InsaneJournal

Skeleton Crew (Original: Navigator, Marguerite/Marta)
Title: Skeleton Crew
Author/Artist: catdevigri
Fandom: Original (Navigator)
Pairing/characters: Marguerite Orgella/Marta Duay, Linlei
Rating: PG
Warnings: none
Prompt/challenge you're answering: The heat between Marguerite and Marta was becoming impossible to resist.



"I didn't think you liked the night shift, Lieutenant," Marta chatted coolly as she monitored the ship's systems on her screen. Everything appeared to be operating within normal parameters.

"I like any shift that gives me a break from Pilot Radcliff." Marguerite paused and looked past Linlei and her non-regulation headphones for a moment to Marta. Marta was focused on her screen, tapping idly through a series of charts representing the power output of the engines, the energy renewal cycles, and the environmental control levels. She was good as talking to people on the bridge without turning away from her work. Marguerite was always glancing around, twisting in her chair from side to side. It appeared that Linlei was "in the zone," so to speak, caught up in the twin activities of flying the ship and listening to music (probably that Chinese rock she liked so much). "Any shift I share with you is also a bonus."

"Oh." A few weeks ago, this comment would've been enough to startle her, but she and Marguerite were on the same page now, so she just smiled. "Me too."

It was like Linlei wasn't even there. Actually, Marguerite should've been scolding her over her headphones- the regulation ones would automatically cut to any shipwide communication that was announced- and usually she would've been doing so. That was the problem with their pilots- both of them were too lax. The difference seemed to be that Linlei was reckless, bucking the rules on purpose, while May was just absent-minded or stupid. Marguerite gave May a lot of flack for her empty-headed behavior, but ultimately it was Linlei who she considered a more dangerous offender. Now, that rule-flaunting might work to Marguerite's advantage. The on-duty pilot didn't even turn her head as Marguerite got up and crossed the bridge to sit down in the empty station to Marta's left. Usually one of the scientists worked here, but at night, unless something in particular was a cause for concern, the bridge tended to operate on a skeleton crew. It only took three people to keep operations running smoothly here and one person could manage the engines on their own (right now that would be Amber, down in the engine room, surrounded by the echoes of the radio off pipes and walls).

"I think your diplomacy has gotten too good, Miss Duay. You seem to have charmed me out of my seat."

"You know I can't resist a direct order from a superior officer," Marta replied, inviting Marguerite to give just such a command.

"Kiss me, Marta."

"Affirmative, Ma'am."

"Not "ma'am" now. Just 'Marguerite.'"