This last week has been interesting. For the first four days I was quarantined to a room that was, thankfully, distanced from the others, and always had someone outside my door. Everett came by every hour on the dot between 7 AM and 9 PM. He would open the door, either chat briefly with me or give me my meals of watery oatmeal and some water, and then leave. It was actually quite amusing. On the fifth day, he escorted me to the mess hall for breakfast, to the "Apple Core"-nicknamed by Eli-where I met the scientists that worked with Nicholas and Eli, and then to the Observation Deck. there he told me I was welcome to wander the ship but I would always have someone keeping an eye on me.
Yesterday I noticed a KINO following me. That was amusing. Within 30 seconds I figured out that it was Eli. He eagerly joined me for breakfast and we chatted. I ended up spending most of yesterday watching Eli work. Nicholas didn't even acknowledge if I was there or not and the other scientists said hello before ignoring me as well. I, honestly, didn't mind.
That evening, I found Everett and TJ and asked them to meet me in my room briefly. Though Everett was wary-can't blame the man-both said they would. I was able to drag Nicholas from his work with a bit of help from Eli. When Nicholas and I entered my room, TJ and Everett were waiting. That was when I informed them that I was a witch.
All it took was 3 minutes to have all three convinced. Because of Draco's quick thinking, I had on my person two shrunken, seven level trunks, both packed full with supplies and trinkets. I enlarged my trunk and opened the first compartment that held all of my personal items. I stepped aside to allow both Everett and Nicholas a chance to examine it before I placed Draco's shrunken trunk in that compartment and opened up the seventh compartment.
Books, books, and more books filled the largest compartment and no one moved to check if it was real as I pulled a book out and placed it in Nicholas' hands. Shock was clearly seen in all three as I started to explain why only they were being told and the likelihood of very many others knowing was slim. I was very grateful when none pressed very many questions and promised to keep their mouths shut.
I caught Everett on his way out and informed him of my plans for my room. Though he was not pleased that I was asking him to, for now, be the only on-other than TJ and Nicholas-to come and fetch me, he was willing to do so till I told others. I placed the book I had given Nicholas briefly into Everett's hands and told him that he could read it. "A way to make the peace between you three and me," I called it, reassuring him that Nicholas and TJ would also receive books that night as well. He seemed rather grateful as he left.
Eli picked me up for breakfast this morning, chatting away about Destiny and her systems. There was a shift in the ship's speed halfway through our breakfast and he talked at high speed about FTL, or "Faster Than Light". Basically, it's the speed at which the ship travels at normally. The ship will drop out of FTL for a planet with supplies or to refuel using the stars. By the end of his explanation, we were standing at a console in the gate room, watching the wormhole settle.
Five hours on the clock made people smile as information about a plentiful planet with breathable air drifted around. A team went out, Eli included, and came back within an hour with the best news the crew could ask for: food.
Fruits, vegetables, and herbs came back in loads. Even meat was found, though very little was gathered. It was still a blessing and there was enough food brought back that, by the time we jumped back into FTL, there wasn't worry about starvation for a good couple of weeks.
Though I smiled and celebrated, I never touched the food. It wasn't for me to partake in. The sixth compartment of both Draco's and I's trunks were full of food. I wasn't bout to feast when I had my own. Even if I wanted to share, it would only be enough to feet everyone for a week or two. I wasn't surprised when Everett pulled me aside and asked why I wasn't eating. I told Everett the truth and informed him that, starting tomorrow, I wouldn't eat any of their food. He seemed a bit take back by that but did agree that it was a good idea.
I wasn't surprised to find Nicholas at a concole in the Core Room when I wandered through to get to my room. I was pleased he had a bit of the food from the planet but it was hard to see him so secluded, so focused on something that could wait.
Maybe, one of these days, I'll get him to lighten up a bit. Only if I can get him to trust me. I better get back to my room. I have a lot to do.
Yesterday I noticed a KINO following me. That was amusing. Within 30 seconds I figured out that it was Eli. He eagerly joined me for breakfast and we chatted. I ended up spending most of yesterday watching Eli work. Nicholas didn't even acknowledge if I was there or not and the other scientists said hello before ignoring me as well. I, honestly, didn't mind.
That evening, I found Everett and TJ and asked them to meet me in my room briefly. Though Everett was wary-can't blame the man-both said they would. I was able to drag Nicholas from his work with a bit of help from Eli. When Nicholas and I entered my room, TJ and Everett were waiting. That was when I informed them that I was a witch.
All it took was 3 minutes to have all three convinced. Because of Draco's quick thinking, I had on my person two shrunken, seven level trunks, both packed full with supplies and trinkets. I enlarged my trunk and opened the first compartment that held all of my personal items. I stepped aside to allow both Everett and Nicholas a chance to examine it before I placed Draco's shrunken trunk in that compartment and opened up the seventh compartment.
Books, books, and more books filled the largest compartment and no one moved to check if it was real as I pulled a book out and placed it in Nicholas' hands. Shock was clearly seen in all three as I started to explain why only they were being told and the likelihood of very many others knowing was slim. I was very grateful when none pressed very many questions and promised to keep their mouths shut.
I caught Everett on his way out and informed him of my plans for my room. Though he was not pleased that I was asking him to, for now, be the only on-other than TJ and Nicholas-to come and fetch me, he was willing to do so till I told others. I placed the book I had given Nicholas briefly into Everett's hands and told him that he could read it. "A way to make the peace between you three and me," I called it, reassuring him that Nicholas and TJ would also receive books that night as well. He seemed rather grateful as he left.
Eli picked me up for breakfast this morning, chatting away about Destiny and her systems. There was a shift in the ship's speed halfway through our breakfast and he talked at high speed about FTL, or "Faster Than Light". Basically, it's the speed at which the ship travels at normally. The ship will drop out of FTL for a planet with supplies or to refuel using the stars. By the end of his explanation, we were standing at a console in the gate room, watching the wormhole settle.
Five hours on the clock made people smile as information about a plentiful planet with breathable air drifted around. A team went out, Eli included, and came back within an hour with the best news the crew could ask for: food.
Fruits, vegetables, and herbs came back in loads. Even meat was found, though very little was gathered. It was still a blessing and there was enough food brought back that, by the time we jumped back into FTL, there wasn't worry about starvation for a good couple of weeks.
Though I smiled and celebrated, I never touched the food. It wasn't for me to partake in. The sixth compartment of both Draco's and I's trunks were full of food. I wasn't bout to feast when I had my own. Even if I wanted to share, it would only be enough to feet everyone for a week or two. I wasn't surprised when Everett pulled me aside and asked why I wasn't eating. I told Everett the truth and informed him that, starting tomorrow, I wouldn't eat any of their food. He seemed a bit take back by that but did agree that it was a good idea.
I wasn't surprised to find Nicholas at a concole in the Core Room when I wandered through to get to my room. I was pleased he had a bit of the food from the planet but it was hard to see him so secluded, so focused on something that could wait.
Maybe, one of these days, I'll get him to lighten up a bit. Only if I can get him to trust me. I better get back to my room. I have a lot to do.
~Rachel Gold
She sighed when the KINO stopped recording. She wrapped her hands around the sphere as she stood, walking over to her trunk. The lid popped open with a nonverbal command of magic, revealing the first compartment. She placed the sphere in among trinkets and knickknacks she had collected over the years, both muggle and magical. Closing the lid, she madically unlocked the second compartment and smiled weakly. She pulled out her wand from her back pocket and went to work.
Five dark wood bookcases were built mostly by hand from the muggle kits. It wasn't till the second bookcase was nearly full did someone knock on her door. With a flick of her wand, the still floating books settled on a shelf and the trunk lid snapped shut, locking. She stuck the wand in her back pocket before she hit the door release.
She smiled, casting a quick charm on the bookcases with a twitch of the hand. "Hey Eli."
"Hey, Rachel," the math genius piped, smiling. "I just wanted to make sure you had eaten. I didn't see you touch any of the food we brought back and I know how Everett can get."
Rachel chuckled. "Yeah, I did. How was the planet?"
"It was incredible," Eli stated, shooting into an enthusiastic talk about how similar the planet had been to Earth. It wasn't till Eli asked her a question did Rachel notice she had half listened. "You OK, Rachel?"
Rachel blinked before she quickly smiled. "Yeah. Just a little tired is all."
Eli made a face, opening his mouth before closing it again. The second time he opened his mouth, words came out. "OK. I'll see you in the morning, then?"
Rachel nodded. "I'll meet you in the mess hall."
Eli smiled, clearly swallowing what he wanted to say as he stated, "See ya there then."
He waved goodbye and turned around, walking off. Rachel reached over to hit the button for the door but stopped. She took a step out of her room and looked to the left, the opposite way Eli had gone. Leaning against the wall was Everett, his arms crossed.
"You still watching me like a hawk, Everett?" Rachel asked with a gentle smile.
Everett pushed off the wall with his shoulders, standing before Rachel. "Just making sure the boy doesn't get harmed."
"There'd be no point in me harming him, Everett," Rachel stated blankly, looking worn as she continued. "He has done nothing to perk my anger."
Everett watched her for a while before stating, "Get some rest. You look worse for wear than I feel."
Rachel chuckled, turning as she commented, "I doubt that. You're carrying way too much on your shoulders for me to look worse than you feel."
And with that, her door closed, leaving the Colonel standing in the corridor alone with his thoughts before he turned and trekked after Eli.
...last for a while
