Unspoken Thoughts

Posted on Wed Dec 8th, 2021 @ 9:50am by Ensign Alexandra 'Lexi' O'Connery & Commander William Gerhard

Mission: Mission 5 - Babel
Location: Unknown Planet
Timeline: Day 270 20:00
2384 words - 4.8 OF Standard Post Measure

Lexi stopped dead as she jumped down from the shuttlepod and just stood there looking dumbstruck at the setting sun as she got her first experience of fresh air and a breeze in nearly nine months. It was beautiful and for a woman who could speak ten laughed fluently, she had no idea what to say. She turned to retrieve her kit from the pod and bumped straight into someone who had been stood at obviously as dumbstruck as her. “Oops sorry.” She instantly said.

William had stood at the outside perimeter of the landing zone as the shuttle pod approached. He held his forearm up over his face and turned away as the pod kicked up dirt and loose gravel as it touched down. He had firmly decided that he was not a subtropical humidity type of guy as he felt his undergarments sticking to his body from the sweat. While his native land did have mild summers, he was far used to the subarctic climate of the northern provinces of Sweden. He motioned to the other crewmen with him they could approach the pod as he went to help with the additional gear that had been requested. As the dust settled he found himself walking into one of his shipmates who had bent back in to the shuttle pod. When he saw who it was he smiled and went to embrace her, but stopped himself as she indicated their surroundings with her eyes.

“Oh it’s you. Hello Lieutenant.” Lexi said politely as she glanced around at the crewmen who moved around them oblivious.

"Ensign, do you need any help with that," he asked as he tried to sound more relaxed. He had been feeling more and more comfortable with Lexi as their relationship and time together had grown since departing the alien ship previously. Lexi had been helping him deal with the trauma he had witnessed during the rescue, and he was beginning to find it difficult to maintain the secretive aspect of their relationship. As she came in a little closer to him, he whispered to her, "Did you bring what I asked you for?"

“I would love some help. It’s the tent I am sleeping in tonight.” She sighed pulling it towards her along with her rucksack that held his rolled uniform. “You will have to help me put it up to get changed Sir and the Captain sent you some suntan lotion.” She teased him just a little as she was pretty sure the Captain knew.

He passed her her rucksack as he slid the rolled tent out and threw it over his shoulder. He winked at Lexi as he kept his voice down, "Elegy was the one who needed the suntan lotion, I just can't deal with the temperature." He followed her lead and carried the rolled tent while she selected an adequate spot to pitch it. "Just point out where you want to set this up Ensign and I'll give you a hand setting it up," he said louder so the people around them would hear.

The blonde grinned and pointed to a space close to the other tents but far enough away from the main tent she would actually get some sleep before joining the exploration team in the morning.

“No, she specifically said you and your paleness needed it. McManus has been sent with some for him.” She grinned at him feeling lighter than she had in months. She could just ignore that damn knowledge for a little bit.

William made his way to the spot she pointed to and began unpacking the tent contents. He looked back up at her with a wry smile, "I'm not the only pale one here you know. Are you sure the captain also didn't include you in that?" He laid the tent out and began piecing together the poles and sliding them in their appropriate spots. Once he had the frame up he trailed some lines from the main points and looped them around the included stakes before he pressed them into the ground with his boot. He then unzipped the opening and gestured inside with one hand as he stood back. "Your castle awaits m'lady," he said with a wink.

Once the tent was built Lexi pulled her rucksack inside and grinned at the man still out in the setting sun. “Bit cooler in here.”

William looked up at the sky and then back at her. "I know deep down your really enjoying this, but I can't wait until we find an arctic planet to explore and I can watch you stay in an igloo," he said teasingly as he followed her inside the tent. He zipped the flap closed, pulled off his boots, and began unzipping his uniform as he watched her pull out his field uniform.

She tossed the roll to him smirking at the notion of another planet. They had been lucky to find the one they were currently on. “If I survive that long.” Lexi muttered head practically inside her rucksack pulling out the camp bed and sleeping bag. It would be nice to sleep on a planet but she would miss the hum of the sleep.

William was in the process of pulling his undershirt off when he overheard her statement. He paused for a moment before he continued. He looked over at her as he unrolled his field uniform. He had noticed in the past few weeks that Lexi had seemed rather despondent. He had not mentioned anything to her about it because he figured that she would talk to him when the time was right. "Why do you say that," he asked with concern in his voice.

Lexi winced when she realised she had muttered louder than she had meant to. She had caught him looking at her concerned a few times and had ignored it. How could she tell him that she had accidentally seen a manifest for 2nd June 2157 when they had fitted the datacore and her name had not been on it.

“Nothing. Just you never know what is coming our way.” She said not glancing his way keeping her hands busy fixing the camp bed.

He pulled his field shirt over his head and tucked it into his trousers as he watched her trying to avoid his gaze. Her response had only piqued his interest further. In all the time William had spent with Lexi, she always maintained a positive outlook, and she had encouraged him to do the same. The last few months she had seemed less positive when discussing future events. He looked down as he laced his belt through the loops and tightened it around his waist, "That doesn't sound like you. Normally I'm the gloomy one." He then walked over to her and squatted down next to her as he placed his hand over hers so she would look at him. "Why don't you tell me what's been bothering you the last few months," he said softly as he looked in her eyes. He kept his tone sincere as he did not want her to think he was upset with her for not talking about what was going on in her mind.

“Well, sometimes I get to be gloomy. You cannot always have the market on the dark and twisty emotions in the world.” She told him threading the bar into the right connection. It was looking like she might actually have a bed for that night. At the soft touch on her hand, she resisted for a long moment before she turned to look at him. “Nothing has been bothering me.” She murmured trying to pull herself away.

William let her pull his hand away. He didn't want to force her into talking about what was bothering her until she was ready. He knew that had the roles been reversed he would act the same, so he set about helping her with her camp bed. "I just want you to know that you can talk to me, Lexi. You've been there for me when I've struggled, and I'll be here for you," he said as he gave her a quick look.

There was a strange moment where Lexi wanted to tell him, wanted to share the burden that she had accidentally taken on but stopped herself dead as she did not want to share with him of all people. She cared far too much about him to let him know what she knew. There was no other explanation for her name not being on the manifest apart from death, she would not just leave the ship. "I do know." Lexi nodded keeping her thoughts to herself for now. "But I am fine. What are your plans now?" She wondered hearing the Captain and someone talking as they passed. It was hard to miss the Captain when not too many people spoke things other than standard.

William placed her rucksack on the camp bed and stood and stretched his back from being bent over. He decided to follow her lead with the change of subject. "Well, the captain wants the Major and I to scout the adjacent area. I'm hoping we may find a suitable spot to re-establish the base camp closer to the foot of the tower. Since we weren't able to find anything, or anyone, it looks to be a nice refuge for the teams working down here in case anything should happen." He then stopped and looked at her with an upraised eyebrow, "Did the captain tell you about all the symbols and glyphs we found inside? I figured that's why you came down here. Unless you just wanted to get off the ship and trade your comfortable mattress for a nice cot." He said the last bit in a teasing fashion to try and lighten the mood between them.

"Maybe. I do not know. The Captain requested me when you guys got inside and there were symbols on the wall. It's my speciality but..." She shrugged non plused by it all. "But I would have traded my nice comfortable bed for a cot and some fresh air anyway. It is nice to be able to stretch out and not hit a wall." She admitted with another shrug. It was hard to describe how she felt about coming down to the planet to explore and learn.

William nodded and smiled at her. "Well you should see Elegy, he's chomping at the bit for the captain to let him run loose out here. Major King said he's been having a tough time trying to keep him reined in, " he said as he made his way over to the tent flap. He paused and looked back at her with a sly grin, "By the way, I heard something about a camping trip out into the forested area was being organized by one of the junior officers. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?" He arched his eyebrow as he posed the last question to see how she would react. He liked teasing with her that he heard things that were supposed to be kept from him as the Chief Armory Officer, but this time he knew the captain was also aware of a camping trip and that she was considering joining the participants.

“Elegy reined in.” Lexi snorted at the thought that anyone could rein the man in once he had an idea. “I do not know anything at the moment. So unfortunately I have not heard anything but I might join them. Some camping just sounds like fun.” She said simply as she moved over to him and lent up giving him a soft kiss.

He reacted with some surprise, but he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to him as he returned her kiss. He pulled away from her and looked into her eyes with a soft smile, "Well, perhaps you and I could share a tent then." He winked at her before pulling her back in for a long kiss.

Lexi was surprised at his suggestion it melted against him and the kiss. She pulled back finally and nodded. “Well you know where I am.” She reminded.

He winked at her and kissed the top of her forehead softly, "That I do." He then made his way over to the opening of her tent. "Well, I should be getting back to the captain before someone notices I'm missing. I'll check back in later," He said as he smiled at her before unzipping the opening. Given her previous comments he wasn't keen to leave her, but he knew that if he gave her some space on the issue she would open up to him about what was bothering her. He had a sneaking suspicion it had something to do with the datacore being guarded back on the ship.

“William… you are going to be okay you know that right?” She questioned as he stepped out of the tent into the sunlight.

He paused at the opening and looked back at her with a smile and wink. "As I've said before, as long as I have you beside me I know we will both be alright," he said sincerely. He paused to say something more and looked at her again with a tenderness in his eyes. "I love you Lexi," he said. He knew he truly felt this way about her, but there was a part of him that worried she may not yet feel the same for him. He hoped that he had not inadvertently driven a wedge between them.

Lexi paused for a moment and looked away from his gaze blushing under the weight of his words. Any other time and place she would have said it back as it was a big step for him and she felt the same. She just nodded. “I’ll see you later.” She murmured sadly.

William watched her before glancing down at his boots. He could tell through her expression that his words had touched her, but he couldn't help but feel alittle down that she had not said it in reply. He cleared his throat and nodded before turning to exit her tent as he let the flap close behind him.