Star Bound Liberty (Complete)

Chapter Twenty

I left the flight deck with no idea where I needed to go to find my quarters. I didn't actually know who I could ask for directions. All the marines in my temporary guard were gone, my shuttle locked up. I didn't even know how to get back into it, even if I wanted to. Either Miss Georgie or Doc Brandson could help so I decided to go looking for them. I was closest to the Ponics bay but it was clearly empty and Miss Georgie's office locked up.

The medical bay was busy with the normal leave induced medical problems, but both Doc and Sonya were off as well. Petty Officer Vatta was on duty and she didn't know where either of them were.

'Is there anything wrong? Do you need me to call them in for you?'

'No, I'm all good. Thank you though. I'll leave you to it, Ma'am.' And just in time too, a sailor brought in a friend who had a smashed in nose. Bar fight I'd bet. I went to the staffroom to collect a few things from my locker. I pulled on my tool belt and grabbed my art book. My coffee mug wasn't there, which was strange. I remember locking it away in there before I left my shift yesterday after my pity party in the observation deck. I turned around and found it on the bench.

Corporal Patterson walked into the room. I stepped around him to grab my mug and moved back towards the door, only my mug didn't budge and I ended up on the floor.

'Holy crap. Are you OK?' Patterson was trying really hard not to laugh.

'Yeah, peachy.' I stood up and rubbed my wrist. I took a look at the offending object and realised it had been glued down onto the kitchenette bench.

'Man! That was my favourite mug. What a waste.' Patterson was laughing but trying to hide it. 'Damn, she got me good.'

'Yes, she did. You alright? Let me have a look at your wrist. Its bruising.' He pulled on it carefully and checked it out. I sucked in a breath when he felt the around the bones. 'Same wrist as last time?'

'Yes, but it doesn't feel as bad. Just bruised I think.' I looked back at my mug and huffed in frustration. I was going to have to buy another mug now.

'Does it feel different? Bruising green instead of blue? What's your simbiot like?' I looked at Patterson. He had brown hair that was slighter longer than regulation with a slim, athletic build. I liked the smile lines around his mouth and eyes. His face showed genuine interest in Ayms and I.

'I'm slowly getting used to things. I forget at times that he's even there, then other times I wonder how I even lived without him. He's definitely got his own personality, cheeky as all heck. But he expresses things unlike anyone I've ever met before.' I showed him my bruised wrist. 'The physiological changes are really incredible. If you'd like to learn more, feel free to ask Doc Brandson.'

'I might do that. Thanks.' He smiled.

'Just what ever you do, keep it all to yourself, OK? There's only a few people I trust with that kind of information.'

'I'm honoured. I will, thank you.' I waved him goodbye and went about trying to find someone who could help me find my new room.

I went to the old bunk room and everything of mine was gone. I wondered to the observation deck, but found a three sets of couples have a picnic and enjoying the view so I left them to it.

Jim was in supply when I arrived. He was crazy busy working on incoming goods.

'Hey Jim, got a sec?!' I had to yell over top of the noise of machinery, staff and grav lifts.

'Heya lovey. What can I do you for?' His ginger hair had been trimmed.

'Looking good, Jim. Nice hair cut. Whose the lady?'