12
THE CALM
It was close to midday when Jessica set down the hovercar at the Pismo Beach PD staging area. After Jessica cut the fans, it took a few minutes before the cabin was quiet enough to talk.
“How long will it be until you can proceed?” Socrates asked.
“I need to wait on the cool-down, change out the fuel pod, and do a preflight checklist,” Jessica said. “If it were up to me, I’d stay here the night and head out at first light.”
“Where will you be?” Socrates asked.
“Right here,” Jessica said. “I’m not planning on going anywhere else. I want food, something other than the energy bars I grabbed and stuffed into my pack. I want a shower and sleep the night in a bed, but things are what they are…” She shrugged.
“I don’t understand,” Socrates said.
“I’ve never been here before,”
