their clients had died as a result of the coordinates corruption.”

Sara looked worried. Zackery gave her a hug.

“We’ll get going,” said Zackery. “It’s a short walk into the town. We’ll just get a room somewhere for the night, then ...”

Sara walked over to Ginny and gave her a big hug.

“Look after those new legs” Sara whispered in Ginny’s ear. “You took that tumble off the stretcher ... so you need to take care.”

“They feel fine,” Ginny said, hugging Sara back.

“Come on ... let’s get going,” Zackery said.

“Oh ... one more thing,” Sara said. “Zackery and me want you to take one of the STUs that Swan gave us. We haven’t worn it. Maybe you can make use of it. You said that you wanted one to give to somebody.”

Sara rummaged in her bag and took a black plasteel band from it. She handed it to Ginny.

“Sara,” Vicky said. “If you wish, I can set up a WORM-LYNK connection between myself and the STU you are keeping. That way we will have direct communications. We can let you know about any information that we find out.”

“That would be great,” said Sara. “We weren’t thinking of using the STU for anything, but that would be a really good idea.”

“Well, if you put the other STU on your wrist now, that will activate it, and I can set up the WORM-LYNK, if that’s ok?”

Sara took the other STU out of her bag and put it on her wrist. She flinched as the STU ran its initial diagnostics.

“Ok,” Vicky said. “I’ve set up the connection. I’ve also advised your STU to give you a little time to get under way before it starts to introduce itself to you. I don’t think we all need to be privy to your configuration discussions.”

“No, I suppose not,” said Sara.

“Come on,” said Zackery. “I’m sort of looking forward to finding a room for the night ... and a little place to have a nice meal, maybe a glass of wine ...”

Zackery grinned. Sara chuckled.

“Come on, then,” she said. “That glass of wine isn’t going to drink itself.”

Sara hefted her luggage, then turned, setting off walking slowly in the direction of the town. Zackery picked up his own backpack, grinned in the direction of Gabriel and Ginny, waved, then set off after her.

“I hope they’ll be ok,” Gabriel said.

Ginny watched as Zackery caught up with Sara and took over carrying her luggage.

“I think they’ll look after each other,” Ginny said.

“So, what are we going to do now?” Ginny said.

“I don’t know about you,” Gabriel said, “but I think I fancy a nice Spanish meal and a nice glass of red wine. What about you?”

“What ... you mean go into Seville?”

“I don’t think I’d be able to order us a nice meal in Seville, but I’m pretty sure that Ship could get us something.”

Ginny grinned. “Ok, Gabe,” she said. “C’mon Ship. We’re coming back on board, and we’re looking for some nice Spanish food and nice red wine.”

Gabriel smiled. That was the first time that Ginny had said anything affectionate to him in a long time.

The starship re-appeared, floating gently a foot off the ground. As they stepped up through the doorway, Ship said “Would you like me to select a meal for you, or would you prefer to choose one yourselves?”

Ginny looked at Gabriel.

“I think we’d be happy for you to make the choice for us,” Ginny said.

“Would I be correct in selecting a vegetarian meal for you, Ginny?” Ship asked.

“That would be nice, thank you,” Ginny said. “By the way, Ship, I think we should get back up into orbit, and re-engage cloaking.”

“On our way,” said Ship.

“Thanks, Ship,” Ginny said.

“And in which case your meals and wine are ready,” said Ship. “I hope that they meet your expectations.”

. . . . . . . .

The food was delicious. So was the wine. Gabriel wasn’t a wine drinker, but talking to Sara, hearing her enthusiasm for Spain and Zackery’s anticipation of them going for a nice meal had triggered something in Gabriel.

He was also hoping that Ginny was feeling cheerier. They still hadn’t discussed what had happened to her on SEG002. He was happy to leave it. She would either discuss it or she wouldn’t.

Gabriel shoved the food plates into the waste chute. Ginny was sitting in one of the cockpit seats, looking down at the Earth. Gabriel walked over and stood behind Ginny. He ran his fingers through her hair. Something he was prepared to do all day long.

“We’ve had some tricky times, haven’t we?” Ginny said. Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the Find ɴøᴠel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Gabriel said nothing, unsure where this conversation was going to go.

“I mean, we’ve had some fun bits, but some bits weren’t much fun at all,” she continued.

Gabriel continued running his fingers through her hair.

“Do you realise,” Ginny said, “just how close we were to not getting any medical assistance from ACME at all?”

“Yeah, I know,” Gabriel said. “I think we were just bloody lucky. We were lucky that they realised that Vicky had evidence showing we didn’t fuck up their coordinates and ...”

“And we were lucky that their security guys beat you up ... so they felt some sort of obligation to give aid,” Ginny said.

“Yeah ... that was lucky wasn’t it?” Gabriel said. “That’s what I was thinking at the time.”

“You only came on this trip because it was important to me, didn’t you?” she said.

“It was important to both of us,” Gabriel said.

“I don’t think I deserve you,” she said, reaching up and clasping Gabriel’s hands.

Gabriel realised that the moment ... the moment when Ginny was going to confide what had happened on SEG002, had passed. He had really felt that must have been what she was building up to, but for some reason she had decided against it. The thought that she wasn’t prepared ... wasn’t ready to disclose it made him fearful.

“You do know that I love you, don’t you?” he whispered into her ear.

“Would you like some coffee?” Ship asked.

Ginny pulled away from Gabriel. He smiled at her.

“That’s a nice idea,” Ginny said.

“And then, I guess, we need to decide what we are going to do next,” Gabriel said.

“Well ... I suggest we need to find out what happened to ACME INC,” Ginny said. “After all the investigations ... after the litigation and everything.”

“So, travel into the future again?”

“I guess so.”

“What do you think, Vicky,” Ginny said.

“I think that is the only way you are going to find out,” said Vicky. “I would suggest two years into the future, using the CrYO-PODS again, then go to the ACME-HUB and see what’s there.”

“If they didn’t ever fix the coordinates database, we’d be stuck there,” observed Gabriel.

“That is true,” said Vicky.

“Well, we’ve got to live somewhere,” Ginny said.

“I suppose so,” said Gabriel.

“This might sound a bit stupid,” said Ginny, “given that we are going to be getting two years sleep anytime soon, but it would be nice to just cuddle up together ... just for tonight. Then maybe get in the CrYO-PODS tomorrow.”

She got up and made her way towards their bedroom.

“See you soon,” she said, smiling over to Gabriel.

“See you soon,” he said, watching her walk down the short corridor.

. . . . . . . .

Ginny had curled up on her couchette. She was wearing a long T-shirt and she was lying on her side, watching Gabriel as he walked into the bedroom. He took his T-shirt and trousers off, then climbed in next to her. He laid on his back. She sat up, then climbed on top of him, straddling her legs on either side of him. Her long hair was trailing down over his face. He reached his hands up, one either side of her face, pulling her face towards him. She stiffened and jerked back away from him, pulling his hands away from her.

“What’s ...?” Gabriel said.

Ginny scrambled off the bed. She crossed the small room and sat down on the floor. She had her back to the wall. She sat cross-legged on the floor. She began to shake. Her whole body seemed to be trembling. She began to sob.

Gabriel got down off the cot and slowly walked over to her.

She looked up at him, tears in her eyes.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m really ...”

Gabriel sat down next to her. He was afraid to touch her. He didn’t know what best to do.

He sat down beside her, his back to the wall. He left an inch of space between them.

Ginny shuffled herself up closer to Gabriel. She rested her head on his shoulder. He put his arm around her. He hugged her closer. She nuzzled in to him.

“I’m here for you, Ginny,” he said. “I’m here for you love.”

“I know that, Gabriel,” she said.

Gabriel hugged her until she quietened. Then he lifted her up and laid her back on her couchette. He covered her in her soft downy quilt. He laid down, snuggling up behind her ... like two spoons in a drawer. He carefully rested one hand on her upper arm. She raised her other hand and rested it on top of his hand. She gave his hand a little squeeze. He rested his forehead against the back of her head. He felt his breathing slow. They laid there quietly, taking some small comfort from their proximity.

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