Personal Log - Dani Atarah - Plunged out of Darkness - Pt II

Posted on Sun Aug 24th, 2014 @ 5:55pm by Danielle Atarah

661 words; about a 3 minute read

Mission: In the Dark

Light bathed Dani's face, and she opened her eyes, grunting, her palm rushing up to shield her eyes. That, as it turns out, wasn't completely necessary; the bio-mechanical implants had an impeccable reaction to changes in light. She barely needed any to read or see while inside the crate, and the sudden flood of light was blocked automatically by the implants' adjustment mechanism.

And yet, it was instinct. She reached up to the lid and lifted herself up, stretching her back and legs, and jumped out nimbly.

"Had fun?" a voice intoned, not at all sympathetically.

She brushed herself off and looked up at the source of it. "Oh it was wonderful. You should sell this as the new modern travel mode. Bucket for one." She gestured briskly with her head, popping neck bones.

"Yes, I heard you were funny." The man replied with an examining stare, looking her over doubtfully. "We love funny people on here."

"Wonderful," She intoned back, picking up her duffel, "I love sarcastic people who meddle in things that don't involve them." She stared at him back defiantly. "Are you going to make hilarious jokes now, or are you taking me to my arranged accomodations?"

The man scoffed and gestured at the door. "Come with me."

Dani followed, making sure the PADD was tucked safely in her inner pocket and that her duffel was secured on her shoulder. She walked, and looked around, examining the ship she was all too familiar with.

The Bristol. A long-range supply ship that was older than she was, but always managed to get from one place to another in record times for its age. While the ship was old, the engines were almost brand new, and the only thing that prevented the ship from reaching the full Warp 9 capacity was maintaining the structural integrity of its old hull.

Then again, that was 10 years ago. They turned a corner and climbed up the ladder. Supply ships were not remotely like Starfleet ships. There were no well-lit halls with carpets on the floors, no clean bulkheads and turbolifts, no neatly arranged crew quarters and a direct access to the bridge. Supply ships were meant to carry goods; their bulk was comprised of huge container-filled cargo holds and a section of small bunk-laiden rooms for minimal crew. The ladders were painted an anti-rust red, and Dani climbed quickly after her suspicious guide, waiting to see what comes next.

This was her way to Earth. She was hoping to go on the Denmark - a much bigger, much organized ship - but that, it appears, would not be in her stars today. The Bristol was as good as any ride, and probably better than most, but it wasn't the actual ship she was concerned with.

It was her crew.

"The Captain asked to see you. Leave your bag here."

"I leave my bag with me, thank you. If the Captain wants to see me, he'll see me with it." There was no way she was going to leave anything alone in this place, no matter how strong or scary her contact's influence are. They may not kill or harm her, but they will have no qualms about going through her things or playing around with them. She couldn't risk that.

"You will see her the way we tell you to see her." The man answered angrily.

"Her..." Dani remembered the ship and its crew under captain Bentley - a slim man with sleazy eyes and soft voice. He either went through a sex change, or there was a new Captain onboard.

But Dani had no time to be surprised by the change of pronouns. The intercom near the door crackled loudly. "Stop being a jerk, Smith, and let her in. Danielle is an old friend."

She knew that voice... where did she know-- Oh. Crap.

The door opened.

* * *

Danielle Adi Atarah
Ex-Engineer
Bristol supply ship
On the way to Earth

 

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