It was early. Not by her standards, but by those of the young boy nestled in his mother’s arms. Wrapped around his diminutive frame, a blanket had offered the comfort he couldn’t find cramped in the small shuttlecraft. It was the first bout of silence since the family had embarked on their journey earlier that morning.

Dierdre, who had been subject to her son’s squirming and cries long before she’d had a chance at caffeine, gazed down at Danté with a look of sympathy. She felt for her son, knowing he was bothered by the change in environment; mere hours before they had been in the warmth of a dessert planet and now they sat cooped up in a vessel who’s heating systems appeared broken by Danté’s tastes. He was a sun-dweller and who was she to blame him?

“Finally got the little bugger to sleep, eh?” An accented voice rose her attention to the stout man sitting beside her. He resembled Danté in the depth of his skin, his eyes shining with the same brilliant hazel he’d been blessed with..but this man was not his father.

“You know how much he hates the cold.” Dierdre sighed, brushing her finger across his cheek to flick away a stray thread. “Sometimes I wonder if he is part Vulcan.”

“Maybe. I have noticed he does look particularly green whenever you come near him with that organic-baby-chow crap.” Devereaux wrinkled his nose. “What’s in that stuff, anyway?”

“It depends. Usually vegetables and fruit.” She dug through her bag to reveal a small mason jar of orange mush. “Here! Try it,” she tossed him the jar, “it’s better for you than greasy BLTs and pizza.”

“Yeah, no thanks.” Dev threw it back to her, “I’d rather eat dirt than have that anywhere near my mouth. I can’t imagine what Danté thinks of it.”

“I’d rather give him natural products than have you feed him formula while I’m not home.” She shook her head, stuffing the jar into a small pocket of her bag. “God knows what they put into that.”

“I don’t know, but I’m sure it tastes better than blended vegetables with a hint of dread.” Dev sniggered, earning him a glare full of daggers.

“If you two are done bickering like an elderly couple, we’re a few minutes from the Outpost.” The pilot, a middle-aged woman whose blonde hair was streaked silver, chipped in before Dierdre had time to respond.

“Well, there goes my plan of getting a facemask in before we arrived.” Dev touched his face, as if inspecting it for impurities. “I hope the lads don’t mind a little traveler’s grease.”

“You’re such a diva, Dev.” Dierdre rolled her eyes. “Could you pass me Danté’s socks? I’m pretty sure he kicked them somewhere near the cockpit.”

“Yes, your highness.” Dev staggered to his feet, clumsily bowing before her. “I would be honoured to retrieve my nephew’s booties.”

“You’re lucky I have a baby in my arms.” Dierdre threatened, unable to hide the smile taunting the corners of her lips.

“I’m shaking in my boots, sis.”

The shuttle had arrived ten minutes prior, but she was no closer to settling in than she had been stepping onto the dock. “Don’t tell me you cannot read a map, Dev.”

“I can! I’ve just..never read one like this,” Dev bit the inside of his lip as he struggled to understand the image on his PaDD. “Everything’s lopsided.”

Dierdre, partially blocked by her brother’s shoulder, tried to get a glimpse of the map. “Well, maybe if you didn’t have it flipped upside down, it would be easier to read.” She teased.

“What..? Oh.” Dev mentally kicked himself, realizing the display angle had changed while the device had been bouncing around in his dufflenag. “Give me a break, Dree, I’m a nurse not a–.”

“Explorer. Yes, I know. It’s obvious.” She kissed his cheek, playfulness teasing her gaze. “You’re an incredible doctor, Dev, but I should have never trusted you with a map.”

“You can’t trust me with a map, and I can’t trust you with a frying pan,” Dev shrugged, “we’re even.”

“Touché,” Dree smiled, her attention snagged by something shifting in her arms. “Well, good morning, sunshine.” She smiled down at the little boy, whose expression had warped from serious displeasure to his natural, happy-go-lucky disposition. “Did you have a good nap?”

“He got more sleep than we ever do.” Dev mumbled, rubbing his eyes whose bags seemed to grow each day. “At least you have means of covering these up.”

“Oh shush. His cuteness makes up for all of the sleepless nights.” Dierdre huffed, “Just look at that face.” She held Danté up, his plump cheeks wrinkled in a toothless grin.

“Speak for yourself.” Dev tried to maintain an expression of annoyance, but he couldn’t hold it long when stared down by a smiling infant.

Dierdre Navarro and Co.
Incoming CoS

OOC: Feel free to hop in and catch these guys on their way to their quarters. They’re friendly..for the most part. ;)
– Trin