Chapter 26
The next morningBeckett and Luna greeted them all as they appeared, hung-over, in the galley. Dan was ecstatic that coffee had already been made. He poured a mug and joked, “This is what this ship needs, someone to wake up and make coffee for everyone.”
Beckett mumbled, “Your job.”
“A man can dream.” He appraised Beckett, who was smiling, full dimples showing. “You’re grinning like a recently sexed schoolboy, apologies Luna for my bluntness, I guess you had a good night in my Zodiac, Army?”
“I had a good night.” Beckett passed Dan the sugar for his coffee and a spoon. “Last I checked that Zodiac belongs to the ship.”
Dan grinned. “True that, I just borrow it. When there’s a need.” Sarah clambered down the stairs. Dan said, “Isn’t that right baby? When there’s a need?”
“Jeez honey, you talking about sex again? You’re incorrigible.”
Dan pouted. “Army started it. Look at him, all smiles. He had sex last night. You can see it all over his face, apologies again Luna.” Then he pouted. “Why didn’t I?”
Sarah gave his shoulder a playful slap, “You were too drunk last night and you know it.” She wrapped her arms around his head and he nestled into her chest. She whispered to Luna, “Don’t mind him.”
Luna said, “Oh I don’t mind. Someone had some mind-blowing sex in the Zodiac last night. As my friend Sky would say, ‘I reintroduced him to my spectacular awesome.’”
Dan grinned. “Luna, you’re the best.”
“Us Waterfolk live in pretty close quarters. We’re kind of open and blunt about our antics.”
Dan said, “See, I learn something new every day.”
Captain Aria appeared and everyone stopped laughing, un-entwined their bodies, and tried to act respectable. She chuckled. “At ease people. Got coffee? I’ve a bit of a headache.”
Rebecca and Jeffrey and Dr Mags appeared next. Dan and Beckett passed out mugs for coffee.
Captain Aria said, “Since you’re all here — we’ve had a change of plans. We have a big storm in the area. Lenny turned us south last night and he’s been running all night. It seems like we might as well head back to port. We’ll be arriving mid-morning tomorrow.”
Rebecca’s hair stuck up everywhere and her eyes were unfocused. “So can I go back to bed?”
Everyone laughed. Sarah said, “You know that ‘headed back to port’ means chores. And also you’re the one that needs to assign them. You know, as boss.”
Rebecca groaned. “Okay. Okay. It was my birthday yesterday.” She stuck her tongue out petulantly. “I’ll have a list ready by,” she looked at her wrist where there wasn’t a watch, “a while from now.” She dropped her head to the table, moaned, and spoke directly to Beckett and Luna. “You guys are lucky you don’t have to drink.”
Captain Aria said, “Well, I’m headed back to the bridge, bring my breakfast up when it’s ready Dan. I’ll send Lenny down before he gets to bed.” With that she climbed up the steps.
Dan said, after checking to make sure she had gone, “Fine, I’ll make breakfast. Someone has to, I suppose. Sheesh.” He hoisted himself up and disappeared in the kitchen, calling out, “We have too much food left, everyone is going to need to eat double time.” He reappeared around the corner. “Luna, heads up,” He tossed a chocolate bar.
“Yum, thanks Dan.” She ripped into it, bit off a corner, and hugged it to her chest.
Sarah moved into the seat beside Rebecca with a pad of paper and a pen and they began planning all the things that needed to be done to close down and relocate the lab and specimens and equipment. After a bit Dan appeared with eggs, bacon, and toast for everyone, and dictated a list to Jeffrey for closing up the kitchen. Beckett was necessary for parts of both, or all, jobs even with bandaged hands. He would be a floater and do whatever needed to be done. Luna was to wash the decks. She seemed excited about that job which made Dan squint his eyes skeptically. “That’s not a fun job.”
She looked incredulous. “Not fun? It’s water, soap — what do I use?”
“A mop. Sponges.”
“Mops, sponges, out on deck, on the ocean, with friends, all working together toward a common goal. I can’t think of anythingmorefun.” She took another bite of chocolate and grinned.
Beckett leaned over and kissed her on the temple.
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The day was long. Beckett and Luna passed each other occasionally and kissed or held hands or just sat and leaned on each other, settling into being together. The chores took all day. Beckett asked Luna to help him at one point with tarp folding and like on the Outpost they spread out the tarps held the corners and moved to the middle to gather them together. Unlike on the Outpost, they kissed when they met in the middle and turned the whole thing into a game. Then Beckett disappeared to the galley while Luna organized ropes, but suddenly she appeared in the doorway of the kitchen, her face paler than usual.
“What’s up?”
