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megers67 · 3 years

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Introducing the OCs! I'm putting these two here to get them acquainted with a larger pool of Treasure Planet fans and creatives who have all made their own OCs. Charlotte Ko was actually made by Firefall Bangenthump, but he doesn't have a Tumblr. Over the years, the two of us worked together so often that most of our worls are collars or overlap.

Charlotte Ko was born into a poor, working-class family on the backwater world of Colport. Her father fell into alcohol and abuse after the shipyard where he worked was closed and, with only a neglectful mother at home, Ko grew up looking after herself on the rough streets of the city. Aged 16, seeking an escape, she stowed away in a pallet of cargo on the docks, neither knowing nor caring the destination. She found herself aboard the Royal Light Ship Diamond, where she was swiftly discovered.

Fortunately for her, the ship was on an urgent mission that prevented it turning back to return her to Colport, and she was unofficially 'adopted' by the Royal Marine contingent aboard, earning her keep doing chores and odd jobs. Put ashore at the Diamond's next port of call and having discovered a yearning for the only structured and supportive life she had known, she sought to enlist. The Third Procyon War was raging and Imperial recruitment officers were willing to turn a blind eye to her age, and in time she passed out as a private in the Royal Marines.

She was assigned to the frigate Wolverine in time for that ship's deployment as part of the task force supporting the ill-fated Badlanding campaign, and was detached to the Naval Brigade that was assembled to assist the struggling Imperial ground forces. She got her first experience of combat in the trenches during the heat of summer and the bitter chill of winter, and proved herself a capable soldier. She was assigned as a bodyguard to Surgeon-Lieutenant Gray after the Procyons began systematically targeting Imperial field medics, and the two stayed together for the remainder of the disastrous campaign, forging a deeper bond than either fully appreciated at the time. During the retreat, Ko sustained the near-fatal facial injury that gave her a characteristic scar.

She and Gray were separated after the campaign, but were reunited during the Nebula War and remained together for the rest of their lives. Ko served under both Captain Arrow and Amelia during the war, earning a promotion to sergeant. Some years later, Ko sustained serious spinal injuries in a shipboard accident and was nursed back to health by Gray, though the effects of the damage plagued her for the rest of her life and ultimately forced her first to shore-based training duties and then into retirement. In retirement, she discovered an unexpected talent for organisation and led a campaign for official recognition of the Badlanding campaign.

Dr. Eleanor Gray is, however, my creation.

Born deaf, Eleanor was never expected to rise to greatness. Her politically-minded parents refused to acknowledge the embarrassment of having a "defective" child. Her only solace was the family library and her older brother, Victor. He was the only one of her family to have cared enough to teach both Eleanor and himself Imperial sign language (something that she has only ever shared with one other person since). She followed in his footsteps into the Navy (though choosing a medical route instead), but her world came crashing down around her when he died during a mutiny. While the newly-invented electronic hearing aids allowed her to be part of a world she never before knew, she closed herself off from those around her and continued her studies.

She found herself, however, during the failed military campaign at Badlanding. Injured in one of her first battles, she was forced to perform surgery on herself to survive. However, she was not content to remain behind the at the base. When she had reasonably recovered, she insisted on returning to the front lines at the next available opporunity. It was here that she met Charlotte Ko, who was assigned to protect the doctor after Procyons began targetting medical personnel. An unbreakable bond was formed between the two. For the first time since Victor's death, Eleanor did not feel alone.

While the two were separated for some time due to the evacuation, they met once again shortly after the onset of the Nebula War. The pair have been nearly inseparable since their reunion as they have come to an... understanding. After an initially prickly interaction with Amelia, she and Dr. Gray earned each other's respect, forming a close friendship lasting for the rest of their careers. Between voyages, Gray worked shifts at the base hospital on Crescentia. Initially reluctant to retire from ship-duty as she much prefers to work where she feels she is most needed, she eventually relented in order to become the hospital's director.

Stories about them and the version of the Treasure Planet universe they belong to can be found in my sideblog Sector Crescentia.

#ko and gray #ko #gray #tp: wormhole au #tp: all in the same boat au #i may have cheated by just copy-pasting their about profiles

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sectorcrescentia · 5 years

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Domesticity

Title: Domesticity

Author: Firefall Bangemthump

Rating: Everyone

Word Count: 1,765

Summary: Ko has some difficulties adjusting to domestic life.

Gray knew that there was something wrong the moment she opened the door.

There was an acrid smell permeating the house - a smell of burnt metal and flesh - and for a moment she feared for her companion's safety before realising that a steady stream of invective from the kitchen meant that she must be all right.

"Gods bloody damn it, blasted thing-"

Gray padded down the corridor and peered around the half-open door. Ko was standing with her back to her, poking at something on the kitchen table.

"Ma'am! I'm sorry, I didn't hear you come in. I was just...well..."

She waved helplessly at the charred husk that sat on the blackened tray. Gray understood and raised her hands to sign.

Cooking dinner?

Trying to, replied Ko in sign. It went wrong.

So I see. Gray looked at the tray. What was it?

A roast, said Ko. I thought I set it right but then I saw the time and that you'd be home soon so I turned up the oven.

Gray nodded. That would explain it. Have you ever made one before?

No. Ko shook her head.

A thought occurred to Gray. Have you ever cooked before?

Of course. Ko looked offended.

Where?

Field kitchens, Ko admitted. I guess this works differently.

Clearly, said Gray.

Heat takes time to permeate the meat. Too much heat risks overcooking the exterior before it can reach the inside.

You can cook, ma'am? Ko looked surprised.

Gray hesitated and decided not to answer directly. The physics is apparent. It appears to work similarly to radiant thermal burn injuries.

It's not apparent to me. I'm sorry. Ko shook her head. Guess we'd better have something else.

Yes, said Gray. We may be carbon-based, but that doesn't mean we need to eat it.

The surgeon's eyes sparkled with humour before she realised that Ko was not sharing in her amusement. On the contrary, the felinid's shoulders were hunched as she crossed her arms over her chest, and her face was darkened by shadows of contrition. Gray immediately changed tack.

Are you all right?

"I'm not hurt, ma'am. Even I'm not that stupid."

Gray noted the 'even'. That's not what I meant.

"I just...wanted to do something useful. Something nice. For you. For once." Ko shook her head and looked away. "And look how that turned out. Like every other damn thing."

Gray let her speak. Ko was capable of sign, but tended to stumble when she was distracted from concentrating, and she was clearly distracted by whatever dark thoughts were occupying her at present.

"I always had a purpose in the navy. To be the best Royal Marine I could be. To serve. And now that I can't do that...what have I got left? All I've got now is you. But I can't be good for you. I'll always need you more than you need me and there's nothing I can do to change that. And when I try...well, I tried one little thing today and nearly burned down the damned house."

I appreciate the thought, said Gray.

"Of all people, doc, you know that thoughts aren't worth a godsdamn unless they're followed by actions. Useful ones," said Ko bitterly.

Efforts count. Gray reached out to touch her companion's shoulder. This one did.

"Thanks...that's good to hear." Ko managed a small smile. "But I'm still sorry. I hate disappointing you."

I didn't know you were cooking. I can't be disappointed about not getting something I didn't know about.

"Yeah, well...sorry."

You really don't need to apologise. Gray gave her shoulder a pat. You seem to be taking this very hard.

"Yeah. I feel like I should probably apologise for that, too." Ko sighed and pulled a chair over to sit on. "I've never been one for making mountains out of molehills, but this...I don't know. Maybe it's finding myself stuck on civvie street after all these years. And knowing that my back means there's things I just can't do any more. It's...given me a lot of time to think, and a lot of things to think about."

Like what?

Ko looked away and took a deep breath. "I've always been...aware of the difference between us. I'm a poor, dumb street kid who soldiered up because I couldn't do anything else. You're a noblewoman who could have done anything you put your mind to. It was easier to ignore that when there were things I could do for you that you couldn't do for yourself, but none of that applies now."

Gray blinked in surprise. Why does any of that matter?

"I just don't know why you're still here, ma'am. What can I do for you that balances everything you do for me? I can't look out for you any more. I can't even bloody well cook a decent meal for you." Ko's voice was suffused with a self-loathing that struck Gray in her heart. There was a genuine anger in Ko's ice-blue eyes and, while Gray had seen that before, it was the first time she had ever known it to be aimed internally. She took a deep breath of her own as she tried to put her thoughts into order, and to find a way to express them. There was nobody she was closer to than Ko, yet even there it was hard to shed a lifetime's habit of taciturnity.

Is it so hard to believe that my feelings for you are not transactional? she began slowly.

"Transactional, ma'am?"

I mean that I would still - Gray hesitated - feel this attachment even if you didn't. It isn't based on things you do for me. It's not a contract.

"I know that, ma'am. I mean, you wouldn't be here if it were." Ko gave her a sad smile.

Gray glanced around for another chair and saw that the only other one in the kitchen was on the other side of the table. She couldn't get to it without leaving Ko, and she felt that this was not the time to do that. So she simply knelt, tucking her long tail out of the way behind her as she looked up and met Ko's eyes, wishing briefly that she could take her hands.

The only thing you ever have to do to keep me in your life, she said, is accept me.

Ko swallowed hard, feeling something rising in her chest at the earnest sentiment, so simple in its expression and yet so powerful. "I...oh, doc, that's...of course I accept you. You're more than anyone could ask for. More than I know I ever did. But I'm talking about whether you should accept me."

Gray didn't move her eyes.

Is it so hard to believe that I want to share this with you?

"It's not going to be the life either of us wanted, ma'am," said Ko.

Have I ever given the impression that I would run from a challenge? said Gray wryly.

"Of course not. But I don't want to just be another patient for you to take care of."

You never have been. You never will be. Gray insisted. Whatever hardships you face, we will face them together. I can't imagine the loss you've suffered. I'm frankly amazed you've taken it as well as you have.

Ko gave a tired smile. "I don't think I could have done it without you, ma'am."

You won't have to, Gray assured her. This will be an adjustment for us both. I've never lived like this either. Ever since I left home it's been a ship, or a base. This house is the first place I've ever been that I've been able to call mine.

"It's the same for me. Always a barracks, or a ship. And before that, the streets. And before that-" Ko stopped herself and shook her head. "No. This is better. And it's all because of you. Can you understand why I feel like I need to be worthy of it?"

Gray sighed and nodded. Yes. Because I'd be the same way.

Ko smiled wryly. "Yeah, that's what I thought."

Gray looked up at her. That doesn't make it right.

Ko sighed and leaned forward to rest her forehead on Gray's. "Don't know what I'd do without you, doc."

Gray closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them and raised Ko's chin with the touch of a finger.

Don't ever think you'll have to find out.

"No. Well, I'll try not to." Ko smiled and nodded. "Thanks."

Gray touched her forehead again and stood, helping Ko to her feet as well.

So, Ko returned to signing, causing Gray to inwardly sigh with relief as she knew that it meant that her companion had composed herself. Do you know how to cook, ma'am?

Gray paused. No.

"Ah." Ko grinned. We're quite the pair of housewives, aren't we?

Gray wrinkled her nose, but there was a glitter of humour dancing in her eyes. So it seems.

Ko's grin softened into a gentle smile. Good thing we have each other, then.

Gray met it and nodded. Ko nodded back. It was enough.

#fic #sector crescentia: admiralty #sector crescentia: ko #sector crescentia: dr gray #firefall

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sectorcrescentia · 5 years

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Firefall:

A shout-out to the folks at the Etherium Forces (EF) Discord group, who are still flying the flag for the Treasure Planet spinoff game Battle at Procyon, which is still very playable over a decade and a half after its release. As well as coming up with mountains of background information and story for their own factions and creations, the EF group has also made a bunch of modifications to the game, including new ships, new maps, new weapons...and new characters, including our very own Gray and Ko! Thanks in particular go to the EF member Acerbus Noctis for making them into playable characters in the game, as can be seen in these screenshots!

Ko's expertise in combat pretty much speaks for itself, but Gray's apparent talents for rigging and engineering come from the fact that the game has no way of representing her effect as a medical officer. But rigging and engineering are the skills most relevant to keeping a ship fighting fit after it starts taking damage in battle, and so they're the best proxies for her role as a medical officer.

The eagle-eyed will also note that the ship being crewed up in these screenshots is commanded by Amelia in person, and has the redoubtable Aurora Mayflower at the helm!

#treasure planet #battle at procyon #treasure planet battle at procyon #sector crescentia: ko #sector crescentia: dr gray #firefall #misc

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sectorcrescentia · 5 years

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Fireworks

Title: Fireworks

Author: Firefall Bangemthump

Rating: Everyone

Word Count: 1,765

Summary: Old traditions become new again.

Surgeon-Commander Gray looked at the box skeptically, and then looked up at her companion, who was carrying it and watching her with an expression of expectant curiosity.

“Well? What do you think, ma'am?” Ko grinned. “I think we did pretty well to get hold of these this late. I tried three places and they were all sold out.”

Gray huffed with disapproval. Perhaps you should have taken that as an omen, she signed.

Ko put the box down on the kitchen table to free her own hands. While she knew Gray could understand her speech perfectly well thanks to her hearing aid, she knew she appreciated it when Ko made the effort to join her in sign language.

But it’s traditional, she replied.

So was the slave trade, Gray observed. That doesn’t make it a good idea.

Fireworks on Coronation Day is a thing, said Ko.

They’re a liability, said Gray. Do you know how many injuries they cause?

Ko shrugged. But they’re fun.

Gray cocked an eyebrow pointedly. Ko tried a different tack.

Did you never do this on Macropus?

Gray shook her head. There were fireworks. My father thought that actually participating in them would demean the family.

Ko grinned. So how about sticking one up him now?

Gray paused, thinking it over. There’s a certain logic to that.

Right, said Ko. And I bet you haven’t had a chance since then because the Navy keeps you too busy.

Correct. Gray nodded. Did you ever do this in the Royal Marines?

No. Ko hesitated. Officially. But young marines and live laslock ammo-

I suppose I should be grateful you survived, Gray’s ear twitched as she cut her off.

Ko shrugged. I’m going to set them in the garden.

Gray got to her feet with a theatrical sigh. I’d better come, then. In case you blow yourself up.

Saving me from fireworks now, doc? Ko laughed.

Gray looked at the felinid over the top of her spectacles. How else would I make sure you knew how bad an idea this is? she said.

The ‘garden’ of the small townhouse they had acquired in the shadow of the unfashionable side of Admiralty House was not really deserving of the name – it was a narrow rectangle paved with grey stone, walled with grey stone, with nothing in it but a narrow bench of wrought iron that was missing one of its wooden slats and a small pot containing the desiccated stick of whatever the previous occupant of the house had tried to grow. Normally the only illumination came from a pair of lamps on either side of the kitchen door, but tonight they were joined by the sparkling lights of the other fireworks being let off all over Crescentia. The spaceport had passed into Montressor’s shadow, making it as dark as it ever got, and the spectacular colours of the fireworks – mostly patriotic red, white, blue and gold, though with more than a few pinks, greens and purples mixed in – stood out brilliantly against the night of the etherium. Ko paused for a moment to enjoy the sight, and then emptied the box of fireworks out onto the ground and took stock – a handful of rockets, a few multi-shot Arcturian candles joined by a linked fuse and a slow match on a stick. She busied herself with arranging the rockets in the furthest possible corner when she heard two solid metallic sounds behind her and looked around to see Gray standing with her arms crossed behind a bucket of water she had just placed on the ground next to her medical kit. Ko grinned.

Are you still trying to tell me something, doc?

Gray arched an eyebrow.

Rest assured that you will not forget it if I have to use either of these.

Ko smiled as her companion pointedly switched off her hearing aid and watched her expectantly. Striking the match, she touched it to the fuse of the first rocket and then moved back to stand with Gray. The projectile fizzed to life and soared into the sky to join the others launching from all around the neighbourhood, bursting in a shower of golden sparks. The sound was amplified in the stone-walled yard, but was nothing serious to ears long-since attuned to the thunder of warship guns.

You seem to know what you’re doing, remarked Gray.

No need to sound surprised, ma'am, Ko joked.

Gray looked severe. Ko took a deep breath and relented.

When I was a kit, she said. Coronation Day was always one of the better times. Even when I was on the streets, me and the other kids would save up for a few penny bangers.

Gray moved closer, knowing that Ko’s childhood was a subject rarely raised. She didn’t say anything, but Ko seemed to feel the need to keep explaining.

The city was grey. Grey, brown, black. But one night a year there was colour in the sky as people let off their fireworks. Ko’s pale blue eyes were focused on the past for a moment. You could look up and almost forget where you were.

She stepped forward to light the fuses on the other rockets one by one, and watched nostalgically as they launched in series. Gray wasn’t watching the fireworks as they soared into the sky to join the constellations bursting over the spaceport. She was watching Ko’s face. And it seemed to her for a moment that despite the scar, the whitening fur, and the other signs of a life hard-lived, there was a sparkle in the pale blue eyes and a little hint at the vivacious and free-spirited kitten she must presumably once have been.

Doc?

Gray realised that Ko had caught her gaze and was looking back at her curiously. She coughed and stepped away.

This will make it better.

Ko watched her douse the garden lamps. The difference it made to the next firework was obvious, but Ko was uncomfortably aware that the sudden darkness limited their communications options. As Gray returned to her, she put down the slow match and sought out her hands to raise them between them. Gray understood and nodded. She could still understand Ko’s sign, albeit more slowly, by feeling out each one. Ko, despite much effort, was not quite able to master the art yet, and hadn’t forgiven herself.

But now you can’t talk to me, she said.

Gray’s reply didn’t use words. It didn’t need to. She simply bent down to pick up the match, returned it to Ko, and gave her hand an encouraging squeeze. Ko tried to judge Gray’s facial expression in the dark, managing it when a salvo of fireworks burst overhead, their incandescent rainbow reflecting and shimmering in the surgeon’s eyes and glasses. Gray gave her a nod. Ko, making use of the light while it was there, nodded back, smiled and mouthed a silent thank you. Gray patted her shoulder and stood back to let her set up the Arcturian candles, arranging them in a row across the far wall of the garden. Ko bent to light the fuse, only to freeze when pain flared white-hot in her lower back. She gasped and sank to her knees, the match clattering to the flagstones as she dropped it.

“G-Godsdamnit…Doc?” She gritted her teeth and remembered that Gray had switched off her hearing aid. But she needn’t have worried. A blue firework burst overhead and cast its harsh light into the garden. Gray, appalled to see her, was by her side in an instant, arms wrapping around her body in a manner that was supportive in more ways than just the physical. She felt herself being helped up and guided towards the bench, where Gray lowered her gently to sit and then knelt in front of her, the last of the blue light showing her eyes filled with concern. Ko saw her switch on the hearing aid and nod questioningly.

“My back again, ma'am…damn it…when I knelt down…” She hissed in pain as she tried to straighten up. Gray moved her hands to keep Ko’s spine straight, propping her back against the wall. Ko closed her eyes for a moment and then nodded slowly.

“That…that’s better, doc. Thanks. Guess I should have learned my limitations by now.”

The shadows had fallen over the garden again, but Gray’s white coat was reflective enough to show up lighter against the darkness. She stayed in front of Ko for a moment, holding her hands until her pained breathing returned to normal.

“I’m sorry about this…I just thought that maybe…since I’m out of the services now…maybe I could find something to make the day special.” Ko shook her head. “Stupid, really. Pining for a past that never was. Some things you can’t get back. I should have known it.”

Gray did nothing for a moment. Then, to Ko’s surprise, she let go and moved away towards the dying ember of the dropped slow match. Ko watched as she picked it up and blew on it to rekindle it, a fiery yellow glow briefly highlighting her lips and face as Gray turned to look at her. For a moment, Ko could almost have sworn she saw a smile there – but perhaps it was a trick of the random lights and shadows. What was certain was that Gray then turned away and applied the match to the fuse that Ko had been trying to light. It fizzed into life and Gray stubbed out the match before she went to join Ko on the bench. The fireworks began launching in sequence, a dazzling salvo of colours soaring into the sky to join the others. Ko watched them appreciatively and reached over to take Gray’s hand.

Thank you.

All she got in reply was an encouraging squeeze. But after a moment she felt an arm slide awkwardly around her waist in a gesture that could only partly be due to concern for her back. Grateful that nobody could see her blush in the dark, she shifted into the embrace and felt Gray against her side on the narrow bench. After a while, she sought out Gray’s free hand.

The fireworks have run out, she said.

Ko felt Gray nod, but not move. The garden was still and dark now, their private supply having fired itself off, though the display continued elsewhere over Crescentia. She understood and smiled.

Thank you.

Gray’s only response was to hold her a little closer while they watched the fireworks. But that was still enough.

#fic #sector crescentia: admiralty #sector crescentia: ko #sector crescentia: dr gray #firefall

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sectorcrescentia · 6 years

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Forgive me for asking but ... I've always been curious about the age of the characters appearing in the stories on Sector Crescentia

That’s actually a bit difficult to answer since our stories pretty much span Amelia’s entire career and beyond. However, I CAN tell you their relative ages. For reference, I’ll give you their ages that we decided they have during the events of Treasure Planet. They are actually pretty young considering how accomplished they are, but it is canonical that everyone is like… basically geniuses in their respective areas.

From oldest to youngest:

Dr. Eleanor Gray - 36

Dr. Delbert Doppler - 33

Charlotte Ko - 32

Amelia - 30

Aurora Mayflower - 26

#ask #headcanon #amelia #sector crescentia: dr gray #doppler #sector crescentia: ko #sector crescentia: aurora

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sectorcrescentia · 6 years

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Character Voices

So we decided to figure out what our OCs actually sound like. Or actually I did. Mostly because I instantly have a voice for a supporting character from only one work and I wanted to share, but it felt weird to do just that one on its own. And so, this list.

It was actually harder than I thought because trying to find a video that has the voice juuuust right has been frustrating. Seeing as we have a huge list of OCs, we chose the ones who are more important/recurring aaaaaand also a few who aren’t that I actually instantly have their voice in mind. I have not listed Dr. Gray as she does not vocalize.

For convenience’s sake, I’ve linked videos to the correct time stamp to be about a second before they start talking (though most begin talking immediately actually). Even then, I will also note which character and/or performer is the vocal inspiration and some notes about that choice.

Aurora Mayflower - Her characters in the Battle at Procyon game (Aurora and Mayflower we’ve combined into one person) have very short lines. I haven’t actually played the game (but I have watched play throughs). All the felinids are voiced by Jackie Brambles in this game so that makes things simpler for us.

Charlotte Ko - Ko actually took the longest to pin down. We wanted something to reflect her lower-class upbringing without using a stereotypical Cockney accent. Due to the poor treatment of the Irish during the time period that Treasure Planet is based on, it seemed like a good choice. We went with Michelle Fairley, specifically as Sharon from Flea Bites, because we really liked her vocal quality though it took some digging to find a performance that I could link to on Youtube where she really uses her native accent!

Captain Sir Edmund Forsythe - He is heavily inspired by Michael Byrne as Captain Keene from Hornblower. I personally haven’t seen it so I can’t directly comment on that, but it’s something Firefall mentioned to me more than once so it’s prolly something I should look into soon. His voice is elderly yet authoritative.

Lord William Bonner - Markiplier as the Colonel from Who Killed Markiplier? I legitimately tried to find a source for that vocal archetype (since I’m dead sure that it is one) but none seemed to fit besides this one so there we go then.

Nasisa - Heather Headley as Aida from the musical of the same name. I will unashamedly admit that she is the reason I made this list. I didn’t have a handle on her characterization until I was listening to the Aida soundtrack and it really shows. And because I can’t help myself, here’s another clip of her performance, this one live.

Chaupi - Jason Raize as Simba from the original Broadway cast of The Lion King. It took me a long time to figure out his voice since it wasn’t ever clear in my own mind. But since I wanted one that could work well against Nasisa’s voice, I looked at different shows that had a similar audio feel and I stumbled upon The Lion King. I wasn’t sold on Raize at first but as luck would have it, it turns out that Headley originated Nala in this show. I found a clip (sorry for poor quality) of Simba and Nala reuniting and it seems like original cast. It sold it for me, especially because there are certainly some parallels between both reuniting scenes and the two have great chemistry.

#headcanon #sector crescentia: aurora #sector crescentia: ko #sector crescentia: resolutes #sector crescentia: gov

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sectorcrescentia · 6 years

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Title: The Liberation of Capra Author: Megers67 and Firefall Bangenthump Rating: T Word Count: 5,845 (In progress) Summary: A younger Amelia, searching for meaning after the losses of the Nebula War, joins a diplomatic mission to a distant colony. Despite assurances, the political situation on the world of Capra turns out to be far more complex than first expected - and an enigmatic spacer on Amelia's ship may hold the key to saving the planet and its people from exploitation.

#fic #treasure planet #sector crescentia: post nebula #amelia #doppler #mr arrow #sector crescentia: ko #sector crescentia: dr gray #sector crescentia: resolutes #sector crescentia: gov #megers67 #firefall

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sectorcrescentia · 6 years

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Training Day

Title: Training Day

Author: megers67

Rating: Teen

Word Count: 3,881

Summary: As far as her students are concerned, Dr. Gray really shouldn’t be allowed to write a lesson plan. Especially when she has a readily available Marine drill sergeant at her fingertips.

Most medical personnel in the Navy were either doctors trained at an Imperial medical school who take Naval courses after the fact, or Naval personnel who take medical classes to be certified as an medic. Courses catering to these groups make up the bulk of use for the Naval Medical School at Crescentia. Dr. Eleanor Gray recalled belonging to a third and smaller group who obtained their medical licence and Naval officer training concurrently. It wasn't necessarily recommended as both were rigorous programs on their own even before trying to combine them. Though it wasn't for nothing; those who managed to survive the full course load ended up becoming accomplished medical officers themselves.

There were some things however, that she never learned in the classroom that was a rude awakening in the field. The utter chaos of battle was impossible to describe by those who knew it, and just as impossible to comprehend by those who didn't. For Gray, it hit her like a shot to the gut. Literally. That was definitely a do-or-die kind of moment. And it wasn't something she'd ever want someone else to go learn that way if she could help it.

So when she was given free reign to lead one of the practicum sections during her two months of shore leave, she knew exactly what she wanted to do, though it did take some coordination with the Marines. Luckily she already had an insider who was enthusiastic enough about it to get it cleared with her supervisors. Everything was set into motion. Now to give her students a healthy wake-up call.

______

It has been a full week and a half since Spradley and the rest of his cohort began their practicum sessions with Dr. Gray. Having a rotating instructor for practicum sessions wasn't unusual since they were led by whatever medical officers were available. Though Dr. Gray was particularly notable. Most would point to her inability to hear (without hearing aids) or speak, but really that wasn't too much of a barrier. She'd usually have instructions written on one of the two chalk boards for them when they walked in. Anything else that needed to be addressed was either written out to either be read by the person who needed it, or read aloud by one of the students for the whole group to hear.

No, the strange thing was the subject matter of the practicum sessions. Most classes would practice some sort of procedure, but some of Gray's sessions didn't have them even touch a medical tool. At one point, they just learned hand signals. There were the standard battlefield hand signals, but also some that were specific to medical applications. Even the sessions that did cover medical procedures were unusual since Gray tended to impose some sort of extra challenge. Once she proceeded to make all sorts of noise as the students attempted to work in order to distract them. Another time they weren't allowed to look at their reference materials or ask anyone for assistance. It didn't help when the procedures they talked about in their lecture (which included all of the students at their level) didn't match up with the ones they had in practicum. Talking with other students made Spradley realize that his cohort was the only one with such weird practicum sessions.

The Human wasn't sure if he was supposed to feel lucky or wonder what he did to deserve this.

Walking into class he saw the board with writing scrawled upon as per usual. There were no practice robots, though that wasn't much of a surprise by now. Spradley began to read aloud the message on the board since he was the first to walk in.

Students:

While under attack, it is not feasible to remain holed up in your medical bay and wait for the patients to come to you. As such, you will often find yourself in a situation where you will need to perform your duty away from the security of your operating theatre. You would not have the time to consult your books, to wait for help, or to doubt yourself. You will be divided into two teams as indicated below. Each team will be tasked with taking care of ten medical training droids each. You will lose points for each death you incur. Your patients are waiting for you outside. Don't get caught in the crossfire. Good hunting.

His eyes, and everyone else’s, widened as they processed what was written. It was then that he noticed that the small door to the outside was propped open with a rock. They at once scrambled to grab their kits. Spradley picked up a sash that put him on the blue team, though his best friend was put on the green. Damn. No time to worry about though!

Since he had been reading aloud, he hadn't put his things down. This meant that he was the first one out the door and the first to see the horror that awaited him. He knew that this building butted up against one of the Marine training grounds, but it wasn't used incredibly often. There was a platoon split up into two squads engaging in a skirmish. Temporary fortifications had been erected and they protected a flag each. One blue, one green.

"Bloody hell!" Dobson, an Arcturian, exclaimed from behind him as she was tying her blue sash around her waist.

"Typical." Morris, a tight-faced Canid, muttered as he approached.

The last of their team, and the only other Human, filed in. Daniels was awestruck as she stared at the scene. "They don't really expect us to just jump in there do they?"

Then, he heard a loud voice from the hill to his side.

"Medical! Don't just stand there! Attend to your patients!" The voice came from a grey felinid in a red Marine uniform. Because she was turned toward him, he could see the deep scar across the side of her face. It was menacing enough enough that he knew better than to be told twice.

"Um okay." Since nobody else seemed to be taking charge, Spradley took the initiative. He wasn't usually the one to volunteer to do that, but there wasn't much time to really debate it. He tried to cobble together whatever scraps of strategy he remembered from his dad's stories and history books. They hadn't really covered this kind of thing in their lessons yet, but he figured that was kind of the point.

"Treat the droids just well enough to be able to move them. It isn't safe to do everything out in the open. Morris, set up a station by the flag. They will be defending that so it will be our best bet for a secure location. Daniels, you start from the far side and Dobson start from the near side while I go down the middle. Don't get too close to the front unless you have an opening. Go!"

Then just like that, they were in the thick of it.

----------------

If it looked like chaos before, there weren't even words to describe how it looked up close and personal. Shots were being fired from the Marines standing around him. At first he was flinching after every shot, but there were so many that this reaction didn't last more than a few minutes. Even though there were only 15 Marines per side, it felt a lot more claustrophobic than that. The blue squad's leader seemed to have his soldiers, those who weren't guarding the flag directly, anyway, in a tight formation. That was all well and good if there wasn't a droid right there Spradley needed to get to. "Hey! I need to get to that patient!"

Either the Marines didn't hear him or they didn't really care about a patient droid enough to make an effort. Growling in frustration, Spradley knew there wasn't time to waste. He reached between the legs of an Ursid Marine who was standing by the droid's head. The med student managed to grab the droid by its coat and dragged it toward him. The Ursid stumbled, yet managed to stay on his feet. But not before swearing under his breath.

This droid, like all of the medical training droids, was made to present any of the programmed injuries to life-like accuracy. It even had a metric to project survival probabilities, and cause of death if applicable, so that teachers could evaluate student success. They were made to represent many different species common to the Empire, in this case a canid. The injury he had to treat was a deep laceration in the side of the lower abdomen. Spradley got to the droid not a moment too soon since it looked like it had lost a lot of blood. He removed the coat and pulled the shirt open so quickly he was sure that he tore a few buttons apart on accident. Not like something like that really mattered at a time like this. Almost panicking a bit, he realized that his gauze supply was relatively limited. Since he knew he'd have more patients to treat, it would run out quickly. Without really thinking about it, he balled up the droid's own coat and stuffed it unceremoniously into the wound. Not pretty, but at least the blood wasn't flowing as freely. That was enough for him for now.

He looked around and knew there was no way he was going to get any help from any of the Marines around him. Spradley resigned himself to it. He began dragging the droid backward toward the flag. It was slow going, but halfway there, Morris ran up to him and grabbed the feet. Together they carried the patient to the make-shift aid station

"Seriously, Spradley? The coat?"

"Hey, I only have so much gauze and it seemed like a waste to use it all on this one droid."

"Yeah fair enough. Doesn't look like we're going to get much help from the Marines here. They gave me shit for trying to make an aid station." They got to the station and Morris began doing the finer work needed to take care of the droid. He then waved Spradley off. "Go! If we can at least get them all here, it'd be easier on us."

"Right." As Spradley went to look for another patient, he saw Daniels struggling with hers and went to help her. They moved it a few feet before they heard a call for a medic. The pair looked at each other for a moment before Daniels nodded at her companion to let him go.

Dobson was also making her way to the call, but she acknowledged that Spradley was closer and left him to it. When he arrived, a female Calydonian was on the ground, but she looked more pissed off than anything else. That was likely due to the fact that her left leg was tied to itself in a red sash, preventing it from being used. She handed the med student a card as he knelt down. The handwriting was all too familiar.

LASLOCK SHOT GRAZING THE KNEE

Hm. That wasn't too bad, though bad enough that apparently Dr. Gray immobilized the victim. Spradley saw a large welt on the knee. The rounds the Marines were using obviously weren't their typical laslock packs. Instead, they were a small electric charge that didn't leave any permanent damage, but still provided a nasty zap when hit. There's not much hiding it when you get hit.

Treating this as a laslock shot, there wasn't much he really needed to do. Luckily it was just a graze and it wasn't in a dangerous part of the body. Calydonians had pretty thick skin anyway so that helped too. After he was done, he untied the red sash and gave the Marine the card back. "I uh... guess you need to keep that?"

"Okay, sure, whatever." She stuffed it in her coat pocket and barely mumbled out a thanks before getting back into the action.

Spradley heard the Marine instructor call out from the hill. "Soldier, try as we all might, you can't well shoot at Death itself! Find a better target!"

The med student wasn't sure what that meant, but he didn't sit around waiting for anything else to happen. He set out to find his next patient.

_________

Segeant-Major Ko was eying the field before her and wasn't too pleased with what she saw. "How does it look down there, Doc?" she asked a white-clad figure at the bottom of the hill.

Dr. Gray usually didn't sign in public, but it was a bit too far away for the written word and she didn't want to leave the sidelines in case she was needed back into the fray. STALE. THERE WAS A DECENT AMOUNT OF ACTION AT THE START, BUT IT IS LEVELLING OUT.

"Yeah, that's what I thought." The felinid then raised her voice to carry through the mock battlefield. "You're not in the Marines to just stand around all day! If neither of you have a flag in your hands within the next 15 minutes, then you all fail for the day. Get a move on!"

That seemed to spur both squad leaders into action as both gave the order to charge at nearly the same time.

___________

If Spradley learned anything that day, it would be not to be kneeling down in the middle of a knot of soldiers when the order is given to charge. He'd heard of people dying from being trampled and now he knew why. Luckily there were only a handful of soldiers, but even then he was stepped on at least twice. His poor droid faired even worse. It sported a few more broken "bones" than it did before. Damn.

Spradley looked behind him at the chaos that was the hand-to-hand combat. It was an utter nightmare. As he watched, he saw people falling left and right, friend and foe alike. His instincts kicked in and he grabbed a stick as he rose up to a crouch to make his way towards the nearest fallen soldier. He happened to look up just in time to see a laslock pointed his way. Before he could react, everything went black.

Next thing he knew, someone was kneeling over him. Before he had his wits about him, he instinctually attempted to fight back. His feeble strength meant that he only succeeded in knocking their glasses off with the stick he still held in his hands. Within half a moment, his arms were restrained. Tightly. This was definitely not one of his fellow med students. Spradley's eyes finally focused and realized that his captor was none other than Dr. Gray.

"O-Oh! Sorry, I didn't realize it was you." Great. Now he could add 'attacked my instructor with a stick' to the growing list of things that went horribly wrong today. Suddenly there was a light shining in his right eye, immediately followed by his left. Ah. She was checking for brain damage. Dr. Gray then held up her pen and Spradley knew to follow it with his eyes. All standard stuff.

He even decided to multitask and give answers to the usual questions that check for mental awareness. "Name: Jonathan Spradley. Current location: field outside the Evans training theatre in the Naval Medical School at Crescentia. Day of the week: Wednesday."

Dr. Gray nodded in acknowledgement so the med student felt encouraged to try to sit up. She prevented him and gently pushed him back to the ground. STAY DOWN. Read the card she flashed at him.

"But ma'am! I'm fine, I can get back to helping and-"

The doctor flipped the card over. YOU'RE DEAD.

"Oh." He was given the card as the Macropodian drew a red sash from her pocket and tied it around his head. The now-dead med student watched her get up to go to the next victim of the day. He now saw that a sign had been tacked onto her usual white coat, emblazoned with the word DEATH. Ah. That made sense now.

Spradley took the chance to look around on the battlefield. Turns out he was far from the only blue-team med student to have taken a fall. In fact, all four of them had perished. Dr. Gray was tying a red sash across Dobson's middle, Daniels was lying on her stomach, idly fiddling with some blades of grass in boredom a few yards away, and Morris was sprawled upside-down over one of the makeshift defences, arms crossed in seething vitriol.

About half of the blue Marines were left standing. Three were along the middling defences and the rest were manning the inner defences around their flag. As the green squad advanced, it was clear that the end was nigh. The middling defenders quickly retreated but two were hit before they could get to cover. One of them even called out for a medic, but it was a bit late for that now. Spradley didn't even bother watching the end because it was pointless by now. A few minutes passed and the scuffle was all over. Cheers rang out as the victors marched back to green territory to erect their prize. Spradley was just thankful that he wasn't trampled a second time as the stepped over him.

The Marine instructor's voice carried over the field. "Those who are injured or dead, remain where you are until you have been counted and recorded. Afterwards, form up in the center."

------------

Dr. Gray didn't lend him a hand after he was counted and instead turned to record the next casualty. It was fine by Spradley though. It was embarrassing enough to lose anyway. Having nearly your whole team dead was probably going to give him a big fat F for the day. Just great. He slowly sat up, careful in case his head injury was worse than he thought.

"Wow," he heard Daniels as she approached him. "What happened to you?"

Dobson wasn't far behind. "Yeah, you look like shit." Both of them offered him a hand. It seemed that he was the only one of them who actually managed to get hurt during the ordeal.

Morris was brushing himself off after tumbling off of his precarious perch. He quickly joined the rest of them as they made their way to where everyone else was gathering. "Wait, you got shot in the head?" Expermentally, he lifted Spradley's red sash and all three of his teammates hissed sympathetically at the welt already forming. "I'm glad I'm not you right now."

"Yeah you might want to keep that sash on until it clears up."

"Hopefully it doesn't take longer than a week, but you never know."

"Gee, thanks."

They filed in line, standing across from the other medical students who couldn't help but grin at their victory.

"Soldiers!" The grey felinid was making her way down the line between both squads. Her cane somehow made her more menacing than ever. "Green squad! You won the day. And while it had to be just about the saddest victory I've ever witnessed, it was a victory nonetheless. However, I advise both of you to brush up on your battle tactics if you ever wish to have a chance against more competent opponents! Blue squad, that was utterly pitiful. After we break for today, you will have plenty time to think of all the ways you lost as you clean up this field. I want no evidence that we've been here. Am I clear?"

"Yes ma'am!"

"Good. Now as I'm sure you've noticed by now that we had extra help today. Dr. Gray's medical students from the Navy. This wasn't just for fun. Out in the battle, you have to rely on your medical team to keep you from dying. And to do that, you need to keep them from dying. A dead medic can't fix your leg. Am I clear?"

"Yes ma'am!"

“Which reminds me, green squad? Which one of you lot landed a headshot on this medical student?” Spradley tried not to react as all eyes fell upon him. Looking at the faces of his comrades on the green team, he knew he wasn’t going to live this down. Ever.

“I did, ma’am!”

“Step forward.”

A black felinid emerged from the green squad’s ranks at attention. Spradley could see that she was trying not to be smug about hitting him square in the middle of his forehead. Ko approached her.

“Name?”

“Wescott, ma’am!”

“Wescott, you will be joining blue squad on clean up.”

The Marine-in-training looked surprised but did a decent job of not reacting negatively to the news. “Yes, ma’am.”

Ko then addressed the crowd. “I should not have to tell you more than once. Do not aim for the head!”

To Spradley, that made some sense. Since the rounds were electrical, they could still cause some serious damage to the brain if you got unlucky with it.

“It is never a good target!” she continued. “It is small and in constant motion. More times than not, you will miss. It is always better to aim for the chest. Almost just as lethal, but far easier to hit. Am I clear?”

“Yes ma’am!”

Oh. So it wasn’t a safety issue after all. Of course it wasn’t.

Ko made her way down to the end of line where the medical students were standing. Just as she reached them, Gray appeared and handed her a piece of paper.

"Medical students." Her voice wasn't as booming as it had been since she only needed to address the eight in her immediate vacinity. "Based on your assessment today, you both have your successes and failures. Blue team, despite your squad's failures, you managed to save more droids than the green team. Your organization was more efficient by having established a centralized and secure aid station. However, you failed in that you did not assert yourselves and failed to establish cooperation with your fellow soldier. You will not always find willing help, but as you've seen today, you might not live to take such risks again."

The felinid then turned to the other medical students. "Green team, since none of you died today, you will go on to treat further patients. However, you failed to organize efficiently and caused more deaths today than your opponent's team. There are some deaths you can't prevent, but being too cautious or disorganized will cause more than necessary."

She then addressed all present, Marine and medical alike. "Today was a battle simulation to test not only your nerve in battle, but your ability to adapt under pressure. It was also designed to force you to understand the importance of cooperation between medical officers and soldiers. Dr. Gray and I met under the same circumstances as you met today. The way we survived was through not just skill, but trust and cohesion. I knew thay she would not leave me behind without a fight and she knew that I was there so she wouldn't have to work with one hand on a pistol. We will repeat this exercise next week. You will not make these same mistakes again. You are dismissed."

#fic #sector crescentia: admiralty #sector crescentia: ko #sector crescentia: dr gray #sector crescentia: crescentian #megers67

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sectorcrescentia · 6 years

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Title: Badlanding Author: Firefall Bangenthump Rating: Teen Word Count: 21,548 Summary: The doomed Badlanding Campaign would have a lasting impact on the lives of those who managed to survive the ordeal. For some, the effects were more than just battle scars and nightmares. Special Note: This fic is technically incomplete, however as we cannot predict if it will ever be completed to its full intention, we are publishing it now in its current form. As we at least know the full plot, gaps in the story are summarized in the form of author’s notes made when necessary.

#fic #sector crescentia: early #sector crescentia: ko #sector crescentia: dr gray #firefall

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sectorcrescentia · 6 years

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Waiting

Title: Waiting Author: megers67, Firefall Bangenthump Rating: General Audiences Word Count: 2,168 Summary: Doppler wasn’t the only one waiting for someone to return from the RLS Lyonesse following the Battle at Parliament.

Retiring from the military had some perks. There was a decent pension, access to healthcare, and she was usually among the first to know when something big goes down. Like many on Crescentia, she had been waiting for news on the peace treaty. Considering her past experiences with Procyons, she had been suspicious of the whole situation. However, she wasn't exactly in any position to make much of an objection. Or at least any that would actually be heard. She was only slightly comforted by the fact that she was far from the only one to have such sentiments. At the end of the day, the decision was up to the politicians and the Queen.

So she wasn't incredibly surprised when news broke. Though that didn't mean she still wasn't angry about it. Ko saw the updates scroll by and while it was reported that the Procs were defeated, she paid it little mind as she turned to the important parts of the report. Her heart panged when she saw a ship she recognized on the list of destroyed ships. But she was holding her breath for one name in particular. Then she saw it.

RLS Lyonesse (flag) - Adm. Amelia - Destroyed

She stiffened. Her face was forcibly neutral as she headed home. There was no use waiting around here, in public. She left discretely and headed to her small home to wait. She knew that if there was anything particularly important that she needed to know, they'd try to find her at home. At least that's what she told herself. She knew that staying at the base would just wind her up so leaving was more for her own sanity than anything else. Not like she could do anything here anyway. She could at least do busy work at home to keep her occupied.

There was hope. Ko knew as well as anyone that a ship's destruction didn't necessarily mean certain death for all aboard. In fact, with battle such as this, the Procs wouldn't be able to pick off stranded survivors as they had to turn attention to another ship. Though it also meant that it would be a long while before survivors are located and rescued. And she knew that Gray would be on the last ship out of there if at all possible. That was just how she was.

If she was coming back.

No, she couldn't think like that. Gray was one to take risks, but she wasn't reckless. She knew her limits. She knew that if she was incapacitated, then she wouldn't be able to do her job. She was a survivor. If anyone could make it through this, she could.

But you're not there to protect her.

No... she wasn't. Amelia was there though. Amelia could keep her safe. She always looked after her crew. She's gotten them through so many scrapes and close calls. She could get them through anything.

But Amelia isn't perfect. You really should have been there.

She shook her head almost as if to shake the thought out of her head, but it didn't really work. No, there was no way she could have gone even though she wanted to. Her back was damaged enough to make her more of a liability than useful. She definitely didn't want to hold the crew back looking after her, especially Gray. And if the ship was destroyed, that liability would be even worse.

You're useless. What are you even doing?

Ko unlocked the door, then quietly closed it behind her when she entered. Immediately she heard the familiar gurgling/cooing from the kitchen. Sure enough, Sue came rolling around the corner. By the time Ko made it to her usual chair, Sue was climbing the back of the chair before dropping into her lap. It seemed like he could sense her distress because he was already rolling onto his back, exposing his soft belly to her for a rub. Ko couldn't help but oblige and the moment she did, his tentacles wrapped around her hand playfully. The felinid wouldn't admit it to most people, but she was incredibly fond of the wriggly creature.

At least the company would help pass the time.

Ko lay awake in her bed, trying not to stare at the ceiling. Sue was wrapped in a ball somewhere near her feet as he always was, blissfully unaware of her thoughts. Crescentia had passed into Montressor's shadow, which brought the low twilight that was as close as the spaceport ever got to night. But the mighty station never truly slept, and there were still sounds filtering through from outside, including occasional sharp bangs that occasionally made the old soldier jump as revelers let off fireworks to celebrate the Empire's victory over the Procyons. Ko didn't resent the celebrations, but she knew for certain that it had come at a price. More news had filtered back in the days since the battle, much of it brought by the returning ships of Battlefleet Crescentia, which had begun returning to their berths, most of them bearing blackened and charred battle scars on their white hulls.

At least she had no reason to worry – the Admiral had been her normal, thoughtful self and had arranged for a message from Gray to be delivered to Ko as soon as she'd returned. She knew that, in this regard, she was better-off than many people who'd had friends or relatives in the engagement and who were still waiting on news. She wasn't worried for Gray's safety, though she was always concerned that one day the surgeon would push herself too far. But the past few days had underlined some hard truths.

She owed Gray so much. The list only started with her life, though she knew the surgeon would reject any such sentiment – saving Ko's life had been her job, and she had done no less for dozens of others from whom she expected no repayment. Gray was also probably the only reason she could still walk at all, and thus retain most of her independence. But it occurred to Ko in a way it hadn't quite done before that Gray had helped her to heal more than her physical wounds. She had been a part of her life longer than anyone else, and was certainly closer than anyone else. An aristocratic medical officer was the last person Ko would have expected to understand her, but understand her Gray did.

Ko could only hope that she did the same thing in return, though she knew there were dark corners in the surgeon's life that even she hadn't yet been granted access to. It had taken a while for her to realise the deep and frankly frightening depth's of Gray's self-condemnation, and longer for her to accept something that was so manifestly unjust. It still hurt her that she hadn't been able to erase that aspect of Gray's character, but she hoped that she had at least taken some of the edge off it.

There was a sudden, sharp knocking on the front door, one floor below. Ko sat up carefully, mindful of her damaged back, and reached for an autocandle. They seldom got visitors, and certainly not at this hour, which meant it was something unusual. Perhaps it was another messenger from Admiralty House with more news. Or perhaps, Ko realised as she swung herself out of bed, it was someone else...

Wrapping her dressing gown around herself and trying not to disturb the sleeping pango, she padded downstairs with the light in one hand and her cane in the other. She switched on the light in the small foyer and set the candle aside so she could open the door. Swinging it open, her heart leapt as she saw the familiar long-eared figure on the threshold.

“Welcome home, ma'am,” she said warmly.

Gray nodded her thanks and stepped inside, closing the door behind her. Ko took the opportunity to quickly survey her companion from head to toe, satisfying herself that she was indeed unharmed. But it was also clear that she was exhausted. The lines of her face with deeply etched with fatigue and her dark green eyes were dull. Her usual white coat was gone and she was wearing a crumpled commander's blue uniform that Ko guessed she hadn't taken off in days. Ko looked up to her face and realised that Gray was watching her.

I LOST MY KEYS, Gray signed, as if she felt it necessary to explain knocking on the door of her own house.

I'M NOT SURPRISED, Ko replied. I HEARD ABOUT THE LYONESSE.

Gray nodded. YOU GOT MY MESSAGE.

Ko confirmed it. THANK YOU FOR SENDING IT.

I DIDN'T WANT YOU TO WAIT. Gray shrugged. ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?

YES, MA'AM, Ko nodded. THANK YOU.

Gray nodded with satisfaction. Ko raised her hands again.

HOW BAD?

Gray understood the question. PERHAPS 2,500. PLUS WOUNDED.

Ko flinched. It was decades since the Navy had fought a battle anything close to that bloody. No wonder Gray looked tired – she had probably been on her feet since then.

WHEN DID YOU LAST SLEEP?

Gray had to pause to think about it. I NAPPED ON THE SHIP BACK HERE.

Ko knew that the real answer was the one Gray hadn't given. She sighed. I WAS GOING TO BED.

GOOD IDEA. Gray nodded.

DO YOU NEED ANYTHING?

Gray shook her head. THANK YOU. NO.

Ko handed her the candle and motioned towards the kitchen at the end of the hall. I'LL MEET YOU UPSTAIRS.

Ko was frankly impressed at how Gray had managed to hide her exhaustion, but by the time she followed he upstairs the surgeon had only got as far as removing her uniform coat and shoes before collapsing into her bed and drawing the covers over herself. She looked up blearily as Ko entered, carrying two cups of tea. She put them down on the table between their beds so she could explain.

IT'S HERBAL. HELPS SLEEP.

I DON'T THINK I NEED THE HELP, Gray gave a wry expression. BUT THANK YOU.

Ko smiled apologetically. I'LL GET THE LIGHT.

She switched off the candle and stood in the dark, waiting for her eyes to adjust. Her heart and mind were racing – there were things she wanted desperately to say – but Gray's condition was not conducive to any extended conversations. Even so, she felt that the occasion justified an unusual step.

Gray had closed her tired eyes as soon as the light had gone out, but she opened them again when she felt and heard Ko sliding into the bed alongside her. They lay facing each other for a moment, the little light coming through the curtains just enough to show the gleam of their eyes. There was a rustling as Ko sought out Gray's hands and took them gently in hers, bringing them between them. Gray understood and nodded. The felinid was not the demonstrative sort, and if she felt it necessary to talk, Gray knew it had to be significant. She pushed the clouds of fatigue out of her mind and willed herself to concentrate as Ko began signing slowly, letting Gray feel out each symbol as she made them in the dark.

I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE.

Gray felt a warmth in her chest, knowing that Ko meant more than she ever said. It pained her that she was unable to reply – despite having learned in leaps and bounds, Ko wasn't up to being able to comprehend sign language by touch alone, and it was too dark to read any writing. So she just nodded. It seemed to be enough for Ko, who continued.

I...

She stopped after the single letter, hesitating and trying to put into words the complex knot of emotions she had felt over the long days since learning of the flagship's destruction. It took her a moment to realise that she was holding her breath – and more, that Gray seemed to be holding hers, too.

...WOULD HAVE MISSED YOU, she finished, as quickly as she dared. Even so, it seemed to take a small eternity to say, letter by letter.

It wasn't enough, she knew. Nothing could be enough. The twin gleams of Gray's eyes vanished in the dark as she closed them, and Ko wondered for a moment if she had said something wrong, but then she felt one of Gray's hands release hers. It reappeared on her cheek, a soft touch that was heedless of the ugly ridge of scar tissue. She heard Gray moving and there was a brief ghost of a kiss on her lips before she felt the Macropodian settle down close to her, tucking her head into the curve of her shoulder with a small, contented sigh. Their hands were no longer touching, but that didn't matter now – no words seemed to be necessary. And though nobody could have seen it, both of them were smiling.

#fic #sector crescentia: admiralty #sector crescentia: ko #sector crescentia: dr gray #megers67 #firefall

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sectorcrescentia · 6 years

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Signs

Title: Signs Author: megers67 Rating: General Audiences Word Count: 1,646 Summary: A new line for communication is opened.

Ko had just left the sick bay. It seemed that it a certain surgeon was not on duty for once. It was almost strange to think that Dr. Gray would actually be in her quarters. Ko actually considered waiting until the morning as it was fairly late, but if she knew the surgeon then the hour wouldn't matter. The sergeant chose to press on. After all, it would be the best chance of having a private conversation without interruption. She wasn't particularly looking forward to the conversation, but it needed to happen. When Badlanding's evacuation separated them, they had no expectation of ever seeing each other again. Yet here they were. On the same ship. Against all odds.

Some might say something about fate and that this was some sort of sign. But Ko had learned to trust such things long ago. When she had woken up after that shot to the gut, Dr. Gray had called her Charlotte. She was sure that was a good thing, but would it last? Now that things calmed down, would they be able to pick up where they left off?

She needed to know before her heart decided for her.

Ko made her way to the small room that Gray used as her quarters. Technically the Macropodian shared it with another on the medical staff, but they planned the schedule so when one was on shift, the other was not. This meant that they effectively had the room to themselves. It was a convenient arrangement, to be sure. As she approached, Ko saw the light was on. Good. Gray was awake.

The felinid lightly knocked on the door. No response. After a moment, Ko knocked again.

"Doc?"

Still nothing. She wasn't worried and as she slightly opened the door, her suspicions were confirmed. On the work table, Gray was tinkering with a small metal box that had wires coming off of it. That explained it. The doctor couldn't exactly hear very much without her hearing aids on. Ko slowly approached and lightly tapped the table within Gray's eye line to announce her presence. A little startled, Gray jumped, but relaxed as she recognized Ko's hand. She turned to look at the felinid, carefully watching her facial expression. Nothing seemed to be particularly urgent or wrong. Her hearing aids were in no condition to be turned on at the moment, so she took out her notebook and wrote.

DID YOU NEED ANYTHING?

Ko was then given the notebook and pen for a response.

She wrote back. WE HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT- Ko hesitated as she thought about what to say. WHAT HAPPENED AFTER BADLANDING. Not the best start, but she didn't want to come off too strong too quickly. Not yet. Work into it.

When Gray read it, she gave her companion a curious look before motioned to invite her to sit on the bed. There weren't other chairs in the small room. The marine closed the door behind her and sat as directed as Gray as she looked at the notebook once again. The doctor wrote quickly out of necessity. WHAT HAPPENED TO ME? In response, Ko shrugged and nodded. That's a good a place as any to start. As the surgeon wrote, Ko kept herself busy admiring the rest of the room. There wasn't much to look at. The bed she was sitting on was technically a bunk bed to accommodate two occupants, though it looked like only the bottom was regularly used. It made sense given the scheduling, really. Both beds weren't ever used at the same time. Other than that, there was a desk next to one end of the bed with two trunks on the opposite wall. No decorations or personal effects seemed to be out. Perhaps on the desk, but Gray will have moved them for her hearing aid. By this point, the notepad was handed back to her.

I SPENT ABOUT 6 MONTHS ON THE ARRENTE AS THE CMO'S SECOND. AN OPENING CAME UP ON THE HAWKESBURY SO I BECAME ITS ONLY SURGEON. IT WAS A WELCOME CHALLENGE SINCE I WAS THE ONLY MEDICAL OFFICER AND THE SHIP WAS OFTEN EITHER LOW ON SUPPLIES OR HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN LIGHT SKIRMISHES THAT MEANT I HAD TO IMPROVISE. THOUGH IT'S NICE TO NOT BE THE SOLE MEDICAL PERSONNEL ON THE SHIP. YOU?

Ko then took the notepad and began writing a response. She realized she felt a little self-conscious with the doctor watching her write. She certainly could read and write, something that couldn't be said for some of her siblings back home, but she never had the kind of formal education that Gray did who had that aristocratic background. As such, she felt like she was taking eons to write just a short message.

I BOUNCED AROUND ON A FEW DIFFERENT SHIPS, BUT GOT PICKED UP BY THE RESOLUTE WHEN I MADE CORPORAL. IT'S SEEN A BIT MORE ACTION IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS AND I GOT SERGEANT HERE. NOT MUCH TO TELL SORRY I WRITE SLOW.

When Dr. Gray took the notebook back, she looked it and seemed to be contemplating something for a moment. The surgeon had a pretty good poker face so it was sometimes difficult for even Ko to decipher what was going through that brilliant mind. Gray flipped through the notebook and Ko noticed there weren't many pages left. It was small to begin with since it had to fit in the doctor's coat, and now it was being used up twice as fast with Ko's responses. There were a few more moments of contemplation. The felinid thought she detected a hint of anxiety?

But whatever it was, the Macropodian seemed to have made up her mind. Handing the notebook back to Ko, she held her fist up with her elbow at a right angle. It took a few moments of Gray looking expectantly at her companion before Ko hesitantly wrote FREEZE on the notepad. When she saw it on the page, Gray nodded and made another signal. Like the last, it was another battlefield hand signal.

RALLY POINT

Another.

VEHICLE

SNIPER

Ko was beginning to wonder where this came from and where this was going when she saw a sign that didn't look familiar to her. The silent doctor took the notebook back, turned to a fresh page and wrote a single letter in the corner.

She held up another unfamiliar sign before writing another letter.

The doctor then flipped through the previous pages to find empty space. There were still a couple of empty pages left, but it seemed that Gray wanted to conserve those if she could. She managed to find a little space, but had to shorten the message to get it to fit.

SIGN LANGUAGE ALPHABET. IF NOT KNOW WORD, SPELL.

With that, she turned back to the letters page and continued giving signs for the alphabet. After going through it once, she started again. This time, she manipulated Ko's hand to produce the same signs. Gray was teaching her to use a signed alphabet. At first, the Marine wondered why she was doing this, then she thought back to Badlanding. Ko herself taught her the battle signals for better communication when they couldn't just yell at each other and far enough away that a notepad was unfeasible. Maybe that's what was going on here. It made sense. There would be times when the doctor may not be able to rely on her other forms of communication. She'd seen a sign or two used in the sick bay for that reason, but it didn't seem as elaborate as this.

After several more runs through the alphabet, she felt that she was getting the hang of it. Gray then pointed to herself and spelled out her name in sign.

E-L-E-A-N-O-R-G-R-A-Y.

She then pointed to Ko. Ah. Her turn to utilize what she's learned. C-H-A-R-L-O-T... She hesitated, somewhat unsure what to do with double letters. She relaxed her hand and made T again and looked questioningly at her teacher. Seeing this, Gray responded by spelling the name, albeit a little faster than Ko to get to the point.

C-H-A-R-L-O.

She made the T sign, but then while holding the sign, she moved it to the other side of her chest at the same height. That must be it. Ko then started again, this time using this new lesson.

C-H-A-R-L-O-T-T-E-K-O

Satisfied, Gray began finger spelling, slowly so Ko could catch it.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND

Ko began to understand that they could now converse this way. Perhaps slowly at first until she got better at it.

YES

IF I NEED YOU CAN YOU BE MY EARS

YES

I TRUST YOU WITH MY LIFE. Gray seemed to hesitate before continuing. WITH MY HEART

Ko felt herself uncharacteristically blush. Of course it would take a massive amount of trust for the doctor to leave herself vulnerable in front of her like this. Her lack of hearing wasn't something she called attention to if she could at all help it. In fact, when she wore her hearing aids, she hid the wire under her coat and kept the ear pieces hidden in her hair. But she wasn't expecting that kind of confession. So after all this time, she still.... The felinid couldn't help herself and responded in kind.

I TRUST YOU WITH MY EVERYTHING

Now it was the doctor's turn to blush. They were both motionless as they let it all sink in. This was real. It's happening. It's official, even if, for now, it's just between the two of them. They were content to let it be. It wasn't the business of anyone else.

After a few moments, Gray's hands moved once more.

I THINK WE CAN MOVE TO SIMPLE WORDS.

#fic #sector crescentia: nebula war #sector crescentia: ko #sector crescentia: dr gray #megers67

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