(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/7/7d/6a00e55003818f883401543213d274970c-320wi.jpg)<br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;">Sue, the Cook</span></span><br/><strong>Location:</strong>The cargo hold, bridge, galley, his bunk and a catwalk on<em>The Line</em><br/><strong>With (closed):</strong>Keri, Lance, Phil, Braxton, Mya<br/><strong>With (open):</strong>Sophie, Elfi<br/><br/>I thought about the conversation on the mule I had with Sophie.<br/><br/><em><strong>"Nope, I ain't gonna go touching no buttons that ain't safe.  But what about buttons to turn the TV on and off or makin' food in the kitchen?  Ken I touch those buttons and nobs Uncle?"</strong></em><br/><br/><strong>"We'll see, Sophie, we'll see.  For now, if it ain't yours, don't touch it, not without asking at the place and time."</strong><br/><br/><em><strong>"I'll be nice and polite like for sure uncle Sue.  Aunt Amelia done taught me right.  I ken curtsy and even do the tea ceremony.  If'n you needs me to clean up or do the dishes I have a really cute maid's outfit with a pretty apron to wear."</strong></em><br/><br/><em>Mmm, maid's outfit.</em><br/><br/><strong>"Now, now, that won't be necessary, Sophie.  Just wear what's practical and comfortable for you."</strong><br/><br/><em><strong>"Do I look pretty uncle Sue?  I can change into something else if'n you think."</strong></em><br/><br/><strong>"Yer beautiful, darlin', pretty as a pixie.  Don't you worry none."</strong><br/><br/>After I introduced Sophie to some of the crew, Sophie talked a bit more than I wanted her to.<br/><br/>Keri replied first.<em><strong>"Niece? Well I didn't see that one coming now did I? It's nice to meet any relation of Sue's.  If the Captain says she can stay, feel free to show her the Bridge, but I'd appreciate it if you didn't leave her alone up there."</strong></em><br/><br/><em>I don't think I'd leave her alone anywhere, except in my bunk under lock and key.</em><br/><br/><em><strong>"I'm pleased to meet you Keri, Lance and Phil.  My name is Sophie DeLaurents.  I promise not to touch any buttons on the bridge if you will let me come look around.  But if you need any buttons pushed I'd love to push yours."</strong></em><br/><br/>I turned to Sophie, my eyes wide, my jaw dropped.  I was rendered speechless.  It was one thing to hear stories of her exploits.  It was quite another to have her openly flirt like this.<br/><br/><em><strong>"Oh, you are the engineer?  I made really good friends with the engineer on the liner I was on.  I love engine rooms with all the buttons and nobs and big long rods."</strong></em><br/><br/>I started shaking my head, partly letting her know I didn't approve, partly because I couldn't believe this was actually happening.  As if her words and appearanace weren't enough, she very seductively licked her lips at Lance!<br/><br/><em><strong>"Looks like you'll have something to do in case you get confined to your room again.  And pleased to meet you."</strong></em><br/><br/>I breathed in through my nose and closed my eyes.<em>What have I gotten myself into?</em><br/><br/>I did feel a bit reassured when Keri squeezed my arm.  I saw that Sophie saw this.  I could only imagine what she thought of that.<br/><br/>Phil didn't seem to have much of a reaction to Sophie, which is actually something I preferred.  But I had a feeling Sophie had a thing for him as much as Keri and Lance.<br/><br/><em><strong>"I... uh... I’m sure we can... work something out. You go with Sue for now."</strong></em><br/><br/><strong>"Much obliged, Captain,"</strong>I said, tipping my hat to him.  At least he didn't look like he wnated to ravage Sophie then and there.<br/><br/>I led Sophie up past Elfi and Mya, making quick introductions in passing that didn't allow dialogue.  I then gave Sophie a brief tour of the ship's more important parts to me.<br/><br/><strong>"Try to remember where everythang is, Sophie.  We was just in the cargo hold.  Now, this here's the bridge.  It's where Keri spends most of her time.  Lots of buttons here.  <em>Don't touch none of them, understand?</em>  You won't just be late on a train - we can end up stranded out in the black or wrecked on the surface of some world.  Ah'm a-learnin' how to drive this ship, so Ah may be up here if ya'll can't find me... because Ah'm a learnin'."</strong><br/><br/>I tried to make it sound like nothing was going on between me and Keri.  Not that there was.  Not that I didn't want want something to happen.  We moved to another part.<br/><br/><strong>"And this here's where Ah spend much of my time, the galley.  Ah'm the cook of this boat, and this is where Ah make our meals and where the crew eats them.  Again, don't touch nothin' unless Ah say you can, Sophie.  Can't have a fire startin' here and spreadin' all over."</strong><br/><br/>I showed her the facilities, then took her to my personal area.<br/><br/><strong>"And this here's mah bunk.  It's where Ah keep my stuff and where Ah sleep.  Ah guess ya'll be sleepin' here, too.  Ah... got some thangs to take care of... so, Ah need you to stay here.  Ah'll get your thangs and set up a cot for ya'll.  Don't go nowhere, just stay right here.  Lance left a datapad and some vid disks, so ya'll can play with that."</strong><br/><br/>I walked out and left Sophie in my bunk, then closed the hatch behind me.  I took a deep breath, but I had a bad feeling.  I locked the hatch from the outside so no one could get in... or out.<br/><br/>With everyone gone, it was just Sophie and me on the ship.  Seeing Sophie brought back a whole lot of memories of Alyce, and dealing with Sophie was an experience that was both distressing and arousing.<br/><br/>What did it all mean?  I couldn't have feelings for Sophie.  She was my niece.  Well, not really my niece.  She was the daughter of my one and only true love.  It'd been so long since I laid with anyone.<br/><br/>I wasn't no monk or preacher, but I thought I could live the stoic life until I met my end and went to a better place to join Alyce.  Was this some kind of sign?  Was Sophie here to get me to think less of dying and more about living again?  Was this some test or tease by Alyce?  Or was Sophie someone Alyce would have wanted me to have?<br/><br/>As I wandered the ship, I ended up on a catwalk looking at the backside of a prone Elfi.  I was pretty sneaky even when I didn't mean to be, and I overheard her talking to someone.<br/><br/><strong>"Hey, there, Elfi?  What you up to?"</strong><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>