A New Day

Tak awoke to the faint background sounds of people moving about.  Yes, it was somebody in the Mittens household, but his keen senses picked up the distant hum of massed activity throughout the CovaPlex.  He picked up his Glas from the bedside table and issued a voice command.

“Sit Rep.”

A holographic representation of the Mittens’ quarters showed where he was located.  He could see the shaded ghost images of two people sitting at a small table down the corridor.  A digital counter read: 2942-5-5-07:53:06.   A flashing VidFile icon indicated a waiting unseen message. 

“Play message.”

“Hey Tak, we’re beginning to get a little worried here.  (Damn!  He’d forgotten his customer on earth.)  You should have gotten back days ago.  Is everything OK?  Call me as soon as you can.”

“Reply,” he said. 

Tak’s image appeared next to the icon and he started dictating:
“Sorry Jon.  Liberty caught fire on the way back from Mars.  I'm fine, but the ship and cargo were completely destroyed.  I’ll attach a copy of the UEE report to this message for your claim.  I'm on CovaPlex Sol Beta sorting things out.  I’ll contact you when I get back...Tak out,” Tak looked for the report and attached it to his reply.   

“Send reply with attachment and confirm receipt.”  The VidFile icon blinked before the words, “message received” appeared.  The folder closed.  

He paused for a second, then said, “Zoom out.”  The adjoining housing node showed as a grid of transparent gray squares; all except one.  Audrey’s compartment, one level down and over in the single’s quadrant, showed a pale green.  Tak had tagged the location when he dropped her off.  He smiled as he swung his feet out from under the duvet, and set down the Glas.  He pulled the courier bag over, opened it, took out the rolled up toiletry kit and set it beside his communicator. 

Having showered the night before, Tak had draped the wet towel and clothes on the chair beside the door.    The only item on the chair now was a clean towel.  Ma must have taken everything away during the night.  His boots were on the floor by the chair.     

Tak couldn't very well walk around naked.  “Well Scottie, it looks like I'm going to have to borrow some of your rig,” Tak whispered.  He walked over to the locker and sorted through the rack of hanging clothes.  A pale blue shirt with button down collars caught his eye.  He held it up to his shoulders.  This should fit, he thought. Then he tried on some tan pants.  They were a little long in the leg and loose at the waist, but they’d do.  Fishing through the drawers, Tak discovered a belt, underwear and socks.  This room has been frozen in time, he mused.

After dressing to the waist, Tak slipped on his crepe-soled boots; tossed the towel over his left shoulder; slung the shirt across his forearm and picked up the Dopp kit.  Tak opened the door to his room and stuck his head into the corridor. Hearing soft voices from the galley, Tak turned left and went into the head. 

The small wash room was all stainless steel and glass.  It had a shower stall, toilet and sink.  He put the Dopp kit on the steel counter; unrolled it, and slid out his ivory-handled straight razor.  Then set the tube of shaving soap and brush beside it.  He hung the shirt on a hook by the shower door. 

Waving a hand over the red diode, warm water began running into the sink.  He waited until it got hot before pressing down on the stopper.  When the sink was mostly full, he shut off the water and lifted hot water to his face until he felt his pores open.  He squeezed a thumbnail-sized amount of shaving soap onto the palm of his left hand.  Then, dipping the brush into hot water, he worked a load of foam in his cupped hand before lathering his four-day-old beard. 

In five minutes Tak had scraped the dark shadow off his face.  He cleaned the blade, rinsed his hands, and wiped everything dry.  The sink was emptied and cleaned of all evidence of the shave.  Tak wiped down the sink and counter with his towel and hung it on the rail.  He put on the shirt and gave himself a final inspection.  “Not too bad,” he said. 

He returned to his room, packed the shaving gear, slid the Glas under the sleeve of his forearm and did up the cuff.  Leaving the room tidy, Tak made his way to the galley and found Ros and Mama drinking coffee. 

“Good morning,” he greeted them.

“Good morning,” they chorused. 

“How did you sleep?” Mama asked.  She rose to get a mug down from the cupboard.

 

“Like a baby.”

“You look like a new man,” said Ros. 

“It’s amazing what rest, a little water, and a razor will do,” Tak said, “I'm grateful for these clothes, too."

“Do you want anything in your coffee?” asked Ma.

“Black please,” said Tak.

Ma handed him the mug and paused to look him over.  “Scott was a tad heavier, and an inch or two taller, but all-in-all you look very nice,” she said.  “Oh, and by the way, I'm cleaning your things.”

“Thank you, but you didn't have to do that,” he said. “I was just going to buy new stuff.”

“Of course I didn't have to.” She said it in a way that indicated the discussion was over.

 

Ros gritted his teeth and looked at Tak as if to say, ‘don’t go there.’  Thankfully, he changed the subject.   “So you and Audrey are still planning on shopping?”

 

“Yes Ros,” Tak answered.

“Well, if I know Audrey, she’ll want to be there when Voyager Direct opens at nine.  Covalex also runs a Purser shop that’s kind of nifty.  They bring in goods from all over the Galaxy for company staff and Audrey has privileges there.”

“I’ll place myself in her hands then,” he said.   Ma gave him Ros wink, setting off a series of guffaws from Ros.