By SilvyrWing
"You can't be serious, Commander! Radu?"
"It's not Radu I'm worried about, Miss Davenport." The commander turned away from her, placing his hands on the Christa's living wall and leaning forward on them.
"But you think… You think maybe…" T.J. shook her head, disbelieving.
After a moment, Seth faced her again. "What they do on their own time is up to them, just to make that clear."
"I'd rather have them do nothing at all on this ship, thank you very much!" Incredulous, the instructor started back toward the Command Post, but found herself stopped when the commander laid a hand on her shoulder.
"I know, Miss Davenport. But the fact is…"
She shook her head. "I'm not about to believe Radu did something indecent while he was on duty."
It was a tough situation for Seth Goddard. So far away from home, he couldn't possibly condemn his students to a monastic environment. Even if they were in a military situation… Or at least, he thought, a curricular environment… it hadn't exactly been their choice to leave the school. Though Harlan had, in effect, caused their little journey, it had been by accident. As for as the commander was concerned, since dating was allowed at Starcademy, it would be allowed on the Christa. However, Suzee wasn't quite as subject to those rules as those in charge wanted her to be… After all, just as it hadn't been the students' fault that they were on the Christa, it wasn't Suzee's fault that she was trapped in this dimension.
But there were still rules.
"You know Suzee baits Harlan and Radu." Goddard waved his hand toward the Command Post. "We all know that. We know she's been interested in them both from day one. And hell… Radu even asked me one time…" He paused, thinking of exactly how to put what he wanted to say. Thinking better of it, he dismissed the thought. "Maybe Radu is innocent. And maybe nothing extreme happened. But after seeing Radu so flustered when he came back to the Command Post… It isn't earning any points for Suzee."
Davenport nodded. She really didn't want to admit that something might have gone on between the two… They'd all become so close during their voyage… It was difficult to think about. Commander Goddard was right, though. What they did on their own time was up to them. Perhaps it was the matronly attachment that she felt to them… They were growing up, and there was nothing she could do to stop that. Simultaneously, she felt a bit of a lump in her throat, and a wetness in her eyes.
Goddard smiled a little. "Can you talk to Suzee? I'll have a chat with Radu after class. We can't talk to one without talking to the other. It wouldn't be fair."
Again, she nodded. "Now, Commander," she continued. "I believe you owe me a bit of a history lesson."
She was almost looking forward to chatting with him, until he pulled a text-film out of his pocket and handed it to her. "That'll pretty much cover everything for a lesson," he stated, turning back toward the ComPost.
T.J. held it out, blinking at it. "You had this ready?"
Goddard shrugged. "With Harlan around…" He pointed to his head, smiling. "I have to plan some scenarios ahead of time. I'd get to work on that lesson, if I were you, Miss Davenport. There's a fair amount of reading there."
As Seth retreated to the relative safety of the Command Post, Miss Davenport rolled her eyes. "Hold them over a few minutes then. I'll need it." Turning, she headed toward the jumptubes, which would take her to the classroom. She hated being late, but sometimes it was a necessary evil.
---
Perhaps they underestimated Radu's hearing. Or perhaps Radu had just learned to block certain things out over time… But once Suzee caught the conversation between Miss Davenport and Commander Goddard, she couldn't not listen. It was like a magnet of sound, and she couldn't pull her ears away. After she heard the subject matter, she didn't exactly want to stop eavesdropping. It was just frustrating that she couldn't.
She tried her best to look busy as Commander Goddard entered the room, but she still felt extremely warm. Probably from stress, or fear. She hated to admit it (and likely wouldn't tell anyone), but she was scared. Scared that she'd be stuck as Radu for the remainder of her life, and also afraid of the moment that the rest of the crew would inevitably discover that she and Radu weren't who they all thought they were.
Plus, she was embarrassed that the commander and Miss Davenport would even suspect she would seduce Radu. Flirt, yes. But there was a point where she drew the line!
"I have morals," she muttered to herself.
Harlan looked back at her. "You say somethin', Radu?" he asked.
Suzee shook her head. "I just…" She paused, still unfamiliar with Radu's voice coming out of her mouth. "I don't really feel well. Just going over some… Andromedan litanies. It's calming."
She thought she saw Commander Goddard give her a funny look, but the answer seemed to satisfy Harlan. Hoping she'd given a satisfactory answer, she went back to feeding coordinates into the Helm. It wasn't that difficult, once she learned how to do it. Besides, she literally felt the space around her as if she was living on a three-dimensional grid. It was weird, but at least Suzee knew she wasn't going to get the rest of the crew lost. Her shoulders slumped slightly, though, as she wondered just how Radu was faring down in the engine room…
---
Everything felt weird.
He had no senses anymore. His hearing was gone, just as it was when he was an earther for that short amount of time. He couldn't feel where he was, and it was frustrating. At least he'd located Suzee's uniform jacket back in the Secondary Engine room, so he had something to cover his arms… His gloves were a little large, but they worked fine for the time being. Since he really didn't have anything else to do, he was staring at his upside-down reflection in one of the core accelerators.
It was so hard to believe. He pondered over and over in his head how it may have happened, but the fact was, Radu had little technical know-how. And what he did know was limited to his prowess on the navigation console up in the Command Post. Now, for some reason, Suzee was staring back at him, wearing an unsure expression very uncharacteristic to her.
And it didn't make any sense!
"Then again, what does?" he asked himself as he lifted a bit of blue hair out of his face. Ever since they'd left Starcademy, some entirely unexplainable things had been happening to them. Why should he be surprised that his mind was in Suzee's head?
"Because it's creepy," he answered himself, pushing up off the floor so he could stand. The graceful, balanced feeling was also strange, almost as if he could walk along a narrow beam and never fall. "Don't get used to it," he continued. Perhaps it was because he couldn't hear everything anymore, and had to listen to Suzee's voice to remain sane. "We'll be going back soon enough, just as soon as we figure out what happened."
Usually, he could hear the com click on as someone activated it, but when Commander Goddard's voice came through, quite loudly, he nearly jumped a foot.
"All students report to the classroom."
Sighing deeply and attempting to slow the sudden rapid heartbeat he'd developed, Radu trudged off to the jumptubes. At least he'd get to talk to Suzee before class. Maybe they could get something sorted out in that time.
---
"How are you faring?" Radu asked. His stomach flip-flopped again as his own eyes stared coolly back at him. Understandably, Suzee was upset.
They were alone in the classroom. Both of them evidently had the same idea… While the others were stopping off in their rooms or doing whatever else it was they did in the few minutes between ComPost work and school, Suzee and Radu figured they could both meet each other in the classroom to talk.
Suzee stared at him for a moment, and he could detect the slight glaze in her eyes. Radu looked away, muttering softly as his eyes fixed on the floor. "You can cry, if you want to. I won't tell anyone."
She sniffled. "…They think we… You know. In the engine room. I heard 'em…" Her throat tightened, and she couldn't stop it. She was far more emotional than she'd been when she was in her own body. Finally surrendering, she allowed the pent-up tears to fall. It was, however, only a momentary lapse in her stoicism, and after composing herself, she continued with a calm voice. "…I couldn't not. I swear I tried to screen 'em out, but…"
Radu stepped forward, wrapping his arms around Suzee's shoulders. She practically fell into the embrace, and had Radu not been anticipating it, she would have toppled him. Embarassed, she backed off, muttering a hasty apology and deciding it was perhaps better to sit down instead.
"What did they think we did?" Radu asked, genuinely curious.
Despite herself, the engineer chuckled. "…You're still clueless."
"I'll take that as a… compliment," Radu responded, though his voice was unsure. It was still strange, even to him, to hear that insecurity in Suzee's voice… Just as it was difficult to listen to the confidence in his own.
Tilting her head to one side, Suzee grunted in annoyance as blonde hair fell across her eyes. "Don't you ever put your hair up?" she snapped.
"C'mon, Suz. Don't change the subject. What were they talking about?"
"They think we had sex in the engine room," she muttered.
Interestingly enough, his first response was, "While we were on-duty?" When he noticed Suzee staring at him with a lop-sided smile, he attempted to salvage the response, but it was already far too late. Shaking his head, he settled for, "I don't even… know you… that well yet."
"Apparently I've earned a reputation," she mused, gently. "Even though I haven't done anything. I guess it's enough to flirt with you two." Settling back between two seats, she propped her feet up on one as she watched Radu start to pace. It was actually calming for her that the other victim of Christa's electrical surge was just as worked up as she was. Maybe even more so. Still, it was good to know that she wasn't alone.
"Suzee, I wouldn't…"
"I know, Radu," she said. "It's not you they're worried about. It's me. But I'm afraid that means you're going to get The Talk." Suddenly distracted, she looked toward the jumptube, then back to Radu. "Bova's coming."
Radu followed her gaze as he sat down as far away from her as possible. It was subconscious on his part, but understandable. "I miss being able to hear that," he commented, idly.
As Bova arrived, she whispered, so quietly she wasn't even sure Radu could hear her… "You can have it. Any day."
---
"Well, that was disappointing," Harlan grumbled. Usually he wasn't one to complain when class was over. However, this time he was willing to make an exception. Bova idly entered some last minute data into his compupad before boredly glancing up at the Earther.
"What was?"
"The fact that she actually had a lesson planned." Rolling his eyes, Harlan rose to his feet, looking back at Bova to await what would surely be a similar expression of disappointment.
"…Isn't that the point? Miss Davenport teaches…" The Uranusian arched his eyebrows, gesturing to the display screen which was still on. "…And we waste one-hour chunks of our lives listening to her. It's been that way for a while, Harlan. I'm surprised that you're just now catching on… You know, with your high level of intelligence and all."
Rosie chuckled from across the room. Harlan shot a look in her direction before chuckling himself. "You know that's not what I meant."
Without looking up, Bova asked, "Well, what did you mean then?"
About to respond, Harlan gasped as a strong hand grabbed his shoulder and spun him around. "…Radu!" He exclaimed, backing away. "Tryin' to give me a heart attack or somethin'? What's wrong?"
"Just curious to know what you meant," the Andromedan replied. Harlan narrowed his eyes… Radu was wearing a rather cold expression. Cocky. Egotistical. It was unnerving.
Harlan shook his head. "Didn't mean anything. I was just…" He searched for an out, finally coming up with a plan on the fly. It wasn't great, and it relied heavily on Bova being agreeable for once. After a quick glance toward the younger cadet, Harlan knew he was equally surprised by Radu's behavior.
"Don't we have ComPost duty in ten minutes?" Harlan asked.
Hurriedly, Bova got to his feet, tucking the handheld computer into his pocket. "We'd better get goin'. I almost forgot."
Suzee crossed her hands over her chest and stared at them. She had a feeling that Radu's expression was probably pretty intimidating, but that was exactly what she was going for. She'd heard enough talk about sex for one day, without hearing Harlan hinting at it like he was. Frankly, she was pissed, and felt she had every right to be. A little alone time wasn't too much to ask for. Smiling sardonically as the two boys dashed into the jumptubes, she, herself turned to head down the corridor and back to the engine room, which was where Radu had gone as soon as class had gotten out.
"…Radu?" A small voice asked from behind her. Damn. She'd forgotten about Rosie.
"I'm busy," Suzee replied.
"…Is something bothering you? Cuz you know, I'm always here if you wanna talk…"
Suzee whirled around to face her, but registered the concern on the younger girl's face. Normally she'd just ignore it, but given the fact that she was likely under the influence of Andromedan brain-wave patterns, she couldn't just walk away. Eventually, the trapped Yensidian relaxed, sighing. Rosie's eyes narrowed the slightest bit, though she didn't say anything else. Likely, it was just concern. Suzee hoped it was concern, because she really didn't want anyone else angry with her. Least of all, Rosie.
She did her best to smile, which caused the corner of Rosie's lips to turn up just a bit in a confused, lopsided grin. Suzee chuckled a bit. "…What?"
Rosie shook her head. "…Nothing. Nothing… I guess you're fine. Just… You scared me there for a sec."
"I'm gonna head down to the engine room, okay?" Suzee paused, nearly stumbling over her own name. "…Suzee needed some help moving stuff around. You'd better get up to ComPost." She waited there, anticipating a response from the Mercurian, but Rosie just remained silent, offering her that strange, lopsided grin. Finally, Suzee gave up, and, rolling her eyes, headed off down the corridor.
"Whatever you say, Suzee," Rosie whispered.
Suzee stopped dead. Turned around.
"…I heard that."
Rosie smiled. "I figured you would."
---
"I'm glad you understand," Miss Davenport was saying as she attempted to look into the eyes of a rather embarrassed and unnerved Suzee. She couldn't quite catch the Yensidian's eyes, though. They were sort of looking straight down at the ground. The talk had been way too easy. There hadn't even been any arguing…
"Yes, perfectly," the quiet voice finally responded.
"Alright then," Davenport said as she headed off. Though concerned, there were lesson plans to update, and Suzee certainly seemed fine, if not a little embarrassed. Telling herself that it was a perfectly normal response to such a talk, T.J. contented herself with humming an old tune as she took the Jumptube to her quarters.
---
"He was gonna attack me. D'ya see that look in his eyes? He was crazy. Sick or somethin'." Harlan waited in front of the compost door for the motion detector to register his presence.
"He wasn't acting normal, that's for sure," Bova droned, following the Earther in as the door slid open.
"He's gotta be sick. You know what he said earlier… He didn't feel well and all."
Bova nodded, idly and boredly, taking his spot at the Tactical console.
Harlan leaned up against the Helm. "So it's our job to stop him before he hurts someone. Like he almost did last time."
The Command Post was relatively empty. There were a few lights flickering here and there, and Thelma was busy taking care of the ship's operations while the crew was away. She completely ignored them for the most part… The computer's mainframe was currently much more amusing than the conversation that Harlan and Bova were having. Not only were they navigating toward an unknown alien sector, but it looked like they'd already received several cryptic warnings from something. Perhaps she should say something. Then again, that would require her to detach her mind from the Christa long enough to warn the crew… And she couldn't do that, due to the fact that the message was still coming in a slow, steady stream. So she smiled, and pretended to appear as if they weren't about to potentially get smashed to bits.
Bova shook his head. "Well, I suppose the best way to die is at the hands of your friends."
Taken aback, Harlan hesitated. "…No it's not."
"You're right." Bova yawned. "But Rosie's been telling me I should start being more positive."
"Hell of a time to start!"
"…Isn't it, though?"
Thelma shuddered as the message stopped transmitting. Even as she was reverse-encrypting it, she shuffled toward Bova and Harlan.
"Where is everyone, anyway?" Harlan asked. "Can't warn anyone about Radu if no one's around to hear me."
Bova rolled his eyes. "First of all, I think you're overreacting. Radu seems fine. Seriously. He's probably just a little stressed. Second, ComPost duty was an excuse, remember? We still have two hours 'til we're due back up here."
"Oh. Right," Harlan conceded. "But—"
"Excuse me."
Both cadets turned to face Thelma, who was, as usual, wearing a pleasant smile.
The android continued. "I do hate to interrupt, but… The coordinates Radu entered into the Christa are taking us directly into Caniiric space. For reference, the Caniiric are a rather unknown and highly defensive group of people that do not take kindly to tresspassers."
Harlan shook his head.
Thelma appeared distressed. "Hm. 'No' as a response is not acceptable in this situation. Perhaps I've missed something in the translation."
"No, no…" Harlan waved his hands. Thelma watched the maneuver with rapt attention until the Earther spoke again. "…Who are the Can… ary…? Can't you just tell them it's a mistake or something? Before they try to blow us out of space?"
"I'm afraid they do not make warnings in the conventional sense. They only alerted us to our eminent destruction." Thelma looked truly apologetic as she turned back to the communications console. "They are allies of the Spung."
"Figures," Bova said.
"He led us right to them," Harlan whispered, not believing it himself. All the time they'd know each other, and right when he'd finally started to never question Radu's coordinates, the Andromedan decided to lead them right into a trap.
---
Rosie tagged along behind Suzee as she headed for the engine room. Shortly after the Mercurian had guessed Suzee's identity, Radu's pale face had flushed bright red… There was literally no way she could deny the allegation. It actually felt better to know that someone knew, as humiliating as it was. Unfortunately, since that time Rosie hadn't stopped talking. "What's it like? How'd it happen?"
Suzee looked down at her. "…How did you figure it out?"
Glad that Suzee had finally at least said something, Rosie clasped her hands in front of her and leaped a couple times, bouncing on her feet and wholly unable to keep still. "Because, you were acting like Suzee. She… You… You do that sigh thing when you're frustrated. And then there was the eye-rolling thing. Radu never rolls his eyes at me, but you do all the time!"
Suzee rolled her eyes and forced another smile.
"And that!" Rosie explained, skipping on ahead of Suzee. "That smile."
Suzee chuckled. "…So you read people," she stated matter-of-factly. "You're empathic. Kinda."
Rosie shrugged. "I guess you'd know," she said. When Suzee tilted her head, confused, she added, "You being telepathic and all."
Genuinely contrite, the Yensidian stopped and looked down at the grated floor outside the engine room. "…No, Rosie. I don't know how to read people at all. Not like you do." She chuckled a bit. "That's a nice gift though. I wish…"
"Radu?"
Both Rosie and Suzee looked up in time to see Commander Goddard round a corner and start heading toward them. Eyes widening, Suzee turned her eyes to Rosie and whispered, "Don't tell him anything."
Rosie nodded.
"Radu, I need to talk to you for a sec, if I could." He patted Suzee on the back, before looking to Rosie. "If I could, Rosie?"
With a confirming look to Suzee, who tilted her head just slightly to indicate that she was fine, Rosie nodded again, before heading off down the corridor.
It was right around that time that Harlan's voice came over the com.
"Hey, guys… Just wanted to let you know… I'm up here with Thelma… Apparently Radu fed some bad coordinates into the navigation system. We're… headed for Spung alliance territory. It doesn't look good up here. I don't know what's goin' on, but I don't really think… Well, maybe you should keep an eye out for Radu, in any case."
The Commander looked at Radu, whose eyes were wide. Guilty? No. They looked scared.
Why, though? Scared that he'd been discovered?
It didn't make any sense!
Before he had time to question the Andromedan's motives, Radu had broken away and was on an all-out sprint toward the jumptubes.