Go, Team DriftSci!

== Revised text ==
Date/Timing: 9 January 2019
Setting: The Shed; Vaucluse, NSW, Australia
.
At five in the morning, a mobile lets loose a chorus of bird calls.
Herc's just coming from the washroom, steps aside as Max waddles from Scott's room, and follows the wrinkle ball to the couch and the birds: specifically the left side of the couch, which really doesn't mean a whole lot considering half of Charlotte's buried under Pietr and Chuck's toppled onto him.
Nothing for it, then.
Herc touches her wrist.
Charlotte starts awake.
"Your alarm," he says softly, scooping up Max.
She blinks, pushes herself up—sets off a chain of knocking elbows, groans, yawns, and arms in faces—and pulls out her mobile, fumbling it with fingers not quite connected to her brain.
Still chirping, it hits the floor and then Charlotte does, diving under the table in pursuit.
"Ha!" She's got it in hand.
/BANG
"Ngamadaan!"
Chuck snickers.
Pietr helps her back to the couch.
"Thanks." She rubs the back of her head— 
Pietr swats her hand away, checks for a bump under her hair.
Charlotte tugs insistently at his sleeve.
He offers a thumbs up.
She smiles.
"Why the hell we up so early?" grumbles Chuck.
"Why're we up so early?" echoes Charlotte.
"Yea, I just asked you."
"I ... I—don't ...." She finally silences the birds. "Reasons?"
"Your flight's in a bit, right?" offers Herc.
"That's a good reason," says Charlotte.
"Finally," huffs Chuck.
Charlotte glares, leans—
"Chu—Charlotte, change of clothes, shower, general getting ready."
—across Pietr into throttling range of Chuck.
"Pietr, Chuck—"
Pietr rolls his eyes, pushes them apart.
"Just ... Max needs a walk. Go do that." Dog poured into Chuck's lap.
Pietr gives Herc a thumbs up, grabs each Chuck by the upper arm, and tows them out the door.
""I don't know—I don't remember packing more,"" Charlotte mumbles.
Herc sighs and shakes his head.
.
They get to Team DriftSci's temporary quarters and neither Chuck nor Kirra will let go of Pietr.
He bops Kirra's shoulder with his own.
She smiles, bops him back.
Chuck's not impressed; he hugs Pietr's arm more tightly and glares at Kirra.
Max bumps Pietr's leg.
Pietr smiles, nudges Kirra forward.
She takes a step, smiles.
Pietr gently pushes her through the door.
In the room, D'onofrio's stuffing ... stuff into a duffel.
Kirra hovers.
D'onofrio looks up, notices Pietr. "Good morning."
Pietr bobs his head.
A beat; Kirra probably speaks.
"I might have some spare socks?" offers D'onofrio, glancing at his watch.
Kira's shoulders slump.
Pietr squeezes her arm. 
"I have to wake up Lightcap, I'll be back in a sec." D'onofrio disappears down the hall.
Pietr gives Kirra his best encouraging smile.
"I guess—" Glances around the suite—back at Pietr. "I guess I should check."
Pietr squeezes her hand. Baby steps.
Kirra squeezes back, snaps away. "Okay." Clasps her hands. "I'll see you later?" Wipes her palms on her trousers. "Soon, I guess?"
Pietr nods, crosses his heart.
Chuck tugs him towards the hall.
"Uh," Looks down and away—stands straight. "Bye," says Kirra.
Pietr waves, heads out.
.
"Cait."
"Mm."
"Cait, it's time to wake up."
"Mmrm."
"C'mon, Cait. We gotta go."
"P'rol can wai'."
"Not patrol, Eleven. Up you go."
"Nooooo. Wanna sleep."
"You can sleep on the plane, promise."
"Why we leaving so early?"
"It's a long flight. Gimme a hand, Cait—! Not that kind of hand."
"Mmm. You smell nice."
"Yes, thank you, that's—Cait, we're going to be late—Cait, don't—in you go—no, I've already showered, it's your turn, okay, I'm sorry—"
"Shit! Cold! /Sergio!"
"I'll get you coffee!"
.
At this hour, and in this part of the Shatterdome, this particular J-Tech shower room's deserted save for one occupant.
Herc stops outside and frowns.
/squelch squelch
The shower room's unisex but it's also the support staff shower room and technically he's not allowed in there—
"Ranger Hansen?" asks a Kiwi twin.
"Looking for Chu-rklotte."
"Oh." Twin leans in—
/squelch
—hollers, "Chuck!"
""What?"" Charlotte yells.
"Ranger Hansen's looking for you."
"Ducky, I swear to fuckin'—"
Herc calls, "Older Hansen."
""Oh. Uh, gimme a sec. Thanks, Ata.""
"You're welcome." She smiles. "I'm going to find a shower over that way."
""Don't mean to chase you away!"" calls Charlotte.
"I have mud to track. Have a nice flight!"
"Thanks, say goodbye to Rama for me."
"You got it, bye!" Ata sorta-smiles at Herc. "You can probably go in? I mean you don't have to—" She huffs. "Have a great day."
/squelch squelch squelch
The water stops.
"I, uh, got you a kit," says Herc.
""Oh thank god,"" laughs Charlotte. ""I remembered more than enough quantum cables, but only two shirts.""
"It's ... it's /Striker gear."
""It's—really?""
"I, um, well, I think you should have it."
""Thanks, H—I really—I really appreciate it. Could you just, uh, leave it on the shelf? I'll be out in a sec.""
"'course."
Herc rests against the privacy wall. "It's the generic Corps logo, hope you don't mind."
""I have clean clothes—why would I mind? Stupid arms ...."" Struggles for a moment. ""Guess Ducky 'n ...."" Swallows. ""Guess Ducky 'n Pietr'll be designing it? The logo for /Striker?""
"Soon, probably. Marshal plans on getting Pietr up to speed fast as the kid can learn."
""Good plan. You—"" Swallows. ""Did I show you ours?"" 
"Only the odd prelim sketch." 
""And Ducky never—"" A soft huff, mutters, ""'course he didn't."" A deep breath. ""Ever seen /The Lion King?""
"Bits, yea."
""Remember that cave painting of Simba?""
"Mostly."
"Ours was gonna be a dog done like that. Not African, obviously, it'd be Ganggalidan 'n not, well, cute, but, you know, words. Pictures."
"Would've looked great, I bet." Herc looks at his shoes. "Listen, Chu—Charlotte, I've been ... I've wanted ...." He takes a breath. "Stacker's been keeping me up to date on how you're doing."
A painful pause.
""Oh.""
"Must've been a relief to start walking again."
""Uh, yea, look, I might be a while—""
"I don't—"
""Can you just—!""
Herc goes quiet.
""I'll, uh, see you outside.""
"Sure thing." He leaves.
.
Nguyen /finally tracks down his quarry outside the science wing, where they've cornered a familiar, cardigan-wearing form.
"Hermann! What're you doing back in Anchorage?" pipes Lightcap.
D'onofrio hopes Gottlieb receives his silent plea.
"There was a talk ...," says Gottlieb, looking at D'onofrio.
Gets a thumbs up.
"And I was curious about your new project."
Lightcap beams. "Greatest thing since /Typhoon was a twinkle, lemme tell you."
"Doctor Lightcap, Ranger D'onofrio," says Thomas, drawing even. "I'm glad I found you." Nods at Gottlieb. "Good morning, Doctor."
"Good morning, Marshal," greets Gottlieb.
D'onofrio nods.
"How's the cold treating you?" asks Lightcap.
"I'm finding it a bit brisk," Thomas replies. "Your taxi's arrived, if you would ...?"
"Right, yes. Sergio, where are we going?"
"Sydney."
"Oo, lucky us!"
"Not if you miss your flight," says Thomas. "Shall we?"
Gottlieb offers his arm. "May I walk you to the door?"
"Why thank you, Hermann," replies Lightcap, linking their elbows. "Sergio, are we bringing a lab monkey?" 
"Yep—Chuck?" 
"Oh yea!" Then asks Gottlieb, "Did you hear about her?" 
"I did," says Gottlieb—
"I'll go check on her," says D'onofrio. "Doctor, Marshal—good morning, Hercules."
Thomas does not sigh. "Ranger Hansen." They are so /close to the doors! "It's very good to see you, but we must be off."
"Uh, of course, Marshal." Nods at Lightcap, glances about but D'onofrio's gone. "Hope you and yours have a nice flight."
"Thank you," smiles Lightcap. "Same to you."
"Thanks, Doctor, have a nice—good day, the three of you." Brief smile to Gottlieb. "Good day, Doctor, Marshal."
"Good day, Ranger," replies Gottlieb.
"Thank you, Ranger," says Thomas. "Come along, you two."
.
Chuck grunts, grumbles, "Why'd we think this was a good idea again?"
Pietr shrugs.
Max wiggles from his collar—
Chuck smothers a yawn in his elbow.
—waddles headlong over to Chantell and her bike.
"Hey guys," Chantell yawns.
Pietr waves.
"Why're you awake?" grumps Chuck.
Chantell shrugs. "What can I say? I'm conscious, I'm happy, I've got a great head start on the day oh god I want to sleep whyyyy ...." She hangs her head.
Pietr pats her shoulder.
She straightens. "He knows—you know what I'm talking about. If there's no sun, it's too early."
"It's twenty-five after."
"Shit! I gotta run. Later!"
Category:Ficlet
Category:Go, Team DriftSci! arc
Category:Skeleton Key
Category:Herc
Category:Herc (ficlet)
Category:Max
Category:Max (ficlet)
Category:Scott (mention)
Category:Chuck D
Category:Chuck D (ficlet)
Category:Pietr
Category:Pietr (ficlet)
Category:Chuck H
Category:Chuck H (ficlet)
Category:Sergio
Category:Sergio (ficlet)
Category:Caitlin
Category:Caitlin (ficlet)
Category:Ata
Category:Ata (ficlet)
Category:Rama (mention)
Category:The Lion King (reference)
Category:Chuck D has Drift damage
Category:Stacker (mention)
Category:Nguyen
Category:Nguyen (ficlet)
Category:Hermann
Category:Hermann (ficlet)
Category:Sydney Shatterdome (setting)
Category:Chantell
Category:Chantell (ficlet)
Category:Team DriftSci
Category:Team DriftSci (ficlet)
Category:Ficlets with images