GOOD TIMES

 By

Ronin Fox

"You runnin' from the law again, Johnny?"

Johnny Dynamite pulled down his sunglasses and let his baby blue eyes crash into hers. "I thought that's what you always loved about me, doll."

Cherry Bomb took a long drink from her straw and let the liquid cool her jets. She had forgotten the effect he had on her. She reminded herself Johnny was her Ex-boyfriend and she had left that life behind. She had a steady job now guarding this private hyperspace jump and her rich, alien bosses needed to keep a steady stream of guys like Johnny employed to smuggle desirables around the galaxy.

She refilled her cup from the dispenser, grabbed the nozzle on the side and plugged it into Johnny's candy apple red Mustang. The same car he had picked her up in on their first date. She traced a finger along the smooth lines. "Loving you wasn't the problem, Johnny."

Johnny smirked. He always smirked. "Now I understand you got a job to do but you-know-who ain't more than a few minutes behind me so why don't you gets to doing your thing and we can talk about the good times later."

"Those were some good times, weren't they Johnny? Remember that night overlooking the Marizano lava streams in the Calasar System?"

"Like it was yesterday, doll."

Cherry Bomb clicked a button and Johnny got sucked into the hose. The fuel machine rumbled and clanked once before a light on the top clicked to green. She replaced the nozzle back into the holder with the memory of the good times tugging at her heart and holding her close. 

The next day, Johnny rolled up in a midnight black Camaro. The same car he had spun her around in on their fourth date.

Cherry Bomb took a swig from her straw. "You're either really busy, hun, or just using it as an excuse to see me."

"I don't need an excuse to see you doll but time ain't a luxury I can spare right now so how’s about a ride?"

She calmed the schoolgirl tingles skipping up her spine. "Remember when we drove the mountain trails of Planet Fubasi in the Quon System, Johnny?"

"Like it was yesterday, doll."

Cherry Bomb clicked a button and Johnny and the car folded into time and space. The light on the machine clicked to green and she replaced the nozzle back into the holder with the memory of the good times fluttering her heart and turning her tummy in knots.

The next day, Johnny drove up in a sparkled silver Corvette. The same car he had been in when he proposed marriage to her.

Cherry Bomb tried to hold back the waterworks but she choked up and the tears ran down her face. "Oh Johnny," she said. "Remember the time we drove the Nightshade Valley runs in the Kretorian system?"

"Like it was yesterday, doll."

Cherry Bomb clicked a button and the car caved in. Metal squealed, sparks flew and wet, squishy squashy sounds squawked out of the machine for ten full seconds before it settled back down and the red light clicked to green.

Cherry Bomb replaced the nozzle and refiled her cup just as another car drove up to the station.

"Might want to keep a look out, doll," Johnny Dynamite said. "Word is there's a bunch of alien shapeshifters trying to impersonate yours truly."

Cherry Bomb flung her name tag to the ground and jumped into the passenger seat.

Johnny smirked. He always smirked. "Where we headed, doll?"

"The Kretorian system."

"Never been there."

"Exactly." Cherry Bomb took a drink from her straw and grimaced.

Liquefied cop always tasted like shit.

END

Ronin Fox likes to sneak up on people so you had better take a look behind you just in case. And that thing that goes bump in the night? Probably him.