29th October 2013 Tuesday

Day 302

Thought I would bring us back to the stuff we love the most. Set the scene; it's a moment where all six members of the Hamilton Habitat crew are there (no children) but are Zap and Jenny going out? Let's do something I haven't done either; Bream's POV.

Disclaimer: I do not own the show.

I had to hand it to Dex; he really knew how to keep the team in order and focused on their mission. With all of us here, it seemed like the team was flowing in perfect rhythm, or, more so than it used to. I'm heading towards one of the supply closets in preparation for our next mission, just grabbing yet another first aid kit for the ship. It surprises me how much Jenny cares about everyone's safety, or really how much she requires a back-up of just about everything.

The door opens up in front of me, and Zap walks out carrying a heavy box in his arms.

"Oh, hey Bream," he says through a quiet groan. I smile back at him; eyes locked on the box.

"Wow, that looks really heavy. There isn't an industrial dolly in there that you can use?" I cringe in sympathy, but he manages to restore himself quickly when a hand touches his shoulder.

"Oh, he can suck it up," Jenny says from behind him, emerging with her own smaller box. The tiniest smile crept up on the pilot's face, but he fought it off immediately as the clone walked ahead. "Bream, would you be able to bring a third 'first-aid' kit, only because now there are more members on the ship."

"Sure," I agree sweetly, turning to watch as the two walk down the hall with Jenny in the lead. I enter the supply closet, smiling broadly when I find Tung in said room, jumping to reach a particularly high box.

"Have you noticed anything strange within the team lately?" I ask with a bit of worry at where my conversation is leading into. He hands over the box, staring at me with a puzzled expression. "I mean, don't you think things are working out better than normal?"

"If you're talking about Jane, I think she might be a bit of a distraction to Dex," my eyes widened in surprise at his confession. "Although I have to say, he has been doing a lot of work to impress her."

"No, I'm not talking about them," I turn my head back to the door, fiddling with the box in my hands. "It's Zap and Jenny. I've noticed they don't seem to be fighting that much so missions have been going a lot smoother lately."

Tung looks down in thought as we both exit the storage unit. My smile brightens at his words. "You know, I think I've been noticing some strange stuff with them too."

"So…so you think there's something up with them?"

"Maybe, but I think we need to test this and look out for the signs first."

"Ok, everyone, we should probably split off into teams," Dex began his instruction to all of us. My eyes drift off from his pre-mission debriefing like they usually do, and spy Jenny and Zap sitting on two different crates, arranged at sharp angles to each other. There was just something strange about the way she kept lightly tapping her leg on to his, and the way it always lingered there before falling back in the swing. I nudge Tung subtly yet excitedly in the side of his stomach.

"Check it out," he follows my hidden pointed finger to the pair, but furrows his brow instead. "They're totally playing footsies!"

"I don't think so," he mutters, looking at me sceptically. "Maybe she's just kicking him?"

"What, and he's just taking it?" I whisper under my breath. "There's no way he would-"

"Tung?" Dex interrupts our conversation, and for a moment I can feel all eyes on us.

"Sorry sir," he apologizes, and I smirk sadly. He's used to being the one at fault so he told me not to worry whenever he takes the blame, but I can't help but feel a little guilty. "Continue."

Dex nods with a smile. "Jane, you can head with Jenny towards the east forest, Bream, you can go with Tung to the swamplands in that direction and Zap, you and I can go grassland to the south. Everyone got it?"

"In a forest location, I won't be able to see much without someone in an aerial position," Jenny debates, continuing to busy herself on the clipboard in her hand. From the corner of my eye, I catch Tung's sideways glance.

"Fine, since we want to keep Tung to the swamp regions, Zap; go with Jenny. Jane, you're with me," he claps his hands together before grabbing a knapsack for himself, leading Jane in their direction. I turn my attention back to the group, but Tung and I are the only ones remaining.

"Come on, you can't tell me that wasn't something?" I debate, moving towards the pile of supplies with him and taking our own survival bags. He keeps his focus on the work in front of him as he speaks.

"We can't hold them to that; Dex would've put me with her if there wasn't a swamp for us, plus, Dex might've just done that so he could be with Jane," I nod modestly in agreement. I suppose Tung could be right about that.

The sun setting on the planet tells me that we've been here for…God knows how many hours. All I know is, I'm ready to head back. We trudge through the thick water, unsuccessful on our part with the mission. Once we head back to the ship, I'm not surprised to see that the only pair successful at finding something were Dex and Jane, as evident by their large sample of fossiliferous rock.

Once again, I can't help but find Zap and Jenny standing together, the former helping the engineer put her knapsack on. I frown in dejection.

"They would've made a nice couple though, right?" I turn to Tung, who is watching beside me. He shrugs casually before heading up the ramp of the ship, and I'm left alone with my thoughts as I watch Zap help Jane put her backpack on too.

'Maybe it was all in my head,' I ponder to myself, walking towards the group and graciously thanking Zap for handing over the equipment I need to put away. I move further into the ship, sharing a smiling stare with Jenny before I proceed in to the helm, completely oblivious to the conversation behind me.

"Well, that was a good mission, wasn't it?" Zap whispers in Jenny's ear behind her. His hands slowly wrap themselves around her waist, but Jenny pries them off.

"Careful, I think people are starting to get suspicious," she whispers back, turning around to face him. Her head flicks behind her to check if the coast is clear before kissing him briefly on the cheek. He looks up at her in shock.

"Oi, and you're telling me to be careful," he chuckles, smiling at her bashful appearance. "But yes, I agree with you."

"Good, then you wouldn't mind bringing in those extra bags so it looks like we're coming in at different times," the clone suggests, pointing at a small pile of equipment. He turns back, but she's already gone.

"Oh man, the things I do."

R&R! I love being back here, so I may return.