SPACE: 1999 YEAR 2
JOURNEY BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
SECTION 17 – Of Blankets and Coffee
Golden summer sun warmed the emerald meadow with a soft, hazy glow as if the universe had been brushed with gold. A gentle breeze carried the intoxicating scent of wildflowers dancing in the tall grass.
Puffy white clouds drifted lazily across the expansive blue sky, casting faint, shifting shadows over the rolling landscape. The vibrant colors of the flowers blended into a vivid, living canvas – their hues shifting and shimmering with every caress of the breeze.
She ran through the meadow, her laughter echoing like a melody, the sound mingling with the rustling grasses. Each step felt weightless, her bare feet barely brushing the ground. Her cream-colored skirt skimmed the green blades, time slowing around her into a dreamscape of golden haze and color.
A delicate pink flower suddenly caught her eye, its petals glowing with an inner light that made it stand out against the sea of green. She paused, her movements languid and graceful, and knelt to marvel at the flower's fragile beauty. The petals seemed almost translucent, their softness inviting her touch as they pulsed gently with the rhythm of the earth beneath her.
In that moment, he appeared beside her, materializing from the swirling light and color as if he had always been part of her dream. His strong arms encircled her waist, lifting her effortlessly off the ground as they spun together in a dance that defied gravity. The world around them dissolved into a whirl of golden light and vibrant color, the boundaries of reality blurring until nothing existed but the two of them, lost in the joy of the moment.
When he set her back down, her laughter echoed like a bell. He leaned in…and the dream broke.
"Oh gods,' Maya whispered, yanked back to the dim stillness of her quarters. Her eyes flew open, and she realized the warmth beside her wasn't imagined. She bolted upright, her heart racing as she tried to reconcile the vivid dream with her waking reality. The softness of the bed beneath her and the warmth beside her made her suddenly aware – she was definitely not alone in this bed.
She gasped again, louder this time as she clutched the blanket before turning to see Tony, lying on top of the blanket, beside her.
Tony jerked awake at her exclamations, blinking rapidly to shake off the remnants of sleep. His gaze locked onto her face, instantly alert and concerned. Her wide-eyed expression and the rapid rise and fall of her chest made it clear that something had startled her.
"Damn," he suddenly muttered, realization dawning as he rubbed his face. He had meant to stay only for a little while, just to make sure she was okay. But at some point, exhaustion had overtaken him.
"What time is it?" he mumbled, fumbling for his commlock. His eyes widened slightly as he saw the time. "Lord, it's after ten..."
He looked back at her, his expression filled with guilt as his words tumbled out in a rush. "I'm sorry, Maya. I didn't mean to fall asleep. I just wanted to make sure you were all right last night. I'm really sorry."
Mentally, Tony winced as he added yet another slip to his rapidly growing list of mistakes not only with Maya but with his entire life.
Maya gave him a soft, gently concerned look. "You must have been exhausted, Tony. I'm so sorry," she told him in a low voice. It was quite obvious that she was far from mad or disgusted with him as most women probably would have been.
"Don't be sorry, Maya," Tony pointed out. "You're not the one sleeping in the wrong bed."
First, her mouth curled into an adorable little smile, and then, to his surprise, she began to giggle. She lifted her hand to cover her mouth, but the giggles continued to grow in intensity.
"It's not funny, Maya," Tony pointed out, though his tone was more amused than stern.
"I'm sorry, Tony," she said between giggles.
He shook his head, rolling his eyes in mock exasperation.
"I'm worried about your sense of humor," he muttered, more to himself than to her. But, inside, he felt it. Something small and unexpected had loosened in his chest. Maya's laughter, light and bright, was a comfort he hadn't realized he needed. And she made him feel…a little more alive again.
As he tried to shake off his sleepy stiffness, he couldn't help but notice the sparkle in her blue eyes and the way her long hair was a divinely charming, tousled mess that cascaded well down past her shoulders. Yet another highly inappropriate thought danced in front of his eyes but, instead of berating himself, he only slid the thought to the side instead of pushing it to the back of his mind and he began chuckling over her wild, tousled locks.
"What are you laughing at?" she asked, her tone light and curious.
"Your hair, young lady," he chuckled, unable to resist. "It's a mess."
Maya paused for a moment, considering his words.
"Well, Mr. Verdeschi," she playfully began. "I regret to inform you that your hair is none too magnificent at this moment either."
Very self-consciously, he lifted a hand to run through his dark hair as he realized the Psychon did have a playful side and found himself rather enjoying it.
"No, I guess it probably doesn't look so great," he finally admitted.
They looked at one another and then both started laughing, the sound filling the room.
"Seriously," Tony chuckled, trying to shake off the last remnants of sleep and the unexpected amusement. "I'm starving. How about breakfast?"
"Coffee," Maya responded instantly, her blue eyes clearly telling of her anticipation of the hot drink.
"Addict," Tony quickly told her, a grin spreading across his face as he looked down at her with mock disdain.
She giggled as he slid off her bed and stood up, stretching out the kinks from his back.
"Tell you what, I'll grab a shower, some food, and yes, your precious coffee, and I'll be back."
"Yes, please," Maya said, her soft voice filled with enthusiasm.
Tony smirked as he made sure he had his commlock. "But, uh, do me a favor first."
"What?" Maya asked, her brow furrowing slightly in curiosity.
"Before I go, can you check the corridor? Make sure no one's out there."
Maya gave him a puzzled look. "Why?"
"Because, young lady, this time of the morning, people are out and about and I'd hate to ruin your reputation so soon after you got here," he said as he gestured to himself and his bedraggled appearance.
"Oh," Maya said, realization dawning on her as to his implication. A slight blush crept up her cheeks, but she quickly tossed the blanket aside and scurried to the door, her heart beating a little faster with the playful thrill of it all.
Tony moved behind her, peeking over her shoulder as the door slid open and she looked both ways.
"Nobody," she whispered, glancing back at him with a conspiratorial smile.
Tony wasted no time, slipping out the door and hurrying down the corridor, leaving Maya to stand there for a few moments, a small smile lingering on her lips.
She sat down quietly on the edge of her bed, drawing one knee up. The room was still, bathed in the softness of Alpha's ambient lighting. For the first time since arriving, she realized that it didn't feel so cold.
It was a strange feeling – this sense of calm. It might be fleeting, it might be fragile, but it was very real. Maybe it was the coffee she knew was on the way. Or the memory of the dream. Flowers, warmth, laughter. Maybe it was simply waking up to find him in bed beside her. A little shocked? Yes, but not afraid.
The smallest of things carried the most weight now. A safe sleep. A gentle dream. A laugh that made her smile before she fully knew why. That kind of peace had felt impossible before. But this morning, she'd touched it, even if only for a moment. And somehow, she believed she'd touch it again.
She couldn't name the feeling blooming quietly in her chest. It wasn't fear, and it wasn't regret either. It was just a quiet yes to the day ahead. Her fingers brushed the fabric of the blanket absently, grounding herself in the moment.
And then, for reasons she couldn't explain, she giggled all the way to her bathroom, the laughter bubbling up from a place of unexpected happiness as she prepared to start the day.
Tony returned about an hour later, balancing a tray in one hand and a carafe in the other. He stepped into her quarters, his eyes immediately drawn to her. She was perched on the edge of her bed, her legs tucked beneath her, with bare feet peeking out from the hem of her jeans. The white sweater she wore clung softly to her figure, and Tony found himself looking far too closely – again. Mentally, he gave himself a harsh reprimand.
She had been running a comb through her damp hair but paused when she noticed the carafe. A smile broke across her face, lighting her eyes with unmistakable delight.
"Breakfast is served," Tony announced with a grin, raising the tray slightly." And, as promised, your coffee."
"Thank you," she said warmly, her happiness radiating as she took in the sight of the tray.
Her expression faltered slightly as she glanced around the sparse room. Unlike Tony's quarters, hers was almost barren, leaving the bed as the only real seating option.
"We can't eat on the bed," she declared with quiet conviction, her tone laced with an old, deeply ingrained rule.
Tony raised an eyebrow, curious. "Says who?"
"My mother," she replied, her voice soft as she recalled lessons from her youth. "She always taught me that one must never eat on the bed. Beds were for dreams, not meals," Maya added with a small shrug. "Even on Psychon, some rules are sacred."
Tony chuckled. "Your mother was a lot stricter than mine. I promise I'll be careful."
Maya shook her head, her expression resolute. "I just… can't. It doesn't feel right Tony."
He studied her for a moment before offering a solution, his tone teasing and yet sincere. "How about a compromise? We could spread the blanket on the floor, a breakfast picnic."
Maya tilted her head, intrigued. "Picnic?"
"Yeah," Tony said, his grin widening. "On Earth, it's when you spread out a blanket, eat outside, and enjoy the fresh air. We'll skip the outdoors part," he said with an apologetic shrug.
Maya hesitated, biting her lip in thought. The unfamiliar word seemed to hold a charm she couldn't quite resist. Finally, she exhaled in mock resignation and nodded. "All right. But you have to be neat."
Tony smiled as he began arranging the blanket on the floor. "For you Maya, I promise."
She smiled, the warmth returning to her eyes. "Okay then," she agreed, the corners of her mouth twitching upwards. "A picnic on the floor."
With caution, he finished arranging the blanket and setting the tray in the center before sitting down. She joined him and watched in anticipation as he carefully poured her a mug of coffee. He handed it to her slowly, making sure not to spill even one drop.
He watched her as she took her first sip, closing her eyes as a contented smile settled on her face.
Tony watched her, pleased with the success of his idea. "Not such a bad idea after all?"
Maya opened her eyes and smiled at him. "Not at all," she replied.
He took a sip of his own coffee, briefly savoring the first taste. No, it wasn't the genuine thing, but as a substitute, it would do.
When he looked over at Maya, he noticed how delicately she popped a piece of food into her mouth, her movements graceful and deliberate. This was not the same young woman from last night, nor the one he'd first taken to his quarters to keep safe.
There was something different about her. A quiet ease, as if the events that had brought her to Alpha in the first place had loosened their hold, if only for a moment. Her relaxed demeanor was striking, and he found himself wanting to know more about Moonbase Alpha's new resident alien. He wanted to understand the woman behind those bright, curious blue eyes.
She sat across from him, the soft light catching the damp strands of her hair, her movements unhurried yet purposeful.
He leaned slightly forward, his elbows resting lightly on his knees, not wanting to intrude but unable to suppress the urge to learn more.
"So," he began, his voice gentle, tinged with genuine curiosity, "what was your mother like?"
Maya's eyes softened as a gentle smile curved her lips.
"She was beautiful, kind. She was a teacher," she said, her voice carrying a warmth that matched the expression on her face. As she spoke, her eyes sparkled with fondness, and a hint of nostalgia touched her features.
"She gave the gift of knowledge to little minds so that they could grow up to unravel the complex mysteries of the universe."
Her fingers traced the edge of her cup, her gaze dropping to the dark liquid within for a few moments before she looked back up.
"I wanted to be just like her," she added softly, her voice tinged with a quiet longing. "There was so much more she was supposed to teach me. There just wasn't enough time."
Tony's eyes held hers as he said, "Well, you are kind, and you are beautiful, and you could probably teach a lot of things to the lot of us."
She raised her eyebrows slightly as she gave him a look, her expression a mix of amusement and disbelief.
"Tony, when was the last time that Doctor Russell checked your vision?" Her tone was utterly sincere, her head tilting ever so slightly as if genuinely concerned.
Tony chuckled, the sound low and warm. "Nothing wrong with my vision," he assured her. "Doctor Russell would have me grounded from ever piloting an Eagle again."
Maya shrugged lightly, a small, teasing smile playing on her lips. "If you say so, Tony," she replied, sounding more than a little unconvinced.
Tony finished chewing his food, his gaze steady as it rested on Maya. After a moment, he ventured his next question, his tone gentle and filled with curiosity.
"So, tell me more, why the importance of not having food on the bed?" He was curious. As kids, they'd always had snacks and drinks in their bedroom. Of course, he also remembered his mother reprimanding them at least a million times.
Maya's lips curved into a soft smile, her eyes crinkling slightly at the corners. She hugged her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around them as she gazed upward, her expression thoughtful and faraway.
"My parents," she began, her voice laced with a tender nostalgia that softened her features. The smile faded, replaced by a contemplative stillness. She sighed, her shoulders rising and falling as though releasing an unseen weight.
Tony's brows knit slightly. Had he pushed her too far, too quickly? But Maya inhaled deeply and continued, her voice steady, if a little subdued.
"My father was a scientist with Psychon's High Scientific Council, a position of great respect and responsibility. And my mother… she was a brilliant teacher who served on countless educational," she paused, as she searched for the right word. "Council groups," her tone brightening slightly. "That would be the right way to describe it for you."
Tony nodded encouragingly, his focus entirely on her.
"My older brother and I," Maya continued, her voice softening, "were expected to be perfect from the moment we were born. It would never do for the children of such highly respected individuals to be anything less."
Tony tilted his head, amused. "Surely they never had any trouble with you," he said, warm and teasing, studying her for a long moment.
This alien woman who had seen her world die, who could shift her very form in ways that should have terrified him was here. Seated near him, sharing breakfast and talking about her mother. About braided hair. About hair ribbons.
That should've been his warning sign, something that sent a man like him sprinting in the opposite direction. A shapeshifter? That was the stuff of ghost stories. But he wasn't seeing ghosts. All he saw was a little girl with wild curls and scraped knees, caught between science and structure and childhood, expected to be perfect before she ever had the chance to be herself.
He wasn't sure what was more surprising—that he wasn't afraid of her…or that he was fascinated with the parts of her that were achingly, unmistakably normal.
To his surprise, Maya laughed – a light, melodic sound that brightened the room. Her eyes sparkled with amusement.
"Oh Tony," she said, shaking her head. "I was far from the perfect little lady they hoped for."
Tony leaned back, feigning skepticism. "You? A troublemaker?" He shook his head. "What, did you sneak reading books after bedtime?"
Her laughter deepened, her shoulders shaking slightly as she regarded him with playful reproach. "Oh, I'm afraid I was much worse."
He shook his head, trying to imagine Maya committing any real offenses.
She closed her eyes, recalling memories. "Every morning my mother made sure that I started the day perfectly dressed. Braided hair, curls, ribbons. And the reminder that pretty little girls, proper young ladies, did not come home looking like they had crawled through dirty caves for the day."
"And you?" Tony prompted, grinning.
"And every single evening, without fail, she'd have to scrub my face, untangle my hair, and make me presentable again before the evening meal," Maya admitted, her voice rich with humor and affection. But as her laughter faded, her gaze lowered, her smile softening into something more wistful.
Tony leaned forward towards her; his expression was gentle. He hesitated for only a moment before placing his hand lightly over hers. "I'm sorry, Maya," he said quietly, his voice thick with sincerity. "I didn't mean to bring up something painful."
Maya turned to him, her smile faint but genuine. "Those memories aren't painful," she replied, her tone reflective. "They're beautiful. There just weren't enough of them."
Slowly, she pulled her hand away and took another slow, thoughtful sip of her coffee. Verdeschi instinctively knew it was to shift to something lighter.
He took a quick breath. Then, with just a bit of hesitance, he told her.
"Since I'm not on duty today, how would you like a personal tour of Moonbase Alpha? I need to stop in at Weapons Section for a few moments. Maybe later, we could see about getting some more furniture and stuff for your quarters. Help you make it your own."
He wasn't sure what answer he had expected but her response caught him off guard.
"I can't very well sit in here all day and simply wish for the universe to turn back time, can I?" she answered, a subtle resolve in her voice as she looked at him.
Tony shook his head. "No, none of us can," he agreed, his tone gentle.
Their eyes met, a moment of shared understanding passing between them.
Tony stood up, extending his hand down to her with an encouraging smile. "Well, let's clean this up, shall we?"
Maya hesitated for a brief second, then reached up and took his hand.