We're in Space ... So What?

Chapter 15: Angelia Gets to Work

The next morning, Angelia arrived at the shipyard early, the faint hum of the bustling port already beginning to pick up. As she approached the ship, she noticed Judah waiting by the entrance, a warm smile on his face. He held out a drink for her-a simple gesture, but thoughtful. "Morning," he said cheerfully, "Figured you might need this to get the day started."

Angelia smiled, taking the drink. "Thanks, Judah. That's sweet of you." She sipped it, appreciating the small comfort. The two exchanged a few more pleasantries before Judah stepped aside, letting her get to work.

Inside the ship, Jamie was already moving around, sorting through piles of useless debris, tossing scrap parts, and muttering under his breath as he worked. He glanced up when Angelia entered, giving her a curt nod before going back to cleaning. His demeanor was noticeably different from Judah's-more businesslike, a little on edge.

As Angelia got to work, she quickly mapped out the repairs in her mind. The ship was in rougher shape than she had expected, but nothing beyond her skills. She called out to Judah mid-morning, "I need some parts-fuse boxes, conduits, a couple of converters."

Without hesitation, Judah offered, "No problem, I'll go get them. Whatever you need."

Jamie watched the exchange with a raised eyebrow, clearly less enthusiastic about the added costs but saying nothing. As Judah left, Jamie grumbled under his breath, continuing to clear the interior while Angelia tackled the more technical side of things.

Hours passed, and Judah returned with all the parts Angelia requested, even going beyond what was necessary just to make sure she had everything. "Got everything on the list," he said with a grin, handing the items over. "If you need anything else, just let me know."

"Thanks," she said, genuinely appreciative. She worked fast, installing the parts with efficiency, her hands moving like she had done this a thousand times before. Jamie, still skeptical, kept checking in on her, though with every hour that passed, he started to relax, realizing she might actually know what she was doing.

By late afternoon, she had made considerable progress. Jamie, despite himself, nodded approvingly. "Looks like your estimate was on point. Ship might actually be spaceworthy soon," he remarked, standing with arms crossed as he observed her work.

"That's the idea," Angelia said with a playful smile, wiping grease from her hands.

As the day wound down, Judah and Jamie stepped outside the ship for a break. Jamie leaned against the hull, looking down at the port and the ships coming in and out. "She's good," he admitted reluctantly. "I think we'll be up and running in a few days."

Judah nodded. "Told you. We're lucky to have her helping us out."

Feeling good about the progress, Jamie had an idea. "You know, I was thinking of heading to Ryan's bar tonight. Maybe we could check in on him, see how he's doing. Angelia's been working hard too. We should invite her along."

Judah seemed to like the idea, and after a brief moment of consideration, he shrugged. "Why not?"

They walked back inside the ship where Angelia was finishing up for the day. "Hey, we were gonna grab a drink at a bar our friend works at. You're welcome to join us," Jamie offered, trying to sound casual.

To their surprise, Angelia smiled. "Sure, I could use a drink. Let me clean up a bit, and I'll meet you there."

Jamie raised his eyebrows at her quick acceptance but said nothing. Judah, pleased with her company, nodded eagerly. "Great! You'll like it. It's a good spot."

As the trio headed off to the bar, there was a strange sense of camaraderie forming between them. Despite everything-the money, the ship troubles, and the rocky start-it felt like they were all on the same page now. Angelia had become more than just the mechanic helping them out. There was something about her presence that even Jamie, cautious as ever, couldn't deny.