003 VOICE LIST ONE

[deadliestviper]

[This time, there's no image. There's no fucking around with an introduction either, no explanation of the sounds of a fight broadcast over the network a few days ago, just Beatrix's resigned, tired voice.]

Yeah, I know. I have it coming.

[Private to Jesse]

I shouldn't have threatened you. You didn't deserve that.

[Private to "Nicole"]

If you don't ignore this message, please accept my apology for what little it's worth. Had I been myself, we never would have butted heads as we did.

[A sigh of breath, which could be taken as nervousness.] ...Your skill is impressive. I was prepared for a challenge, but you gave me more than I bargained for. For that, and the much-needed dose of humility, I thank you.

Comments

[umgekehrt]

Two and three times a month, lest we feel ignored. At least as long as I've been here, and that's getting towards a year now.

Any bruises to show for the flood? Do you need to get to the infirmary?

[deadliestviper]

Wonderful. Now how long to brace ourselves before the next one?

Of course n– [Shit, caught. But it wasn't as if it could've been a secret forever. She shakes her head.] No, I've had worse. Generally if nothing's broken and I haven't been stabbed it isn't worth the visit.

[umgekehrt]

I won't chase you in if it's a matter of basic first aid. Mind you do the first aid, though, as you never know when we'll be in a hostile port.

[And other comforting aspects of the barge.]

I'd say give it a week or two before the next incident-- though whether we dock someplace or get breached I'm not sure.

[deadliestviper]

It isn't the first time I've patched myself up and God willing won't be the last.

Hostile ports? Something tells me they won't let me off board even if it's a friendly dock. Come the next port I'll be the one sitting out.

[umgekehrt]

Unless you take a warden by then. If you meant you're an inmate. And there's enough of us unpaired about to take folk every so often.

Mind half the time we're better off aboard. I was nearly eaten by a plant last time.

[deadliestviper]

Right. Unless I take a warden. [He makes it sound like an invitation and she arches an eyebrow.] Are you offering?

...Fine, I'll bite. How the hell did you get mixed up with Audrey II?

[umgekehrt]

The admiral's not likely to accept that kind of request, unfortunately. But why not, consider it on offer.

Arbitrary creature, the admiral, if I haven't mentioned.

But for the story: there's a lady aboard with a certain talent for plants. She dug in and fortified a park, grew up a variety of carnivorous vegetation. I got a little too close. I didn't realize they could actually move to hunt.

[He sounds disapproving. He doesn't like plants much, but the least they could do is be consistent about their lack of hunting.]

[deadliestviper]

If you're unpaired I'm sure you can appreciate my hesitance. The idea that someone can be trusted to change me isn't something I'm eager to explore.

You didn't, but I gathered that.

[Perhaps she shouldn't, but B sounds skeptical. Even after two-headed aliens, autonomously moving plants are a little hard to swallow.] Here's hoping someone weedwhacked them down then.

This will help your skepticism, Kiddo

[umgekehrt]

Fortunately the dragon got me out.

[deadliestviper]

...What dragon?

[umgekehrt]

Local warden. Extremely useful, tactically. And very kind under normal circumstances not involving plants attacking.

[deadliestviper]

Jesus Christ, this never gets any easier. Anything else on board I wouldn't know about?

[umgekehrt]

Not knowing your context it's difficult to say. Mutants as a species and not a localized phenomenon were new for me. Vampires as well. The angel takes one aback.

[deadliestviper]

[All right, that's all pretty interesting but the bit about the angel sticks in her mind. Call it a personal interest.] An actual angel? Not a metaphor?

[umgekehrt]

I don't know that he's got a good enough grasp of metaphor to sustain being one.

[deadliestviper]

[Then maybe her faith shouldn't be a metaphor either. Maybe if she'd woken up and everything lined up so perfectly, it did mean God was on her side.] What's his name?

And I'm sorry, what's yours?

[umgekehrt]

His is Castiel. Decent man. [Said grudgingly. Stildyne being generally a nontheistic sort.]

I'm Chief Stildyne. Not that the rank means anything aboard, but it's a habit of more than a decade.

[deadliestviper]

I'll remember that.

I'm Beth. [She's more or less forgotten the possibility of using her real name. "Beth" means more here anyway.] No, if you earned it don't let it go. But chief of what, if I'm allowed to ask?

[umgekehrt]

Chief Warrant Officer, Jurisdiction Fleet. Last assigned to JFS Ragnarok-- head of medical security. Not a post I'm currently filling.

[deadliestviper]

I don't suppose your opinion of me will drop if I ask what that means.

[umgekehrt]

Not really, as there's nobody else aboard from Jurisdiction I wouldn't expect folk to know.

I trained and oversaw security staff for my ship's chief medical officer. Took him to combat drills, too, but only the latest officer-- he had an interest in being able to defend himself. Most leave that on their security staff.

[deadliestviper]

Ah, now I understand. So the Barge must have been less of a shock to you than the rest of us.

Did you ever train him yourself?

[umgekehrt]

I did. Combat drill and basic physical maintenance-- his laps, he always owed me laps around the ship. He had other tutors from security for more specialized fighting.

[deadliestviper]

And what did a combat drill entail?

[umgekehrt]

Simple hand-to-hand, close quarters. He was on the smaller side, but stronger than standard, so some of the technique had to be modified to it.

You take an interest in close-quarters fighting?