"Peaks and Troughs--A Double Drabble"
Jon held a padd, but instead of reading engineering specs he stared out at the stars. When his door chimed, he jumped, unsure how long he'd been staring.
"Come in."
It only took a second for Malcolm to accurately assess the situation. "Moping again?"
Jon glared. "That's 'Moping again, *Captain*.'"
But Malcolm just chuckled softly--undeterred--and leaned against the side of the desk.
Sighing, Jon turned away to look at the stars again. "I don't know. Everything just seems so...flat. I'm another year older and what have I really accomplished? I'm captain of a ship in the Bermuda Triangle of outer space, hoping we won't all get killed."
"It's not unusual, you know, to feel like this right now." Malcolm paused, taking a deep breath. "We all know what we signed up for."
"That doesn't help much, right now."
Hands descended on his shoulders, warm and solid and comforting. "I know. And I'm here for you."
"Thanks."
"Maybe if you'd ventured out of your ready room today, your mood would be improved."
Puzzled, Jon craned his head to look at Malcolm. "If I...oh no."
"Yes."
"No."
"Hoshi may never forgive you for ruining her surprise birthday party."
"Good grief."
* * * * *
This story has a double purpose: to cheer up Mareel and to meet Stexgirl2000's challenge to write ships I don't usually write. It's dedicated, however, to Avi. For reasons he'd understand.
Jon held a padd, but instead of reading engineering specs he stared out at the stars. When his door chimed, he jumped, unsure how long he'd been staring.
"Come in."
It only took a second for Malcolm to accurately assess the situation. "Moping again?"
Jon glared. "That's 'Moping again, *Captain*.'"
But Malcolm just chuckled softly--undeterred--and leaned against the side of the desk.
Sighing, Jon turned away to look at the stars again. "I don't know. Everything just seems so...flat. I'm another year older and what have I really accomplished? I'm captain of a ship in the Bermuda Triangle of outer space, hoping we won't all get killed."
"It's not unusual, you know, to feel like this right now." Malcolm paused, taking a deep breath. "We all know what we signed up for."
"That doesn't help much, right now."
Hands descended on his shoulders, warm and solid and comforting. "I know. And I'm here for you."
"Thanks."
"Maybe if you'd ventured out of your ready room today, your mood would be improved."
Puzzled, Jon craned his head to look at Malcolm. "If I...oh no."
"Yes."
"No."
"Hoshi may never forgive you for ruining her surprise birthday party."
"Good grief."
* * * * *
This story has a double purpose: to cheer up Mareel and to meet Stexgirl2000's challenge to write ships I don't usually write. It's dedicated, however, to Avi. For reasons he'd understand.