Post by Neon on Jun 17, 2010 16:04:53 GMT -5
((I haven't forgotten this one ... it's just on the back burner for now because, judging by the outline of it, it's a much longer story than any of my others.))
~~~~~
Melody wasn’t completely satisfied with the compromise Reniven offered, but it was still better than nothing. At least now they’d not have to worry about whether the Cyli had food they could eat without getting sick. For a while, in any case. One of the first things to happen after the captain had left was that Jerrin and Jenny went on board the ship to get everyone some food; no one had eaten since the day before, and many were beginning to feel the hunger. Now they all waited around the base of the ramp for the kids to return.
Their guard, Rutan, sat in his chair, watching them thoughtfully. Melody had thought that being watched constantly would be creepy or annoying, but this guy wasn’t so bad. Maybe she thought that because he’d been nice to the children. Still, his presence was a constant reminder of the situation they were in.
Melody looked to the top of the ramp when Jerrin and Jenny emerged from the ship, each with a large canvas bag over their shoulders. They seemed relaxed enough. Melody envied their lack of fear. They hurried down the ramp, Jerrin at a cheerful walk and Jenny watching her feet on the odd slope.
“Lunchtime!” Jerrin said when he joined them on the floor.
“Thank God, I’m starved,” Ian commented from where he sat on the ground, off to Melody’s right. Leona also sat, next to him and smiling at her younger son.
Melody walked the few steps to sit next to Lydia, as Jerrin and Jenny went around the circle handing out the food. They’d only had time to retrieve simple packaged meals, all sealed in plastic. When everyone had their lunch handed to them, the kids went to sit down and the group formed a rough semicircle around the end of the ramp, under the shadow of the ship. Darius and Jenny sat nearest the ramp, at the left side; Max and Joy sat counterclockwise to them, then Melody and Lydia at about the middle. Leona, Ian, and Jerrin were at the other side of the ramp, and Melody noticed Ian was sitting closer to Lydia than to his family. She rolled her eyes and started to open her own lunch.
Melody was sad to notice that the meal was mostly silent. Sure, every once in a while someone would say something to someone else with a smile, but the conversation was subdued. She missed the relaxed environment that they normally had at mealtime on the ship. She wondered as she absently picked at her over-processed chicken salad whether they’d ever get that back.
“I’m sorry, Melody,” Lydia said softly from where she sat next to her. Melody looked to her in surprise. Lydia met her gaze with a small but sharp turn of her head. “I understand why you’re mad. I’m just trying to make sure things go smoothly while we have to be here.”
Melody paused, thinking on that. “No problem girl, I just wish it could have worked out differently.” She finally answered. “I shouldn’t be mad about that.” She knew that, though she had some difficulty getting over her frustration. But, how could any of them have known what was going to happen?
“No,” Lydia confirmed, and Melody gave a short chuckle. “But I assure you I will do my best to keep us out of harm’s way ... I need my crew to help me, though.”
Melody was glad for the honesty. With a faint smile, she replied, “Yes, captain. I’m on your side.” There was relief in Lydia’s eyes in response to that. Melody was somewhat miffed with herself to realize how much of a rift she could have caused. As freaked out as she was, she was determined then to not cause divisions in the group.
“Oh, hey, me too,” Ian said suddenly, patting Lydia on the shoulder with a grin, causing both girls to start and turn to look at him. “Whatever it is you’re talking about. I’m on your side, Lydia.”
Lydia, after a pause, allowed herself a small smile. “Thanks to both of you, then.”
Melody grinned, now sharing in the relief. “No problem, girl. We’re a team, and I shouldn’t have forgotten that.” She held a hand out to Lydia.
Lydia lightly took her hand, and gave a sigh that was clearly one of relief. “I’m glad.” They shook hands and then paused before hugging briefly. Melody felt a lot of tension dissipate now that they were friends again. Even Lydia was glad for the positive contact.
“Oh, me too,” Ian interrupted, and both of them turned to look at him curiously. He took a bite of his food and swallowed before absently pointing the end of his plastic fork at Melody. “I was really close to calling you out on how much of a bitch you were being, y’know.”
Melody tried to glare at him, but for some reason a smile kept teasing the corners of her mouth. “Screw you, you were scared too. That’s just how I was showing it. It’s no excuse, I know ... but it’s a valid response.”
Ian chuckled. “Damn right I’m a bit scared, not as much now, though. That Reniven guy seems pretty cool. Not to mention our guard dude here,” he gestured vaguely over his shoulder at Rutan, who still sat somewhat boredly in his seat.
Lydia rolled her eyes then. “Reniven needs to learn how to act like a proper captain.”
Melody chuckled. “Yeah, he does seem a bit ... hyper, doesn’t he?”
Ian scoffed. “He’s way better than that general, though.” The girls paused, thinking that they agreed. Ian continued, “He’s trouble. You remember, he carried me to the medical wing? The way he looked, I thought he might try to kill me at any second.”
Lydia’s brow furrowed. “I agree, he’s one to watch out for. He hates us for some reason.”
“And who can say why?” Melody asked, shaking her head. “We’re here by complete accident.”
Lydia shrugged and shook her head. On that troubling thought, the three of them finished their food in silence. But, Melody was relieved that at least she didn’t feel angry at Lydia anymore.
~~~~~
(c) Neon
I had forgotten that I left off with a bunch of tension still floating around ... and I wanted to get something more of this story up. I haven't written any more, though, so this is eating into my store of buffer ... but whatever.
Sorry it has been so long since my last post. I have a lot of projects going at once. :P
~~~~~
Melody wasn’t completely satisfied with the compromise Reniven offered, but it was still better than nothing. At least now they’d not have to worry about whether the Cyli had food they could eat without getting sick. For a while, in any case. One of the first things to happen after the captain had left was that Jerrin and Jenny went on board the ship to get everyone some food; no one had eaten since the day before, and many were beginning to feel the hunger. Now they all waited around the base of the ramp for the kids to return.
Their guard, Rutan, sat in his chair, watching them thoughtfully. Melody had thought that being watched constantly would be creepy or annoying, but this guy wasn’t so bad. Maybe she thought that because he’d been nice to the children. Still, his presence was a constant reminder of the situation they were in.
Melody looked to the top of the ramp when Jerrin and Jenny emerged from the ship, each with a large canvas bag over their shoulders. They seemed relaxed enough. Melody envied their lack of fear. They hurried down the ramp, Jerrin at a cheerful walk and Jenny watching her feet on the odd slope.
“Lunchtime!” Jerrin said when he joined them on the floor.
“Thank God, I’m starved,” Ian commented from where he sat on the ground, off to Melody’s right. Leona also sat, next to him and smiling at her younger son.
Melody walked the few steps to sit next to Lydia, as Jerrin and Jenny went around the circle handing out the food. They’d only had time to retrieve simple packaged meals, all sealed in plastic. When everyone had their lunch handed to them, the kids went to sit down and the group formed a rough semicircle around the end of the ramp, under the shadow of the ship. Darius and Jenny sat nearest the ramp, at the left side; Max and Joy sat counterclockwise to them, then Melody and Lydia at about the middle. Leona, Ian, and Jerrin were at the other side of the ramp, and Melody noticed Ian was sitting closer to Lydia than to his family. She rolled her eyes and started to open her own lunch.
Melody was sad to notice that the meal was mostly silent. Sure, every once in a while someone would say something to someone else with a smile, but the conversation was subdued. She missed the relaxed environment that they normally had at mealtime on the ship. She wondered as she absently picked at her over-processed chicken salad whether they’d ever get that back.
“I’m sorry, Melody,” Lydia said softly from where she sat next to her. Melody looked to her in surprise. Lydia met her gaze with a small but sharp turn of her head. “I understand why you’re mad. I’m just trying to make sure things go smoothly while we have to be here.”
Melody paused, thinking on that. “No problem girl, I just wish it could have worked out differently.” She finally answered. “I shouldn’t be mad about that.” She knew that, though she had some difficulty getting over her frustration. But, how could any of them have known what was going to happen?
“No,” Lydia confirmed, and Melody gave a short chuckle. “But I assure you I will do my best to keep us out of harm’s way ... I need my crew to help me, though.”
Melody was glad for the honesty. With a faint smile, she replied, “Yes, captain. I’m on your side.” There was relief in Lydia’s eyes in response to that. Melody was somewhat miffed with herself to realize how much of a rift she could have caused. As freaked out as she was, she was determined then to not cause divisions in the group.
“Oh, hey, me too,” Ian said suddenly, patting Lydia on the shoulder with a grin, causing both girls to start and turn to look at him. “Whatever it is you’re talking about. I’m on your side, Lydia.”
Lydia, after a pause, allowed herself a small smile. “Thanks to both of you, then.”
Melody grinned, now sharing in the relief. “No problem, girl. We’re a team, and I shouldn’t have forgotten that.” She held a hand out to Lydia.
Lydia lightly took her hand, and gave a sigh that was clearly one of relief. “I’m glad.” They shook hands and then paused before hugging briefly. Melody felt a lot of tension dissipate now that they were friends again. Even Lydia was glad for the positive contact.
“Oh, me too,” Ian interrupted, and both of them turned to look at him curiously. He took a bite of his food and swallowed before absently pointing the end of his plastic fork at Melody. “I was really close to calling you out on how much of a bitch you were being, y’know.”
Melody tried to glare at him, but for some reason a smile kept teasing the corners of her mouth. “Screw you, you were scared too. That’s just how I was showing it. It’s no excuse, I know ... but it’s a valid response.”
Ian chuckled. “Damn right I’m a bit scared, not as much now, though. That Reniven guy seems pretty cool. Not to mention our guard dude here,” he gestured vaguely over his shoulder at Rutan, who still sat somewhat boredly in his seat.
Lydia rolled her eyes then. “Reniven needs to learn how to act like a proper captain.”
Melody chuckled. “Yeah, he does seem a bit ... hyper, doesn’t he?”
Ian scoffed. “He’s way better than that general, though.” The girls paused, thinking that they agreed. Ian continued, “He’s trouble. You remember, he carried me to the medical wing? The way he looked, I thought he might try to kill me at any second.”
Lydia’s brow furrowed. “I agree, he’s one to watch out for. He hates us for some reason.”
“And who can say why?” Melody asked, shaking her head. “We’re here by complete accident.”
Lydia shrugged and shook her head. On that troubling thought, the three of them finished their food in silence. But, Melody was relieved that at least she didn’t feel angry at Lydia anymore.
~~~~~
(c) Neon
I had forgotten that I left off with a bunch of tension still floating around ... and I wanted to get something more of this story up. I haven't written any more, though, so this is eating into my store of buffer ... but whatever.
Sorry it has been so long since my last post. I have a lot of projects going at once. :P