Snippet #1669671

Mark watches as Merceigh leaves without a word, the automatic doors sliding open smoothly as she approaches, only to close behind her. He lowers his gaze to the floor in contemplation. He knew all too well what Merceigh must be feeling, right now. She was leaving behind everything she had ever known, because of him, which didn't make him feel any better, either. Still, the only way, now, seemed to be forward.

He would have to make all of this up to her, one day..

Mark turns away and walks towards the Flight Deck, the door sliding to one side as he draws near. Just beyond the hatch was a small room fitted with two chairs. These two chairs seemed to be the only furniture in the room. It fact, they seemed to be the only two things in the room at all. There were no measurement gauges, no screens, and no buttons to push. All there was was the two chairs, which were spaced approximately two feet from one another, with what appeared to be two semi-circles on the floor, around them. Without a moment's hesitation, Mark takes his seat in the one closest to the viewing glass. No sooner had he taken a seat, then several automated beeps would sound throughout the room.

A series of whirs and clicks echo out as the semi-circle around Mark's seat opens up. From below, a thin, rounded plate of clear plexi-glass would rise up around him, coming up just above his head as several lights begin to appear in various places. Within moments, a display came up directly onto the glass, displaying a white triad and the words "Luminous Technologies" below it. A female voice would speak from somewhere in the room. "Welcome back, Mister Sellers." Mark smiles, slightly. "Thank you, Shiela. What do you have to report?"
"Sir. There are no anomalies detected. All systems are fully operational, and await your command."
"Have the solar panels had time to charge?"
"Affirmative. All energy readings show up at one-hundred percent."
"Chart us a new course, heading zero-two by three-eight. Once we're out of the atmosphere, I want us to shift into Slipspace, heading five-six by four-two."
"Charting course. Will you be remaining in the Flight Deck for the journey?"

Mark blinks and hesitates, for a moment. His gaze wanders back towards the door. "Yes, but only for a minute or two.We have company, onboard."
"Affirmative. Detecting one additional passenger. Female. Human. Shall I run the 'mood setting' protocol?"
Mark nearly falls from his seat."N-no! No, that won't be necessary.. maintain course and use present protocols."
"Affirmative.."

If Mark didn't know any better, he might have detected a slight tone of amusement in the computer's voice.

He sighs as he rises from his seat, triggering the display to cut off, automatically. The plexi-glass lowers back down into the floor as Mark heads back through the door into the receiving bay. He sighs as he looks over at the door leading into the Living Quarters. What would he say to her? What could he say, that hadn't been said, already? Mark runs his fingers through his cropped hair as he takes a moment to collect his thoughts.