TEMPUS TWO CHAPTER THREE

 

I’m a minimalist. I don’t really need much to enjoy a good holiday – just my family and the bare essentials.

Jean Reno

He woke up close to lunchtime the next day. There was no one around except cats.

He went to the small kitchen and there was a pot of coffee on. He poured himself a cup and found a note.

On board my ship cleaning up. Join me after you get some sleep.

L

Cristian had a hot bath, got dressed and went down to the cafeteria.

The cafeteria was just starting to fill up for lunch. Familiar faces walked in and said hello. Everyone seemed happier, lighter than usual. He had left Watcher aboard the ship for the refit. He started to realize how much he depended on him.

“Son, I brought you a coffee,” said Mary.

“Thanks, Mother, I am still a little tired.”

“I can tell. Have you eaten anything?”

“Not yet.”

“Let me get you some food.”

“That would be welcome, Mother.”

“Cristian, are we ready to contact the world Leaders about the elections,” said an almost frantic Larry King.

“This afternoon, Larry, we can get started then.”

Tiffany approached the table where he was sitting.

“Tiffany, good to see you, could I get a status report.”

“The Chancellor and Tuseer are on board the ship helping with cleanup and re-stock and training. Callahan, Alfred, and Watcher are working on a project that they are not talking about under your orders. The scientists are all helping out on the ship. Except for Albert who is taking care of the garden with Stephen. Raguel and Uriel and Nikola are working on shields, cloaking and weapons. The soldiers are taking shifts guarding the ship. Lucy and Ethel are guarding the entrance. Our chef is cooking. Our quartermaster is acquiring goods. Arthur is in his office doing our books. I have messages from all over the world. Branson says they will have the first Shrike fighter ready in a week for test flights. Charles was flown back to Florida this morning, he will be putting a list of people together for possible crew members. Interviews will start the day after tomorrow. The President and Second Leader left a message for you to contact him after you had some sleep.”

“Tiffany Randall, still think you won’t fit in?”

“No Cristian, I love my new job, thanks for believing in me.”

“Thank you for not being upset about me trying to climb into your bed last night.”

With a blush, she answered, “No problem, Cristian, you were a gentleman.”

“It won’t happen again, Miss Randall. After lunch contact, Branson tell him well done. Contact the President, find out if he is free. Then contact the Secretary-General of the UN and suggest that we set up a call between all the world leaders for tomorrow afternoon local.”

“Ok If I have some lunch first, Cristian?”

“Tiffany, please, join me.”

It was almost noon, everyone was coming in now. The Chef made it clear when Lunch was ready. If you missed it, you went hungry. Exceptions were made only for those on duty. The tables were still in a big U. The lineup started and trays were filled with food. This had become a busy place.

There were many choices for lunch. There were people serving food, people he didn’t know. This made him a little uneasy. Tiffany saw his face and understood.

“Cristian, Raguel brought them from the hotel this morning on my order, The Chef requested help. They were vetted by Watcher and actually the Chancellor.”

“Thank you, Tiffany, Chris was right about you?”

Tiffany smiled. “So I was vetted as well.”

“You didn’t need much, Miss Randall.”

“Thank you.”

Lorelei walked into the cafeteria as they were talking.

“Hey sweetie, is the inside of the ship pink now?”

“Hey husband, huh, pink now that sounds good. Kidding.”

“You coming to have a look later, Cristian?”

“Yup, just got a couple of conference calls to do first.”

“Mary brought his tray to his spot at the head of the table. Everyone had sat down. Including the Chancellor and Tuseer. No one was eating. Cristian took the cue.

“A welcome for our guests and our newcomers, welcome to the Cave. Is there one among you who would say, Grace?”

A volunteer stood up and said the words, after an Amen people started eating, conversations started the room came to life. As he ate, he held his wife’s hand under the table. He even made some eye contact, she looked radiant.

He noticed that her belly was huge. Had that much time passed? He never kept track of too much other stuff going on.

“When is our baby coming, sweetie?”

“In another month, Cristian?”

“Where did all the time go, Wife.”

“Where it always goes.”

“We should take a holiday, maybe in the past. We could go away, take a month off, and you could have the baby and come back the next day.”

“I would be worried about everything out here the whole time.”

“What if I told you that we could forget everything about now, and we could have time just for us. The Chancellor has the ability to make us forget things for a short while. We could be a normal couple for a time.”

“Yes, please, could we plan to do that?”

“I will arrange it in a few days.”

“Awesome.”

“Keep it to your self, don’t want to cause a panic.”

“Understood husband.”