Playle
Talking In Your Sleep
Posts: 441
Deadly Sin: Sloth
Hogwarts House: Ravenclaw
|
Post by Playle on Jan 13, 2014 1:05:04 GMT
Don was cleaning his oily hand in the mess hall. A number of minor repairs had been done which wouldn’t get the ship going but would at least stop anything else breaking. He had pieced together that something had sent down this ship. Something had been after this Firefly, caused a number on it, and was why it crashed. Was it Alliance? There was a rogue-ish element about the crew, and nowhere better to hide than a backwater world like this. He shrugged it off. Not his place to ask, not just yet.
He had heard the captain come in, so he hovered around the mess hall cleaning his stump for longer than necessary in order to chat about the condition of the ship.
|
|
|
Post by Tonks on Jan 13, 2014 15:26:46 GMT
"There he is!" Sam announced; much too cheerily, "our star engineer! All them parts are on there way. How's she lookin'?" As he spoke he sat down at the table with a piece of bread. When he'd spoken, he bit a huge chunk of it and chewed it merrily.
|
|
|
Post by PenguinNinja on Jan 13, 2014 15:38:51 GMT
When the engineer had walked in Fayth had barely passed him a glance. Replacing Parker in the same day that he was gone. She shook her head and topped up her cup of coffee. Then the man started washing his hands- correction - hand and stump. She frowned at it, eyed the man and turned her eyes away.
The Captain strode in and she passed him a brief nod. "Coffee Captain?" She held up the empty cup. If she could make herself seem friendly she hoped she could be left alone. Hoped.
|
|
|
Post by Tonks on Jan 13, 2014 15:50:40 GMT
"I would love one, Fayth. Thank you. You'll be glad to know I did some trades in town too and we'll all be eatin' well for the next few weeks." He needed to lift the mood somehow; if only for a distraction for himself. "Sorry, Don. I asked you a question and just kept yappin'! You go on."
|
|
Playle
Talking In Your Sleep
Posts: 441
Deadly Sin: Sloth
Hogwarts House: Ravenclaw
|
Post by Playle on Jan 13, 2014 16:24:32 GMT
The captain spoke like an entertainer rather than a leader. It didn’t rub Don the wrong way, just seemed odd. It did seem like the Captain had had one hell of a good day. And who was Don to complain? He had found work out thanks to this chap.
“Less problems than we originally thought Captain, but better safe than sorry so I can’t blame Mei’s over-estimates on the damage. You’re not going to be in the stars tonight, maybe you could be at dawn if I graft all night on the piece. Really I could do with someone to give me a hand, no pun intended. Once the fuel cells get replaced and we sort out that tripped out Grav Dampener, the rest of the work is minor at best. That mule shouldn’t take me more than a half-hour to get good again either, but I can do that tomorrow if that’s alright?”
He chose not to mention the need for a complete hull replacement – it would get rid of whatever funds the captain had if that was to be done now. The work up to now had been relatively easy. He’d once spent the best part of a fortnight fixing up a messed up Foxbat Fighter once, just for it to get disintegrated in its next skirmish. Work like that was the most unrewarding, whereas here there seemed to be a lot of care for the ship.
Mei bounced into the mess hall with a coffee mug in hand. As she saw Fayth was preparing coffee, she outstretched her mug and gave Fayth an overjoyous grin as she awaited the woman to pour coffee into the cup.
|
|
|
Post by PenguinNinja on Jan 13, 2014 16:33:22 GMT
Fayth turned upturned brows in Mei's direction. Make a cup of coffee for one person and everybody hounded around you desperate for a lick. She rolled her eyes, grabbed the coffee and poured it into the pilot's cup. She put it down, grabbed the Captain's cup and moved to sit it on the table.
She couldn't help the awkward glance to Don. She wasn't sure about him, couldn't get a fix on his kind of attitude or thoughts. Usually she could point at somebody and state what kind of person they were, trusting or not. But something was off about Don. She couldn't settle her mind as she took a sip of her drink.
|
|
|
Post by Tonks on Jan 13, 2014 16:38:34 GMT
"Hmm, I do wanna get off this rock." He sat thinking for a few moments. "Are there any jobs that can be done once she's in the air?"
|
|
Playle
Talking In Your Sleep
Posts: 441
Deadly Sin: Sloth
Hogwarts House: Ravenclaw
|
Post by Playle on Jan 13, 2014 17:05:19 GMT
“Thanks Fayth,” chirped Mei as she took a seat at the table. There was talk going on. Mei might not have any input, but it beat staying in the cockpit on her own. She held both hands around her warm cup of coffee and took sips every now and then.
“Unless you’re going anywhere else on it whilst you’re here, the mule can wait until we’re skybound. There’s a question of hull damage, but it’s beyond just my capabilities. You want to take that to a real repair station where they can do a complete overhaul, but that will put you in the red quite easily. Honestly Cap, part from what’s got damaged in the crash and preceding that, your last engineer kept this old beauty in great condition! Think I already said that to you Mei, but I am impressed.”
|
|
|
Post by Tonks on Jan 13, 2014 17:42:14 GMT
Sam's face dropped when the engineer had finished talking. Your last engineer. Parker. He placed the rest of the bread down; suddenly losing his appetite. "Yes, well, he's not here." His voice was stern and noticeably less chirpy. "You're all we got, Don. You do your best and we'll pay you well. If you can get us off this rock in the next 24 hours you've got yourself a permanent job; if you want it." He knew it was a sudden offer; but Sam was impulsive. He figured they could always dump him on the next planet if he turns out to be crap. Normally he'd have Parker to question his impulsive decisions and keep him in check. As much as it was annoying, he missed it. He didn't feel as sure of himself without it.
|
|
Playle
Talking In Your Sleep
Posts: 441
Deadly Sin: Sloth
Hogwarts House: Ravenclaw
|
Post by Playle on Jan 13, 2014 18:43:18 GMT
Don could sense something was off, but thought best not to dig. He felt like he was part of the crew and treading on toes all at the same time. He looked over to Mei and noticed her happy demeanour had sunk again for a second. There was definitely something he hadn’t been told. Maybe it wasn’t vital, maybe the crew weren’t ready to speak about it, but it was there.
“Alright Cap. She’ll be in the sky by midday tomorrow if these supplies come soon.”
He didn’t have much to add and thought best to disappear from the mess hall. He left the room, went towards the engine and started to write some notes on a notepad. If there was a chance of a permanent job, he would make a log so he could better understand this ship and its engine for future reference.
Mei’s stomach turned as the happy air turned into an awkward atmosphere. She tried another sip of coffee but it just did not sit too well.
“Captain,” she began “are you sure you want this Don here full-time? If you do, we need to clear up with him what’s happened. Either I could, or Fayth could, or… even Siegfried. Don’s without a clue what he’s saying.”
|
|
|
Post by Tonks on Jan 13, 2014 19:37:35 GMT
"All he needs to know is how to fix the gorram' ship!" Sam snapped and banged on the table. "If he don't have a clue what he's sayin' then he can gorram' keep his mouth shut! We gotta schedule to keep t' and that's what we're gonna do." He stood now and walked towards the door, not looking at anybody. He stopped before he left and spoke in a quieter tone, "we got a passenger comin' by later. Make sure he's brought everything on the list and give him a room. I don't want to be disturbed until morning."
He walked slowly to his quarters, dragging every step. He reached the door halfway down a corridor, opened it and climbed down the ladders to his room. When he stepped on the bottom he pressed the keypad to lock his door. He stopped for a second and looked at his computer with a sigh. He sat down in front of it, typed in a few commands and opened a video conversation.
"Sam? Sam Bennett? There's a face I never expected to see again!" The bald man on the screen spoke with a laugh. "What the devil do you want?" Sam looked up at him with a terrified look in his eyes and tried to keep his voice from croaking. "Mr Parker, there's something I need to tell you."
|
|
Playle
Talking In Your Sleep
Posts: 441
Deadly Sin: Sloth
Hogwarts House: Ravenclaw
|
Post by Playle on Jan 13, 2014 20:00:04 GMT
Mei remained calm and collective as the captain exploded. She wouldn’t defy him when was in such an ill mood. She did feel sorry for him, she knew what it was like to lose someone close. She’d lost so many people over the years that she had just grown numb beyond belief. That couldn’t be too healthy, but it was too late now.
When it was clear that he had gone to his room, she decided to pay the engineer a quick visit. Don was in the middle of scribbling notes – he held the notepad down on the table with his stump and he wrote with his left hand. His writing was a little wonky, so clearly he had been a righty before whatever had taken his hand. Or was he born like that? No, that would be rude to pry.
He looked up and smiled at Mei. It was a half-hearted smile because he was less than happy. She responded with something similar.
“The Captain’s gone to bed, but if you’ve any questions just come find me or one of the other crew members. If you do fancy sleep, there are some free rooms down the corridor. The passenger with your supplies shouldn’t be too late and I’ll bring them through to you once he’s here. You can show me that Grav Dampener trick then, can’t you?”
She tried to talk as cheerful as possible and get the engineer talking, but he just replied with a solemn nod. Disappointing. She turned on her heel to leave.
“Mei…” Don began.
She looked at him with an eyebrow raised, waiting for him to respond with his question. He was paused for a moment with his mouth agape before he just shook his head and got back on with what he was doing. He must have dismissed his question. Probably for the best if it was going to be about the preceding events.
Mei began walking back to the mess hall.
|
|
|
Post by PenguinNinja on Jan 13, 2014 20:12:29 GMT
The Captain's sudden abruptness had Fayth following the man out with her eyes, both brows arched in surprise. For as long as she could remember Sam was a cool headed guy who didn't jump so suddenly to almost out right anger.
Maybe he was suddenly being hit by what had hit Fayth hours ago. It still sat with her, somewhere low in her belly, rumbling away like a hungry tiger. If she were to go to her room and let loose the tears that were stocked behind her eyes it would satisfy the tiger's hunger.
For now.
But then it would be back. She knew that feeling all too well. There wasn't a great many deal of deaths that hit her close to home but when they did she felt it as though the ship were going to crash. Or crash harder at least. She sunk herself down by the table as Mei left to head towards the engine room. She tried to think over what it was about the engineer that was putting her off, but she couldn't place it. It could simply be that he was going to replace Parker. Replace her friend.
A sour taste curled in the back of her mouth and she took a large gulp of coffee to compensate. Nobody could replace Parker.
|
|
|
Post by Light on Jan 13, 2014 20:44:33 GMT
On his way to the mess hall, he had heard the shouting and then footsteps leaving, though part way to it, he saw Mei heading in that direction as well. "Did I miss something?" He quirked a brow. "Sounded like shouting in there?"
|
|
Playle
Talking In Your Sleep
Posts: 441
Deadly Sin: Sloth
Hogwarts House: Ravenclaw
|
Post by Playle on Jan 13, 2014 23:48:06 GMT
She walked alongside the Doctor and scratched her head as she thought of what was the best reply.
"I notioned that Cap should tell Donald the full story. Well, tell him about what happened pre-crash, with Parker and all. Cap's still sorer than a nudist in a porcupine farm. I guess I hit a nerve and got repaid with shouting."
They were nearing the mess hall by now. Her stomach was rumbling and she thought of what she could eat.
"I don't know what to do. I can tell Don's confused as hell though, and if the Cap's serious about a full-time job here then... well, things need to be cleared up."
|
|