[qzar9999]

Alright, folks, here's the next bit. Gonna be some good growth next week, but for now it's just the setup. Decided I didn't wanna reference another sci-fi piece so soon, so this took a different track... ^_^

* * * * *“I'm telling you, Max, something is up,” Han Lee said, leaning forward through the gap between the kitchen and the front of his diner.

“We're just having a slow day,” Max Black replied, waving her hand dismissively at her boss. “It happens.” She paused and grinned. “Here more than most places.”

“Hey, my new billboard has been bringing in the crowds,” Han said defensively.

“Han, it's literally true that this is the 'Last Chance for Food until Shady Glen,' and we've still only seen a few more customers than usual lately.” Max glanced down at the countertop and started scrubbing at a coffee stain.

“It says 'Last Chance for GOOD Food,' Max,” Han retorted.

She smirked. “I know. I edited for accuracy.”

The bell over the door jingled as it opened. “Welcome to Lee's Roadside Cafe,” Max said automatically, not looking up from her cleaning. “Have a seat anywhere and I'll be right with you.”

“See?” Han piped up from the kitchen.

Max sighed. “Han, one person is not a crowd.” She scooped up a menu and strode around the counter, heading for the table where their new arrival sat. As she approached, she took stock of their customer: a tall, slender young woman with long blonde hair, dressed in an expensive-looking white outfit with some gaudy gold jewelry around her neck. Max briefly glanced through the windows at the parking lot and saw a shiny black luxury car parked nearby with “CAROLINE” on the front as a vanity plate. Rich girl, Max thought. Maybe she'll tip well.

“Hi,” she said to the seated woman—presumably Caroline—before placing the menu in front of her. “I'm Max, I'll be your server. Take a minute to look over the menu and let me know what you'd like.”

“Do you guys have any house specials?” Caroline asked.

“Well, we do, but if you want something edible you'll probably have to head out of town,” Max replied with a wink.

“Well, I can't,” Caroline replied. “Haven't you seen the roadblock on the way out of town?”

“Roadblock?” Max asked, concerned.

“Yeah. The military or something has the road closed off. I was actually trying to leave town today; I've been here for a few days visiting a close friend of the family. But when I tried to get out, they made me turn around.” Caroline frowned. “I was on my way back into town when I noticed this place. I figured I'd stop in and get a bite, see if anyone here knew what was going on.”

Max shrugged. “Well, you're outta luck with me, sister. All I do is work here and my other job and go home to sleep, so I wouldn't have known we were closed off if you hadn't told me.” She turned toward the kitchen and called to the back. “Hey Han! Oleg! You guys know anything about the military closing off the town?”

“Closing off the town?” Han cried, panicked. “You mean we're stuck here in town? Nobody can get in or out?”

“Oh, what are you worried about? You don't have a social life anyway,” Max said with a smirk.

“I hear nothing of this,” Oleg said, his thick Russian accent distorting his words. He leaned through the opening in the wall and gestured at the waitress with a spatula in his hand. “But if nobody can leave town, Max, maybe you and I can find way to pass the time?” He leered suggestively at Max.

“Sure!” she replied, grinning brightly. “Why don't you make a list of every pervy line you've ever used to hit on me, and I'll slam your head in the freezer door once for each entry?” Turning back to Caroline, she shrugged again. “Sorry. You might have better luck asking people who actually care what happens in this town.”

Caroline let out a short, sarcastic laugh. “Gotcha. I guess I'll head into town after lunch and see if I can find anything out.” She glanced over the menu, then up at Max. “Hey, can I get a bottle of water while I decide? I'm really thirsty.”

“Sure. Be right back.” Max turned and walked into the back area. She stepped into the cooler and scanned the shelves, but didn't see any bottles. Exiting the chilly walk-in, she glanced at Han. “Hey, are we out of bottled water or what?”

Han shrugged. “Almost nobody ever buys it. I probably forgot to order more. Sorry, Max.”

Sighing, Max grabbed a pitcher and tossed in some ice, then held it under a tap until it was full of water. Bringing it back out front, she returned to Caroline's table with a glass full of ice. “Sorry, but we're outta bottles,” she said, setting the glass down and pouring some of the pitcher's contents into it.

Caroline frowned. “Ugh. I don't know, is the tap water around here okay to drink?”

“Oh, don't worry, the lake has a lower-than-average amount of corpses and toxic waste,” Max replied. Seeing Caroline's horrified look, she smiled. “I'm kidding! Look, it's fine.” She pulled a straw out of the pocket of her red apron and stuck it into the pitcher, then bent down and took a long gulp from it, enjoying the cool, refreshing drink. “See? Totally clean. Except for anything I might be carrying,” she added with a wink.

Caroline shrugged and smiled at her. “Okay, I'll take your word for it.” She picked up her glass and drained about half of it in a single tilt. “Mmm. God, I was thirsty. That hits the spot. Give me just a minute to look over the menu.” As she flicked her eyes across the pages, Max turned and stepped over to the counter, sitting on one of the diner's stools while she waited for Caroline to make up her mind.