Don't Freak Out

Posted on Fri Nov 22nd, 2019 @ 11:08pm by Chief Helmsman Eden Bowers & Executive Officer Jake Ford

Mission: Mission 10 - Temperance
Location: USS Temperance
Timeline: MD 05 21:30
1443 words - 2.9 OF Standard Post Measure

Eden walked around, cupping the Stan between her hands, not wanting him to get frightened and run off. For all she knew he might like the darkness that her hands provided. At least he was safe for the moment. She knew she shouldn't be walking around this ship on her own but she'd heard that Jake had come over from the Mary Rose. Maybe he could help her convince Gregnol to let her keep her new pet. "Jake!" She said excitedly when she saw him.

Jake whirled at the voice, initially surprised until he saw Eden come barrelling towards him. "Hey!" He smiled. "Should you be walking around here on your own? I'm pretty sure the rule was that people should stick together. I should know, I was the one who made the rule after all."

"Technically . . . . probably true . . . . but this is important. I found something. Now don't freak out, he won't hurt you. Now, before I show you, promise you won't shoot him?" Eden looked up at him with her eyes big and round.

"Him...who-" Jake took half a step back. "Wait. Leiddem said something about a new pet. Tell me he was making that part up."

"Well if Gregnol has anything to say about it he's going to remain on this ship and starve to death. I just can't let that happen. I'd rather you shot him. But I really want to keep him. He's cute and totally harmless unless you're a fly or a mosquito or something and since I'm pretty sure none of them are in Starfleet I think we're safe." He hadn't exactly promised not to shoot, but she was pretty sure Jake had more control than Bernie. Eden opened her hands slowly showing him what she'd been cupping.

Jake took another step back, a wince forming on his face. "I'm...not particularly awesome about critters," he said, trying to be gentle so he didn't hurt her feelings. Maybe best to gloss over that. "Have you had a medical officer check it over for harmful infections, all that stuff?"

Eden watched him, making no attempt to come any closer with Stan. "All critters? Or just insects? No, I just found him a bit ago. Someone . . ." she decided not to mention names, "tried to kill him when they spotted him. I scooped him up. Don't worry, I won't make you try to hold him or anything."

"I'm glad. That I don't have to hold it, I mean." Jake eyed the creature in her hands, feeling unsettled by the situation but his feelings were offset by the heartwarming look in Eden's eyes. "I'm really not sure if I can say anything that'll convince Gregnol to let you keep it. I mean, do you know what it eats? What environment it needs?"

Eden nodded. "Yes, actually they live in lots of different climates because there are different kinds of jumping spiders. But this guy is used to cold, the ship isn't very warm. And on Mary Rose or this ship if we choose it, he'd be fine in my quarters in a little habitat with some vegetation. I'd have to replicate him some other insect meats to eat since I can't find them naturally on a starship. But I think he'd be happy."

"You've really thought about this, haven't you?" he asked, taken aback by just how much she was able to relay. It wasn't exactly the most orthodox pet - then again, Eden was hardly the most orthodox of people. And she was pretty cute when she was excited.

"Yes," She said, nodding her head too. Then she sighed. "I don't think our captain was convinced though." Eden cupped Stan again and sat down on the floor. "What are you doing out here anyway?"

"Keeping an eye on things," he smiled, dropping down and taking a seat next to her. He eyed the spider warily but didn't let it stop him from sliding an arm around her shoulders. "I feel like people are still a little spooked by this old ship. Someone's got to keep them from freaking out."

"They certainly are paranoid. I walked over here from the bridge and didn't see anything but the slightest little noise and they're all convinced there are ghosts on the ship. " Eden said, grinning at Jake. She'd definitely noticed the arm sliding around her but it was fun to tease people sometimes. "Maybe Stan has a wife and kids."

"I sure as hell hope not," Jake chuckled. "Listen to me - trying to stop people from irrational fears and I can barely contemplate living with Stan and his family!"

"Maybe we should switch jobs?" Then she shook her head. "I'm far too nice to do that. I generally just start talking and people become so confused that I don't need a weapon to disarm them. It's kind of my superpower."

"One of many," he nodded. "I think people would rather you did my job than I did yours, though. We'd be crashing into moons if I was at the wheel. Don't imagine folks would be too happy with that."

"That's true. But I can't help but think I might be needed less on this ship. I mean it is newer and lots more people know how to fly a ship like this than they do Rosie." She seemed to think about this for a moment before asking, "What are my other superpowers?"

"Oh, I don't know. Probably those hypnotic charms of yours," Jake grinned. "Boundless optimism. Animal friendship." He motioned to the spider in her hands.

"Huh," Edens said careful to keep Stan contained in her palms. "I had no idea I had so much power over you." Eden kissed him, having to remain exactly aware with what she did with her hands so that Stan didn't accidentally get loose. That would certainly ruin the romantic moment.

Jake smiled and returned her kiss. "Don't let it get out; Don't want people to start thinking I've gone soft or anything."

"I think Perrie has already ruined your reputation. I of course had nothing at all to do with it." Eden glanced around. It was a deserted corridor but still, maybe they shouldn't linger here. She didn't know why she suddenly felt uncomfortable there. "I've been listening to the others too much," she said quietly to herself. "Would you mind helping me up? Normally it wouldn't be a problem but I don't want to let go of Stan here."

Jake hauled himself to his feet then made a little gentlemanly show of offering her his hand to help her up. As he helped Eden stand he made sure to hold on to her hand. It felt strange, and quite nice, to have a little moment like that with her. "So are you staying on the Temperance or heading back over to the Rosie?"

"Here I guess. Rosie doesn't need a pilot right now. Actually this place doesn't really either. But I did make sure everything was working on my console. This ship practically flies itself though, I'm not as needed. Why?" Eden asked curiously.

"Just wanted you to be careful, is all," he answered. "I know it sounds sappy, but if there's one person on this ship I want to keep safe it's you.

"That's really sweet of you, but I'm fine. What could happen on a ghost ship? Besides, I've already had my life saved once, it's someone else's turn," she said cryptically. "Actually if it's okay with you I thought I'd just follow you around for a while?"

"Well, I wouldn't say no to hanging out together a bit longer," he admitted. "So long as Stan doesn't mind sharing you."

"I'm pretty sure he knows our relationship is purely platonic. I told him it wouldn't work out between us because we're far too different of species." Any other person in the universe might have thought she was teasing but she gave no hint of it and delivered it in her usual Eden style, perfectly seriously as if everyone had once dreamed of having a spider for a boyfriend.

"I'm glad to hear it," Jake smiled, not entirely sure how serious she was but accepting the answer nonetheless. "Just need to convince the Captain of that now..."

"That my relationship with Stan's platonic? I think he already knows." She smiled this time, she really liked teasing him. Eden opened her hand a little bit to take a peak at the spider. "Ummm . . . we might have a problem. Don't freak out."





:: OFF ::


Jake Ford
Chief Armoury Officer
SS Mary Rose

Eden Bowers
Chief Helmsman
SS Mary Rose

 

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