Long Flight Home
“Ahoy there Spock!” Claudia looked into what appeared to be an ornately designed tin box.
“Spock doesn’t say ahoy Claud!” A rather irritated male voice came from this bizarre device.
“Sorry Pete. What do you want?” Claudia did not seem apologetic at all.
“Artie is losing his nut about where you are and why are you taking so long” Distant ranting could now just about be heard in the background.
“Well, tell Pooh Bear to go find his honey pot. I’m on my way back now, with a couple of guests so you better tell him to make some cookies. Mrs F has done her vanishing trick too.” With that Claudia closed the tin box and turned towards Carmilla and Laura, who both were looking at her incredibly bemused by what they had just witnessed. “Artie’s cookies are to die for,” Claudia smiled, “Right to gate 3,” she started to stride off, Laura ad Carmilla in tow.
“What was that box thing?” Laura questioned.
“Oh that, That’s a Farnsworth,” Claudia said nonchalant.
“What in holy Hufflepuff is a Farnsworth?”
“It’s a video and audio device which we Warehouse agents use to communicate with each other, as well as the regents and Mrs F.”
“And a normal cell phone wouldn’t suffice?” Laura kept bombarding Claudia with questions.
“Nope. The Farnsworth means we don’t have to pay roaming charges, there’s minimal charging required and the signal is amazing! It very rarely drops out, only when you are about 1,000feet underground, and we only found that out because H.G. decided to try and kill us all at Warehouse 2. I must try and get back into the Farnsworth aisle and look at the blueprints to see if I can increase the range,” Claudia started to go on a techno babble rant, “if I move a capacitor or tw.....” Claudia looked up, “I’ve done it again haven’t I? Frak, I really must stop talking so much,”
“It’s ok, I do it too. But mainly in Vlog form,” Laura tried to comfort Claudia a bit.
“I know, I’ve caught a few of them. 5 year plan hasn’t quite worked out has it?”
“What’s a Vlog?” Carmilla chimed in, finally breaking her bewildered silence.
“It’s a video that gets put up on the internet that other people can see. You do reviews of products, books, films or just go on a general rant about news, life or random stuff.” Laura tried to explain, but the entire concept was lost on Carmilla.
“Oh, you have so much to learn,” Claudia goaded.
“I am very knowledgeable, thank you very much!” Carmilla huffed,
“Yeah on 29th Century balls, coiffed hair and being a despoiler of virtue,” Laura smirked.
Carmilla opened her mouth to try and make a comeback, but had nothing. A jet engine suddenly roared into life from behind them which caused Carmilla to jump round and face were the noise had come from, a look of fear and panic began to spread across her face.
“Now then Miss Karnstein, there is no need to be alarmed,” Mrs Frederick dead panned, having seemingly appeared out of no-where, she strode towards the gate as it opened up. Laura looked to Carmilla, then to Mrs Frederick and finally to Claudia.
“I did warn you she does that,” Claudia offered with a shrug.
All four women walked towards the boarding gate. The flight attendant asked for their boarding passes, lingering slightly longer on Carmilla than she did with the others. Laura could feel her face go slightly red at this, is this what jealousy feels like? Laura Hollis does not get jealous. She tried to shrug it off as they boarded the plane. Laura took the window seat, Carmilla the middle and Claudia took the aisle, Mrs Frederick, well, Mrs Frederick had done her disappearing act again. Before Laura could question Claudia, she had already put her headphones on and was bobbing to her music. For the next 11 hours it was pretty much just her and Carmilla, at this Laura smiled.
There is still more of this chapter to come....in process of typing it up.....