The bar in the spaceport was pretty much empty. The utterly bored barman wiped a glass with a crusty old cloth and two water-breathers from Aquator stood at the far end of the long bar, discussing the finer points of their moisture suits, prodding at valves, adjusting cables and tubing.
Dreadful Tau Ceti dance music pumped out of tinny speakers around the room and during dips in the pounding cacophony, the sound of hovertrucks and aircars, making up the early evening rush hour on Lynx III, could be heard from the bar's entrance.
Wolff was doing his level best to ignore both the dance music and the traffic. He rubbed a hand through his unkempt shock of greying hair and swirled his glass of Aldebaran rum with his other hand. The movement made the red-orange liquid fizz and turn a bright yellow.
Wolff took another swig and felt the warm potion sizzle in his stomach. He fancied another drink but knew he didn't have many creds left in his pocket.
He was only in the bar to kill time until he had to meet Boris by the fuel yards. He glanced at his watch, it was set to Galactic Standard Time and said 5:55pm. He had another thirty minutes to kill.
One of the Aquatorians was looking in his direction. Wolff squeezed himself into the shadows that filled his small booth. He wasn't looking to attract attention.
Presently, the Aquatorian sauntered over and spoke, his words gurgled through the liquid in his helmet: "We believe you are Captain Simonson."
Wolff feigned deafness, looking away.
The Aquatorian wasn't put off though and continued: "Captain Wolff Simsonson. You are the hero of the battle for Shiva's Drift."
Wolff shrugged and replied: "Sorry, pal. Wrong guy."
The Aquatorian glanced back to his companion, who encouraged him to continue probing.
"We have often wondered what ever happened to such a man," opined the Aquatorian.
Wolff nodded and said cheekily: "Me too, pal. Tell ya what, if you and your buddy buy me a drink I'll tell ya about the time I actually met Wolff Simonson."
With that, the Aquatorian smiled and burped excitedly.
Wolff grinned and figured why not nab a free drink. He walked over to the bar with the Aquatorian.
How did I get to this, thought Wolff. The hero of Shiva's Drift bumming drinks on a backwater rock.
TO BE CONTINUED....
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