Sleep Is Not For The Weak
Posted on Thu Feb 9th, 2023 @ 7:02am by Captain Bethsabée Leroux & Ensign Michael Sloan
Mission:
Sojurn
Location: Deck E - Quarters
Timeline: Day 335 14:00
1353 words - 2.7 OF Standard Post Measure
Beth had never felt as relieved as she stepped out of the lift going toward the mess hall to see the corridor brightly lit again. It was amazing what the Relean dock had been able to do in getting power to them to allow them to start more substantial repairs. Beth grinned as she saw Michael come out of the mess hall.
“Hey you.” She greeted not entirely how he was doing now that power had been restored enough to do things that had been impossible before. “Fancy a catch-up?” She offered knowing they were way past due a catch-up going over what was happening.
Having been walking around in a daze, Michael was surprised to see Beth. With the power supply back on and stabilized, his team was able to make quicker progress. But all of that was relative considering the task at hand. He had clearly not slept much or eaten all that well since the engine incident. There had been some sleep cycles where he had simply placed a cot in one of the nacelle access tubes so he could get back to work. "Sure, I could use some coffee," he replied, giving an exhausted smile.
Beth glanced to where the man had just come from and raised an eyebrow but said nothing. “How about some tea in my quarters and maybe you having a nap?” Beth suggested stopping short in front of him. He looked truly terrible, and she had not seen him much since the Realian’s had gotten stable power around the ship.
"If I go to sleep, don't let me go for more than an hour," Michael replied. During the last couple of days, he had put the weight of the entire ship on his shoulders as he did everything he could to get the ship moving again. He had not yet grown to trust these new aliens, but the power they were feeding the Atlantis was being put to good use. There was no telling what kind of price they would try to extract.
"We will set an alarm," Beth promised looping her arm through his and tugging him back the way she come from. There was very little conversation as Beth led the way other than Beth commenting on how bright everything looked now as she unlocked her door and held it open for him to enter first.
“Thank you,” Michael replied before practically collapsing into a seated position on the bed. “Anything going on with the other departments?” He asked having been isolated in his own work. “And these, Rayleens.. Releans. What do you make of them?”
“Communication is fine. Armoury is normal trying to assess the situation. Science is normal trying to find the answers to the questions we have and repair the hydroponic bay.” Beth was not sure if she missed anyone. Releaians.” Beth created having enjoyed doing something communication related to sort that out communications. They had made their universal translator seem like a child’s toy with how quickly they had adapted and transferred the required information. “They are more advance than any species that we know,” Beth admitted sitting next to him taking in how exhausted he looked.
"Benevolent overlord or kindly strangers?" Michael wondered aloud. "At least they are giving us a chance for some repairs. Have they listed any demands or conditions for this help?" he asked. Given his past as well as their experiences with the inhabitants of this side of the galaxy, his genetic paranoia was showing even though he was still trying his best to see the best in everyone.
Beth had seen nothing so far that screamed overlord but she was holding her tongue and opinions until they'd actually seen more of the planet and the celebrations. Time revealed everything eventually. "Just after their celebrations is all that was requested so we have time to repair." Beth sat down next to the man and leaned over helping to untie his boots. "Is everyone else in Engineering in this state?" She demanded softly.
"Yes," Michael admitted, "though I am down there more than the rest." At this point in time, there was no question about pulling this many hours. No one else was trained on how to repair the warp engine, and everyone knew the stakes.
“Small mercy then that you are the worst,” Beth said softly as she tugged his boot free. “You all need to rest. We have time now so I am making it an order. You need to get rest hours in.” Beth quickly added the second one to the first and chucked them away from the bed towards the door.
"Captain's orders?" Michael asked, already not putting up much of a fight. The bed was pretty comfortable after all.
“Worse… girlfriend or lover orders,” Beth said pushing him back on the bed and gathered up the blanket she wrapped herself up in to sit staring out the window sometimes just watching the stars and put it over him gently. She leaned over and kissed his temple.
Michael would have normally returned the kiss and then some, but the long hours and strenuous work had finally caught up to him. The combination of the mattress, a real blanket, and being in a place where he did not have to drown in what had to be done put him out almost as soon as his head hit the pillow. To the outside world, it probably seemed more like a coma than sleep.
Beth had set about doing some work from the desk area listening every now and then to his soft breathing or the whispered words. She resisted joining him as she promised him she’d give him an hour but it did not mean she did not get lost in her own work.
Waking with a sudden inhale, Michael sat up from his position on the bed. It looked as though he had not moved very much since he had practically collapsed. "How long have I been out?" he asked, suspiciously aware that he felt a little more rested than an hour would have permitted.
Beth jumped at the sudden voice in quarters and turned to look at the man. She glanced at the chronometer and let out a swear word. “Shit… I got distracted,” she admitted indicating the pile of PADDS that she had worked through when he had been out. “I guess when I finally got you in my quarters I meant to keep you there.”
Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Michael laid back a little. Every other day, he would have probably questioned her about why she had let him sleep so long. But, he had been so tired and it was probably for everyone's safety that he was not falling asleep while working on the warp engine. "It's okay. I'm sure we're better off with me getting a little sleep."
Beth sighed and rubbed her own eyes still seeing damage reports and crew issues every time she blinked. “I did not do it on purpose. I just got my own level of distraction but definitely safer for you to not be falling asleep on or under a core.” Beth agreed. Everyone needed sleep.
Getting up from the bed and zipping up his duty uniform, Michael walked over to where Beth was sitting and gave her a slight kiss on the top of her head. "Well, I better get back to making sure that list of reports gets a little smaller," he said.
"Appreciated," Beth said touching his hand. "But make sure you do get some proper rest and some food at some point please Michael." She added offering a smile as she turned back to the datafiles that she needed to work through to get the ship into some type of order again and to work out the best way forward.
"Aye Aye, Captain," Michael replied with a wink. Maybe it was the sleep or maybe it was Beth, or it could have even been the fact that the ship had power. But, for the first time since the accident, Michael felt hope.
