Fire in the Stars - Part 1

Posted on 04 Aug 2013 @ 10:56pm by Commander Scarlet Blake & Petty Officer 2nd Class Jeroen Adlar & Lily Blake

1,150 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 03 - Frontier
Location: USS Galileo: Deck 2 - Lt JG Scarlet Blake's Quarters
Timeline: MD 10 - 1830

[ON]

Jeroen smiled warmly as he sat on the floor, watching the girl play. It felt strange, but good. She was so much like Scarlet. The same intensity. She seemed to enjoy the toys he had gotten her as well...two stuffed animals, one unicorn and one dragon. He was after all fond of mythology.

"Can a unicorn fly?" Lily asked lightly, tilting her head as she moved the toy as if it were flying through the air.

"I think they should be able to...the horn is magical," he said as he reached to touch the dragon. "A Pegasus can without a question of a doubt fly...massive wings..."

"Mummy said you can only ride Pegasus if he lets you," she smiled at that, moving the unicorn so it touched its head to the dragon's neck.

"That is very true," he said and smiled warmly, nodding as he held her eyes. "But you are kind, so the Pegasus would let you ride him."

"I'd be nice to him," she said quickly and with seriousness, as if there were some real possibility of it. "Gentle. Can he fly in space?"

Jeroen smiled gently and nodded, taking a breath. "You'd need a spacesuit though...and he'd have to be careful he didn't fly too close to a sun."

"His wings would melt!" the young child shook her head quickly. She'd clearly mixed him up with the myth of the wax wings. "Do you think there are space dragons? I do."

"It wouldn't surprise me if there were," he said and smiled warmly, not correcting her. Kids needed their imaginations.

"I think......." Lily made a long pause, pursing her lips as she looked out of the viewport with serious thought. "I think that stars are dragons-eggs. That's why they burn hot. Stars don't die. They hatch dragons. That's why some disappear."

Jeroen held her eyes for a long moment, smiling gently as he touched her hair. "I think that is beautiful, Lily."

She smiled brightly at that, watching him with warmth before bowling forward, throwing her arms around him and pushing forward to half tackle him, half hug him.

Jeroen laughed warmly, holding her as he grinned, shaking his head. "You're a smart one, just like your Mum."

"Oh dear, I leave the room and you're attacking Uncle Jeroen!" Scarlet laughed as she moved back in, shaking her head as she pulled her jacket off and watched them.

"I was a unicorn. 'Roen was a dragon," Lily said lightly, beaming a bright smile up to her mother.

"And the unicorn is winning the fight," Jeroen laughed warmly and smiled as he looked at Scarlet. "There's dinner ready for whenever you want us to sit down and eat, Kitten."

"You didn't have to do that," Scarlet said with awe, watching with a warm smile. "Thank you. I'd love that. Maybe we can all sit at the table, and pretend to be civilised?"

"Sounds like an excellent idea to me," he grinned as he stood, stretching as he chuckled softly.

"Go on, off to wash your hands," Scarlet watched the girl who was already taking herself off to the bathroom. She looked to Jeroen fondly. "Thank you for staying with her."

Jeroen smiled gently at the words, shaking his head. "I was more than happy to do that," he said gently, meeting her eyes. "She is amazing."

"She's done it herself," Scarlet laughed softly, moving to sit with him. "I'm lucky that she's content with me moving around from ship to ship and being in and out for work."

"I find that amazing," he admitted as he smiled gently, shaking his head. "She is so smart."

"Well, she learnt from her mother, who learnt from the best," she motioned to him with a near teasing smile, to indicate she'd learnt from him.

Jeroen grinned at the words before shaking his head. "You were always a natural with everything. Sucking up knowledge, your mind mapping it all so easily..."

"I just put everything into their own little boxes," she smiled softly, shaking her head lightly as she stretched out.

He watched her with warmth and moved to touch her cheek. "Go and change. I'll set the table, Kitten."

Scarlet slipped through to her bedroom with a smile, letting out a long breath as she got some more clothes on. She came out about the same time as Lily, reaching for her hand. "Wow, something smells great. You always did like to feed me."

"And it is a nice stew," Jeroen said softly, smiling gently as he put it on the table. "With fresh bread that Lily helped me make."

"My goodness. That's great, teach Lily to cook then she can look after me," Scarlet laughed warmly, moving up to sit at the table after helping Lily up and close.

Jeroen laughed warmly as he served them, his eyes shining. "I think it is the best idea. Now Lily, it's hot, so you have to take a small spoonful and blow on it carefully, okay?" he looked at the girl with a warm grin.

Lily nodded as she slid closer to the table with a smile. She took some, her legs already swinging with her excitement to taste what smelt so good.

~~~~~

[2100]

"How is work?" Scarlet asked softly as she sipped her wine. Lily had been put to bed, with mild complaint but she'd settled after a long day. And now Jeroen had stayed on at her quarters so they could enjoy a drink together. "You must love having a science ship at your fingertips."

Jeroen smiled gently as he watched her, holding her eyes. "I do. There's a lot of data here that I get to examine. It's...very liberating."

"Good. I'm glad you have something to make it easier," she replied with a smile, knowing how important it was to him.

He nodded gently as he watched her for a moment. "Would it be awkward if I saw you on a more...professional basis at a later time?" he asked softly, almost shyly.

Scarlet watched him with surprise, taking a slight breath. "Not at all," she said quietly. "I'd rather you came and saw me than didn't see anyone at all, which I suspect would be the alternative, yes?"

"Pretty much," he admitted as he nodded, holding her eyes. He could trust her. Which was good.

"Then I'd rather you talked to me," she said firmly, meeting his eyes, so he'd know she meant it. "That's much better."

"Good," he smiled as he sipped his wine. "That's what I like to hear from my Kitten...firmness."

Scarlet laughed at the words, leaning back as she watched him, sipping her own drink. "I probably learnt that from you too."

[TBC]

Counsellor Scarlet Blake
Chief Counsellor
USS Galileo

PO2 Jeroen Adlar
Geoengineer
USS Galileo

Lily Blake
Civilian Child
USS Galileo

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