Chapter 5

Eric lead Charles and Sasha back to the room overlooking the launch cavern. To the couple he said, “This is the main elevator shaft, it services the whole facility, the only place this shaft doesn’t go is to the surface. The lowest level is for load staging and access to the caverns themselves.”

The summoned elevator arrived and the three entered, Eric pressed the button for the fifteenth floor as he continued on, “The three floors above are for repackaging prior to loading. The two levels above them are for recycling. We reuse as much as possible. Plastics are shredded and melted into cubes of different P.E.T. formulas, glass and metals are melted down and recast into bars. Wood fibers are made into pulp and compressed. Engineering is doing some interesting things for building materials with the stuff.”

Charles interrupted him, “It really has been a long day for us and we didn’t get a lot of sleep last night.”

The elevator arrived and the trio exited to the main hallway. Eric prattled on. “You’re in suite 1512. There’s twenty eight suites on this floor, fourteen and down are to the left, fifteen and up to the right.”

Charles wrapped an arm around Sasha, turned left and headed for the end of the hallway, Eric followed. Arriving at their suite Eric entered several numbers into a keypad beside the door. To the couple he said, “When the palm reader turns green put your right hand on the pad for the access scan.”

The couple followed his directions afterwards Eric entered another set of numbers into the keypad. “The door can only be opened by the two of you, emergency personnel and security now.” Eric beckoned them to try the palm plate.

Sasha placed her hand on the palm reader, as the door unlocked Charles turned the handle and opened it. Their room was set up like a common hotel suite. A modern lounge area greeted them. A couple of tables, a few chairs and a sofa that at least looked comfortable beckoned them inside. Eric accompanied them.

Eric gave them a condensed tour of the three room suite. “If you awaken early from the time zone changes, there is a pool, sauna, and full gymnasium on level ten as well as the cafeteria. Have good evening.” And with that Eric departed leaving them alone for the first time that day it seemed.

Sasha flopped into one of the chairs sighing, “What time is it?”

Charles checked his empty wrist expecting to find his watch, “It’s late.”

Sasha leaned back further into the chair throwing a forearm over her eyes. Charles quickly grabbed her other arm and began pulling her up. “Oh no you don’t! You are NOT sleeping in a chair and sticking me with grumpy Sash all day tomorrow!”

“Inconsiderate beast!” She responded as she gave him a playful poke to the ribs.

Sasha made her way to the bedroom while Charles made a pit stop in the restroom.

When Charles arrived Sasha was standing near the bed nude looking around the room. He stood there admiring her form for a few moments wondering ‘How the hell did I get so lucky?‘ he told her “Bathroom’s clear.”

“Did you see a hamper in the bathroom?” She asked. “Or a linen closet?”

Charles shook his head negatively both times. She left for the bathroom still carrying her clothing. Sasha returned several minutes later still carrying her clothing. Charles pointed to the far corner of the room where his clothes were in a pile. She harrumphed and called him a barbarian. He pulled the sheet back and told her, “Come on, your letting the heat out.”

Sasha tossed her clothing on top of his and crawled in beside him, covering both of them back up. She rolled half over, draping and arm and leg over him. Charles pulled her closer, kissing her temple and wished her pleasant dreams as they both drifted to sleep.

The next morning both were rudely awoken. An incessant ringing was heard from the lounge area. Charles got out of bed to see if he could find what was causing it, he hadn’t seen a phone last night.

Charles hollered back to the bedroom, “I can’t find anything to cause the ringing.”

The ringing stopped, Finally! he thought to himself. Sasha appeared just as there was a heavy knock on the door. With a muttered “shit...” he opened the door to peak out but it banged open against him and in trooped a black clad figure that began to rant.

“Do you know how long I’ve been ringing your door buzzer? What the hell took so long? We do have a schedule to keep you know!” as she turned and saw the naked Charles her entire demeanor changed. “Ohh, Hi there studly! Where have you been all my life?”

Sasha interposed herself between the figure and her man. “By my side.”

The figure openly admired Sasha’s frame. “Mmm, Peaches your look absolutely scrumptious too. I’m glad today is my day off duty.” The figure began to unzip her flight suit.

Sasha while had done some experimenting with her few friends in high school and was by no means a prude, she was taken aback by the demeanor of this black clad figure. Releasing a squeak she twisted around behind Charles and was peering at the figure with just her eyes and forehead peaking out from Charles arm.

Charles feeling this situation was spiraling out of control far to fast hit the brakes. “Enough! Stop, seriously stop a minute.” Charles made a placating gesture with his hands when the woman’s face began to show anger. He continued, “Time-out a minute. We just got here last night, we haven’t showered, we haven’t eaten, we have no clothes...”

The figure, rubbing her temple, interrupted him. “I’m beginning to understand your situation, but I don’t know why.”

Sasha still mostly hiding behind Charles replied. “Well we kind of chased Eric out of here last night before he could show us everything, it was a very long day for us.”

Shaking her head the figure told the couple, “My name’s Jodie and I volunteered for newbie duty today. So we’re pretty much just gonna hang out, wonder around and I’ll answer any questions that come up, if I can.”

The couple told Jodie their names.

As she left the lounge Jodie continued, “Alrighty, come on Peaches, you too Studly, let’s get them bods cleaned and covered.”

Jodie stopped near the wall between bathroom and bedroom. “Come on you two, this is important.

Jodie began a more in depth lesson on the suite. “The console by the door is for seeing who is at your door, and any communications you may have. It’s slaved to the main console here.” Under the console was a stainless steel door. Jodie opened it and removed a plastic bin, placing it on the floor. “Okay, check your pockets, once it goes in, your not likely to get it back.”