Carpathia V: Episode 12 - The Catacombs
The Catacombs, NCCS Shadowdancer
Revenant: Do you feel okay? You're sweating a lot.
Revenant leaned in close to Sena's face, handkerchief in hand, and began to wipe his brow. This only caused Sena to sweat even more as his face now flushed bright red with his breathing quickening into short pants.
Revenant: Should we stop? I'm worried that this might be too much for you.
Sena shook his head while he calmed himself enough to steady his breathing.
Sena: No... I want to keep going.
Revenant cocked his head, looking skeptical as he ran his fingers up and down Sena's arm.
Revenant: Are you sure? Your heartbeat is very elevated.
Sena: Don't worry about me. I've endured more than this.
Revenant moved, but only a little, pressing his body up against Sena even tighter.
Revenant: Maybe we should move to the next chamber. I think it's much bigger than this one. Then you can get some air.
Sena twitched, for it was crawling through the maintenance tunnels, with only a view of Revenant's beautifully sculpted rear end, that got him entirely flustered to the point of incapacitation in the first place.
Deck 18, also known as the catacombs and the lowest deck on the ship, though it could hardly be considered a deck at all. It was only a series of tunnels and chambers that housed many of the ship's secondary systems. Sena had crawled through the catacombs on the Chrono Blade many times, even a few times with Revenant, but that was a much bigger ship with larger chambers and far fewer tunnels. Shadowdancer, by contrast, was half the size and 20 years older. Though he knew in his head that the catacombs would be smaller, he had to see it for himself to know just how much smaller.
He knew he couldn't take another round, with his only view being Revenant's behind, so he quickly shifted past him as best he could in the cramped space, and entered the tunnel first.
Sena: I'll go first this time.
Revenant: Don't worry. I'll be close.
A sweet sentiment, and while it made Sena like him even more, the thought of Revenant staying close was exactly what he did not need right now. Nevertheless, he crawled through the tunnel trying not to think too much about how close Revenant actually was. Within minutes, he reached the next chamber which, as Revenant had said, was considerably larger. Large enough to accommodate both of them with ease and, most importantly, without any squishing of bodies together.
Sena rushed to the opposite side and took several deep breaths while Revenant emerged from the tunnel and began to approach. Sena held out his hand and Revenant stopped immediately.
Sena: I'm fine. Just let me have some room to get air.
Revenant politely stepped to the opposite side of the chamber to let Sena recover. He only needed a minute for his breathing to slow and sweat to subside. While Revenant waited, he opened the flap on his messenger bag and pulled out two cylindrical objects about the size of a pilsner glass each.
Sena: I'll put those backup comm modules in. Just tell me which goes where.
Sena expected that focusing on the access panels on the floor would be a good choice rather than observing Revenant crouched in front of him from above. This, he would soon discover, would be a bad idea. Revenant, however, with no idea why any of this would be an issue, stepped forward and handed over the two modules.
Revenant: Module 2032 goes in backup slot B3.
Sena: Got it.
Sena kept his focus squarely on the floor as he reached down and grabbed the slot handle. With a twist and a pull, the cradle came out and he slipped the module inside before returning it to its place. Without looking up, he asked Revenant for the next one.
Sena: I take it the last one goes into C3?
Revenant: Correct.
Same procedure with C3. Twist, pull, insert module, close, twist again, all with eyes planted firmly on the floor. But he couldn't keep looking at the floor forever and he grossly underestimated how close Revenant was standing. When Sena finally looked up, he had the best view, the most expensive seat in the house, of Revenant's crotch.
For the next few seconds, Sena's evolved, intelligent brain winked out of existence and pure nekomi instincts took over.
Sena: MREYOW!!!
Before he knew what was happening, he launched into the air and bonked his head on the ceiling before crumpling down on the floor while Revenant looked on in shock.
Sena: Owwwww.
Revenant: Revenant to sick bay...
Sick Bay, NCCS Shadowdancer
Sena's eyes fluttered briefly, then shut tight when confronted with bright lights. Around him, he could hear the muffled sounds of people and something beeping in the distance. Coming to his senses quickly, he realized it could only be one place. Sick bay. He was in sick bay. With some effort, he opened his eyes again, slowly this time, so that he could get accustomed to the light.
Noctus: Ah, hello there, sleepyhead. How do you feel?
Sena pushed his blanket down and adjusted himself in his bed so that he could see straight ahead, at Noctus, rather than looking up at the ceiling.
Sena: Sleepy. Bit of a headache.
Noctus: And what do you remember? We got the story from Revenant, but... how shall I say this? Poor, sweet, naive Revenant. He said that you appeared to be having a panic attack and was very concerned. It took us a half hour to encourage him to return to duty.
Sweet indeed, Sena thought, and that made him like him even more. Sena took a moment to compile his thoughts, considering how much to reveal.
Sena: I guess the best way to put it is that the spaces in the catacombs are much tighter than the ship's schematics made it seem. I've told you before that I've been able to control myself around him when I'm on duty, but I think I found my limit.
Noctus: I thought it might be something like that. Don't worry. Your secret is safe with me. All anyone else knows is that you just had a work accident.
Sena: I appreciate that.
With a nod, Noctus tapped at his tablet while he spoke.
Noctus: Now that you're awake, you can go. The Captain is allowing you to forego the rest of your shift. I'm making a note in your log that Nuloxen seems to make you sleepy.
Sena pushed himself up in the bed until he was fully upright and turned to let his feet dangle over the floor.
Sena: How long was I out?
Noctus: About an hour and a half. Since we already scanned you and determined there was no danger in a little sleep, we just left you to it. You did have a small cut on your scalp, but that's all fixed now.
Sena: Well, you said I can go, right? I'm just going to go back to my quarters and die of embarrassment.
Noctus: Be sure to call us before that happens!
Ready Room, NCCS Shadowdancer
Sitting at her desk, Ivy gazed across to the chair opposite at Zaos, looking considerably less tense than the previous day. Ivy was more relaxed this time as well, now that she didn't have to play the bad cop Captain in this meeting.
Ivy: The kitchen staff is satisfied with your cleaning last night. Teren tells me that you've begun your certification studies?
Before, Zaos was practically a stowaway on her ship, but without the intent, and she didn't see him so much as a person but a problem that needed to be solved. Just get him to where he needs to go, until Captain Lucero's offer came through. Already, despite the terrible start, she was seeing signs of hope in him. Her friend and colleague, Captain Valro, ran his ship as a ship of misfits. Maybe, she thought, he just needed a place.
Zaos: I have. I appreciate that the material has comparative analysis of the different ship classes. The first thing it told me is that I should expect slower response times and lower weapon yields from the Shadowdancer-class.
Ivy: I'm sure you're not surprised and I'm sure it gave you the specific numbers on that. A 20-year-old exploration vessel and a brand new battle cruiser are bound to have a gap. I hope it's not too big, but from what I understand, this ship held its own against the Vashta back in the day.
Zaos: Surprisingly well, honestly. Nalma was a brilliant tactical officer and I've added his techniques to my study list.
Ivy scrunched her lips together and chose to display more optimism than the situation warranted.
Ivy: With any luck. Nalma and the rest of them are already on their way back here and then you can meet him yourself. Anyway, that brings me to the subject of your status. I have decided to keep you and I'm already preparing the transfer documents. I expect swift approval.
Zaos nodded, more out of resignation than enthusiasm.
Zaos: I understand, Captain.
Ivy: For now, I want you to take your station at the tactical console and continue studying. After I meet with Tris, I'll have Commander Unas put together a duty schedule for you that includes kitchen cleaning. Dismissed.
Zaos stood, this time less wobbly than the last.
Zaos: Thank you, Captain!
Zaos marched out of the room and Ivy saw Tris waiting on the other side when the doors opened. She beckoned him in.
Ivy: This will be quick, so no need to sit. You're familiar with the Moonbrooke colony?
Tris: I am, Captain. If I recall, it was evacuated when the war started.
Ivy: It was. After our stop at Tokkastra, we've been ordered to go there and survey and assess the current condition of the colony before the inhabitants return in case they need to bring anything extra. I want you to put together some maps and infrastructure diagrams before we go there.
Tris's wings gave a wiggle, almost imperceptible, but still noticeable and she could guess that maps and diagrams were things that he enjoyed.
Tris: I'll get right on that, Captain!
Ivy: Looking forward to it. Dismissed.
Commissioned art in Carpathia from:
AvareonArt
Zelbunnii
Less_End
Colourbrand
Falke2009
Nalaxa Art
