"Precautions"

[Yeoman C. 0]

"Ugh... what is that smell?"

 

"What smell?" the command trainee asked, breathing solidly and only through her mouth.

 

"It's over-freaking-powering! It's.... it smells like a pizza place in here!"

 

"Pizza?" O'd'yl grimaced. "It's for health."

 

"There's garlic..." her roommate complained, "everywhere!"

 

"A lot of health."

 

"Garlic?"

 

"Well, we have a vampire on board. I looked it up. Garlic keeps them away."

 

"... And makes our bunk smell awful." She waited a moment. "Is that why there's a crucifix over your bed, too? And here I thought you subscribed to old Earth religions!"

 

"By all the gods, no." She looked around warily, tugging something out of her uniform that was on a chain; another cross. "See? I wear one for protection, too. Just had it replicated."

 

"Ugh..." Clearly, she was wondering why she was stuck with such a roommate, and didn't say anything else before she flopped on her bunk -- and promptly bounced back off it. "Don't leave stuff on my bed!" she complained. "And what's with all the wood shavings?"

 

"Well, I can't wear Knife, but there aren't regulations against carrying a stake..."

 

"Oh, lord..."