Breakfast

Posted on 20 Mar 2015 @ 10:54pm by Nesh Saalm

1,306 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 08 - NIMBUS
Location: USS Galileo, Deck 04, Room 2421 EN
Timeline: MD1 0600 hours

[ON]

Rubbing his eyes, Wintrow slid from his bed the moment his alarm went off and tossed his sleeping shirt back onto his bed after pulling it off over his head. Yawning, he passed Nesh's bed and gently pinched the toe that peeked out from under the blanket, then headed into the bathroom. He yawned a second time as he splashed some water into his face, then viewed his reflection in the mirror.

He frowned as he watched himself comb his hair, his eyes unconsciously drawn to the scar just under his left breast. He wasn't ready to have it removed yet, he wasn't ready to face a counselor and talk about it. He just couldn't do it. Grabbing a clean shirt from a shelf, he walked back to the main room and smiled tiredly at Nesh. "Good morning," he greeted, assuming she was awake.

And awake was exactly what Nesh was, not that anyone would have noticed. The blanket-lump on top of the bed moved only to retract the foot that had escaped the warm cocoon she had made for herself the night before. "Morrmfph...." came the grumbled reply, followed closely behind by a just as muffled, "What time is it..."

"Time for breakfast," Wintrow replied, while pulling the fresh shirt on, "do you want eggs and toast?" He sat back down on his bed, and continued to get dressed. "Orange juice?"

"Breakfast?" Nesh peeked her head out from under the covers, still clearly resistant to rising from the bed. "Can we get french toast instead?"

"Whatever you like," Wintrow replied, smiling fondly at her. "You go get dressed, I'll get breakfast ready." He was glad for the replicator because he couldn't cook even if his life depended on it. He stood and smoothened down his shirt, tucking it into his pants. "What are your plans for today?"

The noise that came out from under the covers signified some form of acceptance, and it was followed by Nesh rising from her slumber and dragging herself toward the shower. "I'm not sure. With Commander Stace commanding the Galileo, I'm... kinda bored..."

"Howso?" Wintrow asked as he moved towards the replicator, "don't you have any duties to attend to?" He called up their orders for breakfast and waited for the plates to materialize, then carefully carried them over to the table. "Believe it or not, but I'm going to learn to fly this ship! Can you believe it? Me? Fly a starship?"

Nesh didn't respond until she had emerged from the shower, towel wrapped around her middle. "That's cool! I'm sure you'll be great!" The new mission may have rearranged everyone's usual duties, but it was a great chance to learn. "... But there isn't much for a Scientist's Mate to do right now. The upcoming mission doesn't have a lot of... science... attached to it."

"Doesn't mean you can't ask to be on the bridge and maybe look along over the science officer's shoulder? You're a cadet Nesh, you're supposed to go out and learn stuff." He shrugged as he stood and held back a chair for her, then finally seemed to notice her lack of dress. "Uhm...are you going to eat in that?" he asked awkwardly.

"Yes I am." Nesh gave a dismissive shrug as she plopped in the seat offered, continuing conversation as normal as if nothing was wrong. "I mean, I could... but I'm not really into the flagship officer type stuff... I've got myself all caught up in my schoolwork, so I guess I'm just along for the ride right now..."

Despite his own issues, and most notably his recurring lack of proper sleep, Wintrow leaned forward to touch her hand. "Do you need help with that, so that you can spend time on the bridge or in one of the labs?"

"You're so sweet, Win." Nesh smiled at him as sweetly as she could. "You're always so concerned about me. Honestly, I think I'll be alright... so long as you're okay... you've been through a lot lately."

"Well you're younger than me, and you're a girl...what kind of gentleman would I be if I didn't look out for you?" His expression sobered considerably and he looked down at his plate. "Yea, I have, haven't I? I'm alright though, I'll manage, I've always managed somehow..." He shrugged, still not looking at her. "I thought you knew what happened, even though you never mentioned anything of it to me. Not that I mind...but you know..." He shrugged a second time, unwilling to finish his sentence.

Nesh's smile turned downward, and she sidled closer to him in her chair, hands on her chin curiously. As guilty as she felt, she had no idea how to respond. "I heard something happened, but no one had mentioned the details to me. I won't pry if you don't want to tell me, but... I honestly don't know..."

Wintrow bit his lower lip; she was his roommate, and his best friend here on this ship. Surely, she had a right to know? But she was so young....what if they'd tried to protect her? Slowly, he looked up. "Or-" He faltered, surely he couldn't put it that way? She was Orion too... "Slavers got me," he whispered, "I went out during the party to get some fresh air...and this guy from before, he just...beamed me away, at gunpoint. And then there was one who said he owned me...and he..." He faltered a second time, looking down again. "He did things...." He couldn't bear to say the word.

Curious concern turned to worry as soon as the word 'slaver' left his mouth. Nesh knew what that meant, with or without context. She placed her other hand on top of his, sudden guilt weighting her down. As young as she was, she still felt responsible for watching over him, and this was just proof that she was no good at that. "I'm so sorry Win, I should have kept better track of where you were..."

"It's not your fault, I couldn't expect you to watch me, that's wrong. It was your sister's wedding and you were having so much fun dancing." He shook his head, turning his hand over so their palms were touching. "Don't be sorry Nesh, you couldn't have stopped him even if you had been there. He had a weapon Nesh, he would've killed you. "

Nesh matched Wintrow's headshake with one of her own, squeezing his hand. "If I had kept you close..." She trailed off, trying to keep such thoughts to herself. "... But... and I know you hear this a lot, but I just... Are you alright? Not physically, I mean... inside?"

"No..." The single word came out hesitantly, as if he really didn't want to say it. "If you mean mentally...then no. Physically neither to be honest." He gently lifted his shirt to show her the branding scar. "That was not the worst of it, but I don't really want to burden you with that."

"Ah..." Her eyes laid upon the scar, and she resisted the urge to reach out and touch it. She brought her eyes up to meet Wintrow's. "Win, it's alright... I can take it. I know I'm young, but it's not a burden. You can trust me with this-"

As important as the conversation was, the Orion's tiny alarm had gone off, signaling to her that she should get ready for her duty shift. "Oh... but... we can talk about this later... right? If you're comfortable, I mean."

"When I'm ready," Wintrow promised, putting his shirt back the way it belonged. "I have to go too."

OFF

--

Cadet FG Nesh Saalm
Scientist's Mate
USS Galileo
[PNPC Kita]

Cadet SO Wintrow Paragon
Support craft pilot
USS Galileo
[PNPC T'Vanna]

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