The hurried footsteps on the floor gave away their attack tactic. Soon I was surrounded, with no way out. I yielded my position to them; earthquake like hugs rippled into me as I was nearly knocked over by the force of the two small females who had missed me so. Fierce hugs were followed in quick succession by a barragement of kisses all over my face.
Megan's kiss was like the oasis found in the middle of the desert; quenching an unperceivable thirst that raged deep within me. Connected at last, lovers entangled.
Samantha's embrace just the same. The sister who I practically forgot about save for our reunion six months previous. I didn't even recognize her at first, however since then she has been my sister and more. Often taken refuge in my embrace one numerous occasions. Mostly while in the company of my bride to be, Megan.
What lasted sheer moments felt like an eternity. They decided to skip their workouts and head back to the Houstonian with me instead. We first stopped to grab breakfast at the restaurant within the hotel. The meal was okay but the view and company was well received. We sat in a booth as both of them melted into me from either side. Megan spoke first.
"So what happened while you were away?" She asked, absentmindedly stroking the stubble I had grown over the passed couple days.
"I don't know why but I just got onto my motorcycle and drove for hours. Somehow I ended up in Horseshoe Beach, Florida, on an abandoned road with a motorcycle that was out of gas. So naturally I went in search of gas when I came to the small town. I met a girl there named Bridget..." as I said her name Samantha started to cat-call, to which I smirked. "...Oh be quiet. Anyway, she let me stay at her house. She let me build the truck that I drove here with, she was really into cars and had a huge workshop. Turns out she owns all of the gas stations and marinas within a fifty mile radius of her house. So she is well off. Anyway, that's about all" I said knowing damn well that wasn't all.
"That isn't all and you know that" Megan said, but didn't press the matter.
We all finished breakfast and I told them I had to run a couple errands, and promised that I wouldn't go on a four day long improvised trip. Many a stops on today's agenda; I need to go see Cliff Trajer, drop off my vehicles at my new garage, go grab a cigar, then take Megan dress shopping for dinner at Mayor Glover's house tomorrow night. I decided to change my plans and head to the garage first.
The small drive to the outskirts of Houston proved leisurely. The garages renovations were immaculate. New acid washed floors and black painted walls. The place was roughly the size of two basketball courts stacked side by side. I pulled the truck into the center of the facility. I unloaded the motorcycle and changed into my motorcycle gear. After locking up the facility I made my way over to Cliff Trajer's garage which was on the opposite side of the city.
With the help of Vitur, normal Houstonian traffic was evaded with a mix of back alleys, lane splitting, and the occasional jaunt onto the sidewalk, my destination approached quicker than I thought. The building was inconspicuous in outward appearance. A dilapidated, dull, jade green double width garage door marked the entrance. It was slightly open at the bottom to allow for ventilation. I walked in, welcomed by the sound and smell of a MIG welder joining together two sides of a 1969 Chevrolet Nova's right rear quarter panel.
Cliff seemed to be doing good for himself. His shop was beautiful, though it didn't seem like it from the outside. In fact it was almost as nice as Bridget's. Just the thought of her brought a quick moment of sadness and longing across my mind. My focus quickly came back to reality as soon as Cliff realized that I came into his shop.
"Daniel, great to see you!" Cliff beamed.
"Of course my friend," I said extending my hand, to which he reciprocated "how goes my vehicle?"
"I am quite glad you asked," he said beginning to walk "follow me."
He led me into a back room that was well hidden from the original shop. It was no bigger than a large shed, and it housed what I assumed to be my vehicle. It looked very similar to a snowmobile, however the track seemed to be much longer than average, and it had an elongated attachment for a something to be towed behind as well.
"So my one hundred thousand dollars paid for a snowmobile and a trailer?" I asked, slightly amused by the comedy.
"Ah, it may seem as such, however, you must look closer. The engine is no longer a combustion engine. It is electric, and it is powered by the same technology that is housed in your ring there," he said, pointing to the ring that housed Vitur, my AI. "Ask it to scan the vehicle and see what he says.
'Vitur, you hear that?' I asked in my thoughts.
'You bet, gimme a sec' Vitur responded, scanning. 'It is indeed powered by the same technology, I can easily diagnose it, it seems to be made of all organic material which can, seemingly, repair itself. It will be silent during operation and will have more torque than most any other combustion engine currently in production.'
"Well, that certainly makes it worth my money." I said out loud, "and what of the trailer?"
"Same material is used, obviously it is to tie down other things that cannot be held in a backpack on your back. There is an area to hold a rifle, as well as an area beneath the cargo bay that is kept above freezing, so you can store nutrients and water without worry of freezing them. So in theory there is no need for fires or anything like that, unless it is for food cooking purposes. The last and best feature is that the snowmobile and toboggan both have a cloaking feature that will allow you to camouflage with anything in the environment." he said pridefully.
