It had been a long week. I was completely exhausted. My body ached; my mind was drained. I finally sagged into the “Hole”, grabbed a “Revenge” from the bartender, and collapsed into my regular seat in the corner, back facing the wall. I simply wanted some “me” time; just some time to relax, alone, and unwind.

“Like OMG! You’re like, that Colonel guy right? I can’t like believe it! Sasha it like never going to believe me.”

There she stood, in all her trashy glory. She was a chubby Achura, squeezed into what appeared to be a plastic wrap dress. I cringed inwardly for many reasons, the least not being the thought that there should be laws against women over a certain weight being permitted to wear that style of clothing. Without asking, she seated herself across from me, the light catching her face, revealing two pounds too much of makeup. I threw a “rescue me” glance to the bartender, who only chuckled and raised his arms in that “Don’t get me involved” gesture. The worst part of course was that she wasn’t even remotely attractive.

“So like, what’s it like being, like, a hero? It must be like, so exciting!”  At that moment, it sounded like there must be a horse nearby, but it turned out to only be her laugh.

I didn’t even know her. She must die.

She blathered on incessantly about the most droning subjects, then suddenly sat bolt upright, raising her hand to me, palm upwards, index finger gesturing for me to “hold that thought”. Thus far, I hadn’t said a word to her so I really had no idea what was going on in that vacant little head of hers.

She tapped a comm implant on the side of her head, and the little blue connected light came to life. She didn’t lower her arm. I guess I looked like I might suddenly interrupt, or break into dance or something.

“Like, I know! He’s so like, totally annoying. I think like, I’m going to like complain to Dean about him. I’m like, so tired of defending him all the time. Until he like, learns to use the holo system, he’s like, just going to keep screwing things up. It’s like…” 

I had tuned her out by then, so apologize if I can’t recall anything of particular value I may have missed.

Five Revenges later, she wasn’t looking any prettier. It was time for me to leave. I stood up from my seat, and she moved her arm to block my path, emphasizing her finger at me to hold that thought. This girl was truly astounding. She couldn’t have been more than twenty years old, was still talking on her head implant, had nothing of value to offer me, and yet still had the brass to motion at me to halt.

“Deidra, can you like hold on a sec? My date is like, leaving.”

I sighed. I think a small piece of me died inside as well.

“Where’s the party?” she asked.

I honestly had no clue how to respond, which I think might’ve been a first for me. 

“I, um…” I stammered.

“Well like, why don’t we just like make the party ourselves?”

I studied her for a moment, almost envious of her woeful ignorance. There are many things about this situation that would have to be very different for this to happen, the least of which would be a lot more alcohol.

I didn’t want to be mean, though. She just wasn’t my type.

“Look. You seem sweet.” I lied. Her face beamed, her wide eyes sparkling at the false compliment. “I’ve just had a really trying week. Why don’t we meet up here tomorrow night, when I’m, you know, a little more rested.”

I guess my answer satisfied her, as she lowered her arm, and started yammering away to her friend again. 

I made my way to the bar, and paid my months old tab, much to the questioning look of the bartender. It’s not that I didn’t have the money, I just liked the idea of not having to pay per drink.

I walked out the front door leading back into the station marketplace, and took one last look around. 

I was going to miss the Hole, but I sure as hell wasn’t coming back here for at least fifty years. Maybe more.