It Takes One to Know One

[Demitri Mashschenko 0]

It Takes One to Know One

A Log By Sr. Lt. Caelan Fletcher

Stardate 10.07.22

 

'You're being ridiculous.' It was difficult to smirk with data transfer cabling in between your teeth, but somehow Fletcher managed to do it. Caelan's face was hidden from his companion's view as he not-so-delicately threaded the cords into their proper position, but his tone revealed his expression sufficiently. The air of the training fighter's cockpit was thick with sarcasm, exacerbated by the tight confines shared between the two. Modifications to the vessel were well underway, despite the antagonistic atmosphere.

 

'There's too many women on this list. You'll get distracted.' A female's voice quipped back, sharing the Lieutenant's caustic inflection, but with a tone sharpened by an edge of honesty. Though a voice may not be the best indicator of a woman's age, she sounded young. No older than Fletcher certainly. The slightest hint of a southern drawl creeped its way through, despite the speaker's attempts to sterilize her accent. The rustic tinge gave her a uniquely human charisma. She was charming...in a snarky sort of way.

 

'You sound a little jealous.' As Fletcher's lips began to curl into a grin, a rogue spark danced down the exposed wiring and lapped at the Lieutenant's hand. 'Friggin'...' Caelan nursed his wound with fretful rubbing and half-whispered expletives, cursing the misandric spirit of the training vessel and its faulty firmware.

 

His pining was punctuated by an unfeminine snort. 'Don't kid yourself.' She paid no mind to his injuries.

 

Though his hand was burnt, Fletcher's ego had not been singed. Not yet, anyway. 'I'm just saying...' He smacked his lips as he drew the pain out of his thumb. '...if circumstances were different, you'd probably...'

 

'...And I'm just saying that you're an incredible tool-face. I mean, what the hell? A botanist? Why would you need a botanist on your design team?'

 

As the pain lessened, Caelan returned to the monotony of the upgrades, 'I need peer evaluations. She's a scientist...she has input.' He used the fingers less affected by his electrical encounter to weave the cabling into the data acquisition hub.

 

Another snort. 'Input? The only 'put' you were hoping to get is what she might be puttin' o...'

 

'Hold up...' Caelan stilled his hands as he responded - the tasks of working and defending one's motives apparently too much for the man to handle simultaneously. His face was flecked with the beginnings of irritation, '...this project means a little more to me than an easy lay, you know.'

 

The woman grinned with her words, 'That's news to me. Fletcher gives a damn about something other than f...'

 

'-ing hell!' The Lieutenant latched on to the end of her sentence, claiming it for his own. 'So I don't take everything as seriously as I ought. What do you care anyway?'

 

Fletcher wasn't the only one who'd raised his voice. 'I would think that's obvious! I have a vested interest in this project. And in you.'

 

'Pfft.....' The scoff heard around the world. 'You don't know me!'

 

Silence. Not only was that argument barely worthy of a pre-pubescent, it was entirely false. There was likely no person on this station, or perhaps at all, who knew Caelan better than her, a fact she knew as well as Fletcher. They were made for each other. Or at least, one of them was made for the other. The Lieutenant couldn't always tell which way was which.

 

It's hard to laugh at yourself sometimes; other times, it's hard not to. Angst quickly melted into amusement as both parties chalked that up to one of the lamer things Caelan had ever said. Even without looking at each other, the unspoken apology was understood between the two. Fletcher drew his hands through his hair, giving himself a faux-faux-hawk of venting exasperation. Not a bad look for him, but then again, the Lieutenant always looked pretty boss. 'Fine...'

 

The grin returned. 'I'll trim the list.'

 

'Good.'

 

A moment's pause. 'I still think you're jea-...'

 

'Shaddup.'