Twilight

Posted on Sun Dec 12th, 2021 @ 6:34pm by Captain Bethsabée Leroux

Mission: Mission 5 - Babel
Location: Unknown planet
Timeline: Day 271 04:00
1618 words - 3.2 OF Standard Post Measure

Beth rose early from her impromptu fall from her cot and winced at the pain shooting through her shoulder and neck. It was smaller than the bed she was used to and the sleeping back had restricted her movements enough to cause her to panic and roll off the bed.

Crawling from the tent to tug on her uniform over shirts and vest top in the strange pre-dawn light, she was surprised to see someone sitting around the fire pit from the previous night. Had she even gone to bed? The Captain was pretty sure she was not assigned to watch over the camp.

“Morning Walker.” She called as she got close doing the zip up of the uniform. It had been years since she had been camping and the planet with a longer day than they were used to meant that dawn was hours long casting shadows across the planet that were prominent with the tower stretching out above them.

Hearing the captain's voice break the morning silence, she stood and faced the woman. "Morning, Captain. Didn't sleep well?"

"Not really. Lack of the hum." It was strange that Beth had logged for silence for months to just gather her thoughts and rest and here she was struggling to sleep due to the lack of hum. "How was your watch?" She offered sitting down on the camping chair with a groan thanks to her protesting back.

"Rather quiet to be honest. Almost makes me wish Darru was here to pester," Maddison shrugged, chuckling as she sat back down. "Reminds me of home. Often my friends and I would go camping in the Outback. It's nice to be off the ship and breathing in the fresh air."

“I can send him down if that would help?” Beth offered lightly as she rolled her shoulders trying to get herself awake enough to focus. “I forget you are from Australia. I forget accents something as I have so many languages going around. The fresh air is good. I wish we could bottle it up and take it back.” The Captain leaned forward and poured a coffee from the pot on the embers of the fire.

"No thank you. I'll make do," she replied, smiling.

Beth pursed her lips into a smile. "So has Darru cornered you for his project?” Beth wondered making conversation with the woman. Darru seemed to be an interesting conversation but she had offered the subject.

"Yeah, he wanted to partner me with Chief Petty Officer Torres simply due to the fact that we're both Armory Officers, never mind that Torres is a pain in the ass--doesn't know when to stop talking. I don't think I'll ever understand Vulcans. Scuttlebutt says you and the former XO are getting close. Is that true ma'am?" Maddison replied, raising an eyebrow as she grinned at the woman.

"You know scuttlebutt Warrant Officer. The scuttlebutt says you and Darru are getting close." Beth replied taking a small sip of the black liquid relaxing back into the chair happily. Beth was not going to bring up Michael when she really had no idea if they were close or not. It was just a strange grey area between them still despite what had happened two months ago. It would take time and a lot of communication for them to work anything out. "But to answer your question we are no closer than anyone else just less hostile to each other," Beth said thinking back 270 odd days to when Leah had died and Beth nearly put the man in the brig for trying to usurp her as Executive Officer and then Commanding Officer.

Maddison laughed at the comment. "Ummm, no. You only get one wild night every seven years? No thank you, ma'am. Besides, he's married." Although Darru was a pain in her ass at times, she had grown accustomed to him being around. She let out a sigh. "Has he tried to pair you off, ma'am?"

“I do not believe they do get one wild night every seven years," Beth assured smirking just a little that people truly believed that. “Is he?” Beth was sure his file said widowed but it was not her place to reveal that if he had told someone that. “I believe he did many moons ago.” She admitted slowly. It was not something she had planned for just yet.

"Well the way he spoke about returning home once for mating one time, I'd just assumed he had a wife," Maddison shrugged. "So I didn't pry. And that sounds like you know from firsthand experience...but I won't pry, Captain," she smirked then it disappeared as she recalled the changes among the crew. "This is exactly what the crew needed by the way--especially you and the XO. If you don't mind me saying so," she poked the fire as she spoke.

Beth would never share how she knew that information about Vulcans but it was down to Darru to tell his own secrets if he wanted to. She supposed the woman was right about her and Samantha. There was tension there but she was sure time would get rid of it as conversations had not so far. “We all needed it. From the top to the bottom. I’m just glad we get to breathe in some fresh air and my feet are itching to go for a run on something other than metal plates.”

"No argument there, ma'am. But I wouldn't go far as we don't much about this planet and any wildlife that's in the area," she grinned, which faded. She still felt guilty about having to abandon the captain aboard the Caelistis. "However, if you do want to go and get away, ma'am, just let me know and I'll be happy to join you."

"I will not be going far when I do without an escort. I am surprised Gerhard has not inserted a tracker in me." Beth was pretty sure if the armoury officer thought he could get away with it he would have put a tracker on her. She nodded at the suggestion as she really would like to break out and go for a run. Maybe others would like it too. "I would like that sometimes. If anything I am going to explore the tower and I know that is safe with Marines around there. Maybe before you get some rest. Will be hard enough with the strange day and night lengths."

"I hope so, ma'am. As for the change in time, I just need some strong coffee and I'll right as rain," she chuckled. "I have things taken care of until dawn if you want to catch some Zs."

“No, I am awake now. I am not even sure if it is dawn coming or night with this strange twilight.” Beth pointed to the pot that her coffee had come from. “I can confirm that coffee is strong enough to bring the dead back.” Beth took another ship before she looked around for some creamer or sweetener to make it more palatable to her taste.

"Nothing wrong with strong coffee," she agreed as she noticed the captain looking for something. "Here you go, captain," she picked up a small container next to her. "Creamer if that's what you're looking for."

"Heaven sent Warrant Officer. Thank you." Beth took the container and poured some of it into the cup taking a quick sip to see if it was any better. It was a bit better but the next container held sweetener that would make it perfect. Making coffee and tea was so familiar Beth was sure she could make it in her sleep now if she was inclined to. It was good coffee now. "I think I might go and explore the tower more and work on if I can translate that or at least have an idea of why it exists."

"You should wait for the others, ma'am," Maddison stated. She couldn't leave her post of guarding the camp, yet she knew Gerhard would have a cow if the captain went off on her own.

Beth looked up. “I am technically still in camp just going up.” Beth pointed out over her coffee mug. The tower was still working the perimeter.

"True, but you know Gerhard will have a heart attack if you go off on your own," she sighed, realizing the captain was right and a grown woman not to mention a capable officer. "But contact me the minute you suspect something wrong, ma'am."

“Tell him to come to me. It’s about time we had a talk about it all. No one was to blame for the… our last adventure. I made all the choices.” Beth said simply taking a deep sip. “Will even take my coffee. Can’t get in not much trouble whilst sipping coffee.” She pointed out.

Maddison chuckled. "Very true, ma'am. "I'll go and wake him if you want."

“Is he still on the planet?” She wondered looking around for the PADD. He had been scheduled to go back. “Seems he is still down here, there was a medical emergency and he stayed here. I wonder where he slept.” She mused before shrugging. “No need. I am sure once he knows he will track me down and see I am fine for his own eyes.”

"Aye, Captain. Enjoy the tower," she offered, standing. "I need to do a security patrol of the area anyhow."

Beth nodded and let the woman go leaving her with the burning embers of the fire and her thoughts. It did not take long for her to gather herself and head into the tower to start do something familiar in communication work.