A Simple Misunderstanding

Serena finished the last of her ice planet, even with the frigid temperatures outside, the frozen treat was just as incredible as Vas said it would be. They’d stopped in a little chalet for the frozen treat and a cup of steamy hot chocolate to wash it down before climbing back on the mule and heading back to the Veil. The crew chief even promised that after Rowan showed up with supplies, they could go see the lights back in town.

“I’m gonna find Mistuh Doctah Adluh an’ Gil and tell ‘em about town and Rowan and the Ice Planet and the chocolate drink, I hope Rowan gets here soon with the parts so we can go back out!” Serena told Vas, spinning on one toe still on a bit of a sugar rush.

Vas couldn’t help but chuckle. It was nice seeing her act her age… be normal … do normal things. She had people here to share it with. “Off with ya then… I’ll square things up here. Don’t forget we going to town tonight to see the lights. See if Gill wants to come.” He suggested as he started to work on securing the mule. Wasn’t any point to hoisting it up if they planned on going out later but if there was an emergency and they needed to take flight it would be half ready.

The med bay was the pigtailed teen’s first stop, but it was locked up tight. The handle barely jiggled, and she worried he was in there with a patient, or with Marisol. She tentatively put an ear to the door for the briefest of moments, deciding if there was something going on, she didn’t want to hear it. She tentatively tried knocking on his bunk door next. Still getting no response, she skipped down to Gil and Haddie’s room only to find they weren’t in their bunk either. Not to be deterred, she made the galley her next stop. Her stomach was full up and slightly queasy so food was out of the question, but Doctah Adluh or Marisol might be milling around, and Gil - Gil was always hungry it seemed. Besides there was talking - laughing from the Galley, she recognized the Captain’s voice, and she could tell him everything over a glass of whiskey poured if he were done eating. “Captain! Crew Chief and I -- “ She skidded to a halt after entering the galley, seeing he was seated at the table with the passenger, Leo. “Oh.”

“Pigtails.” The Captain drawled, waving her into the galley. “Come, come, Glad you’re here. I was just talking to …” he waved his hand toward Leo “and I been meaning to talk to you too.”

“About, Captain?” She asked nervously, stepping into the galley as if the floor were made from hot coals and she were barefoot.

“Seems there was some sort of misunderstanding or such between you two. The … uh…” he held his hand above his head with a back and forth gesture.

“Rooster?” She said in as small a voice as possible.

“Rooster, right, brought it to my attention. Sit, we’ll sort this out.” Serena checked behind her, hoping someone, anyone were around, the crew chief usually materialized like a cat without a sound, or Mistuh Doctah Adluh who kept Leo away in the mornings but neither was about. She pulled out the chair at the head of the table, the opposite of where they were sitting, but the Captain waved her towards their side with a “C’mere” gesture of his hand.

“We don’t bite.” Leo added from behind his drink. He sat spread out in the chair swishing a cupful of brandy.

*Ugh, did everyone use that expression? The Crew Chief bites.* She wished the Crew Chief were there to bite someone if needed. Or Doctah Adluh, or Marisol, or Gil even. With the Captain on one side of the table and the passenger, Leo on the other, Serena reluctantly slid into the chair at the foot of the table between them both, where the Captain pointed.

Leo took a sip with a pleasant smile, watching Serena take her seat.

The deckhand kept her eyes forward, her features frozen as she leaned more towards Keller’s side of the chair. “Whiskey?” The captain offered, picking up the bottle to show her. Serena shook her head no in response, causing Keller to shrug and pour himself another glass. “So, from what I gather talking to both the crew chief and the passenger here, this whole thing has been blown out of proportion, stems from some sort of confusion regarding the co-ed wash room."

Leo simply quirked his eyebrows innocent as a lamb but said nothing… yet.

“I -- “ Serena began, but the words caught in her throat. She wasn’t sure what the Captain was looking for. Was she supposed to apologize to Leo for something? That didn’t sit right at all, and upset an already upset stomach. Best to just get it over with. “I’m sorry?” she said quietly, her voice at the end raising slightly to form a question.

Captain Keller chuckled. “No need to apologize, I told Leo here it had to be just a simple matter of confusion. It’s okay, you can speak freely. What do you *think* happened?”

Serena swung her eyes pleadingly towards Captain Keller, who nodded to her with a wave of his hand as he took another drink. The teen cast her eyes back to the table, shooting the briefest of glances towards Leo. “He… accosted… me?” she asked quietly, causing Keller to stop mid sip.

“In what manner did I *accost* you, exactly?” Leo asked, hiding a smirk behind his glass of brandy.

Serena chewed the inside of her lip and shrugged, trying to remember the definition, but her brain was in so many different directions and her heartbeat was so loud in her ears she could hardly think. “Mistuh Doctah Adluh said you did, and Crew Chief said he wouldn’t lie.”

Keller frowned or quietly belched, it was sometimes hard to tell, and exchanged a knowing glance with Leo across the table. “So the doc put this idea in your head?” The teen hoped the floor would somehow open up and swallow her so the whole thing would just be over.

“Yes. No. I mean, that’s what he said, the word he used.” Serena’s head was spinning as she tried to remember exactly what happened, to make sure she used the same word as the doctor, he used a lot of fancy words all the time. “After I told him .. He said it… and…”

“Captain … “Leo said turning to Keller. “... it’s clear the poor girl got things mixed up. I think it’s plain as day to see Mister Adler and your Crew Chief are protective of the new girl. It’s admirable.” He added in a cool tone. “She’s a shy thing and not use to men in a co-ed situation. Now I’m happy to apo-”

“The hell are you doing to my Deckhand.” Vas growled from the doorway his eyes narrowed as the scene playing out in front of him. It was hard to tell who he was directing that comment o the Captain or Leo. It’s probably a safe bet to say both.

Serena looked up sharply hearing the Crew Chief’s voice with hopeful eyes meeting his cool blue ones.

“Now, now, don’t twist your knickers, son.” Keller said, opening a hand to invite him to sit. “I told you I’d talk to…” He snapped his fingers a few times, pointing at Leo, “about…” he did the same and pointed to Serena, “and like I reckoned, it was a misunderstanding. Seems the doc may have put a notion in her head is all, right Pigtails?”

Serena nodded affirmatively, anything to just make it stop and be able to leave.

“So we were just --”

“Tormenting my Deckhand. You been drinking wood alcohol or just plain don’t give a damn … girl make yourself busy.” Vas said with a tick his head. If he and the Captain were going to hash this it would not be in front of crew.

Serena quickly - too quickly stood up and the Captain raised both his eyebrows. “Sit.” He reprimanded in a firmer voice than she could ever recall him using. Serena shot an uncertain glance to her Crew Chief, then back to the Captain, who scratched the side of his chin as she decided. “Last I checked *I*was Captain of this boat. I said I was gonna clear things up, and I’m gonna clear things up. Sit!” He repeated. Serena choked back the hot chocolate she’d drank in town and slowly sank into the chair.

Leo chuckled as the scene unfolded, swirling his brandy before taking another sip. Serena did her best to not react as his free hand snaked under the table, giving a brief squeeze above her knee.

“You’re welcome t’stay if you want son, but I’m warning you that you are way out of line with your accusations.” The captain slurred.

“Sorry Captain but you may have to repeat yourself … couldn’t hear you strait with the smell and the slurring.” Vas said in a clipped tone. “I’m doing the job I was hired for.”

“The one you were fired for as well.” The captain shot back.

Serena’s eyes went wide, Keller … was the captain. You don’t talk like that to the Captain. You never talk like that to a captain! The crew chief was going to get himself fired, or spaced, and it would be her fault - entirely her fault!

“Then hired back on again for.” Vas countered.

“Son, I consider myself a patient man, but you’re gonna find yourself re… re… re-fired if you don’t stow that attitude.”

Leo couldn’t have looked more self-satisfied if he tried, soaking in every word like a luxurious bubble bath.

For most folk that might have cowed them but not Vas. “Way I see it my job is to protect my crew … even if it’s from you.”

“MY crew!” Keller all but roared, thumping himself on the chest. “On my ship! And protect them? From me?” He laughed incredulously, raising his voice, alcohol fueling his fire. For the Captain the boat tipped slightly as he stood, and he slammed both hands down on the table both for emphasis and steady himself. Serena flinched, but backing away from him would mean getting closer to Leo. “Protect her from me. Son, the only reason she’s still on this gorram boat is because I’m protectin’ her as well as your other two child “deckhands”. Ain’t none of ‘em got any business callin’ themselves that, but here they are and that’s on account of the goodness of *my heart,*so do not tell me--” he became even more unsteady, convinced Riley was flying them through some sort of asteroid field, loosing his train of thought and fell back down into his own chair. .

Vas stood arms crossed like an irritated statue waiting for him to finish. When it looked like Keller train of though fully derailed, probably killing millions of innocent boozed-up brain cells. “ -the truth?” Vas finished for him in a chilly tone.

“Tíngzhǐ (stop)!” Serena pleaded with the crew chief, He was going to get himself fired or worse! “It … It was just a misunderstanding I don’t want--”

“Did you just give me an order?” Vas said turning his gaze to Serena. He didn’t want to sound like he did to her but she was not helping the situation. The problem ran way deeper than this and he couldn’t afford to look weak at this moment, not when it meant being able to do his job in the long run.

“What?” Serena whimpered, looking like a drog swatted with a rolled up paper before quickly dropping her gaze from his. *Him too?* “No, I just didn’t want…” Her head hung forward, chin pressed to her chest. “N… no, Crew Chief,” she stammered swallowing a lump that sat in her throat like a rock.

He let the issue lie but he just hoped later she would let him explain. Just bad timing kiddo. Vas switched back to the captain waiting to see if there was anything else the man had to say or could say.

Leo couldn’t help himself, he chuckled out loud at the whole scene that unfolded before him. “I believe this is turning into a crew matter,” he said, stealthily squeezing the teen’s leg once more before standing up to excuse himself. “Again, my deepest, sincerest apologies for any confusion. I assure you, I had and have no intentions of causing you any discomfort.” Serena didn’t look up, and shrugged her shoulders..

Vas watch the man leave like a cat would an arrogant mouse.

“See? All cleared up, no harm done.” Keller tipped his hat forward, satisfied that he helped.

“No harm done to what?” The Lieutenant asked, instantly regretting the question. She blew warm air into her hands to warm them, scowled at that smarmy bastard Leo as he passed, and fixed herself a mug of coffee.

“Captain and I just having a lively chat on how to handle crew complaints.” Vas recapped keeping it succinct.

“What the rut is the crew complaining about now?” Riley asked, snarling her lip again.

“Nuthing I can’t handle Lieutenant.” Vas said crisply.

“You best remind your smart lipped Crew Chief who’s in charge on this boat.” Keller chuffed, standing up and wobbling, “or he’ll find himself floatin’ behind it.”

“Like I said … nuthing I can’t handle.” Vas reiterated.

The Lieutenant looked to the Captain, the Crew Chief, and the deckhand. “Well then, I say again, Sir, best thing about having a crew chief is not having to deal with crew, but if you need me--” Riley raised an eyebrow to Vas, trying to ascertain the damage. “Let’s go Sir. You look about three sheets to the wind and then some.”

“I’ll gp when I’m durn good and ready.” He groused. “Jus so happens I’m durn good and ready. And you -- “ he pointed to the rooster. “You….” He waved a hand as if that explained everything.

Vas looked back and forth between Serena and the Lieutenant wondering if there was a translation he was missing.

The lieutenant walked a few steps behind the captain, presumably to help him find his bunk to sleep it off for a while. “Mind the sign Jat. I got somewhere to be first light, and someone needs to get Captain Congeniality to bed..”

“Yes Lieutenant.” Vas responded. He waited till she was good and gone when he ticked his for Serena to follow him. “We should talk.” He said in a more calm tone taking a few steps and waited for her to follow.

Serena had her fill of talking for the day, wanting nothing more than to retreat to the safest place on the boat, to listen to the click click clack of computer keys as Doctah Adluh typed away, the rolling of his chair on the smooth floor, but orders were orders. She slunk off the chair and sullenly followed the crew chief, shuffling her feet as she walked.

As soon as his boots crossed into the cargo bay Vas lit a black cigarette. “I’m sorry how it all went down in there.” Vas said heading to the chair Riley typically occupied.

Serena shrugged, arms wrapped tightly around herself protectively. She was not really sure what part he was giving an apology for, but really just wanted it to be over. “Nothing to ‘pologize for,” she mumbled.

“There’s a whole lot to apologize for Serena.” Vas sighed, taking a deep draw. “What Captain did, wern’t right. I know I was short with you too in there. I’m just … “ Vas let out a long plume of smoke. “ … I’m trying.”

“Don’t matter none. I mean, I’m sorry too, I spoke outta place.”

“Literally the only person here who don’t need to apologize is you, Serena.” Vas snorted taking a seat in the vacant Riley chair.

Serena shrugged again, not wanting to fight or disagree with him. ”S’okay. I learned something, and that’s valuable.”

“Yea well… seems like a lot of learning had been going around the past week or so.”

“I guess.” She replied, fairly certain he was referring to Jacy, but not willing to chance it being wrong. “Just wish learnin’ stuff didn’t hurt so much.”

“You and me both …” Vas said glumly flicking the used up cig into the snow. “... You and me both.”