Posted by Senior Chief Petty Officer Oscar Cameron Cascarrabias Demalia (Chief Engineer) in Around the Ship- Colliding Paths

Posted by Lieutenant Zoi Haven (Chief of Security) in Around the Ship- Colliding Paths

Posted by Commander Dira Myqian (Executive Officer) in Around the Ship- Colliding Paths

(snip)

Doing a round, and humming to herself, Dira mused that it was time to subject her crew to what Bob used to call her ‘musical moods’. As much as he teased her, she liked singing and wasn’t easily embarrassed. But so far with this ship she hadn’t done anything publicly like that at all and she was questioning why. It was definitely worth some self-reflection. Or more reflection, since after all, she had been doing a rather lot of it lately.

The humming caused NE Phyllis a little discomfort. The Chief Engineer had been very clear that she was not to intrude on anybody’s time in the area, but as she heard the humming, she realized that where she was was directly in the way, or at least incredibly noticeable. She hoped that the person humming would not be anybody of note; she had been barely doing her job, letting the task engage in automation right until her devices on hand showed that the Grouch had been correct. Automation wouldn’t have caught it remotely, and it had barely caught the calibration issue in person.

“How the… How did he know?” NE Phyllis said to herself, accidentally speaking out loud.

She looked around and still didn’t see whoever was humming, so she tried to hide herself by the nearest ficus. This would have been a poor plan in any case - she was, unlike her department head, incapable of blending in with the greenery - but she especially stood out because she was in uniform.

Dira stopped and turned, eyes casting themselves around, but she saw and heard nothing. Normally, without the suppressant, she’d know if someone was there. BUt after all her weird feelings and whispers of her name, she really was starting to wonder if she was starting to lose her mind, and given she was able to diagnose that, that put her even more on edge.

With a sigh, she concluded her lap and headed for the exit.

Commander Myqian, XO

The path he was on led him straight to the exit but made him only visible at the last moment, as the doors opened to let him go through them. He paused ever so briefly, timing it just right so that Dira would be able to get enough of a glimpse of his profile to make her wonder if she was seeing things or if she had in fact seen him. The confusion it would cause was delicious to his mind. Let her second guess herself. She knew there could be no way William Franks was here without her knowing, and yet…

Myqian stopped abruptly, a deep frown furrowing her undulating brow. She was seeing things. And hearing voices? By the goddesses, what was wrong with her? There was no way it was him. It had to be all the old grief and trauma that had been dug up lately. She knew as well as anyone that sometimes you created scenarios that would not otherwise happen.

His smirk returned as he walked through the exit and then he sped up. He needed to be down the corridor and ready for her to exit. Once she did, she would only get a glimpse of him turning down another corridor. Let her follow him just barely. It took timing, but he knew what he was listening for.

Commander William Franks

NE Phyllis

But… whomever it was was just so damn spot on. It couldn’t be, could it? Moving again, Dira’s long legs carried her out of the Arboretum and into the corridor. She saw the figure zip around the corner. They were certainly in a hurry and that was rather suspicious. Normally, she’d reach out her mind and sense the intention, but she couldn’t do that here. Decisions, decisions.

Moving swiftly again she didn’t run, but was certainly walking quickly as she rounded the corner to see if she could catch up with whomever it was. They could have a nice chat and she could laughingly tell him how he reminded her of someone she had worked with before. As XO mingling with the crew was all but written into her job description. It was a good enough excuse to ease her mind.

Commander Myqian, XO