Even standing this close to him, ignoring everyone else, I noticed he was still reluctant to make eye contact. I decided that enough was enough. “Mi...hael, please come with me.” I said as I took hold of his hand with mine. His hand felt rough and completely surrounded mine as he held it. I lead him through the crowd and down the winding stairs into the basement. Some people were in the large games room shooting pool and said hi to us as we passed by them. I tried a couple of doors and when I. " Thank you sir I will," she promised."So what are you girls doing tonight? You look too Pretty to hang outhere with a pair of grownups." James, they are going to pick up the Redhorse boy and then go to one ofthe dance clubs in Springfield," her Mom told him."Not the Lift, young lady," he said firmly."No Daddy, the Cracker Box Palace. I don't want anyone looking up myskirt while I'm dancing." She blushed.Looking serious he said, "Here, take this and go to the Fire and Ice.There's going to be. The other crew rooms were large and I stripped them to furnish them with better stuff from some of the other ships.I ran extra controls from engineering to the bridge and updated a class one AI that I salvaged before installing it. I was able to take a few things into port city to sell to pay for supplies. I also registered the ship as active and picked up new star charts. One month and one day after dad dropped me off I lifted.After I jumped out of the system I went to stealth and set course.. It had been mere chance, no, incredible, fantastic, wonderful fortune that had thrown the two of them together as partners in one of the first asteroid prospecting ventures since the advent of the grav-drive."Just a few more... HOLY MARY, MOTHER OF GOD!" Miko exclaimed, slamming backward into her seat."What the... ?" Hemione, who knew her lover to be a lifelong Buddhist, couldn't help but wonder at her invocation of the Catholic icon. "What's happening Miko?" I've just had the biggest damn.