The Morgan

Chapter 4

Jesse enters her ready room and walks around an oval table made of cold steel situated in the centre of the room. There are three chairs either side, and one at either end. Ava sits close to the head of the table. Besides her is George, a thin pale skinned man in his mid-thirties, not particularly handsome, with bushy, brown hair. Next to him is Maddy, a tall broad and muscular, black man in his forties, with short dark hair, and a short beard. On the opposite side are twins Kennedy and Dallas. They both have an athletic build, and they're both pretty, with long auburn hair, and blue eyes. The chair next to them is empty.

Ava sits stone-faced and slouched in her chair.

The others talk quietly amongst themselves.

Jesse takes her seat at the head of the table but doesn't look at anyone. She picks up a ten-inch, glass tablet and starts reading what's on it.

Ava glares at her through the rear of the tablet.

Jesse doesn't notice.

"Hey cap." Ava says as she sits up, "Where's our engineer got to?"

The captain looks up, sees the glare and contempt in Ava's eyes. A sullen look falls upon her face and she releases a rush of air through her nose.

Kennedy, Dallas, and George, look at her. Maddy busies himself by reading from his own tablet. He knows what Ava's problem is.

Jesse takes a moment to adjust herself, then asks in a firm and authoritative voice, "you mean where is first officer Briggs?"

George sees Maddy ignoring the conversation and decides to do the same.

Kennedy and Dallas turn to Ava.

Ava shrugs, "I guess I do."

Back to the captain.

"He'll be here in a moment."

"Is he checking the systems, or is he feeling a little worn out."

Jesse glares at Ava.

The twins lean in closer.

Feeling the atmosphere thickening, and seeing the anger growing in Jesse, Maddy takes a quiet, deep breath, and says, "hey cap... I've checked the systems like we discussed."

Jesse turns to him. Her eyes lighten.

"What ya thinking?"

"I couldn't find any glitches or signs of a virus, but a reboot would still be the best option. To be safe."

Jesse gives him a nod.

He smiles and nods back.

Ava slouches back in her chair.

With this, the twins lose interest and now notices George staring at them.

They give him an awkward half-smile, then turn back to face the captain. Kennedy is older than her twin Dallas by thirty seconds, and always speaks first. She asks, "What course are we to set?"

Ava sits up again, and says before Jesse can speak, "I think we should be going home, don't you... cap?"

They all feel the attitude added to that last syllable.

"Ava!" Dallas says.

Ava turns to find Dallas glaring at her, so she glares back and says, "what! Ya got somethin ta say?"

Kennedy turns to her, "don't start your shit with us! We don't know what your beef is this time-

"That's right, you don't."