#lacuna6

[katedoesfics]

Lacuna | Chapter 6

The following morning, Kahli took the completed device back to Dawa and Aadit at the tree farm.

“Will this actually work?” Dawa asked skeptically as he looked over the device.

“I’m afraid of using relics,” Aadit said warily. “The church told us to use as little of them as possible. Bad things happen when they’re used.”

“You’re afraid of everything,” Dawa said with a roll of his eyes. “We have no other choice.” He turned to Kahli with a nod. “Go ahead and try it.”

Kahli shrugged and turned on the device. A loud sound was emitted from the speaker and the panbats reacted just as Merlin said they would. Frightened by the loud noise, they took off screeching, leaving the tree farm and heading back into the safety of the swamp.

“They actually left!” Dawa cheered. “I can’t believe it! We owe ya one!”

“I’m surprised,” Aadit mused. “Maybe I’ll order a couple more of those from you in the future.”

“We can’t celebrate yet,” Dawa said. “Now that the panbat issue has been resolved, we need to move quickly to heal our trees. The panbats took a lot of water and nutrients. We need a fast way of restoring them. Up for the job?”

“Well, that’s what I’m here for, isn’t it?” Kahli said. “Got any idea what you may need?”

“Petra mentioned she knew something about an irrigation system before. Maybe you two can come up with something.”

Petra was either going to be her best friend by the end of this, or annoyed at the mere sight of her. Kahli hoped their relationship would lean more toward friendship, but she was sure time would tell.

She made her way to the research center once more and explained the situation to Petra.

“Something to revive the trees?” she said. “The ancients used many elaborate irrigation systems. I read quite a bit about them. You’ll need a small engine, though. You should be able to find some in the ruins.”

And to the ruins she went. She was used to the back and forth, now, especially as she started to take on more work. Go here, do that, build this, get that part. It kept her busy, at the very least, and though it left her arms sore the next day, she was sure Arlo would be impress with the new muscle soon enough.

Not that she cared to impress him. She didn’t care if she impressed anyone, really. Still, as she worked tirelessly, and alone, in the ruins, she couldn’t help her wandering mind. Whether it was Arlo, or Emily’s incessant teasing on whether she liked him or not, or his relationship with Nora, whatever that was. She thought about the life that the people of Portia already had here, feeling like an intruder. And when her thoughts turned negative like that, they usually turned to her father. Where was he now? What was he doing? How did he feel about everything? About her? And why did he reach out to her, anyway?

She tried to push these thoughts aside especially. They were thoughts that occupied her mind far too often, late at night, or when she was working away in the workshop. It was all the same thoughts, the same unanswered questions, and it only made her grow more and more frustrated.

When she got to that point, she often shifted focus to the animals at the ranch. She had passed them a few times already; the horses, the cows, the sheep and the chickens. She decided she wanted to save up some money, build a barn and a coop and get a couple of each. A horse, at the very least, could help her with some of her larger projects, carrying them from place to place.

She had always had a soft spot for animals, though she was never privileged to have any of her own. Due to her aunt’s allergies, she couldn’t even have a dog to offer her companionship. And she would be damned it she couldn’t at least have a dog to keep her company in the workshop.

Kahli eventually got her hands on a small engine in an abandoned room in the ruins, and she retired wearily to her home for the evening.

In the morning, she went into town as she often did, sitting at the bar at the Round Table as Django opened up for the day. She had come to enjoy her morning routine: a couple cups of coffee with breakfast, listening to Django and Sonia chat and laugh as they readied the restaurant. They seemed the perfect team, always with smiles on their faces, and their presence always put Kahli in a good mood. She had never been much of a morning person, but their cheerful attitudes helped her adapt to her new lifestyle.

“So, how’s life as a builder treating you?” Sonia said, taking the seat next to her with a cup of coffee in her hands. She sipped it and rolled her eyes when Django made a comment about his lazy help.

“I lost count how many times I smashed my thumb, but so far, the bridge hasn’t collapsed, so I guess I’m doing something right.”

Sonia laughed. “Higgins giving you any trouble?”

Kahli shrugged. “Not really. He made a great first impression, but I haven’t really seen him since.”

“Count yourself lucky,” Django said as he walked behid the counter. “He’s brutal when it comes to business. Doesn’t make anything easy for anyone else trying to make a living around here.”

“Well,” Kahli started. “In his defense, I kind of did come onto his turf.”

“Nonsense,” Django said. “You’re not the only one to come to Portia seeking something better. Plenty of people here from other parts of the world. Mayor Gale makes sure to see to it that everyone feels welcome here.”

“You know,” Sonia said. “It gets pretty lively here at nights. You should come hang out and keep me company. Antoine and Emily usually do, but we could use a forth gal.” She grinned. “And to be honest, I’m getting tired of Antoine talking about Dr. Xu all the time.”

Kahli yawned. “I’m just getting used to mornings. Now I need to have a social life after I’ve been working all day?”

Django laughed. “Sonia, let the poor girl sleep. She’s not used to all this hard work.”

Kahli narrowed her eyes at him. “I’m not sure how to take that.”

Django raised his hands up in defense. “I only mean to defend you. You were never a builder before now. It’s hard work that not everyone would understand. I don’t blame ya for hurrying home to bed every night. I’m trying to give you an out, yanno.” He winked at her.

“Nights are more my style,” Kahli said. “I don’t expect to be working too hard today. I’ll come by for a couple of drinks.”

Sonia grinned. “Excellent! It will be fun, promise!”

*****

The irrigation system took Kahli most of the day, but it wasn’t physically demanding work. She welded a few pieces together here, connected a few parts together there, and with the engine in place, the system was ready to be set up at the tree farm. All things considered, that would be the most difficult part, requiring Kahli to set up the water wheel at the lake, then connect the pipes back to the farm where it would hook up with the sprinklers she placed. It would take at least another day’s work, but it could wait until tomorrow.

It was the first time Kahli found herself in town after dark, and Sonia was right. It seemed most of the town was at the restaurant, sharing in meals and laughter after a hard day’s work. As soon as Kahli entered, she found Emily and Antoine at the bar, and Emily eagerly waved her over to them.

“Look who made it,” Emily said. She slid down a seat to make room for Kahli between them. “And here I thought you would ditch us to go to bed like an old lady.”

“Honestly, I was starting to wonder if I dreamt you coming here,” Antoine said. “I haven’t seen you since Preseley brought you around.”

“Yeah,” Kahli started. “I’ve been trying to figure out what the hell I’m doing so no one catches on that I’m a joke.”

“So far, the bridge is still standing,” Emily said.

“That deserves a drink!” Sonia quickly came through the crowd and around the bar. “What’ll it be, girl?”

“Whatever they’re having.”

“Are you planning on getting drunk?” Sonia said with a grin.

“Yes.”

“Aye!” Antoine and Emily both cheered.

Sonia slid a drink over to her and quickly dismissed herself to tend to other patrons.

“To a bridge that’s still standing!” Antoine said, holding his glass up, and the three of them toasted to Kahli’s success.

“I thought I heard your voice!” Sam pushed herself between Emily and Kahli, leaning against the bar. “Guess you have a social life after all!”

“Is that what people talk about around here?” Kahli muttered.

“Not much else to talk about,” Emily said.

“Well,” Antoine started.

“We’re not talking about Dr. Xu!” Emily barked at him.

“But,” Antoine whined.

“Yeah, yeah,” Sam said, rolling her eyes. “We all know he’s your eye candy. We need new gossip.”

“I’ve got one!” Emily motioned for them to move in closer, and Sam and Antoine leaned in, crowding Kahli.

“Kahli’s got someone she’s been eyeing,” Emily teased.

“Emily!” Kahli hissed, but Antoine and Sam both had their attention turned to her, oohing like teenage girls.

“Who?” Sam barked.

Kahli covered her face with her hands. “Why?” she moaned.

“Albert?” Antoine asked.

“Gust?” asked Sam.

“It’s not Dr. Xu, is it? Because I called dibs.”

Sam put her hand on her chin for a moment as she considered the other single men in Portia. “Who else is single?”

Emily giggled. “Someone you know pretty well.” She looked up as the door opened and a wide grin split her face. “Hey, Arlo.”

Sam’s eyes widened. “Arlo?!”

Arlo stopped beside Sam. “What did I do this time?”

Sam spun around to meet Arlo’s gaze. “What? Oh! Uh…”

Arlo looked over her shoulder and offered a smile in greeting to Kahli, but when he saw her hands dragging down her face, he frowned. “What’s going on here?”

“We were discussing the huge crush I have on Dr. Xu,” Antoine said. “Got any advice?”

Arlo blinked at him. “Um. What?”

“Kahli was just telling me to just ask him out already.”

Arlo turned to Kahli who had a look of defeat on her face. “Yeah, that sounds good.”

Antoine batted his eyelashes playfully at Arlo. “Thanks. You’re the best.”

“Okay then,” Arlo said slowly. “I’m going to go drink with Rem now.”

When he was gone, Kahli put her head down on the bar and sighed heavily. “Is this my life now?”

“Unfortunately,” Sonia said as she appeared behind the bar once more, a grin on her face. “You like Arlo?”

“I don’t like anyone,” Kahli muttered. “I said he was kinda cute one time!”

“She wants his babies,” Emily said as she drank.

Kahli brightened when she remembered she had her own drink, and she emptied it quickly. She pushed the empty glass to Sonia. “Keep ‘em coming.”

Sonia laughed. “Poor thing,” she said, and she refilled it quickly. “We get a little exceited around here.” She put her hands on her hips and narrowed her gaze on Antoine, Emily, and Sam. “Kahli is our friend. I expect you three to keep your traps shut.”

Emily sighed and put her chin in her hand, her elbow on the counter. “Yeah, yeah,” she said. She winked at Kahli. “I may tease, but I would never spill the beans. That’s so high school.”

“You mean we’re not in high school?” Antoine said. “Because I know how Sonia gossips.” He narrowed his own gaze on her.

“Do not!” Sonia said, her voice raising defensively.

“Are we gossiping or working?” Django commented as he, too, stepped around the bar.

Sonia flashed him a grin and batted her eyelashes at him. “Just refilling drinks. Kahli’s gonna need ‘em.”

“What kind of drunk are ya, anyway?” Sam asked.

“Guess we’ll find out,” Kahli muttered. She drank quickly and placed her empty glass on the counter.

“Okay, but I’m not cleaning up if she pukes,” Antoine said.

“One of us has to be the responsible one,” Emily said.

“Aw, come on, why’s it gotta be me?” Sam whined.

Kahli burped. “You gotta defend my honor, remember?”

Sam rolled her eyes. “Fine. But just this once! Next time, I’m getting drunk, too!”

“Shouldn’t there at least be one Corps officer sober in town tonight?” Django said.

“Are you letting those assholes drink?” Sam barked. “We agreed Arlo would be the sober one tonight!”

“Oh, relax,” Sonia said, waving a hand at Sam. “When has Arlo ever been drunk?”

“Alright,” Sam cheered. “Arlo can carry all our drunk asses home!”

“I’ll tell him you said that,” Sonia said as she carried a tray of drinks from around the bar.

“Maybe Kahli will jump his bones,” Emily said.

“Django,” Kahli groaned. “My glass is empty.”

“Yes, ma’am!” Django replied, saluting her. He filled her glass once more.

“And keep ‘em coming!”