Mitchell's Revenge

That same evening, Grabb stood in the doorway of Sibil’s atelier watching her collecting fabrics and notions from the floor of the studio. It was a mess, but nothing appeared to be broken.

“Rocked and rolled did we?” he asked sarcastically from the doorway.

Sibil glared at him. “You could give me a hand to pick everything up. Don’t just stand there. And yes, I’m alright. Thanks for asking.” She burst into tears.

He sauntered across the studio. When he reached her he enveloped her in a bear hug. She sobbed into his chest as he held her tight. Eventually she stopped crying and looked up at him. He looked somewhat paler than usual. She took a step back and studied him more carefully.

“Are you alright?” she asked. Grabb grinned at her.

“Nothing that a stiff drink wouldn’t fix,” he replied.

“What happened?”

“A huge crack opened up across the warehouse floor during the quake. I thought I was a gonner for a minute or two. Luckily I can run fast!”

Sibil’s eyes widened with concern. Questions came tumbling from her.

“Did you get hurt? Is the warehouse still standing? Is there much damage outside?”

“Just shocked, that’s all,” he replied. “The warehouse is still in one piece, except for the crack in the floor, which closed up again almost as quickly as it opened. Lots of debris in the streets, but no broken glass that I could see.”

Grabb had been choreographing the last of the ballroom routines that he’d teach Lucy when the earthquake struck. He felt the floor beginning to tear beneath his feet and dashed for the exit. He’d never felt so scared in his life. When the tremor subsided he’d gathered up his practice gear and walked carefully back to the atelier.

“Most of the glass is specially laminated for earthquake conditions here. It rarely breaks,” Sibil replied. She collected more fabrics up from the floor. Grabb moved to help her.

“Does this happen often? I’ve never experienced anything like it. I was a bit scared at the time.” He smiled uneasily.

“Every six months or so. If we can get access to a news cast we can find out how bad it was, and when it’s likely to happen again.”

“Lucy didn’t turn up then?” Grabb changed the topic suddenly.

“No. She was supposed to be here this afternoon,” Sibil sighed exasperatedly.

She pulled the lycra suit that she had completed the day before from the bundle of fabric she was holding.

“I think it’s still in one piece.” She held it up and cast a critical eye over it. It was black, with a fine silver thread running through it which contained the holographic technology.

Matt Hiljainen had spent the past week with her working on the programming for the suits. It might not be exactly the same system the other costumiers were using, but it would achieve the effect they were looking for.

He had added some special features that would help them with their rescue mission. With her suit on, Lucy would be able to tap into the sports arena computer system and various other technologies as needed. Grabb’s suit would allow him to disappear into the background at a touch.

The coverall robes that Sibil had made also contained some technical wizardry. Grabb insisted on a backup, just in case. Each robe had a sequinned pocket on the chest with the firefly pattern subtly worked into it. Grabb had christened them “Team Firefly” and suggested that Sibil make an outfit for Lou as their team manager.

Now all Sibil needed to do was to make sure the suit and robe fitted Lucy properly, and that the programming worked correctly. Now they’d have to conduct the fitting and technical tests tomorrow, if they could find her. Sibil couldn’t wait to see how her designs looked. Then Grabb would teach Lucy to dance.

It was getting late. She really should go home. Her coms unit pinged. It was Lucy calling from Covington Military Hospital.

“Finally!” Sibil exclaimed. “Where have you been? Are you alright? We were worried about you.”

Lucy quickly explained what had happened. Sibil sighed with relief. Grabb looked questioningly at her.

“Is Lou going to be OK?” She asked. She listened intently, nodding her head. “Thank goodness! And thank goodness you and Em were on planet when the quake struck.”

They made arrangements to meet at the atelier the next morning. Grabb helped her to tidy up the rest of the quake damage while Sibil filled him in on Lucy’s adventure. Then he accompanied her back to her apartment.

The building had survived the quake as if nothing had happened at all. After checking the apartment for damage she poured them each half a tumbler of vodka from the bar. Grabb finally had his stiff drink.

They sat in the lounge room in a companionable silence, watching the city lights come back on one by one, as they waited for Tim.