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Post by Evangeline on Nov 7, 2008 20:20:10 GMT -5
<<< Ben might be a little shy yet, since it's their first time out alone together. After the lighthouse visit, he might get more at ease. Larger vessels tend to pursue the matter a little differently, in both procedure and location, than small craft. >>>
"All right, then." Stokes set a course for the small island the lighthouse rested on. "You can ALMOST see it from here."
"Yeah, I imagine things would be getting twitchy with that lout hanging around." Robin scowled. "I'll give them a call." She brought up her cell system and put in Delfina's number.
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Post by ebonyviper on Nov 7, 2008 20:41:59 GMT -5
(((((OOC: Oh, so they'll take their relationship a bit slow then.)))))
Freda set course and followed alongside the cutter. "Yeah, you're right," she said as she focused in at the distance, "I can almost see it too."
*****
Ebony nodded in agreement as Robin made the call to Delfina.
*****
At the camp, Delfina felt her cell phone go off. She took it out of her backpocket and answered, "Hello?"
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Post by Evangeline on Nov 7, 2008 20:56:45 GMT -5
"Hello, Delfina? This is Robin here. We're at the coast guard station now, sitting with Bree, and our folks are here as well. How're you doing?"
Guy made a noise somewhat like an irritable horse would make. "It's a shame that such a lovely little place would attract so much lowlife."
"You might have already seen the light from it a few times, at night." Stokes replied. "It's great up close, though you have to watch for the rocks on the southwest side. Looks like it should be in a calendar."
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Post by ebonyviper on Nov 7, 2008 21:18:18 GMT -5
"Robin?" Delfina recognized the voice, "Hey, it's good to hear from you. I'm doing fine. We're all just taking a break for a few days. So how's Bree holding up?"
*****
"I don't think that can be helped," said Ebony, "but at least they have a dedicated, responsive police force here to make sure everyone is safe. It's weird though. I never used to have such respect for them now as I did then."
*****
"And I certainly would agree with that," said Freda, "Or even a postcard. Like Cape Hatteras and the lighthouses in Maine. They're spectacular."
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Post by Evangeline on Nov 7, 2008 21:53:45 GMT -5
"Bree's fever broke last night." Robin answered, "And she was feeling better this morning, you should have seen her drag herself down to the dock to tell that cutter to go out and get some air for the day, because he was kind of moping around. But Ebony tells me you've been having some issues with a jerk by the name of Carl. What's up with that?"
"Tourist towns really have to be on the ball when it comes to police and emergency stuff." Jordan interjected. "And since they deal with all kinds of people and word gets around if they make mistakes or act like jerks, they can't afford to be stuck on stupid."
The lighthouse, over time, came into sight. It was a majestic structure, built of weathered stone, standing atop the small patch of rock and grass like a battlement. Atop was the cupola, with its giant Fresnel lens that could send a beam of light for miles at night. To the southeast, a warning bouy bobbed, marking the submerged rocks in that direction.
"This way in is safe." Stokes said to Freda. "We can anchor right off the north side. And it looks like he's seen us."
A '50 Buick peered out from the entrance and descending ramp. At first glance he appeared green, but he was actually coated in marine antifouling paint with patches of rust here and there. He waved a tire to the approaching vessels.
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Post by ebonyviper on Nov 7, 2008 22:33:16 GMT -5
"Carl Deitrich? You want to know about him?" asked Delfina, "Well, you're right about the fact that he's been a big jerk. First day, we spotted him trying to encroach on our dive site. He's a big ship and he has already Freda is intimidated by him. Says he's there for a salvage mission, but I doubt it. We don't even know who he's working for and one of his crew had tried to kill Ebony. That was when we found out what Carl had been doing to this powerboat girl named Erika. It's too terrible to talk about it over the phone, but the gist is that he was treating her as his slave to do to as he wished and when she disobeyed he hurt her through pain sensors that I had to go in and remove. But lately, he hasn't bothered us because we have a destroyer who's been visiting us and who's a friend of Freda's. Anything else you'd like to know?"
*****
"I would not argue with that," said Ebony, "but you know, I've been around and seen the dark side of the police. Not real pleasant if you ask me."
*****
"Oh, okay," replied Freda as she followed Stokes to the lighthouse. "That's gorgeous. The keeper really takes good care of it, doesn't he?"
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Post by Evangeline on Nov 7, 2008 22:59:20 GMT -5
Robin raised her 'shades at Delfina's venting. "Just... wow. This Erika... is she all right now?"
"I've heard stories." Jordan nodded, "Even had the dubious pleasure of meeting some of these tin-badge tyrants. I had to call the chief and the mayor in one town to get them to call off their idiot cousin who was really screwing up a rescue effort near Elysian Peaks." That was a well-known winter resort in central Colorado. "When the sheriff, mayor and most of the town council come from one family and that family tree has only one branch, beware."
"He gets help from the landmark trust and, and people volunteer materials and labor to keep it nice." Stokes replied. "Everybody loves this place."
"AHOY!" the lighthouse keeper called out. "Good Mornin' Lieutenant! Didn't expect to see ya back so soon!"
"Fergus, this is Freda." Stokes introduced his companion. "She's doing some survey work at Phantom Cove and she's taking a break from that today. Since I also had a leave day, I thought I'd show her around."
"Mighty charmed t'meetcha, Freda." the weathered Buick smiled.
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Post by ebonyviper on Nov 7, 2008 23:12:27 GMT -5
"Yeah, she's alright," replied Delfina, calming down a little, "She's free from his hold over her. She's starting to spend more time with Randy."
*****
"There's no way to avoid that," sighed Ebony, "Just have to be prepared to deal with it."
*****
"Hi, nice to meet you, Sir," Freda said politely in greeting.
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Post by Evangeline on Nov 7, 2008 23:20:15 GMT -5
"Oh, that's good." Robin was relieved. "Anyway, since my folks were here, I was wondering if we could drop by sometime today, as Mom and Papa never did meet you."
"I'm sad to say I've had a lifetime of experience in the subject." Jordan sighed, "And Bree has too."
"Not too often I get just a social call." Fergus chuckled as he came to the rail. "So yer just out seein' the sights, are ya?"
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Post by ebonyviper on Nov 7, 2008 23:34:34 GMT -5
"Sure, that's fine with me," said Delfina, "We're not doing anything important right now anyway. By the way, good to hear that Bree's feeling better. Let her know where all pulling for her."
*****
"But sometimes the chaos is too much to handle, at least for me," said Ebony, "and I just feel like I wanna get away from it all for awhile to rest and recharge."
*****
"Yeah, you could say that," nodded Freda, "It's a good day to do something like that anyway."
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Post by Evangeline on Nov 8, 2008 0:04:10 GMT -5
"How about in, say, an hour?" Robin asked.
"Which was exactly why they posted Bree here after two tours in the arctic." Jordan rolled his eyes. "So that she could have a change of scene after busting her tail in the cold. It's really hard to get an HH-65 girl - there are no males in that variant - to throttle back and decompress, they're like the humans' border collies that wear themselves out herding everything in sight. And look what happens."
"It's always a good day fer sumptin'." Fergus nodded his front. "And where might you be from, dear lady?"
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Post by ebonyviper on Nov 8, 2008 0:10:27 GMT -5
"That's fine," said Delfina.
*****
"I do that too," said Ebony, "Sometimes, it takes my husband to finally persuade me to settle down and relax. I'm a bit too active for my own good that I practically wear myself out."
*****
"Wood's Hole, Massachusetts," said Freda, "That's my home."
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Post by Evangeline on Nov 8, 2008 0:36:10 GMT -5
"OK, it'll likely be me and the folks. Jordan's staying with Bree and Shale for now." Robin said. "So I'll see you then. Bye."
"I've never really met your family." Jordan remarked. "So how are they doing?"
"That's a long way off from Cali-fornee." Fergus raised his 'shades.
"That's why I wanted to show Freda around some while she had some break time." Stokes replied.
<<< Last post >>>
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Post by ebonyviper on Nov 8, 2008 10:40:53 GMT -5
"Okay, bye," answered Delfina as she hung up.
The human turned and looked out to the middle of the cove where Nerisa and Marty were. She could also see that Raven was floating about. Delfina sighed. She had to go tell him to hide himself for awhile until she was sure that Robin and her parents were okay with seeing an alien.
*****
"They're all doing as well as I hope they are," said Ebony, "Everyone's just trying to deal with my mother's recent passing right now..." The Viper herself needed to deal with the grief as well, but had not wanted to give herself time yet as she had been holding everything inside for the last few weeks. She was on the verge of breaking down, though she was trying to keep up a strong front for awhile.
*****
"And I'm enjoying it already," said Freda with a smile.
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Post by Evangeline on Nov 8, 2008 15:49:26 GMT -5
Randy and Erika came back after three hours, slightly wobbly, but looking quite happy. As Erika passed Nerisa's port, she snickered a little and made a signal with her aerials that translated into "three times." Randy shook himself to get his wits back to a working frame of mind, as the humans were getting ready to check the lobster pots again.
Marty just took on an attitude of NOT-SAYIN'-NUTTIN'.
"Chrylser, that must be hard on you." Jordan dipped his nose. "My condolences."
"I've been enjoyin' it for sixty years now." Fergus laughed. "Even if it does get kinda wet here now n' then."
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