Mira Hasta-Rur wrote:

> > Then he seems to recover some of his aplomb and says as he loops
> > Mira's arm under his and starts walking at her side toward the
> > forward hatch, "Our ride awaits outside. I thought we would drop
> > by Maison D'argent for appetizers before the Ball. There will be
> > canapés and drinks there, but nothing in the way of a meal. If you
> > feel like it afterwards perhaps we will drop by a late night cafe
> > for a bite to eat?"
>
>  "I would love that, Jac," Mira says simply.
>
>  "How did your little meeting go?"

"Better than I thought it would, actually." Jac says with a small 
chuckle, "Si Coleman seemed to be impressed by *me*. He needs to learn 
not to judge a book by it's cover. I chatted him up a bit, and then Woof 
took over. I didn't realize Woof was that smooth of a talker. He had 
*me* half convinced that this whole thing was to make sure some Lady's 
lover really did get on that ship and fly out of her life before her 
indiscretions ruined her marriage."

Jac stops and opens the hatch for Mira and escorts her down the gangway 
toward the waiting limo. The sun has just gone down and the Starport's 
lights are coming up. The night air is warm and sultry, and smells of 
chemicals and ozone wafting across the tarmac from the port's huge fuel 
and chemical holding tanks. An increasingly loud humming sound from the 
south signals the arrival of another ship descending over the bay toward 
the port.  Looking out you can see lights coming on along the streets 
bordering the Starport, the bright flashing neon lights of the cafes and 
bars luring spacemen and locals as well as the white street lights 
lining the streets.

Parked below the gangway is a long black limousine with a uniformed 
driver standing beside it. The driver and limo shimmer in the starport 
lights from the heated air still rising up from the black tarmac.

As the pair approach the limo the drive says as he opens the door to the 
back seat, "Good evening Sir Jac, Sianna. My name is Nicholas and it is 
my pleasure to be your driver this evening."

Eris
AKU