Alone MISSION END

Posted on Wed Nov 10th, 2021 @ 5:20am by Captain Bethsabée Leroux & Lieutenant Samantha Leyton & Ensign Michael Sloan

Mission: Mission 4 - Eden
Location: Deck E - Mess Hall
Timeline: Day 183 02:00
1668 words - 3.3 OF Standard Post Measure

Beth was feeling dark and twisty as she sat at the table watching the ship opposite them out the window as it parted ways from them. The room was dark and chilly compared to the normal comfortable Mess Hall people would be used to. It was 2 am and most of the ship was asleep as Beth felt like it was the best time for the Caelestis to part ways from them so it did not become a performance for the crew starved sometimes for entertainment.

“It is no-good stalking in the shadows. I am willing to share with you.” She called out to the observer holding up the bottle she was nursing as she watched the scene. The black liquid sloshed around in the bottle before she put it back down on the table. It was probably not wise to drink after being discharged from sickbay but it was a weird sense of honour that she did not want The Caelestis to die alone.

"What is the vintage?" Michael asked as he approached the Captain. It probably did not matter much, Sloan just wanted the alcohol at this point. His eyes fell to the other ship outside of the viewport. His feelings about it were different, it was not a reminder of where they had been but more of a message from what could be. "Are you sure you should be out of sick bay and drinking?" he asked. Knowing that the answer would be something along the lines of being fine and needing out of the cramped medical facility, he added, "You'll be happy to hear that we have successfully integrated the data module that we recovered into an isolated console. Data crunching has begun."

“Yes. I am more than able to be out if I can make things awkward between us earlier I can drink now. Does it overly matter? It’s mine and I’m willing to share?” Beth wondered looking at the glass that was aside hers. She knew eventually someone would eventually wander in and was not selfish despite it being a very limited item onboard unless you counted what the marines were attempting to hide from her. “Well, you have had a busy day.” She commented thinking of the awkwardness that had been there that morning instead of the tension and darkness.

"When is it never a busy day?" Sloan asked as he took the offered drink. With each day, everyone had to do everything they could to stretch every resource. While doing that, the crew had to ensure that the ship was ready in case the Vrav came knocking again. They had proven that their ships were just as warp-capable as the Atlantis, and it was odd that they had just given up after the wormhole incident. Throwing away his cares for a moment, Michael grabbed a chair next to Beth. Lifting his glass slightly, he toasted, "It's been an adventure."

Beth ignored the toast but nodded as she listened to his voice as he appeared next to her instead of on the opposite side of the table as she expected. "Busy is how we are now." She mused thinking she wanted to try and find a planet they could just have a break on and just breath in some fresh air soon.

"That is the truth," Michael replied. Were they in known space, they could easily stop at an allied port or enjoy a vacation spot like Risa. But out here, they were truly on their own. Days off would be few and far between. A nice Minshara Class planet next to a dilithium stockpile would certainly do him some good right about now.

The silence fell over them for a moment, it was not defending but it was charged. "Can we talk?" She wondered.

"Of course," the Engineer replied, readying himself for what he assumed was a serious talk heading his way.

“I know I said… “ Beth started to talk and spill out what had been in her head but stopped dead as the door behind them unsealed.

The doors opened to reveal Samantha, dressed in a tank top and shorts as she walked into the mess hall, her eyes went to the departing Caelestis and then to the two other figures in the room, taking her a brief moment to realize it was the Captain and Sloan. "Sorry, I didn't think there would be anyone here," she said before turning to leave.

“Get a glass!” Beth called holding up the glass sloshing the contents again to show she was willing to share more even if the woman had stopped her spilling her heart out. Beth was surprised to find Samantha up of all people. She had not been sure whether she would want to see it or not.

"I'd rather take the bottle," she said as she turned back and approached the two. She took a glass and began to fill it.

"Well as it is mine and the fact I am only just willing to share and we all have work in four hours I say just a glass." Beth challenged without a hint of compromise. She might have had a few glass and her thought process a lot darker than she normally let herself go but she was unwilling to let anyone else follow her on it.

"You still need rest, captain," Samantha replied before downing the glass in one long drink and setting the glass back down on the table as she grimaced, forcing the liquid down, leaving a warm sensation in her.

"Agreed," Michael concurred. "Doctors orders said that you needed rest and fluids," he added. Knowing her as he did, he did not add the thought that they would dare have Avira force her away from her responsibilities.

"See I am resting. I am sat down and I have fluids." Beth said darkly as the Atlantis stopped dead and the Caelestis carried on in its curve towards pretty much the only light source that was in the room now.

"You know, I can have the CMO declare you unfit," Samantha said crossing her arms and approaching the viewport, keeping her eyes forward. The differences in how to handle the Caelestis had seemed to cause a rift between the two officers--at least for her. She felt they were wasting time, sending the ship off to a slow death rather than destroy it with their weapons. She still couldn't get the visualization of Aurelius' dead body out of her head.

“You could but then you would have a lot of questions asked about it and paperwork.” Beth commented looking at Sloan daring him to agree with Samantha when she was doing nothing but sitting there with her drink and dark mood.

Hiding his smirk behind the drink, Michael had thought about doing exactly what Samantha suggested. He was happy that he was not alone in his concerns. He took the chance to down his glass. Pouring another, the Chief Engineer looked at Beth to say, "She has a point. I've told you before, this ship needs you. And I don't mean a body we roll up to the Captain's chair. We need you at your best, and taking care of yourself when you need it keeps you there."

"Yes you told me but how did that conversation end?" Beth challenged looking at him for a long moment smirking before she looked away and slowly stood going to the window. "I know this and I am not overdoing it I swear. I was just sitting here so the ship was not alone for its final moments. Someone should observe all the people's final moments." Beth said darkly. "In my culture when someone passes away, their family pins a journal decorated with black cloth on their door. Then family, friends, community members, and even strangers write messages inside it. We cannot do that as we do not know any of them but I... we can observe their final journey."

Nodding along to the Captain's words, Michael took in the ship hanging in space before them. "Their data is being analyzed as we speak. It's going to be a slow trickle due to the sheer amount," he stated, perhaps letting his Romulan side take over a bit. Letting his Human side back in, Michael completed his thought with, "We will keep their memory alive. They are our future, and they represent a better world than what we left."

Beth lay her head against the cool glass and nodded. She did not want to let them know that the future that the kid had come from was destroyed and in ruin which had been why the foundation had attempted to find a new home. They would realise eventually with the datacore.

Samantha simply nodded as she continued to watch the ship continue its trip towards the sun.
Beth did not even flinch as the other ship headed into the sun. It was bright and hurt her eyes but she did not want to take her eyes off the Caelestis for a moment. She just clutched the crystal she had got brought from the other ship around her next. It was a slow process but the ship suddenly started glowing red and then white as it headed further and further into the sun. It was there one moment and then the next was gone in a flash of white that lit up the darkened room.

"I'll leave you two alone," Samantha said simply, turning to head out of the room. She had seen what she wanted to see--and that was the destruction of that damned ship and it didn't take a telepath to tell that the captain and Sloan were a thing. 'At least there is one happy couple aboard,’ she thought bitterly as she walked out through the doors.

Beth turned to argue and say that she was more than welcome to stay but the woman was already gone leaving the pair in the darkness alone with their thoughts.