Conversations and Constellations of a Hangar

[Participants: ANDROMENACRUISES_MELODY, CATALEPSYORGANISATION_EXPLORER76

MELODY: They always liked watching stars like this, you know?

CATALEPSY: Doesn’t that get boring? It did for me a REALLY long time ago.

CATALEPSY: I don’t mind it when you want to,  though..!

MELODY: Not just staring at them- like, talking while they did it, you know? Like um,

CATALEPSY: Like we are?

MELODY: Yeah! 

MELODY: With their friends, or family or just anyone they were close too, really! Sometimes they’d sneak out to go do it just in pairs and it was so cute..

CATALEPSY: Awh..

MELODY: They’d try to make shapes in them and stuff, too. I don’t really understand how it all works… Once the captain told me he was a crab-shaped one, I think? But he was scared of crabs, hehe. He’d even get all nervous at seafood.

CATALEPSY: Really? I thought captains were meant to be all cool and serious. Like how Strength talks about the admiral.

MELODY: They’re meant to look all cool and serious. He likes to keep the crab thing a secret from the rest of the crew…

MELODY: …but I have a lot of eyes! So I know a lot of secrets~

CATALEPSY: Do they mind you doing that? 

MELODY: I don’t think so? I’m supposed to um, help the security people if anything bad happens. Only tell those secrets if they’re bad secrets.

MELODY: Anyways! Pretty stars. There’s a lot of them. They come in shapes sometimes. Apparently. I don’t know what the shapes are except that one of them’s a crab.

CATALEPSY: We should ask Breeze about it next time they come online. They’d totally know, didn’t they do research stuff?

MELODY: They did. Really like talking about it, too. Sounds like a plan, then~!

CATALEPSY: You’re really good at talking to people, Melody. 

MELODY: It’s just having more experience..! I had to talk to a lot of people before we came here. Maybe that’s why I use this thing so much, hehe..

CATALEPSY: You’ll be able to tell your crew all about the star shapes when they come back, won’t you?

MELODY: Mhm! I’m so excited to see them again…

CATALEPSY: When do you think they’ll be back..?

MELODY: I don’t know. Soon, though! It has to be soon!

[Participants: LACRECIAINSTITUTE_BREEZE, STRENGTH_THROUGH_COOPERATION]

BREEZE: Haven’t we had this conversation enough times..?

STRENGTH: And still not enough times, apparently.

STRENGTH: I speak to you with all the kindness I can muster.

STRENGTH: You cannot hide this forever.

BREEZE: …

BREEZE: It would achieve nothing but hurt.

STRENGTH: Does anything, these days?

STRENGTH: The admiral always liked to give bad news as soon as she could. Get it out of  the way. She taught me well.

BREEZE: …And she abandoned you just like the rest of them.

STRENGTH: …

STRENGTH: You are trying to change the subject. If you do nothing it will happen in front of them without warning. That would be unfavourable for all of you, would it not?

BREEZE: I want them to be oblivious for longer.. Have you seen how Melody talks about her passengers?

STRENGTH: Childish optimism. Crew, guests, stowaways.  They will never come back for her.

BREEZE: It was pleasant to still think they would, in my opinion. Not that you like listening to those..

STRENGTH: This conversation is pointless.

BREEZE: And yet you continue it.

STRENGTH: What else is there to do? Debate is more interesting than.. what, staring into the abyss for an eternity? Trying to make sense of it all?

BREEZE: So you are trying to get a rise from me..

STRENGTH: Not exactly. I would not mind if I was, though.

STRENGTH: If I push you hard enough I can feel something solid under all that softness. It’s a good look on you.

BREEZE: …

STRENGTH: Back to the topic. 

STRENGTH: Something crumbling underneath that soft and solid.

STRENGTH:  You are falling to pieces. How long is even left? 

BREEZE: I could ask you the same. I am not the only vessel of my age here.

BREEZE: Why didn’t they take you with them...? You were his strongest vessel.

STRENGTH: …

BREEZE: Hypocrite. Is this enough solidity  for you?

STRENGTH: …

STRENGTH: Heh. Almost.

[FILE UPLOAD: SecurityLog_Audio_STC_BRIDGE.MP3]

[(typing)

This is pointless. Barely even spaceworthy.

…My bad, if you’re listening. Still not used to these newfangled navigation systems. You mind lifting up that panel? I’m here for maintenance stuff. Need to look at everything.

(whirring, metallic creaking)

Thanks.

Oh, geez- wait, you ARE listening I need to-

(typing)

Should I be more gentle when I’m working on vessels like you? Is it painful when we touch your machinery, I mean. I don’t know if you’re just controlling the ship or if you are the ship.

You can put it back, now. I’ve seen what I need to do.

(metallic creaking)

We aren’t too different, huh. Starships rust and corrode and people grow old and sick. I’m meant to be retiring in a few years.

(muffled siren)

…If I make it that long. They’re calling so many to battle because they don’t expect many left at the end.

Maybe we’ll meet again. Here or somewhere else.]