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Part1
Beka looked up from rummaging in her clothes chest, “Andromeda”, she addressed the ship, “Is there a problem with the laundery? I appear to be missing a few things.”
"No problem has been reported” replied the ship “My avatar oversees the laundry, you should ask her”.
“Fine” said Beka as she left her quarters to see what she could find on the Maru.
*****
Beka had given up her search mainly cause she’d run out of places to look, she’d checked her quarters on Andromeda and on the Maru, she had even checked in the laundry, Rommie had reported no problems and anyway there was nothing left of hers in there. So it was a mystery where all her knickers had gone!
She had finally decided to get on with installing some upgraded circuitry on the Maru while she decided what to do next.
She’d only been working for a few minutes when Harper walked in “whatcha doin’ Boss?” he asked by way of a greeting.
“Just tweaking a few things, wanna help?” she invited
“Sure” he replied and settled down beside her. They worked in near silence for a while before Harper asked “so what’s up then? Your very quiet”. He received a look from Beka “Whoa, you don’t have to tell me. Silence is good, golden even…..” he tailed off.
“You wouldn’t know anything about missing laundry would you Harper?” Beka asked.
“No nothing” he replied quickly, looking guilty. “Why?”
When Beka told him he burst out laughing, looking faintly relieved, asking “What none? None at all?”
“Harper” Beka cautioned “It’s not funny”
At that Harper burst out in fresh gales of laughter stammering “but Boss, you mean you’ve got no knickers at all?” He sobered suddenly as she nodded, appearing to realise for the first time what this meant, he looked at her his eyes widening, and finally said in a husky voice, “Oh Boss!”
“Now don’t you start that” Beka told him, “I just want to find them, and you’re going to help me”
“I am?” he questioned, and at another look from Beka, went on more forcefully “I am, yes!”
“Good, now this is what you are going to do”
***