Prying Into A New Life

Posted on Thu Apr 23rd, 2020 @ 11:27pm by Chief Helmsman Eden Bowers & Ka'see 'Cassie' Anderson (*)

Mission: Mission 11 - Prospecting
Location: New Laurium - Market
Timeline: MD02 12:00
1858 words - 3.7 OF Standard Post Measure

Sometimes Doctors could be ludicrous. Sure, Cassie was supposed to be relaxing, recuperating, recovering; but how would wandering about the colony planet of New Laurium help him with any of that? If Quin had just let her go back on duty, she'd be feeling far better by now. The Doc disagreed though after she found the woman re-aligning a mag coupling, he personally escorted the formerly drugged-up woman into the transport, and pushed her down to the surface.

Her head still pounded like her brain was a drum-set, and despite all the marvels of 24th-century medical technology, it hurt to put any real weight on her left ankle from where she had fallen over and her breathing was a little raspy, but overall Cassie felt good enough to at least conduct the more basic chores of her duties but neither less there she was wondering the market area.

"What are you doing down here?" Eden said as she came up behind Cassie. "I thought you were ordered to rest?" Unless this was restful for her. Shopping was kind of fun, Eden agreed, if there were things around that interested you and most things interested Eden. "It's a good thing I don't have much to use for bargaining or payment." She glanced around, picked up an object that she had no idea what it was and examined thoroughly until a grumpy vendor grabbed it from her and huffed as if blowing her away. "Hmm." She said while waiting for Cassie's answer. "I'm looking for a gift for Jake, want to help?"

"I was pushed off the ship by the doctor pretty much as I tried to fix some stuff in my lab. Quin was not impressed so ordered me off Rosie. This is my attempt at going for a little walk." She admitted with a shrug. There was not much one could do on this colony world unless it was related to mining or something. "What are you thinking?" She wondered watching the vendor looking at them.

"I'm not sure to be honest. I don't know what he would like. I want it to be something useful though, something he can take with him . . . if he ever leaves Rosie, you know?" She searched around some more. "What do you think he could use? A knife? A new jacket?"

"A knife," Cassie said without a hint of hesitation. He was security, it was a no brainer to her but who knew really. Cassie looked at something and grinned as she saw something that might be suitable for Burnie. He had been a godsend last night and just proved how much she now valued her friends.

"Okay," Eden said having spotted a knife she really liked. It almost called to her. It was short but suitable for close distance she assumed. It had a wooden handle made out of some kind of dark hardwood that Eden didn't recognize. The metal was a darker silver color, a quick scan would have told her what it was made of but that really wasn't the point, she thought it was beautiful and bought it right away without even haggling on the price. Then she noticed Cassie wasn't with her. "So what are you looking for?" She asked as the knife was slipped gingerly into a bag she'd brought with her.

"No idea. But I should get Burnie a present." She didn't know what she felt for him it was too soon to tell but he was offering her a lot more kindness than a lot of people were and he had not been fazed by her highness the previous night so it would be nice to repay the favour.

"Oh . . . what did Bernie do?" Eden asked, leaning over and giving Cassie little winks and a bit of a smirk. Hopefully she would know she was just teasing. Cassie deserved to be happy.

"He was just kind to me when I was high." Eden had only had a small dose of high Cassie but Bernie had spent time listening to her talking about her mother and other things without a second thought. He had known where to track her down.

"Ah. Well that's sweet. You could use a friend." Even if they were more than friends, Eden didn't really care. Cassie deserved whatever happiness she could get.

"He is just a friend." The woman assured quickly. She was still tied to Johnathen and would need a priestess to unbind them for anything more to happen for her to be free.

"Sure," Eden smiled. She skipped happily now that she'd found something for Jake and was happy to follow Cassie along and make sure she got back to the ship okay. "I wonder if the food here is safe to eat?"

"He is." Cassie was not sure what her feelings were in the slightest for the man. Not every man who was kind to a woman had to be a lover, friends were allowed especially out here in the civilian world. "I am sure it is. Lots of humans around." Cassie saw something that she was sure Burnie might like. She paid for it quickly and put it in her satchel.

"Want to sit and have lunch?" Eden asked, then she could get the full story on what had been happening with Cassie lately. With all that had gone on she felt a bit out of touch.

"Yeah that would actually be really nice," Cassie said a little surprised by how nice that would be. She was out of the loop with everyone that it would be nice to sit and relax. "That place looks good." She pointed to what could only be described as a mama and papa cafe but it looked promising.

"Sure," Eden said following happily along. Once they sat down Eden looked at her companion. "So I heard something about you and Ryder? Is it true?" Getting straight to the point was rather different for Eden then again she usually did what most people wouldn't.

Cassie raised an eyebrow at her and smiled patiently. This was not like her friend at all. She normally danced around the subject and made Cassie have to figure it all out. "Heard what about us?" She wondered as a waiter came over surprised to see two women who looked completely out of the ordinary for his clientele.

"Ok, I haven't actually heard anything. I've just seen you together with Ryder and I thought there might be something there. So I'm being nosy. But if you want me to stop . . . being nosy, I will." Eden folded her hands in her lap and looked at Cassie expectantly.

"There is nothing. And there can be nothing until my bonding with Johnathen is over." Cassie said sadly as she looked at the waiter noticing him stood there patient trying to be discreet. "Can we order?" She asked not wanting him to know any more of her business.

"Sure, I'm sorry." Eden said and she sincerely didn't mean to cause her friend any more pain. Perhaps that was why she had been so excited, she'd wanted Cassie to find someone.

"Can I just get a salad please." Cassie needed something healthy despite knowing she should eat something more substantial after yesterday with the mix up with medication. As Eden ordered and the man disappeared Cassie turned and looked at Eden properly. "It would be unfair for me to move on until the bond that joined us is gone. It would not be fair to whoever my partner was." She said sadly rubbing where her wedding ring had once be.

Eden nodded, "Sure. So . . . . Do you want to do anything else while we are down here? Explore a bit more or are you feeling tired, I could go back to the ship with you if you want." She was trying to make up for being nosy earlier plus she wanted to keep an eye on Cassie, she needed to take better care of herself and Eden could play nursemaid.

"I want to explore for sure. I need to look around. They have corporations here that have so much to offer I want to see if any of them have supplies for an experiment I want to run." Cassie appreciated the change of conversation. The thought of finding a priestess and having to explain the situation was just embarrassing.

"Oh sure." Eden didn't ask what kind of experiment, given that she'd just been a bit nosy about Cassie's personal life. "Can I help in some way?"

"Other than perhaps carrying some supplies back I am afraid not." The woman mused as what they ordered appeared in front of them. Her salad despite her reservations on what could be counted as fresh on this colony looked crunchy and when she took the first mouthful she was more that surprised at the seasoning and taste.

Eden sighed slightly, feel like she'd put a wall up between her and her friend. "Okay, Well let me know if you change your mind. I might do a bit more shopping, maybe find something for Stan to use as a toy."

"How is he getting on?" She had not had time recently to check in on the being that had been found on Temperance. She could not imagine that he was not well looked after when the flight control officer had pretty much stood up to the Captain to keep him.

"Well I think," Eden giggled a little bit. "But honestly I'm beginning to wonder if Stan is female. He/she keeps getting out of the cage and seeking out Jake. Poor man. I don't like torturing him, I mean he puts up with my oddities already."

"Oh?" Cassie looked at the woman unsure. She was not sure if that was a good thing at all.

"It just seems that way. Stan likes him and seeks him out if he can get out of his cage, her cage, whatever." Eden shrugged. "I sort of joked about it with Jake but I'm beginning to think I was right. I guess the only way to tell for sure is to grab a tricorder."

"I can check them over for you. Genetics is my thing after all." She reminded. Cassie would love to get back to basics and her old job which would be nice for her.

"Oh, that would be awesome. I shouldn't tease Jake but if it's true I might not be able to resist. Anyway . . . . we can do that when we get back. Thanks," she said with a big smile on her face. "Listen, there's something I need to do, can I meet you back here at the market in an hour?"

"Sure. I am going to eat this and see if this place has a decent bar or something." Cassie would never admit it but she was trying to see if she could get all her old friends together for a night out.

"Okay, bye bye then." Eden gave a half wave and wandered off.

OFF::

Ka'see 'Cassie' Anderson
Biologist
SS Mary Rose
(PNPC Gregnol)

Eden Bowers
Chief Helmsman
SS Mary Rose