Puzzlement was the look that struck Solomon, glancing up at the scratched hanging clock, and seeing he only had twenty-five minutes to the meeting. He clipped his tablet to his belt and began walking down the cold steel corridors to the Mess Hall. Feeling unusually nervous he dodged the eyes of the base crew he passed and fellow soldiers, hiding his face in a less than formal salute as they acknowledged him. Turning the corner to the Mess Hall entrance, he paused and took a deep breath, prepared himself, and then he entered. The Mess Hall cleaners, still clearing the tables and kitchen could be seen slowly working away, a single blonde-haired woman, in a vibrant low cut electric blue dress sat at the table of the first company. Sandra raised her head once the soft sound of his boots on the hard floor and rugs began to make their advance. Solomon noticed immediately that something was wrong. He hesitated mid stride before beginning again. Sandra's eyes were puffy and red. It was clear she had been crying. She stood with a weak smile, although holding back her tears, she did look genuinely happy to see Solomon. As she stood, Solomon could see her slender shape, the dress clung to her flesh, revealing most of her figure to the eyes, the dress flowing down her smooth legs, stopping just above her knees. She moved out to welcome Solomon to the table, still smiling through wet lips she spoke with a failing voice as she dabbed the end of her small nose with an already damp tissue "I'm glad you came, I've had such a terrible evening." Solomon sat at the table with a confused look upon his face, his stomach turning in to knots from the wreaking smell from the cleaning products used by the kitchen staff. "But it has only been a few hours since you were having the best day?" corrected Solomon, trying to bring back the happy thoughts of the adventure ahead. "My fiancé left me." said Sandra after a few moments of silence with fresh tears beginning to fill her sparkling eyes. Solomon nervously and awkwardly moved across and sat next to the sobbing Sandra and softly placed his arm over her shoulder and spoke with a whisper "Hey, it's all right, lass. Tell you what. D'ya fancy getting out of this stinking place?" Sandra's hair bobbed up and down as she nodded to Solomon's suggestion, her golden hair freely flowing over her head and settled upon the table. Solomon helped Sandra to her feet and led her down the cold corridors in her electric blue dress and his base olive naval coat draped over her shoulders. Solomon was surprised how easy it was to make her smile as they walked down the corridors, he blatantly had no idea how to deal with a sobbing woman. "I hope you don't plan on roaming the field in those." He jested noting her sparkling blue stilettos.
The Docking Yard was deserted at night, only the security drones sat idle until an unauthorised entry was made. There before them, in all its magnificent beauty, sat the proud blue hull of The Evergreen, with Solomon's rank of Lieutenant Commander, he could legitimately board the ship any time without cause, "C'mon, then. I'll show you what it's all about" he said with a reassuring smile upon his smooth handsome face. Sandra looked nervously around through her still red and swollen eyes at the idle sentry bots gleaming weapons before agreeing to enter the ships Docking Entrance. The tall blue pillar extended from the ship's hull acted as a large elevator, capable of carrying tonnes of equipment up into the belly of The Evergreen. Solomon sat on an unopened box of ammunition smiling and repeated himself whilst patting the wooden crate that he had sat upon "C'mon". Once Sandra was sat next to Solomon, her blue dress extremely out of place in the military surroundings. Solomon got up and walked over to the side of the internal pillar and entered his own code and with a judder, the elevator began to rise. The entire pillar began to retreat into the ship, section by section. The Elevator ride was ridden in silence, only the noise of metal and machinery could be heard, Sandra was feeling anxious, excited, and destroyed all at once, she could not show a single emotion at this time without breaking down. Once aboard the ship, Solomon took Sandra's hand and began to pull, directing her down the dimly luminated corridors of cold metal with ease as a warm feeling ran through her soul. After half an hour of walking through the maze of corridors and doors of this most beautiful ship, Solomon stopped before a door reading 'Command Bridge' with no access panels or buttons to press, Solomon cleared his throat and spoke his password. "SolGord-one-one-three-one" and the doors sprung open. The large circular Command Bridge could be seen through the narrow metal door, a scent of vanilla could be found as they entered. A red carpet ran down the main walkway, down to three large luxurious leather chairs with dark wood panelling in their rear sat in the middle of the front area of the room, a blue carpet broke off down the two raised tiers of consoles that surrounded the flanks of the seats on two heights. The Helm of the Bridge could be seen in front of the three luxury chairs, two large high backed leather seats surrounded by complex controls stood at the front of a large, armoured glass viewing window where the metal body leading up to the smooth front nose of The Evergreen could be seen.
Sandra stood speechless in the threshold of the Command Bridge as a smooth female's voice began to speak. "Hello Solomon, how are we feeling? It's a bit late for you, isn't it?" said the voice, Solomon began walking towards the left of the luxury seats and replied as though it was normal for a voice to sound through the room
"Yeah, not too bad... how about you, Eve?"
"I am fine, and thank you for asking Sol. And how is Sandra?"
Sandra remained Silent and Solomon realised how strange this must seem and turned around, gesturing his hand to reply.
"I... I'm fine... thanks..." She sniffed and Solomon began fiddling at a wooden panel from behind the left chair.
"Did I say something wrong, miss? I do apologise if I have upset you in any way..."
Solomon had now pulled a wooden panel off and was clinking glasses together inside. Standing up with two bottles of Red Wine cupped between his arms and a bottle of champaign, Solomon replied to the voice, "Nah, she's going to be good as new in about half an hour once she's got some of this down her!" he said with a grin. The voice spoke a final time "Well, have fun, you two. And do call me if you need me."
Solomon poured a large glass of red wine and handed it to Sandra and whispered with a smirk "Don't tell anyone about my secret stash, it's for emergencies" Sandra accepted the glass and drank deeply letting out an unusually loud belch for a non-carbonated drink, much to her embarrassment and to Solomon's amusement, who returned with a slightly pathetic one that he apologized for his feeble attempt.