Chloe, Matt and the eight year old sat in the mess hall at the table furthest from the door eating their breakfast. It was nice now they had some real food rather than just dried fruit and watery oatmeal, hydroponics really was something to be valued. Airman Dunning had even gone to the trouble of squeezing some of what could be describer as a kiwi that tasted like mint and strawberry into a sweet juice, finally something that wasn't water or overly sweet tea, instead the Destiny crew had a refreshing beverage; Cress couldn't get enough of it.

They'd sat in utter silence for a time, Chloe and the Lieutenant facing each other while Cressida had cuddled into her mother's side with her glass; Cress kept yawning.

"How about we do something today? I'm not back on shift for hours, just for TJ just to be extra sure." Matt smiled as he spoke.

"Yeah, sure. Sounds fun."

Going to be awkward though. She didn't know what to do after what had happened with Rush the previous night. Chloe had thought it strange though, we have a daughter out in the wilds of space but that was the first time we had sex. Rush hadn't said a single word about what had happened, at first Chloe had thought he'd not wanted to talk about it in front of Cress but there was just something about him that had seemed off. Does he think I regret it? That wasn't true, Chloe could never regret what had happened between them, it had been amazing and perfect... she didn't know how to broach the subject though, maybe he regrets it. She didn't want to accidentally force him into anything but at the same time she didn't want to lose him now she had him.

"Good, that's great." Chloe snapped back at Matt's words. "We could go to the observation deck first."

"Okay." She turned to Cressida and kissed her little girl on the head when she yawned again. "Are you okay? Did you wake up last night?" Chloe suddenly asked when she realised Cress might have actually heard them.

"No, Mommy. I'm tired though."

"It's probably from being on that planet." Scott interjected. "Maybe she had nightmares."

"No." Said the child softly.

"I'll put you to bed and you can have some real sleep."

Chloe went to her and Matt's quarters where she put Cressida back to bed, she'd wanted to spend time with her but the ebony haired child needed to sleep. Matt who had trailed along behind her was pleased he got Chloe all to himself, he dragged her out the room as soon as Chloe had kissed her daughter's forehead.

Cressida slept comfortably for a while, eyes closed softly and her little hands gripping onto a pillow as though it were a comforting toy, knees pulled up leaving her in the foetal position. Her beauty only grew as she slept, dark chestnut hair draped over her face like a cloak and porcelain skin smoother than silk. Cressida looked like a normal child lost in slumber... until she sat bolt upright, eyes sleepy and hardly open. The eight year old didn't say a word, she simply stood and walked to the door, her little gold-brown dress swishing around her legs as she walked. Just like the night before she slammed the door release but this time it slid open easily.

Her little feet carried her down long halls as she freely turned this way and that as she went to gather everything she needed, everyone she past generally ignored her, they'd grown used the little girl. Cress made another left to find Varro helping Lisa Park to the mess hall since Greer had gone back on shift, the sunglasses were finally gone but her vision remained bluey and filled with grainy blotches; she'd gone from worse case scenario to being almost fully recovered.

"Hello, Cressida." The blonde man greeted.

Since waking up aboard Varro and Cressida had become firm friends. No one trusted her at first, thought she was nothing but dangerous and Varro could relate to that, no one had trusted him in the beginning either – which had been entirely justified – that and he adored the little girl. Cress just had a way of making those around her smile, maybe it was that youthful innocence she resonated or maybe the way she bounced back from almost anything; despite her youth the eight year old saw the universe with an old soul. Varro had always loved kids – he'd grown up with two younger brothers – Varro and his wife had never had the chance to have children. They'd spent hours racing around the ship playing hide and seek or tag, he'd felt free and child like. Their friendship meant a lot to Cressida as well – her parents loved her but it wasn't the same as having friends and since no one else on board was her age it limited her options – Camile tried but just ended up treating her as though she were mentally eight, TJ was always so busy and Greer just ended up teaching her how to resemble any weapon he could find. Young had warmed up to Cress as well but he wasn't about to start running up and down the ship playing tag.

Despite their friendship though, Cress hardly acknowledged him. Normally he would have been shone that beautiful smile of hers but instead her face remained blank. Is she okay? He had been about to ask her just that when she finally responded.

"Hello Varro, Lisa."

She didn't look up though. If he'd not been so occupied helping Doctor Park he'd have seen the dead stare in her eyes and registered the monotonous tone in her voice.

"Where are you going, Cress?" He asked in a polite tone.

"To see Daddy."

"Okay." He smiled.

"I hope my eyes hurry up and heal, I actually miss Rush and work."

"On that note let's get you to the mess hall and then you can go see TJ."

When he looked back to say good-bye to Cress she was gone, he didn't think much about the odd encounter instead focusing on Lisa.

Cressida's feet and subconscious took the little girl down the long labyrinth like hallways until she reached the grey engine room – grey was the only word to describe the large room – surprisingly it was quiet even with the engines working away. Without her subconscious stopping even a second for after thought she went to a panel in the corner of the room and ripped it off, it took her a few attempts but eventually it came loose and gave way, the metal cover clattered to the ground echoing around the room and for a single second it looked as though she'd wake up, that didn't happen even when a few drops of blood dripped down her left hand; seemed getting the panel off had been harder than it appeared. The cut along her palm must have hurt but she didn't even notice it. Each wire on the inside had been coated with a protective plastic like material of charcoal black or occasionally white, from her pocket came a small scrap of paper and a match, if asked where she'd gotten the items from she couldn't have answered, the memory didn't exist. She struck the match on the textured wall and watched it burst to life before setting the paper on fire and sitting it at the back of the mass of wires, it burned away happily as Cress picked up the cover and wedged it back into its rightful place. Then just as blankly as she'd entered the engine room Cressida made her way up to the bridge.

As usual Rush was working away on the bridge with Volker and Brody, he'd been so locked up in his head that he'd hardly noticed anything that had happened in the last ten minutes, at least until Cress tumbled down the little step to the left of the command chair. His head snapped in her direction instantly.

"Cress, are you alright?" He asked as he dropped to his knees beside her. "You cut yourself."

The fall seemed to be enough to wake the eight year old up from her trance like state, she blinked rapidly as the world came back to her, then the pain in her hand did too.

"Ouch! It hurts, Daddy." She said looking at the crimson blood.

"I know darling, come on let's take you to TJ."

In seconds Rush had the little angel in his arms and was half way to the bridge door, he ground to a dead stop though when all hell broke loose.