Kyril Sinderman watched with a smile as Captain Hyphon walked limply towards the boarding ramp of his ship, the Crew of The Evergreen had just finished refuelling his vessel. His pilot was giving the thumbs up thought the cockpit glass as the engines fired and spluttered into life. Winslow closely followed Hyphon with his eyes, like a stray dog, hungrily, hopefully sniffing for food, Hyphon merely shrugged his heavy shoulders in disbelief as he climbed the ramp. Kyril's smile widened as he saw the frustration in Winslow's hateful face as he cast an elegant wave to the disembarking ship. The whining sound of the transport ship soon died away, and no sooner had Kyril turned to his security party, thanked them, and sent them away before he turned his attention back to his own ship.
"Eve, prepare the convoy for Jump 2. we are behind schedule."
"Yes, Captain."
Solomon stood at the silver reinforced metal door of the command bridge, taking in a deep sigh. Needing to enter the room, but not having the willing energy was a new sensation to him. Solomon loved his job. Absolutely loved it. He loved The Evergreen, he loved space, he loved every single aspect of his job. So why was he feeling this dread of entering the Bridge? Amy Sykes. A dreadful woman, O.C.D. was an understatement for her behaviour. In the few hours she had on her first shift on the bridge, she had rearranged the entire bridge crew, changed the ordering procedures, and removed the coffee machine. Solomon hated her for the latter.
"SolGord, one, one, three, one"
"Welcome Lieutenant Commander Gordon, there has been no developments to report" said Eve soothingly, Solomon wasted no time responding to Eve, he strutted over to a locked cupboard, Commander Sykes eyed him like a hawk, making absolutely sure that he made no mess and changed nothing. The blue carpets under his feet softened his footsteps, walking along the right hand side weapons bench he reached the locked cupboard. Fetched out a little key from his pocket and opened it, hauling out a large piece of equipment that had a very distinct odour. Without a second wasted, the entire bridge crew began sniffing hungrily. They knew the scent. A scent they had longed for. A scent they had dearly missed for the last two days on Sykes shift. Coffee. Solomon set up the large coffee machine on top of the empty cupboard space, just to the side of the weapons desk, humming an up beat tune to himself, This made the tactical officers smile. A loud crunching echoed through the silent Command Bridge as he turned on the coffee machine and it began to grind the coffee beans into a fine powder, waiting for hot water to make them into a delicious hot beverage.
Solomon barely heard Commander Sykes closing in on him. Her eyes wide in disbelief. "Commander, coffee is forbidden on this bridge." she said in a monotone. Solomon pulled out his favourite mug and started whistling as if he hadn't heard her. Lovingly smelling the coffee and allowing its scent to surround the room. Solomon turned to Amy with an indifferent look upon his face. "That will do now, Amy, you are not needed. Your shift has ended one hundred and twenty seconds ago." said Solomon in a giddy tone, "and coffee is permitted on my shift, so coffee for everyone!" He continued taking a sip of the steaming hot coffee with an exaggerated sigh of pleasure. Before Amy could retort or Solomon lower his mug, a soft klaxon sounded in the bridge and Eve sprung back to life. "Lieutenant Commander, we have a code sixteen." the Bridge crew began whispering amongst themselves. Shock and disbelief was evident in their eyes. Trained and as battle hardened they had been over the years, never prepares them for the news of a code sixteen. "Murder?" said Solomon, unable to raise his voice any higher than a whisper. Once finding his voice he then found his command. "Who? Where? Send a security team and-" Solomon's voice trailed off as Kyril stormed into the room, his uniform hanging untidily from his body, clearly abruptly awoken with the news. "Eve, send a Criminal Inspection Team down to The L.W.R. with two security teams. I want Doctor Fredrick's body taken off show, and the entire ship picked clean for the bastard who has done this!" growled Kyril as he stomped through the room tucking his shirt in as he entered the Captains Conference Room, "Solomon, with me." he commanded and with a wave of a frail hand, he beckoned Solomon to him.
Lyra sat with her head in her hands. Her usual flowing auburn hair lay deadly still. The loss of Ward Doctor Fredrick had shaken her. It had shaken everybody. A murder upon The Evergreen. It was no mystery that the Ward Doctor had been murdered, he had been missing for two days, but the way he was found, mutilated beyond recognition, hands and feet missing. They only discovered it was the good Doctor by his bloodied name badge upon his shirt. His teeth had been removed so no dental records would confirm him. Fighting back the tears that had formed in her eyes, she sniffed back the cold fear of a killer aboard the ship and began to count the pills into cups. The white walls of the medical bay glistening from the fresh clean, as it had been dirtied in the fight with the pirates with blood and muck, The remaining wounded, a reminder of what had passed. Drying her warm face, she began handing out the cups to the wounded men and women, often casting a glance to Fredrick's desk, where he used to take a quick snooze during pill time. His childish voice and speech used to annoy her to the high heavens. Now, she will miss it.
Sandra sat, deflated in a corner chair, watching Lyra hand out the small white paper cups, taking a large bite from yet another one of Lyra's cookies with a sigh. 'was this life unsheltered from father?' she thought to herself as Lyra approached. 'Death and silent coldness surrounds us, only a metal wall is protecting us from suffocation...' Sandra's thoughts trailed off as Lyra's quick footsteps came closer. "Here, take this, it'll help" she said to Sandra offering her a single green pill with a small paper cup of water. Without question, Sandra took it, swallowing it greedily. Lyra smiled as she sat down opposite Sandra. Sandra's gloomy appearance worried her, Sandras once bouncy blonde hair was greasy and scrapped back. Her eyes sunken deeper into her skull, showing very little or if any sleep had taken place in the last two days.
"Don't worry Sandy, the pills will kick in soon."
"What is it? Morphine? To kill the fear?"
Lyra let out a hoarse laugh. "No, no, just a rhino tranquilliser."
Sandra dropped the crumbs of cookie she had picked off her combat shirt as she looked up at Lyra, unable to blink until she saw a smile spread across Lyra's petite face. "got you!" chuckled Lyra as she reassured Sandra it was just a mild Anxiety Sedative. Sandra's face seemed to crack as she was forced to smile for the first time in two days.