Soror

Posted on Sat Aug 2nd, 2014 @ 6:17am by Commander Eliana Masters

Mission: New Frontier
Location: Starbase 80
Timeline: Evening prior to "Last Dawn"

[Flight Operations Office]

The last pilot out of the thirteenth different group to pass through the flight operations office made his way from the conference room table, no doubt heading for home after the end of his shift. With the massive undertaking on the surface of Stratkas IV below, the coordinated movement of materials and people from the station to the worksite and back was fundamental to the project’s success. Of course, before a single craft bearing the insignia of either the station or the 405th flew into atmosphere, a great deal of planning had to be done.

Of course, managing the roster of pilots was just part of the job description as the director of the department. Masters had accepted volunteers for the first few groups, but assignments had to be made to cover the last bit of flying. Many pilots at the flight school where she had learned her trade spoke fearfully of flying in atmosphere. Something about wind and turbulence did not sit well with some it seemed.

“Commander, you have another visitor.”

Rachel DeMarco, the department’s secretary, had said some variation of the uttered phrase at least a dozen times throughout the day. By now, it was beginning to wear on Eliana, but she absently waved in whoever it was waiting for an audience.

“Oh dammit DeMarco,” Masters started to raise her voice before pausing for a moment.

“Send them on in.”

The visitor was a representative from Operations, and though his task did not require a face to face visit with the Director of Flight Operations, he had been egged on to make the trip by his friends. There was a certain allure when it came to good looking women, flight suits, and big machinery and the resultant combination proved to be too much for the otherwise bored tech to resist.

Sitting at the end of the conference room table with her flight suit still on and her hair put up, Masters studied the approaching figure carefully. The color of the uniform eliminated the possibility for any real work to come out of the conversation. Likely, Ellie would have nothing to do except delegate whatever request that the representative from Ops had.

“Commander, the quartermaster would like to inform you that your permanent quarters are ready now and all of your belongings that were originally transferred over have been placed there. Deck nineteen ma’am.”

Finally, a bit of good news.

“Thanks,” Masters breathed a sigh of relief. “You didn’t have to come all this way to tell me that, though, did you?”

“The quartermaster thinks that personal communication is more effective.” The yeoman lied through a smile.

“Very well, is that all?”

“Yes ma’am, have a good evening.”

“Yeah, you too.”

The doors slid shut with a quick burst of pressurized air, leaving Eliana alone in the conference room for the first time since she had returned from the preliminary visit to the project site on the surface. The morning had started off well with an enjoyable flight, and the evening was going to end well with fresh sheets, candles, and maybe a glass of wine. Days bookended with positive events were common, but that did not make her appreciate them any less.

“DeMarco, I’m out. I’ll see you tomorrow. Time to go home, take off this uniform, and dissolve into a puddle of emotions, wine, and terrible romantic comedies.”

“G’bye, boss. Sounds like a blast,” DeMarco deadpanned.

“Oh, don’t forget to have the overnight crew prep the Horizon. I hear it’s a standard VIP transport tomorrow, so make sure there aren’t any squawks on that bird before they take over. PO D’Tal will be doing the flying, so no need to come up with a brief.”

“You got it boss,” Rachel nodded. “You’d better get out of here. Wilson just landed and if he tries one more pickup line, I might go mental. You don’t want to see me like that.”

“I’ll go make some popcorn,” Ellie laughed. “Good night.”

Rachel had become a fast friend within the department. Several of the pilots on staff were good conversation as well. Ellie legitimately looked forward to coming into work every morning, but now that she had a place to go home as well, the whole cycle was complete. She had not complained too much about her temporary quarters, but interior decorating made her happy – even if her eclectic style did not suit everyone.

[Deck 19, Flag Officers’ Quarters]

“Two more doors and then I’m home.”

The announcement was made to no one in particular. There was no fanfare, pomp, or circumstance associated with an officer seeing her quarters for the first time. The large display on the wall outside her door made it very evident to those passing by who it was that resided between the corridor and the bulkhead on this particular section of deck nineteen. Ellie paused a moment, trying to figure out if the display was in some way a violation of her privacy.

Eliana never really had time to figure out. The doors opened and permitted her first steps into her new home. Stopping in the doorway, she slowly scanned the cavernous space from left to right, taking note of anything interesting as she did so. As far as cookie cutter living arrangements went, the designer had left plenty of room for the personal touch here and there, something that El Aurian pilot could appreciate. The bedroom was not immediately visible, but out of the corner of her eye, Eliana spotted a shape that did not fit with the rest of the design.

“P’rerea morte,” she swore under her breath.

A figure was seated in the office chair behind the desk. Diffused lighting made it quite evident that Eliana’s “guest” had made herself quite comfortable at home. Feet kicked up and wearing one of her flight suits with MASTERS emblazoned on the nameplate, the figure smiled and took a drag from a big cigar. The glow illuminated the figure’s face as the first words came drifting through the smoke.

“Well, it’s good to see you too.”

“Jesus Christ, I can’t believe it,” Ellie shook her head.

“No, my name is Miranda. Remember? Anyway, I’m jealous little sis. I can barely squeeze into this thing and yet you look comfortable as ever walking around in it. I hope you don’t mind, it was the only way I was going to get in here.”

Miranda Masters was most recently aboard one of the trade ships that had passed through the station not long ago. Eliana’s older sister was slightly shorter, but otherwise looked very similar to Eliana herself.

“You want to give me a heads up next time? You very nearly gave me a heart attack!” Ellie protested. “Put that thing out. I haven’t even been in here yet and you’re here smoking up the place.”

“It’s your cigar Ellie, I found it in your shi. . . erm, stuff.” Miranda remembered her little sister’s dislike for swearing almost a moment too late.

“You’re smoking my cigar? Not fair! I only have two left and I haven’t been by Karulia VII in years. Y’sib probably doesn’t even remember us anymore.”

“Oh please,” Miranda gestured over to a cigar box sitting on the table. “Consider it a housewarming gift.”

“Forget I ever said anything mean about you,” Eliana smiled.

The two sisters embraced each other before making their way over to the couch in the living room. It looked as if it had been carried in and dropped without a thought given to its location or direction. A lovely view of the grey wall was the only thing that could be seen while seated on it.

“What are you doing here? I thought you were managing a lounge or something.”

“I was,” Miranda nodded, “but station life sounded like fun so now I’m here. I mean, I can always leave whenever I find something the piques my interest, but for now, I’m staying here.”

“So you’re between jobs then,” Eliana cut through the smoke and mirrors. Her sister made her living on the ability to persuade and lie. Of course, Miranda’s skillset had been honed over decades of experience as an effective bounty hunter. The occupation quickly degraded to what amounted to being a mercenary if the times were tough.

“Yeah, you could say that. Don’t worry, I’m not in any danger. I actually haven’t even tracked anyone in fourteen months. I’ve heard rumors that they think I’ve disappeared,” the older sister explained. “The anonymity is nice. I can actually go to a bar and drink without getting challenged to some contest by the village idiot.”

Eliana simply shook her head. She and her sister led different lives, but if the circumstances had been different, their lives would very well be flipped.

“Well, it’s good to see you again. Why don’t you stay here tonight? We can stay up and watch terrible movies until its way too late like we used to. C’mon – it’ll be fun!”

“No, they’ve got a place for me to stay. I just wanted to drop in and hello to my second favorite little sister.”

“Very funny. I’ll make sure Natalia knows you’re here. She’ll probably just materialize out of thin air and immediately pester you to death.”

There were three Masters sisters. The youngest two, Eliana and Natalia, were identical twins.

“Yup,” Miranda nodded, emphasizing the ending of the word with a sharp, percussive sound. She made her way to the door, stopping momentarily to say goodbye.

“Alright Ellie, don’t have any boys over after I leave.”

Eliana rolled her eyes, but the smile betrayed any look of annoyance she might have been trying to portray.

“Love you sis, come see me again soon.”

“I suspect I will. Good night.”

OFF:

Commander Eliana Masters
Director of Flight Operations
Little Sister

Miranda Masters
Big Sister