The Mycroft Mistake, Season 1: Episode 6

[The Hippocrates II]

Orbital Route 66 fades in the tail-stream of The Hippocrates II as she breaks from the core system, headed back into the wanting worlds of the Allied Planets. Onboard are new faces as well as old. Freshly resupplied, the R&R flagship has also picked up some fresh crewmembers.

Adele Kensington, Blue Sun Liaison, has replaced the enigmatic Benjamin Crowe. Her world, however, is less one of science and creation, but one of numbers. Specifically, at this point in her career, it is the art of crunching of them. With heavy budget cuts to Med-Acad programs, the continuity of the Research & Rescue Mission relies on the justification of cost to a skeptical Londinium Parliament and the Blue Sun Board of Members.

Also joining them is Dr. Jasper Reeves, psychiatrist/psychology expert. With the tentative and tortured Miss Constance Deveroux onboard, more than Catherine's help will be needed to prepare her for a world beyond the sheltered existence of her enslavement. Reeves, a specialist in prisoner rehabilitation, has volunteered his services.

Experienced Allied pilot Walter Raine has arrived to take the pilot's position left vacant by Daniel Robers, along with Susan Nail, on leave from the Bella Starr Security Fleet as his co-pilot. While the older man is looking forward to the danger and excitement of Research and Rescue, the younger woman is trying to take break from the available party-life on the Bella Starr. Perhaps a long run in the Black, doing something to benefit the universe is just what they both need.

New and old crew, together on the long ride through the darkness, are gathering in the Galley/Commons for a celebratory meal. But this is not just any ordinary celebratory meal that might mark the beginning of any journey.

The old-fashioned paper calendar hanging on the wall reads December 24th.

It is Christmas Eve.

And from the smell of things, Jonathan has plied his trade well. The scents of roast turkey, cornbread dressing, honey-baked ham, green beans (real ones!), mashed potatoes, cranberries, yam casseroles, fresh baked crescent rolls and sweets of all nature have been wafting through the ship for hours already.

At each place-setting, a small package sits, wrapped in blue paper with a silver bow. The ever-Londinium Christmas 'crackers' are piled in baskets on the work station across the room. Music, holiday favorites new and old, hush over the speakers, adding to, not distracting from, the celebratory ambience.

Challenges and trials, triumphs and champions lay ahead for the Hippocrates and her people, but for this moment, for this special evening, there is peace. And while, by it's very nature and by the nature of man, peace is fleeting, the moment can carry with it such grace as to move entire moons.


OOC: Posting is now open! Everyone feel free to meet up in the Galley!

[Dr. April Chee]

In the Lab:

Dr. April Chee tried to ignore the wonderful scents wafting through the ship, and the snarling of her stomach. Her deft fingers carefully tweased a single spore from the specimen in front of her and dopped it into a petri dish. The spore secured, she used the micro-laser to slice a small wedge from the fungus.

"You gonna eat sometime today?" Drake's voice singsonged from the doorframe where he leaned in with a hand on each side of the door.

April answered her fellow researcher without glancing up. "Hungrier I am, the more I'll appreciate it."

A warm curiosity lit Drake's expression and he sidled closer, "Whatcha got?"

"A mushroom. Just got a shipment from the new settlement on Lilac. Took a few weeks to get to us, since it routed through The Bella before forwarding to the 66, so the specimens aren't fresh, but..." April held the sliver up to the work-light, "it's a beauty!"

The little grey wedge looked rather putrid, really, a single glob of soggy vegetation. "It's not what's on the outside," April eyed it contemplatively, "They sent it to us because their pigs are eating it. Pigs chow down, then get...uh, wacky ... according to the locals. If it's a chemical getting into the meat, they don't want to eat the pigs. I'm trying to isolate the compounds. Might prove to have practical medicinal uses, if it isn't toxic."

"Need help?" Drake's voice was steady but his eyes were practically begging.

"What about your vaccine research?" April asked, but she relented fairly quickly. The puzzle both of them loved, the chase of the facts, raised it's head hopefully. April's smile turned a hint wicked as she reached into the refrigerated box beside her and handed him a jar filled with liquid and a large brown blob. "Wanna help? Here... They sent us a pig liver."

"Huh! Look at that!" Drake took the jar, his fine hands holding it up to the light, "Nice spez. That was a big pig. Tell you what? I'll start breakdown on it... AFTER dinner."

Dropping the liver back into the box, Drake dropped both hands on April's shoulders, "Come on, Commander. Fungus will still be fungus tomorrow. Let's celebrate. Have some fun."

April sighed, "Oh, fine. Let me drop this in the spectrometer. I can have results by midnight."

"You know, Santa Claus doesn't come if you aren't in bed..." Drake warned with a grin, but he flipped on the equipment and handed her the distilled water.

Twenty minutes later, the scientists left the lab, the door sliding closed behind them. A quick clean up and change of clothes from her scrubs and lab coat to a nice blue sweater and a black velour skirt, and April headed to the Commons, slipping in the door with a quick glance to see who was already there.

[Ertia]

New bunk assigns: If I've missed anyone let me know!

(Posted Image)

[Dillin Cheshire]

Dillin, her usual tidy black work slacks belted with her utility belt, topped with pressed white dress-shirt and light-weight black woven Kevlar-lined vest, looked every inch the security professional. Or would have if not for the bright red elf hat she wore, it’s jingle-belled pom-pom flopping left and right over her brow as she bobbed along to the music.

Perched on the bench, she was busily hanging a garland of brightly colored paper lanterns, patterned in floral designs in reds, yellows, greens and oranges. They were more Diwali than Christmas, but their electric lights flickered and sent prismatic shadows dancing in celebration. In between each lantern hung a small paper snowflake, some far more lopsided than others.

Over the workstation, a row of socks were hanging: Not red and white traditional stockings. Oh no, those hadn’t been available from Miss Fits on Route 66. What WAS available were crazy knitted socks in assorted stripes and colors, no two alike. Each crazy sock was initialed to a crew member and bulged with it’s stuffing of surprises.

For Dillin, the holiday season had started weeks ago with her birthday, coincidentally marking the beginning of Hanukkah. It would go through Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Years, with every week offering something new to celebrate, something new to look forward to. She sang softly along with the music.
“I saw three ships come sailin’ in, on Christmas Day, on Christmas Day. I saw three ships come sailin’ in on Christmas day in the morning…”

Bouncing off the bench, jingle-bells tinkling, she stood back, hands planted on her hips, to offer a critical eye to her handiwork. Deciding it good enough, she poured a generous cupful of eggnog, snitched a bit of turkey off the edge of the over-flowing platter, singing out to new arrivals as they came in, “On Christmas day in the morning!”

[Adele Kensington]

When Benjamin Crowe had been aboard the Hippocrates II, he had occupied this room on his own. Now, Adele Kensington was sharing it with Dillin Chesire, more or less on her own insistence. She could have had a room on her own, claiming the need for privacy due to her job, but instead, she had gone the other way, not wanting special treatment just because she was Blue Sun's new liaison. Sitting by her desk, she was just finishing up a diary entry containing her initial thoughts on the ship and its crew, trying to stay focused as the scents that had long filled the room only became more and more intense.

She sighed, finally giving in to the clamorous demands of her stomach, saving the file she was working on and shut down the CorPad, putting it away in the locked drawer. Not that she didn't trust Dillin, or anyone else on the ship, but there were a number of confidential files on the CorPad and even though it was password protected, she was required to do whatever possible to keep it out of anyone else's hands. Standing, she straightened the dark grey skirt and her green ruffled blouse, then checked herself over in the mirror, quickly pulling her hair into a bun at the nape of her neck. As she put on her jacket, a small bell on a red bow jingled from the lapel; her one concession to the season spirit.

Sliding the chair into place by the desk, she drew a deep breath, feeling her mouth water at the scents already saturating her room and steeled herself to be bombarded with even more of the delicious fragrances when she stepped out the door. A moment later, she was on her way to the galley, she short walk increasing the level of aromas in the air with every step. The part of her that had been an accountant for too long told her that every one of those scents represented a post on the budget that the Hippocrates II couldn't afford, but the part of her that still remembered what Christmas was like in the house on Londinium was jubilant that something not far from the same spirit could be found out here in the dark between stars. Really quite remarkable, she reflected as she entered the galley.

“On Christmas day in the morning!”

Adele couldn't help smiling at the singing security specialist with the jingling elf hat. She suspected that it was probably Dillin's good mood that had affected her, making her feel the holiday spirit herself, for the first time in many years. Even though she hardly knew anyone on board and had only been here a short time, it almost felt like being in the company of family and close friends; something that she wouldn't have expected given her assignment on board Hippocrates II. Following Dillin's example, she poured a cup of eggnog and although she usually couldn't stand the taste of the stuff, the batch Jonathan had made was actually rather well-tasting. "Cheers, Dillin. And a Merry Christmas to you," she said, raising the cup and taking another sip.

[Dr. Drake Ripple]

Drake, dressed in his best blue jeans and a pressed black button-down and sporting a red and white striped tie that, when pressed, played a tinny version of "We Three Kings" bounded up the spiral stairs and through the ship. He made his way all the way back to the engine room hatch and back to the galley, pounding on every door as he went.

"FOOD! FUN! PARTY!" He sang out, rapping on doors to rouse any who thought they could escape the merriment, "FOOD! FUN! PARTY!"

Striding into the Galley, he made a long-legged stride around April and waved to Adele and Dillin, singing out, "Festive greetings, and all! Adele, you look ravishing, as usual! Miss Cheshire, the decorations are delightful, and you, Doctor Chee, seem absolutely charming. So charming that you must dance with me!"

So saying, he grabbed April's hands before she could protest and waltzed her around the table, singing along to the music, only coming to a halt again as they circled back to Adele and Dillin, "Either of you ladies care to dance? Or shall we simply sit and stuff ourselves silly with this wonderful repast?"



OOC: April godmodded without her permission, but she really didn't seem mind once it was written... ;)

[Jasper Russell Reeves]

Having spent most of his initial time creating a personal space suitable for his needs, Jasper Reeves had finally settled down and began preparing notes. His desk was perfectly organized everything had it’s place and not one item was out of it’s allotted space. The rest of his room was the same, a perfectly groomed bed. Clothes pressed and hung in the closet and an assortment of shoes lined up beneath them. Classical music enveloped the room and brought him the peace and tranquility he needed to work. His world at the moment was perfect and lacking in anarchy or chaos but that didn’t last long.

"FOOD! FUN! PARTY!!"

The obnoxious voice and knocking on his door belonged to another doctor on board, Drake Ripple. Sighing he looked at the door then back at the notebook in front of him. He had data-pads as well but he found nothing beat the tactile feel of pencil and paper, a novelty that was growing in both rarity and expense as the ‘verse moved ever further into the deep reaches of the so-called cyber-space. He relented to the necessity of joining the crew and stood up from his desk, moving towards the closet.

He selected a light brown hued blazer and pants, with a darker brown vest and white dress shirt and striped tie marked with both crimson and deep blue lines which ran diagonally down the article. He took his time to make certain everything was adorned properly before stepping into a pair of brown loafers and clicking off his music before breathing deep and braving the ship into the galley.

He was nearly bowled over by the two dancing as he stepped into the festively decorated room. For a moment a smile cracked one corner of his lips but faded just as quickly as it came.

"Good evening everyone. Lovely job on the err.. decorations." His hand gestured to the stockings and the table setting. Christmas was often a cold celebration for him, he'd never lived in a home decked out for the occasion and never saw the point. To transform a space for one day only to have to take it all down was in his mind inefficient but he knew the psychological necessity some saw in the event and he wasn't looking to become the proverbial Grinch.

"I may sit anywhere?"

[Blodwyn Bardier]

A small hand gripped Jasper's back, just beneath the tie of his vest, a friendly gesture that not too long ago would have been less friendly and more for the very real physical support it gave to the pale, soft-edged smile that followed. Fingers gripped and jerked and pulled Blodwyn Bardier up beside him, close enough that Jasper could feel her breath on his cheek. It smelled like eggnog, and not the fun kind, either. Not with her still taking pain meds every few hours just so she could sit down and work without wanting to kill herself. Or everyone else. "Anywhere but the gimp chair," that crookedly smiling face told him, with a nod at the chair in the corner, piled so high with lumbar this and support that that the table was actually pushed several inches farther away from the wall than the usual to accommodate it. Someone who thought themselves very clever had already marked the place as hers with a copy of A Christmas Carol. Ha, ha. "I've got dibs."

Another step, trailing candycane striped nails down off Jasper's shoulder to the tabletop to the counter on an unerring path to the smell of coffee and chocolate and the relief from work that had dragged her up from her workstation in the first place, even before the herald doctor sang. It'd have taken another pretty boy aiming entirely the wrong type of weapon at her insides to make her admit that she didn't mind being dragged up from work so much these days, especially not when it'd taken a hell of a lot of bull-headed stubbornness and talkings of trained doctors' ears off that she was perfectly fine to do a little work, gorammit, to get there in the first place, when everyone, including herself, knew she wasn't. It'd have taken something much worse to get her to admit that she regretted it. That every step still hurt.

She didn't make it far. She didn't take her fifth step before the pain in her abdomen and groin shot through and brought her stumbling to the counter, to the edge of her limit, and surrendered to the support of the counter-top. It wasn't worth it, hell no, it wasn't worth it, but being able to walk, get out of the gorram chair and the thrice gorramed bed and actually walk, to take those final steps and take up that cup of coffee awaiting her there at the end with the biscuit and the little twist of mistletoe scented chocolate as a stir, well. It was something.

What it was was decaff, as weak as Jonathan could make it, so as not to interfere with her meds, but the smell was enough. Blodwyn spent a moment just breathing it in, before she took a long, lingering sip. "Jon," she sighed, "marry me."

[Alexis Delaney]

"You're a little late, Blodwyn. This man is happily claimed," Alexis smiled as she walked into the common area. The red head was wearing a green close fitting satin dress and she felt her husband's eyes lingering as he walked in after her. "Of course," Alexis continued with a wink. "I married him the same reason you would - his cooking."

"Well, thanks so much, Lexie. You do wonders for a guy's self-esteem, you know," Jonathan smiled before moving through the gathering towards the kitchen. The doctor was careful to keep her smile in place as she moved to her seat. He had never been the easiest person to read, but now, around these people, knowing the truth as she did, he was a completely different person to her. Different, yet the same.

Pouring herself a glass of eggnog, she found her seat and took it, ready to watch the crew of the ship interact. With most of them, she had two things in common: medicine and the ship's cook, the man whose name she carried. Fiddling with her necklace, she bit her lip. This wasn't the time for these thoughts. This was a time of celebration.

"Don't bite your lip, Lexie." Jonathan's voice was quiet, flowing to her under the chatter and sounds of people moving around. She looked over and their eyes met. He smiled and looked away, fiddling with something she guessed he didn't need to. They were still in sync, somehow, even after this time apart. Alexis smiled without meaning to do it.

[Kiri Fukuda]

The young nurse had been amazed that she got a room to herself. She wouldn’t have minded sharing one like others of the crew, but, at the same time, it was nice to have her own personal space. Her room was in order, with all belongings where they would be easy to find, but out of the way at the same time. She even managed to decorate it with a few of the extra things she brought with. These mostly consisted with small statues and a few stuffed animals she took from home along with brightly colored cloth she could hang here and there to bring a more cheerful look to the room.

At the moment, Kiri was sitting at her desk on the left side of the room, trying not to allow the alluring smells of what could only be the celebratory dinner distract her as she smiled to the faces of her mother and father that were projected on the screen on the wall. She probably should have called them sooner, but her excitement for being on the ship and the need to get her room in order somehow preceded the need to contact them.

“And you sure everything is okay?” Her mother asked for the hundredth time since the call had been started. She was a woman prone to worrying about the smallest things; a personality trait that was easily confirmed by the way the lines in her face lay.

“Yes, mama.” , she giggled, “Everything is just fine. I promise. The people here are real nice and friendly.”

“Alright, bao bei. I just want to make sure you are safe. It can get very dangerous out there.”

Kiri watched as her father shook his head in mild amusement. “Stop worrying, she’s fine. Look at her. She’s happy.” His face grew bigger on the screen telling Kiri that he was leaning forward as a means to grab her full attention. “Your mother has been watching too many reports again. She specifically searches for the violent ones to give herself a reason to worry.” He gave her a quick wink as her mother threw him a glare.

“I’m sure…”

"FOOD! FUN! PARTY!" Immediately following the words, there came a pounding outside her door causing Kiri to turn in her seat and stare at the door. Excitement began to build up, if it hadn’t been for the smell of the food for the past few hours, she would have forgotten about the party. “FOOD! FUN! PARTY!” The voice sounded again shortly afterwards.

“What was that!?! Is something wrong? What’s going on!?” Kiri’s mother was practically hyperventilating at the sudden noises.

“It’s alright, Mama! Calm down. We are having a small party for Christmas, that’s all. It was just one of the crew letting everyone know that the party is starting.” She beamed a smile to her mother as a means to reassure her further.

“Well, if it is a party you are having, we should let you go to it. Have fun, dear… but not too much fun.” The last Kiri saw was her father struggling with her mother to end the wave.

“Merry Christmas.” Kiri said to the now blank screen before shutting it off. Before heading out of her room, the young nurse grabbed a red sweater depicting a scene of children surrounding a decorated tree with presents that lay on her bed. It went well with the blue jeans and white shirt she wore. Her hair was tied up into a pony-tail with a thick ribbon the same shade of red as the shirt tied into a bow around it. She had left the ends of the ribbon to dangle half the length of her hair on either side.

Leaving her room, Kiri headed into the galley, a happy spring in her step. The scene she found in the galley made her smile as others were dancing, eating, and talking amongst each other. “Wow! This looks amazing!” She exclaimed upon seeing the decorations. “And the food smells wonderful!” She immediately headed over to the eggnog, careful not to get in the way of the dancers, and poured herself a glass. Eggnog was one of her favorite holiday treats. “Merry Christmas” She spoke softly into the glass just before taking a sip.

[Constance]

"Food! Fun! Party!"

Constance sat on the edge of her bunk, staring at the door of her small room, waiting for it to slam shut, to close her out of the world. Doctor Ripple didn't close the door, but stepped past it lightly, not even pausing to look in on her.

The faint ticking of the clock on her table-side clicked a counterpart to the turning of her eyes from the mirror, to the wardrobe, and to the door again. It seemed so loud, louder than the sounds of the party down the hall, louder than the beating of her heart.

Was she supposed to get up and go to the party? Wait here for someone to fetch her? Just dressing each day was a tremendous task, with no one to tell her what to wear. Some days, breakfast was over and everyone gone to their work tasks before she even managed to dress herself. There was so much to learn and it all so was so hard. Every minute detail that everyone seemed to take so easily seemed insurmountable to her, each obstacle a little battle in a long ongoing war that left her exhausted.

Hands clenched on the edge of her mattress, Constance finally leaned forward and propelled herself upright. A last glance in the mirror showed a slight young woman with wide blue eyes and delicate features, her golden hair falling gracefully to her shoulders. Her grey dress was simple in cut and style, flattering her figure without accentuating it. The dress could easily be accessorized to fill the role of business or evening-wear, but she wore it plainly, without adornment.

For a long moment, she stared at her hated reflection in the glass before turning to join the others. Constance Deveroux was the only person in the universe who did not know she was beautiful.

Slowly, she made her way to the Commons and stepped inside, not knowing if she should take a place at the table, or wait to be seated, or aid Jonathan in the kitchen, or... just stay out of the way?

[Teo Salazar]

"Well, I just wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas, mijo," Teo said to the image of a handsome young man on the screen, who had a slightly impatient looked sketched on his face. Benito was taking the wave at the hospital and Teo knew only too well how hectic the holidays were in the emergency room. "You go on, Benito, I know you're busy. Give my love to Ella and the kids when you get home, okay?"

"I will, papa," Benito said, glancing down to his waist as an insistent beeping went off, interrupting any further awkward conversation by calling the younger Doctor Salazar off to work. "Feliz Navidad, papa. Talk to you later." He smiled and stood there for a moment as if considering something further to say, but he held back and reached out to shut off the connection after saying goodbye.

Teo sat back in his chair, letting out a sigh and closed his eyes for a moment. He had already talked with Teresa and Soledad; conversations that had been far less awkward and more heartfelt than the one he had just ended with Benito. That left Alejandro, his firstborn, and the one he had the most strained relationship with. Ever since Alejandro had joined the Alliance navy, they hadn't been on particularly good terms.

"FOOD! FUN! PARTY! FOOD! FUN! PARTY!"

Drake's shouting settled it for him. The yearly holiday conversation with Alejandro could wait until after dinner. By then, he might be in a better mood, boosted by food and a bit of alcohol. Getting to his feet, he straightened his jacket and his tie before turning to walk out the door to follow Drake's voice – and his nose – to the galley.

He paused by the door for a moment, watching the crew as they started to crowd into the space, some finding seats, others taking care of the last decoration and dinner preparations and Drake taking April for a spin. He spotted Constance by herself, looking rather much like the lost lamb that she was and he approached her slowly and carefully, giving a light cough to alert her of his presence before holding out a hand to her. "Would you care to join my at the table, Miss Constance?"

[Sister Catherine Grey]

"Have you seen any pirates?"

"No, I'm afraid not. Not the kind you're imagining at least."

I am a orphan . . . on God's highway . . . But I'll share my troubles . . . if you go my way . . .

Catherine pushed down on the brake with the toe of one shoe, freeing the wheels of the cart to push it out into the hall.

I have no mother . . . no father . . . no sister . . . no brother . . . I am an orphan girl

"Were you really in a big flood like Noah's Ark?"

"Well, it wasn't as big as that, but we did go to Ariel when there was a flood there because a dam broke. It was a part of the ship's rescue mission, to help people who would be hurt or stranded by it."

I have had friendships . . . pure and golden . . . But the ties of kinship . . . I have not known them . . .

The rubber wheels of the stainless steel cart rolled down the hall as she pushed it towards the galley.

I know no mother . . . no father . . . no sister . . . no brother . . . I am an orphan girl

"Were you scared?"

"It is a frightening thing, that something people live their lives with and even depend on, like a river, can turn so violent and destructive, and it's a powerful thing. That wall of water makes you realize how big a world is, and how small you are. Yes, it was a scary time, but facing scary things is what this ship is for, so the people on it can help those in need."

But when he calls me . . . I will be Able . . . To meet my family . . . at God's table

Catherine swung the cart around and pushed it into the galley.

I'll meet my mother . . . my father . . . my sister . . . my brother . . . no more an orphan girl

She wore a green dress for the festive occasion, and the medical cart she was pushing held her large archivist's workstation. The two side by side monitors showed the faces of children looking out from them, or rather, through the camera mounted between the screens, at the decorated galley and those within. The children of the orphanage where she had grown up.

Blessed savior . . . make me willing . . . And walk beside me . . . until I'm with them

"And here, we have the ship's galley, and our very own Christmas celebration!" Can you all say "Merry Christmas to everyone?"

Be my mother . . . my father . . . my sister . . . my brother . . . I am an orphan girl

"MERRY CHRISTMAS!"



Catherine's Christmas Dress

(Posted Image)

Lyrics from Orphan Girl by Gillian Welch. I'm thinking of this version performed by Emmylou Harris . . . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFDk3U9oGq0

[Constance]

“Merry Christmas,”

"Merry Christmas, Nurse Fukuda." Constance tried to reply properly. Or was it etiquette to give the title first, and then the traditional greeting?

The slight cough caught her attention and sent her cringing, wondering if it was a signal that she was doing something wrong. But a critical glance at Doctor Salazar revealed that he was smiling, his demeanor showing no trace of threat.

"Would you care to join me at the table, Miss Constance?"

Tentatively, she took the proffered arm with a Chyeh-trained nod. Grateful for some direction, any direction, she replied properly, "Xei-xie, Doctor Salazar. I would be honored."

Would she be? Was she supposed to be? She glanced to Doctor Reeves for approval or lack of. At least, she reflected, she recognized most of the food and the tableware was traditional. Dining etiquette was something she was certain she manage. Still, her undersized stomach wouldn't hold much. Would Supply Officer Delaney be offended if she didn't try everything? Would it all taste as good as it looked?

Sister Catherine swept in with a cart, wave-conferencing with children far away on another world. Glowing faces beaming out, curious about life beyond the limits they knew. Her hand tightened on Teo's arm as something caught in the back of her throat. The fearless innocence was echoed in those faces had been stripped away from her, from all children crushed in Lao Shi’s domain.

"MERRY CHRISTMAS!" They all cried in tandem, obviously enjoying their virtual tour.

"Merry Christmas," Constance echoed, surprising herself. She hadn't known any children since she was one herself, had long ago lost that innocence that seemed to shine from those smiling faces, all eyes and grins, and curious glances. Her trained expression fell away to a beaming sunshine smile.

[Dr. April Chee]

April slipped away as Drake released her, trying not to laugh. She’d intended to simply play along with Drake’s enthusiasm but had actually found herself having fun. And Dr. Ripple seemed to be an excellent dancer. At least, they hadn’t tripped over each other despite their height differences.

Reeves entered and she schooled herself to more professional behavior.

"I may sit anywhere?"

"Anywhere but the gimp chair,”

That solidified her frown. Blod wasn’t healing as quickly as April would have liked, and she thought the young woman’s stubborn streak might be to blame. She simply refused to give herself time to heal. With a sigh, she wondered if she was going to have to put the young doctor on forced leave. With Alexis on-board, there was another doctor to take up the slack.

“Of course," Alexis continued with a wink. "I married him the same reason you would - his cooking."

“Cooking shmooking.” April grumped, a half-smile appearing despite herself, “The man’s food is nothing compared to his ability to make supplies appear out of thin air. At least we can still afford to pay him, saving me from having to make awkward proposals.”

"And here, we have the ship's galley, and our very own Christmas celebration!" Can you all say "Merry Christmas to everyone?"

Ah, the social liaison was socially liaising! “Hello, kids.” (Drake had told her that ‘children‘ was cold and distant and not to say it to their faces. And these were healthy children, not just short patients.) April pushed forward, “I’m Commander April Chee. Welcome to The Hippocrates. Do you have any questions you’d like to ask our crew? I think everyone is here except our pilots.”