Conundrum & Eye Opening

Conundrum

Month 8 Day 9

1628 Hours

Lt Della Harris

  

Della had just finished buttoning her blouse when she walked out of her quarters and bumped right into someone. He grabbed her arms as they bounced apart, which helped her stay on her feet.

“Sorry, Della,” Bugalu said as he released her. “Have you seen Mac?”

“She’s in bed,” Della answered, and refused to wince at the memory of the redhead’s shockingly white face, the glistening tears caught in red eyelashes that occasionally fell onto the pillow the girl hugged.

“Still?” Bugalu asked.

“I don’t think she’s available this evening,” Della blurted out. “She got carried away with a project today, and didn’t get to bed on time, so she has to sleep now.”

“Oh.” Bugalu gave the door a sloppy smile. “I’m surprised it took her this long to slip up. It’s never been this easy to keep her from a project before. Not sure why it is this time.”

“Maybe she’s following orders,” Della suggested.

“What orders?”

Didn’t mean to say that. Wanted to get away before he showed up, let the locked door give him the message. “I don’t know. She didn’t say much, just pieces and bits that didn’t make a lot of sense. Something about if she didn’t get enough sleep, didn’t devote time to her friends, she wouldn’t be allowed to work on her projects. Or maybe something else. I could be completely wrong.”

“So, she’s breaking all her plans for tonight?”

“She’s in bed, and has her alarm set for 2300.” I don’t know if her alarm is set or not. Don’t know if she’s gotten any sleep. Maybe I’d better come home by 2300 and make sure she’s okay. Or earlier. Definitely earlier. LaPour’s starting to get on my nerves. “I need to get going. See ya.”

“Thanks, Della. I won’t wake her.”

“Good idea.” Della walked away. If I were a good roommate, I probably would have told him the truth; that’s she crying and practically catatonic. But then he’d insist on finding out what’s wrong. Or I would have tried to find out what’s wrong. Or could have figured it out by knowing her better. If I were a good roommate.

Eye Opening

Month 8 Day 9

2348 Hours

Lt James Clines

Jim sneezed as a bit of red approached his station from the lift. He glanced at the chronometer and then at the uniform, knowing who was coming, but surprised none-the-less. I’d swear I’m allergic to her perfume, but I only ever sneeze once. Strange, her uniform is immaculate, but her face is blotchy, like she’s been crying. And not a hint of a smile tonight. “You’re earlier than usual.”

“Didn’t dare be late,” she stated quietly, and reached to start her beginning-of-shift check.

Jim placed his hand over those controls, and her hand jumped back before she touched him. She’s jumpy, too. “I heard what Evans did to you last week. He’s an idiot, to report you for being late by 9 minutes, and it your first time. Don’t feel like you have to make it up to me by coming this early.”

She leaned against the equipment. “It’s not that early. He is an idiot, but not because of that.” She frowned at the floor. “Not just because of that.” She sighed and Jim hardly heard her add, “But he is my supervisor.”

A supervisor who takes his job way too seriously. Not like- “I have a friend who works midnights in engineering.”

She looked at him in confusion, then one corner of her mouth bent up. “Congratulations?”

Jim blushed. “My friend says that his supervisor spends far less time in engineering than he spends out of it.”

“Sounds about right.”

Right? Sounds blasted derelict to me. Never thought she’d have that kind of opinion of the privileges of rank. “Does Evans pick on you? As the newest?”

She gave him a brief glance. “As a woman. The only woman on the bridge on his shift.”

Rumors often have a kernel of truth to them. “You should report him.”

She gave a slight shake of her head. “My word against his. And there’s 2 of him.”

“Surely some of your co-workers would stand by you,” he whispered. Wait. Two? Jim glanced around the bridge, mentally picturing the midnight crew at their various stations. “Who joins him?”

“Good to see you’re not late, MacDowell,” Evans greeted as he moved from the lift to the helm. “That is, if you stop talking long enough to get checked in.”

Mac stood up straight and reached to start her pre-shift checks. This time, Jim didn’t stop her. “Adams,” she muttered without taking her eyes off her chore. “More often than not.”

That’s what she meant about Adams being away from engineering so much! Jim manipulated some of the controls and set a timer. She gave him a questioning look. “Don’t change that until you start your days off,” he instructed, and lowered his voice even more. “This will give you more witnesses of what goes on.”

She lifted one shoulder in a slight shrug, but didn’t make any move toward the controls he had just set. “You are relieved, Lt Clines.”

“Thank you, Lt MacDowell. Hope you have a... pleasant shift.”