The Only Difference

Posted on Mon Feb 2nd, 2009 @ 6:28am by

475 words; about a 2 minute read

Mission: Restricted Independent Operations
Location: Quarters of the Executive Officer, USS Archimedes
Timeline: Current

Even aboard a Nova-Class ship, the quarters of the Executive Officer were rather roomy and luxurious--true, they were nothing like the quarters on the Akira-Class vessels and embassies that Arkham had served on before this, but she was impressed by them nonetheless.

As they entered the room and the crewman dropped their bags off, Arkham took a look around, smirking a little to herself. Taking a seat in one of the chairs, she saw a newly pressed uniform on her bed--this one with red instead of gray, and she smirked a little to herself. She'd never thought that this was where she'd end up.

"Well, Catherine," Arkham said, smirking a little. "I hope that you're...prepared to take a step down, lifestyle wise. This isn't an Akira, after all. Nowhere near what you're accustomed to."

Catherine Halsey, who had slipped off into the bedroom to examine it, returned a moment later, stopping along the way to replicate herself two glasses of champagne. "With all due respect, Lieutenant Commander Arkham, I left a position at a highly respectable teaching hospital in England to be at the beck and call of a crotchety old officer with a ruined face and bounce around the quadrant from starship to starship. What's the step down?"

Arkham smirked. "You make me crazy."

Catherine chuckled a little. "You know you love it."

Arkham clinked her glass against the Doctor's, smirking a little. "No, my subscription to Masochism Weekly just ran out and I needed a way to fill the void. I should really see about renewing that. It'd be less expensive than a rather sardonic and completely spoiled surgeon."

"Oh, hush, you old fool," Halsey said, smirking and playfully smacking Arkham across the back of the head. "I do like it here. I want to get a look at the labs--I think I'll be spending quite a bit of time down there--I'm very eager to have a proper lab again."

Arkham nodded, going into her humidor for a cigar. Clipping the end, she sat down in her chair--she'd already found one she liked, and knew full well Halsey wouldn't fight her for it. She took a deep breath of smoke, holding it in for a moment, and reveling in it. Halsey frowned a little at this, sipping her champagne.

"You should quit," she observed, gesturing to the cigar. "One day you're going to have to choose between those death sticks of yours and your lungs. You're...not getting any younger, you know. I don't want you getting sick."

"I know, Catherine," Arkham said quietly, before a fit of coughing overtook her.

Halsey sighed. "Well, I'm going to have a look around...I'll leave you to settle in."

"I know," Arkham sighed, as Catherine turned her back and left the room. Though the scenery was different, it seemed nothing had changed after all.

 

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