Where'd I squirrel that lighter away? By the light of a flashlight gripped by her teeth, Eliza Cohen was rifling through the metal filing cabinets that extended from the linoleum floor to the ceiling in REACT R&D's records room. Elena rarely went through the paperwork stored here, Trace didn't spend much time in the lab either, and anyone outside the other specialists knew well enough not to touch the zippo lighter with the initials 'E.C.' engraved on it. So, it seemed only natural to hide the lighter in here. The actual cigarettes were locked away in Eliza's footlocker in her cabin. The pack of cigarettes was already resting in her dark blue REACT jacket's pocket. Best not to put all her eggs in one basket, in case Gustave, Elena, or Jordan found them. Or, God forbid, Monika. The silver lighter lay at the bottom of a banker's box, hidden underneath a thick stack of specimen reports. Cohen took the flashlight out of her mouth. "There you are," she whispered to herself. The last person she wanted to be scolded for sneaking even one smoke by was Monika. Her girlfriend's voice was as beautiful as the morning bird's song. Until it started berating you for trying to have a quick light, that is.
Stuffing the lighter in her other jacket pocket Eliza poked her head out the door, looking both ways quickly to see if the coast was clear. No one else seemed to be in this particular section of the lab. She clicked the flashlight off and slowly shut the door to the records room, trying not to make too much noise. It was time to slink up to the main deck now that she had her lighter and cigarettes. Of course, she could've just gone to Medical and gotten some melatonin tablets if she wanted to get back to sleep instead of risking a tongue lashing. Old habits die hard. But she couldn't stop thinking back to the nightmare that woke her up in the first place, as much as she wanted to expel it from her mind. Eliza only encountered one other person on her way to the stairs to the main deck, just a maintenance crewman carrying his toolbox to some late-night hiccup with the machinery. "Bit late for walking around the ship, isn't it, ma'am?" he asked, giving a quick salute. He checked his watch, "With all due respect, it's nearly 0400 hours."
Returning the salute, Eliza answered, "Can't sleep, thinking about things."
"Ah, I see." The crewman said. Trying to sneak in a light. He thought. He concluded, "Well, I hope you figure it out soon, ma'am." and continued on his way.
Reaching the final ladder that led to the top deck, Eliza could already feel the cool, salty breeze of the Pacific wafting in. After spending the whole day cooped up below deck, the wind was a welcome feeling. Finally arriving at her destination, Eliza took a few moments to survey the partially-lit skyline of San Francisco, visible among the fading plumes of smoke. It had been a quiet evening, and the only incursions that were still ongoing were minor solo ops. No MIAs, no new apocalyptic mutations like the one REACT had just dealt with in New Mexico. Although one could describe the state of affairs as apocalyptic already. Pushing that aside, she fished the pack of cigarettes out of her pocket, popped open the lid, and slid a single tube out from the cardboard container. She put the cig in her mouth and opened up the lighter. The flame tingled Eliza's face with its warmth.
However, before she could light up, someone snatched the unlit cig from her mouth, startling Eliza. "Hey! Who-" she began before a shiver of shame went up her spine. She was now face-to-face with Monika Weiss, holding the cigarette with a smirk that said, "I knew you were up to something." Her eyes, however, gave away that she was more than upset that her Liebling had tried to sneak a vice that she thought they'd gotten rid of.
"I thought you quit those cancer sticks, Liz." Monika quipped, inspecting the cigarette like a parasite sample under a microscope. Despite her girlfriend's best efforts, Weiss had known where the lighter was stashed for days, and it didn't surprise her to hear someone attempting to sneak in and out of the records room at 4:00 AM as she reviewed blueprints for REACT's latest equipment. Chronic insomnia isn't always fun, but it does help you catch your loved ones trying to do something behind your back.
Flustered, Eliza warned, "Monika, you know I can just order you to give that back."
The ultimatum only seemed to amuse Monika but also worried her. If Eliza was trying to use her position as head of REACT to get a single cigarette back, something was eating away at her. Eliza usually only smoked if something was on her mind, and Monika intended to find out what was causing her Traumfrau distress. "I know you're my commanding officer, but you're also my girlfriend, which means I know you like the internal wiring of my RED." Her tone of voice changed from scolding to one of solace.
Knowing that her bluff was called, Eliza's shoulders slumped, and she rested her arms on the guard rail of the ship. Moni was right. She did know her inside and out. She probably somehow noticed her skulking about R&D and, like a super-computer, instantly knew something wasn't right. It seemed only natural as the couple had known each other for years, first as colleagues, then close friends, and finally as lovers. Cohen gazed out again towards the San Fran skyline, lost in thought. The German joined Eliza at the railing, cigarette now secured in her jeans pocket. Often times the two would stay up later than most, as Eliza gets lost in her workaholic nature. Monika going against her strict routines and personal health, would push herself to stay awake, finding her own work to concern herself with so Eliza wouldn't feel pressured. However, Eliza isn't stupid. She knows what Monika is doing and how self-willed the woman can be. In the end, Eliza puts her work away and tries to head off to bed early, tapping Monika on the shoulder and saying, "I'm outta gas. Let's go, shall we?"
"What's going on, Eliza? This is rather late, even for your standards." Monika asked, her voice soft. This wasn't the right time to admonish her girlfriend for sneaking a cig.
Turning to meet the golden-haired woman's eyes, Eliza wearily answered, "I had an awful dream. Somehow worse than usual." Even a little over half a decade after the original outbreak, the former town of Truth or Consequences still haunted her nightmares. Even being ten kilometers away from the damn place made her sick to her stomach. "I couldn't go back to sleep. As you've probably figured out with that big brain of yours, I thought a quick smoke could settle me down."
Monika placed her hand over Eliza's, trying to bring solace to her. Everyone knew about what Eliza had gone through in New Mexico. "Perhaps we can talk about it over some hot cocoa? I've read that talking to someone about what's bothering you can help." She suggested.
The suggestion made the Director of REACT smile. Eliza shook her head, almost in disbelief, and remarked, "If you told me in 2015 that I'd be dating the woman we called 'Ice Queen,' and she would offer me hot chocolate after a bad dream, I'd call you downright insane."
Monika gave a half-suppressed laugh and smiled. "Perhaps you were the right person to thaw my frozen heart." She proposed.
Eliza blushed at the comment.
"I take that as a yes?" Monika asked.
"Yeah, some cocoa would be nice," Eliza responded. The couple left the guard rail as the midnight blue sky took a pearly glow and made their way to the mess hall.
The mess was empty, much to Eliza's relief. That meant she and Moni could talk this through without distraction. Eliza had made it a personal policy not to eat in the officer's wardroom. Eating the same subpar food with the guys under your command shows that you're willing to get in the trenches with them. But when you're the leader of humanity's last, best hope, you must present an image of confidence and strength to the enlisted. If she showed that even she had issues believing they could pull through, what hope could everyone else have? Eliza began to reach for the cupboard where the good hot chocolate mix resided, along with the tiny marshmallows. But the sound of plastic tapping on the blue linoleum floor made her turn. Monika, ever-attentive, had already pulled a chair out for her. She gestured with her hand to take a seat with a little grin that said, "Don't you worry. I got this."
"Oh, thanks, Moni." Eliza said, a little embarrassed. She took the chair set out for her while Monika got the mix and marshmallows. It had felt like it'd been months since she and Moni had some quality time together. Being tasked with saving the world tends to change your priorities. Even when she managed to spend a couple of minutes with her neshama, it was too fleeting. Eliza wished they'd been able to have this under better circumstances. But the smell of milk and chocolate mix being heated in a pan from the kitchen indicated that it'd be worth it.
Monika returned from the kitchen within a few minutes, carrying two steaming mugs of hot chocolate. She placed the first one in front of Eliza, then put a comforting hand on her shoulder before Monika took her seat. Taking the mug in her hands, Eliza saw that her girlfriend had pulled out all the stops for this, with chopped chocolate and whip cream topping the liquid. "Jeez, I didn't expect anything gourmet," Eliza said, a little taken aback by this but glad nonetheless.
Monika smiled as if she'd ever forget the time they huddled together in the freezing temperatures of Baffin Bay, and Eliza decided to chatter about cocoa of all things. "You did say we were going to discuss your nightmare, right?" Monika asked, her voice still soft but a bit lower and tenser.
The redhead sighed wearily. As much as she wanted to avoid thinking about that cursed place, Eliza promised they'd talk it through together. But the time alone at the table allowed her to gather her thoughts somewhat. She shifted slightly in her chair, obviously uncomfortable with the subject, and took a sip of cocoa. Seeing this, Monika took one of Eliza's hands, holding it firmly but gently. The gesture told Eliza that she was in safe hands. Taking a deep breath, she began, "I was back in Truth or Consequences. Like it was 2018 all over again. It was night, and everything was on fire. I was trapped in some intersection, killing hundreds of roaches. But they wouldn't stop fucking coming. Ammo ran out for everything I had. Before I knew it, a breacher snuck up on me and exploded. I landed flat on my back on the pavement. Then something stood over me, it was-" Eliza's voice started to break up as she recalled the climax of the nightmare, "It was you. But it was a Protean you, covered in carapace and everything. You had no mouth and only these empty black holes for eyes. I pleaded to whatever you were to remember who you were. All you did in response was point this alien imitation of your 552 at my face. When you, or whatever it was, pulled the trigger. That's when I woke up."
Eliza stopped for a few moments before continuing, "Moni, I'm just- we know so little about the Chimera. Even more so about Proteans and the Archean Trees. We-" Monika looked directly into Eliza's eyes, her face telling Eliza to slow down and to just give it to her straight. Cohen took a deep breath, "I'm afraid that what if the Parasite takes you but doesn't just put you into one of those trees? What if they turn you into one of those monsters?" Monika's face darkened, and her hand began to strengthen its grip on Eliza's. This fear seemed to be on the German's mind as well.
"Eliza, I've been having these same thoughts as well. I've tried to take these things as they come. But I cannot lie; I share your doubts. But we shouldn't give up regardless." Monika saw that Eliza was still unconvinced. If she could not convince her, she could at least put her at ease. "If you need, Eliza, I can stay with you to ensure that no more nightmares will disrupt your sleep." Monika said with a reassuring smile.
The Israeli-American sighed. "I'd love that, Moni."
Monika got up from her chair, and Eliza followed suit. Monika took her tired, but no longer anxious girlfriend's hand, and in response, Eliza held it firm. "Let's get you to bed now, Schlafmütze."