Contentment Disrupted

Posted on Sun Nov 22nd, 2020 @ 12:20pm by Lieutenant JG Shaille Levine & Warrant Officer Koh Ottasu
Edited on on Sat Dec 5th, 2020 @ 3:26pm

Mission: Enforced Intermission
Location: Personal Quarters

The couch at least, being a solid, non technological object, was free from the glitches that seemed to be plaguing the ship, and being not immediately involved in the current situation, Shaille had been enjoying the quality time with Koh, the alone time, on the couch, her legs across his lap, her head against his shoulder, a warm blanket covering them as they laughed at a pointlessly silly movie.

There were no snacks because the replicator was still offline, but that was okay. She was content and content was a good place to be. Even the cold from the malfunctioning environmental controls didn't seem to phase her, especially not with his softly furred body on one side of her and a warm blanket on the other. Indeed, she was just content.

Koh had a smile on his face as he sat and watched the movie. The movie wasn't the only reason he was content, but everything seemed to just be on this side of good. The missing snacks and the chill in the air didn't seem to sour his mood either. Not until he could see the beginning of the breathing fog from his breath as he exhaled.

"I... I think things are getting a little extra chilly." he commented. "I'd think we should get you extra bundled up soon."

Shaille turned into him, turning her face up so she could look at him, reaching up, fingertips tracing softly from the tip of his ear down until her hand rested on his cheek. "You worry too much, I have you to keep me warm," she said with a smile, despite the shiver that ran through her. "But, you know if you really want to warm me..."

Before she could finish her words, the voice broke over the comms system.

"All hands, this is Captain Abigail Laurens. All non essential personnel are hereby ordered to immediately begin evacuation procedures and report to your nearest evacuation point. I repeat, all non essential personnel are hereby ordered to immediately begin evacuation procedures and report to your nearest evacuation point. This is not a drill."

There was a brief moment where Shaille's heart stopped, her hand frozen against his cheek. "Is this a glitch?" she asked softly, a hint of hope in her voice. "Or a joke?"

Koh froze, looking up at the ceiling as though that were the source of the announcement. His features went from concerned to worried to possibly horrified.

"We can't afford to take the chance." he muttered. Then quickly turned to face her, "S.. Shaille, we can't take the chance." his concern and fear now started to mount. "We need to go, now!" he sounded much more awake now, much more aware. He started to stand up, gently moving so that Shaille could move off of his lap. He stood and took a breath, chilled air filling his lungs. "Let's go."

The tone of his voice, the look on his face, Shaille froze momentarily before scrambling to her feet so that he could get up. "You'll need your flight uniform," she said matter of factly as she started moving toward their bedroom. "I'll grab a duffle. Koh, grab those holoimages off the dresser? I want to take them." As she moved toward the bedroom, she had already started peeling away her sweater, suddenly oblivious to the cold.

Koh was already moving towards the closet for his uniform. Putting it on was habit by now, but with the stress of the impending evacuation, now it seemed cumbersome, difficult. He took a breath to steady himself and donned his flight suit. A snap here, a catch there, and he was suited up. "Take my flight jacket, you'll need it more than me if it stays this cold." he hopped on one foot to put his first boot on, then nearly fell onto the couch while putting on the second.

He stood, and carefull colleted the holoimage frames from the dresser. The two of them, together. Much less stressful times than the past few hours that was certain. He then followed her path into the bedroom to pack a duffel of his own. He almost shoveled clothes into the duffel, along with a few ratios of food. Well, food might have been a stretch for the preserved rations, but in a pinch you could pretend they were edible.

The holoimage frames were carefully laid in place in all the clothing, protected from any harm. The last thing Koh reached for was a simple stone. Smooth, round, and very flat. The perfect stone to skip across a lake. He rubbed it between his hands to warm it up a bit before placing it in a separate pocket from the frames.

"Worrystone from home. Silly I know." he said, quickly as he finished packing. "Okay, I got the frames, I got my lucky rock. Anything we can't replace?"

Having changed into her uniform, Shaille pulled his flight jacket on around her shoulders, holding it tightly around her. He was right, it was much warmer than her uniform, and it smelled like him. She glanced around quickly, a hand hesitating momentarily at the base of her throat. "My pendant, it was on the dresser," she said quietly as she opened the top drawers, rummaging inside. "I need my pendant."

"I didn't see it when I grabbed the holoframes. Maybe it's by the bedside?" Koh moved to begin to examine their bedside tables. Nothing. He pretty much rolled across the bed to reach the other one faster, "Nothing here by the bed." he heard her opening the drawers, which stopped him from suggesting she do just that. She didn't go anywhere without it when she was off shift, it's value was more than just some replicated object.

He zipped up his duffel, and brought her bag out too for her. He waited by the door. Ready for whatever would happen.

"Got it!" Shaille called from bathroom, walking into the main living area, securing the pendant around her neck as she moved. "Is there anything else we need? Anything else irreplaceable?" she asked, her voice filled with concern as she glanced around their living space.

Koh did a quick once over of their living space. "No, no no, no, no. Okay so you, me, pictures, pendant, lucky rock. Everything else we can fabricate or replace. Let's go." he started to leave, but as soon as he hit the door he turned, gave a slow bow to the entirety of the room, and muttered something in the tongue of Ts'usu. A prayer, perhaps, but Koh usually wasn't superstitious.

"Grandma taught it to me. I'll tell you about it later. We just, we could use all the luck we can get." and with that, he stepped out and held the door open. No funny business with the doors now.

Taking one last look around their quarters, Shaille stepped through the door he had opened for her and waited in the corridor, taking a moment to pat herself down. The pendant was around her neck, tucked under her uniform where it wouldn't be in the way or seen. She had her uniform, her weapon, everything she needed. Drawing in a deep, anxious breath, she looked up at him. "There's one more thing I need that I can't replicate, fabricate or replace," she said quietly.

Koh gave her a goofy smile, ears perked. "Is it me?" he teased, but he knew how much she meant to him, and figured she felt the same. Knew she felt the same. He let the door close as the pair started towards their designated stations. "I'm heading to the hangar bay, they need me in the shuttle. Wherever you wind up, be safe. We'll be together again soon enough." a gentle press of his forehead to hers, lingering contact for a moment longer. Always wanting that extra moment.

With his forehead against hers, she bit her bottom lip for a moment, her right hand rising to the base of his ear, caressing softly. "I can't fabricate, replicate or replace you," she whispered softly. "Be safe. I need you." She closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying the closeness, even more given she didn't know when she would have it again. "Be safe. I'll get the pods launched and join one of the shuttles. I'll let you know which when I know."

"I'll be covering you all from the outside. Stay safe, be smart, and we'll be together soon enough." he whispered to her, holding her close. "Take my duffel with you." he mentioned, "It's got my lucky rock. Wherever you go, Ts'usu goes with you."

She nodded slightly, rising on her boots to brush a soft kiss across the corner of his mouth. "Be safe. I'll see you soon."

He gave her a smile, turning after the kiss to hold her close to him. "This will soon be behind us. Stay safe." he whispered to her, a thought meant only for her. A lingering touch, and then he turned and headed off towards the general direction of the flight deck. The lifts weren't too reliable, but the access ladders always worked.