Several hours later, after Jesse had settled in, he reached the control
center for the seed ship.
Jesse looks around as he paces the bridge'. It appears to be a weird mix
of a space shuttle cockpit and the bridge of several of the science-fiction
stories he had read or had seen in the movies over the years.
As he walks by several of the crew members and settles on his captain's
chair, he thinks, -Well this is it, one week before we launch. Just about
everyone is onboard. We got 6000 people on board, mostly English, Japanese,
Spanish, and of course American-
Looking around and observing the crew members tweaking the consoles, Jesse
holds some further thoughts to himself. -Hard to believe, the Roswell incident
info was finally released, and this ship among other things was a result of it.
It helps that someone finally found Atlantis and found some really advanced
technology in it. Quite amazing indeed-
Jesse's further thoughts are interrupted by a red-haired female wearing a
blue jumpsuit with the seed ship's name and logo just under the right shoulder,
which he can make the name out as that of the Charm City. Just below that is
the first initial and the last name of the person wearing the suit. "Excuse
me, captain"
Jesse looks up, and seems to recognize the female. "Ah, Amelia, I didn't
think you and Aaron would be joining me up here. What's up"
Amelia smiles a bit. "My husband and I would like to see you. We've
missed you, and it's been a while since we last saw you"
Jesse smiles. "Alright then." He gets up. "Take me to my brother, then"
Amelia nods. "Follow me then." She heads out of the bridge and Jesse
follows.
About ten minutes later, they stand next to a sliding door. Amelia then
says, "This is where we're staying. I understand you do not live too far from
here"
Jesse shakes his head. "No, I live just a few doors up from here.
Benefits of having been elected captain I guess, out of the family heads here"
Amelia says, "But how did you become a family head? Your mother is still
alive"
Jesse raises an eyebrow at that. "I'm not sure on that either. I think it
had more to do with Dad's death soon after he heard I was going out into space.
He wanted to make sure the family lived on off world. I wound up inheriting
nearly everything he had collected, including some of the family heirlooms.
The house went to Mom and to the two remaining brothers on Earth"
Amelia nods. "Guess that answers that question. Come on, I'm sure you
would want to see your newest nephew," she says with a bit of a smile and
pride.
Jesse nods. "I suppose so. I would like to see little James around"
They enter Aaron and Amelia's quarters, to find Aaron watching over the
two-year-old baby. Jesse says in a greeting tone, "Hey Aaron, how's the little
tyke"
Aaron looks at his older brother. "Just fine. You've just got here"
Jesse nods. "A little earlier, I wanted to familiarize myself with my
quarters and my' ship first though. Amelia here found me on the bridge"
Said person walks just behind where Aaron is sitting and massages his
shoulders. "I suppose we need to gather the department and family heads
together"
Jesse nods slightly. "Yes, sometime before we launch next week. Let's say
three days from now? You go ahead and make the announcement. You're my exec
and backup. Have them meet in the Main Conference Room just a short distance
from the bridge, that can hold the most people"
Aaron smiles as Amelia massages him. "Alright, have anything else for me"
Jesse shakes his head. "No, except maybe to come by my quarters sometime
tomorrow. Preferably when I'm awake." He turns around and heads for the door.
Aaron calls out, "Wait, Jes." Jesse stops just short of the door. "Don't
wait forever to date someone. You have your choice of people on board ship"
Jesse looks at the door. "You know I never had much luck with
relationships, Aaron. Last one I had wasn't even live. It was a online dating
service!" He walks out of the room, slightly upset.
Amelia says something just as Jesse leaves. "He's not too happy about not
finding anyone, is he"
Aaron shakes his head. "Nope, not even when he is thirty years old. He's
going to die a very lonely man unless we do something"
Amelia stops rubbing Aaron's shoulders and walks in front of him. "I think
I may have an idea. I believe I know someone on-ship that would enjoy his
company, and vice versa. First"
Aaron listens intently as Amelia goes over the plan. "Alright, I'll give.
I'll keep quiet about it. Now, let's go eat."
9-25-2008 10:25 hours, Eastern Standard Time
Jesse is sitting in the living room' portion of his quarters in a chair,
reading over the general ship specs once more, as if he were memorizing them.
-Ship: SS Charm City-
-Completed: 5-30-2008-
-Christened: 6-1-2008-
-Current Complement: 6000, not counting extended family members-
-Communications: Experimental Faster-Than-Light Bend-Wave (can communicate up
to 20 or so light years farthest distance tested to date with small probes-
-Engine: Ion-Pulse fueled by experimental regenerative fuel which powers the
engine and ship at scattered points along it, never running out of
fuel but continuously regenerating itself-
-NOTE: Another engine exists onboard, experimental FTL drive based on the
bend-wave technology from Roswell, to be used in emergencies only and
classified on a need-to-know basis as the engine has only been
sucessfully tested with probes and small unmanned ships.-
-It's been a long road-
- Quote from Faith of the Heart', 1996-
-It certainly has been a long road, but at least we'll be underway in a few
days,- Jesse thinks as he puts down the ship's specs down on the table. -It is
only fitting that a song beginning like that would be part of the official
ship's quote. Reminds me of some other dedication plaques I've seen, granted
they were on sci-fi shows, but still-
Jesse's thoughts are further interrupted by the door chime of his quarters.
-Now who could that be?- he wonders as he walks up to the door, and presses the
button on the intercom next to it. "Yes, who is it?" he asks.
A female voice replies, "Can I come in"
Jesse thinks for a moment, -Don't recognize the voice, wonder who it could
be? Could be any number of women I've met over the years. Too bad I never got
past friendship.- He then replies with, "I guess so"
The door slides into the wall with a bit of a clank' to reveal a female
with red-blonde hair and pale pink-white skin wearing the blue jumpsuit that
has become the defacto uniform of the crew of the ship. Jesse looks at the
patch below and raises his eyebrow upon recognizing it.
"Cecilia, is that you?" Jesse asks the female.
Cecilia nods. "Yes, it's me. It's been a while, hasn't it"
Jesse gets a smile. "Yes, about three years now I think. So, what brings
you to my door, and up on ship"
Cecilia smiles a bit. "Well, I'm officially onboard as one of the computer
officers, and unofficial head librarian. I came here to see you though"
Jesse raises an eyebrow. "Oh? Come on in, and sit down. We could talk
without half the ship watching us from out there"
Cecilia then notices where she is standing and blushes a bit. She walks
into Jesse's quarters, where the doors then shut with a clink. Once the doors
are shut, she stands next to Jesse, takes hold of him, and kisses him a good
one on the lips, arms around his neck.
Jesse looks at Cecilia with a bit of surprise. After she stops kissing
him, he replies with, "What was that all about"
Cecilia then replies in a somewhat upbeat tone, "I've waited three years to
do that. I have wanted so much for you to ask me out, but you never asked me"
Jesse thinks, -Man, could it be that...? Oh man, I knew I had feelings for
her but I don't think... wait... wonder how she would handle her own medicine-
Jesse, after a moment's hesitation, returns the kiss in kind, asking, "Will you
go out with me?" just as he finishes.
Cecilia says, "Yes!" just as she kisses him back.
After a few minutes of kissing each other, they break off, and sit around
the table. Jesse then says after sitting down himself, "I guess it's about
time I did start dating then. But how did you find me anyway"
Cecilia smiles. "Let's just say a mutual red-head we both know directed me
this way"
Jesse thinks, -Amelia, oh my. Thank you.- "Ah, and how did our mutual
friend find out about our past"
Cecilia frowns a bit. "I thought you would know that. Something like this
would be on public record for the crew personnel, especially the captain"
Jesse looks a bit shocked. "Of course, I know some things would be on
the record, didn't think it would be that detailed. Makes me wonder how some
of the crew was chosen in the first place"
Cecilia ponders this thought. "I think it was partially to ensure genetic
diversity. And some formula of compatibility that not even I could
understand"
Jesse nods, accepting this answer. -Compatibility? Hmm, will have to look
this one up at a later date.- "Alright, CeeCee, since we're reintroduced more
or less, what has been up with you since we last met"
Jesse and Cecilia then talk about various things in their lives that has
happened over the last few years.
The conversation continues on for a hour before Cecilia checks the digital
watch on her right wrist. "Oh my, I didn't think I'd talk this long with you.
So how does the 28th sound, at 8 at night"
Jesse smiles widely. "I guess it's a date then"
Cecilia smiles, nods and stands. "Then I'll be on my way then. I need to
familiarize myself with the ship better. See you later..." she says as the
door opens, "...dear"
Jesse stares at the door, smiling a bit as it closes.
-Maybe things will be good after all,- Jesse thinks. -I'm getting tired of
hacking it out alone. I don't want to die lonely. We'll see how things turn
out.-
My apologies for taking so long on this, but I had a major case of writer's block and I needed to collect my thoughts before I continued. Please, let me know what other crossover series (besides the obvious of course!) you would like to see in this story, and give some good reviews/suggestions!