Over Analysing It

Thawed (Day 1, 1785 words)

02 Nov 2010 6 Comments

by Nikkiin writing Tags: nanowrimo, nanowrimo 2010, thawed

Another year, another NaNoWriMo novel!

Which, strangely, I haven’t talked about yet here.  Ehhh, not much to say – it’s just set in the future (future) on a generation ship.  It’s sci-fi crime (surprise surprise) and involves an asshole PI and an icy biophysicist from different time periods.  Saying that they do not get along would be an understatement, but the PI loves money and the biophysicist needs answers.

As with all of my NaNo novels, spelling errors are going to be abundant.  Even more so this year, since Scrivener for Windows (oh thank you god – that program is my killer app for OS X and, well, now I have no reason to buy a macbook air other than they’re really fucking pretty and, dammit, I still kind of want one) has the worst spell check in the world.  Oh well, it’s beta.  And like I give a flying fuck about my spelling in a rough draft.

I am also lacking entirely on things like, oh, setting descriptions because I’m epic stupid and really hate describing scenes.  I’d much rather draw it… which is, needless to say, really fucking stupid for a novel (but fine for a comic).  I’m going to try on working on that this year but… I forgot already.

Oh well.

So, without any further ado, I’m going to c+v in my November 1st writing now.  Just follow the cut!  (Or, well, keep scrolling if you’re reading via RSS.)

“Vinnie, just how descriptive of my life is it when then the sound of semi-automatic iron maiden launchers wasn’t what is encouraged bout of cursing? No. It is that damned cat yowling and destroying my good leather jacket.

“I knew that I shouldn’t have picked the job with the cat. Anything involving a private investigator and a cat never ends well. My poor jacket – didja see my jacket, Vinnie, didja see it?

“And my poor life if the fucking feline din’t stop making those gawd awful screeching sounds – thank god the bang zzzzzztttt schloooop is loud enough to cover the sound of the damned cat.

“Though the naked girl who ran into my hideout in the cold storage wing?

“Yeah, that’s a new one.”

“What?” Vinnie said, finally able to get a word in edgewise, “You’ve never seen a naked chick before?”

“Oh for god’s sake, of course I’ve seen a naked woman before.” Luke exclaimed, throwing his arms up dramatically. “God, what do think I was doing in that alley behind the bar the other night?”

“So the girl stripped naked before you did her up against the bulkhead?” Vinnie said.

“No, of course not. I just hiked up her skirt.” Luke stated.

“And, yet, you wonder why I’m surprised that you’ve seen a naked women – I have yet to hear a tale of your success in the literal bed, not the metaphorical one.” Vinnie rolled his eyes.

“God, Vin, I’ve had sex completely naked in a bed before! I just don’t like takin’ chicks to my place.” Luke rolled his eyes.

“Yeah, probably because you don’t have a bed. So what happened with the naked girl?” Vinnie prompted.

“Oh her? Uhh… she’s, uhhh, asleep on my couch.” Vinnie watched as Luke rolled his eyes, embarrased, at the screen.

“You mean your bed.” Vinnie said flatly.

“Oh c’mon, it’s not like you’ve got any better digs than me! It’s a freakin’ gen ship and we, my friend, don’t rate very high.” Luke exclaimed.

“At least I have a futon,” Vinnie smirked.

“Anyway, moving on, I have a little blonde girl dressed in my clothes and passed out on my couch. I have no idea who she is, Vin – she’d just skidded in, went ‘what are you doing with that cat?’ and fell over. Y’gotta help me, man!” Luke’s eyes were wide and his tone had lost its playful edge.

“Gah, dude, did you seriously just take in this chick – why in the nine hells didn’t you just leave here there!?” Vinnie was horrified. “You have no idea who, or what, she is!”

“I know! That’s why I called – I need you to figure out who she is for me.” Luke said.

“Oh come on – since when are you incapable of running a basic id check?” Vinnie rolled his eyes.

“I’m not – I just can’t do it off the grid like you can,” Luke explained. “And, dude, I found her, shiverin’ and blue in the cold storage wing. Two plus two equals four, y’know?”

“Oh god Luke, why didn’t you just leave the popsicle kid there? You’re going to end up in so much shit – those popsicles are either politicians, scientists or rich brats.” Vinnie sighed.

“She’s kinda hot, okay. And naked. And there was semi-automatic iron maiden launcher fire – I couldn’t just leave her there!” Luke said. “Even if I don’t like scientists, politicians or rich kids.”

“Wait, how old is this popsicle? Cuz I never took you as a pedo, bro.” Vinnie said suspicously.

“Oh gross – she’s totally legal. Just really small. Anyway, I couriered you some DNA – figure out who she is for me, okay?” Luke said.

“Yeah, sure, you owe me. Big time – whoever this girl is, she’s messed up in some pretty serious shit – we haven’t had an accidental defrosting in decades, Luke. And I’ve got reports filtering in that a whole slew of popsicles got thawed out.” Vinnie wasn’t even looking at the cam anymore – his attention was entirely focused on the data streaming across a screen.

“I know. I saw them – about two dozen maniacs with guns. The cops were on them wicked fast – I’ve never even heard of response times like that.” Luke scowled and Vinnie spared a second to shoot his friend a concerned look.

“The Chief must know somethin’… and he must want them bad. And probably that girl of yours too.” Vinnie paused. “Hold on – I hear someone at the door.”

“Probably the kid I sent the DNA over with. Look, the blonde is waking up – send me her vitals when you get ‘em, ‘kay?” Luke said.

“Sure – but I’m going to kill you if this blows up in my face again.” Vinnie’s hand reached out to disconnect the call.

“Thanks bud – I owe you.” Luke said. Vinnie snorted and terminated the conversation.

Luke let out a deep sigh and flopped back in his chair. He rubbed his eyes tiredly before running his hand through his slicked back hair. “Jesus. What have you done now, Luke?” He muttered to himself.

“Saved my life, I suspect.” A soft, very feminine voice replied and Luke’s eyes shot open and his posture went rigid. “And for that, I thank you.”

“Yeh… you’re awake!” Luke exclaimed.

“Yes, I suspect that I am – even under cryostasis, it seems that I do not have a penchant for lucid dreaming.” The woman pushed the white blonde hair obstructing her vision out of her eyes. “May I enquire as to what the date is? And the reason for my premature awakening? I doubt, somehow, that this was how my father expected me to be greated.”

“It’s June fifth, 2536. And I have no bloody clue why you’ve been defrosted.” Luke said.

“Relatively, you mean.” The blonde corrected absently, batting at her hair again.

“Um, what?” Luke said blankly.

“It’s only 2536 on Hestia, as well as Artemis and Athena. The other ships, and Earth, have had time pass differently for them, due to the relativistic effects of-”

“Travelling near the speed of light, I know, I’m not an idiot,” Luke cut her off, impatiently. “Not that it even matters – we only have contact with floating London and Montreal.”

“Of course it matters! It is absolutely necessary to be precise, which brings me to point two – it has been 253 years and the generation ships are still being called by those ridiculous nicknames? The cities they are referencing have no relation to the ships!” The blonde exclaimed.

“And three virgin goddesses from a long dead religion do? Lady, do you even know what floating Chicago is like?” Luke raised an eyebrow.

“As I was just was recently awoken from cryostasis, no, I do not.” The woman said frostily. “Perhaps you should enlighten me.”

“Ah-ah-ahh!” Luke shook a finger mockingly. “First you have to answer some of my questions.”

The blonde looked at him, ice blue eyes narrowed. She thought for a long moment before capultating with an odd regalness. “This is a fair bargain. I will even be generous and allow you the first question.”

“Then I’ll make it an easy one,” Luke snapped. “Who the hell are you?”

“Not precisely an easy question to answer,” the woman said slowly, “But I suppose that I should start with my name – I am Katherine, Kate, Wrey, PhD.”

Luke groaned. A scientist. It’s always a sceintist. “Since when does your degree count as part of your name?” He snarked.

“It is only one of my degrees,” Kate said huffly. “And, while it is not part of my name, it does explain that my doctarates are in academics, not medicine, which is a common misconception.”

“Because heaven forbid you be mistaken for the wrong sort of doctor,” Luke rolled his eyes. “There’s not much of a difference – you both spend most, if not all, of a decade in school while the rest of us are out there earning an honest living.”

Kate’s nostrils flared as she drew in a sharp breath. “Without the research of my peers, you would not even be on this ship. We would still be living in a pre-industrial society!”

“Oh get off it. It’s not as if your education means jack shit here – you’re a fugitive now, hun, and that means no record of your achievements.” Luke crossed his arms and leaned back indolently.

Kate scowled. “Do not, for one moment, think that I am well aware of that fact. I had absolutely no desire to be placed into cryostasis – by this point, my scientific knowledge is likely the equivelant of a high school student’s. It is utterly depressing.”

“And, yet, here you are. In the future. So suck it up, Frosty, and learn to roll with the times.” Luke smirked.

“I believe it is my turn for a question now,” Kate said primly, “So may I ask – who are you?”

Luke just pointed at the name plaque on his desk.

“How do you expect me to read that?” Kate said haughtily, “It is covered in papers.”

“Luke Evans, PI.” Luke said blandly.

“A private investigator. Well this is low.” Kate sighed. “Though convenient. I would like to hire you to investigate why I was removed from cryostasis.”

“Hey, lady? This isn’t a charity. You need money for my services.” Luke said flatly.

“I am aware of this,” Kate replied back, her tone frosty. “I assure you, I have enough funds cover your expenses.”

“I don’t think you get it, Dr Frost,” Luke said. “You don’t extist. You have no money.”

“My father is… that is, was, a US Senator,” Kate’s expression, despite her verbal stumble, did not lose its icy hardness. “There is money on this ship set aside for me.”

And she’s a rich brat politician. Three for three. “I have no doubt about that, darlin’, but you’re still missin’ the point – you don’t exist. You can’t get the money.” Luke repeated.

“Fine,” Kate said. “First, I hire you to find me a hacker that can set me up with a new identity and transfer my money to a new bank account. I will pay you if you’re succesful.”

Luke’s eyes narrowed. The fact that Kate didn’t want to be listed in the database under her own name was telling. The bitch had something to hide and Luke planned on milking that for all it was worth. If he could find out what it was worth.

“I could pro’lly arrange that,” Luke said, and then smirked at Kate’s grumbling stomach. “But you pro’lly want food first, hmm?”

“That would perhaps be wise,” Kate agreed, a faint blush staining her cheeks. “But perhaps something light? My stomach has not seen any use in 253 years.”

Previous Sex and Lost Girl Next Thawed (Day Two, 2327 Words)