The Morgan

Chapter 3

Garrett sits on the bed watching Jesse pacing her quarters, with a half-smile plastered on his face.

Jesse stops and turns to him, "What are you smiling at?"

"I ain't smilin," he says in his Texas drawl.

"Yeah, you are."

"No, I'm half smilin."

She starts to pace again.

"Why don't ya sit... tell me what's got ya wearin out the floor on my ship."

"It's my ship, and I don't want to sit."

"I'm the one who has to repair my- your ship."

"One hundred and twelve years."

"What is?"

She pauses and turns to him again, "That's how long she says she and that little girl was drifting. A hundred and twelve," she takes a seat, "is that even possible?"

"I can't say for sure, but it aint impossible... I mean we spend years in stasis sometimes."

"No one's spent more than six years."

"Well, if what she's sayin is true... then ships were a lot slower back then. Today we can get three times the distance in half the time those old thangs would've gone."

She turns and looks at him.

"No Jesse," he says firmly.

"What?"

"I know what ya thinkin."

"Do ya?"

"You want to go find that ship."

She smiles, then stands and says, "that's a damn good idea. Why'd I not think of that?"

"Clever," he says as he stands. He puts his hands on her shoulders, "that ship may not be operational, or it's been destroyed. We don't even know which direction to go in. It's stupid. A waste'a time and not to mention dangerous. More than that, people wanna get home to see their families."

"I know."

"We've been out here five years already, Jesse."

She puts her hands on his waist, "I know, Garret."

"Please Jesse."

She leans in and kisses him. He moves his hand to her waist. She pulls back, smiles at him, then moves in again. They kiss passionately, as they sink onto the bed.

Ava stands outside the room, with her ear close to the door. When she hears the wet kissing sounds, she pulls herself away, turns and lowers her head. When some subtle moaning starts up, she raises her head again and clenches her jaw. Her eyes fill with determination and she turns back to the door, raises her fist, and moves in to knock. Her fist pauses an inch from the cold steel. She closes her eyes and takes a deep, calming breath, then lowers her hand, turns, and walks away.

Paige is eating what looks like grey slop when Ava enters the medical bay. She looks up at her, then spoons the slop into her mouth. Her face grimaces.

"You enjoyin that slop?" Ava asks as she storms towards the ocean of stars outside the window and glares out at them.

Paige closes her eyes, gulps, then opens her eyes again and says, "it's erm..." a shiver runs down her spine, "...different."

Anger starts to build in Ava's voice as she says, "It tastes like shit. But it's good for ya."

Paige notices, but ignores it and says, "My mum used to say that about medicine. Not in such a colourful phrase, but something similar. If it tastes bad, then it's good for you. Any medicine that tastes sweet is useless." She takes another spoon and repeats the process.