The missing years were difficult for Ayan to accept. Jacob saw it for the first time since she'd arrived on the Triton. Her predecessor had left hours and hours of recordings behind, all addressed to a future version of herself; one that wouldn’t be afflicted. No one had told the Ayan who had wasted away that Doctor Anderson had begun work on imprinting her memories onto a genetically restored version of her, but she knew a high resolution scan of her body and mind had been taken. She knew she would live again, and it quietly gave her hope that she'd live on in one form or another.
Ayan, the one sitting across form Jake for most of the night before, was always conscious that she was living a special life, that in a way she was someone else's second chance and she vowed to make every day count, to touch other people's lives in memorable ways. Listening to and viewing her predecessor’s recordings were at the same time uplifting and saddening. It was her, that woman who thought the same, hoped the same and dreamed the same, only she knew she wouldn’t be saved, that she would die prematurely.
She didn't listen to the recordings as often as she liked, only for a while every few days. Ayan supposed it was as much that it was an emotional drain for her as it was that once she had listened to everything her predecessor had to say, there would be nothing more, ever. It would be like she was truly gone, that in her own unique way she would be alone.
It was Ayan's time to cry in his arms, as he did only hours before then when he let the pain that came with losing a daughter break loose, she was mourning the loss of self. It was then that Jacob realized that he was one of the few people in the universe who could understand what she was going through. Knowing you were a copy, even a cherished copy, was its own complex burden.
When it was over "she felt silly," and they continued taking turns telling stories.
Late into the night they went on and on, avoiding the question that plagued everyone inside and outside the Clever Dream; where is Triton? They would take some time to catch up, two of their main thrusters were ruined, but no one knew exactly how long it would take them to arrive. The popular estimate was ten hours, which gave them enough time to make themselves at home, and time for Jake to begin to get to know the woman Ayan had become. She was so different, so strong, and so beautiful.
He looked around the smaller First Officer's quarters briefly. A double bed, small table, three chairs, cupboards, modest closet and a small bathroom made for generous quarters. There were two other quarters that were the same save the closet right beside his, soldiers who had won a lottery held on Crewcast had spent the night in them.
Stephanie was surprised when she discovered he wasn't sharing the Captain's quarters with Ayan. What surprised her even more was that Ayan was given the Captain's quarters, the look of confusion she gave him was cut short by a shrug as she made her way to one of the three small bunk rooms. She didn’t give him time to explain that Ayan and he had just spent hours talking, reconnecting. It was a good thing; he didn’t know what he would say to Stephanie.
They worked closely together for a long time on the Samson, gotten to know each other well without saying much at all. He wasn’t attracted to her until they took the Triton, and even then, it was sudden, nearly inexplicable. Not long after his friendship with Stephanie became physical, Ayan reappeared, fading any chance Stephanie and he had of going further. He didn’t regret getting closer to Stephanie, especially since it was a brief encounter, out of sight on the then empty Samson cargo bay, but he still couldn’t look Frost in the eye. He only hoped that if Stephanie ever told him, she would warn him first.
It wasn’t long before such thoughts were far out of his mind. He was so tired by the time he made it to the first mate’s bed that he was asleep almost immediately. Lewis didn't wake him up on time. He didn't wake anyone up on time. Instead of sounding the alarm at the ten hour mark he waited fourteen.
Jake, Ayan and several other crewmembers slept in. It was welcome, but the question became more urgent; where was Triton? Lewis had enlisted the help of Minh, who had boarded during the evening, in scanning the area for any sign, so there was no point in joining them on the small bridge before he had to.
Randolph Lalonde
Spinward Fringe Broadcast 6: Fragments
Jake was just about to access the navigational database when the door opened to admit Ayan, who came in bearing two tall spill proof mugs. She was dressed as simply as he was, only in the thin, snugly fit vacsuit under layer to her environment armour, only hers was white and closed, whereas Jake's vacsuit was black and he hadn't bothered to pull it up past the waist. Something that she couldn’t help but notice, judging from her wandering, widening blue eyes and dimpled smile.
"Good chat last night," she said through her grin, her voice pitched higher than usual.
Jake nodded and smelled the steam wafting from the top of an open cup. "Just don't spread the word that we were up all night talking."
Ayan put their mugs down on the small dresser instead of handing it to Jake, regarding him with a confused expression.
"Otherwise Frost and whoever else he can involve will start hiding panties and other frillies for me to discover where everyone can witness."
Ayan's eyes went wide as she snickered. "I think I remember something like that from the Academy. Does that actually still happen?"
"Happened when they found out Silver and Ashley cuddled in the bunk room for a few nights and he didn’t make a move. He didn't hear the end of it until there was clear evidence that things had gone further."
"So you're wishing you'd stayed last night?" She raised an eyebrow and looked him up and down.
It had been so long since Jacob had felt so on the spot without knowing what to say. She was smiling again, a crooked, playful grin, and he gave in to an urge that had hounded him the night before.
In one step and a swoop of his arm he took her into an embrace. His lips were on hers and after a muffled squeal of surprise she returned his kiss.
Ayan's arms snaked up across his shoulders and around his neck as she relaxed against him. He relished the feeling of her in his arms. Their warm kiss ceased to be urgent before long, instead it became a warm time at play.
Ayan leaned into him, on her toes as he backed into the dresser
Jake withdrew from her with wide eyed surprise.
She heard the sound of liquid dripping and realized that he’d backed into the dresser and knocked over the mug she’d left open to cool. According to the expression on his face, she guessed it was still piping hot.
She danced away a step and looked around him, where she could see that the beverage had bathed his lower back and poured down the waist of his vacsuit. "I'm sorry! It wasn't on purpose!” she apologized urgently as she righted the empty cup. “It wasn't on purpose!" Ayan burst, running to the mini-bath and retrieving a towel.
"Was it that bad?" Jake asked, turning so Ayan could pat the liquid off his back.
"No, it was brilliant, you were brilliant. I forgot to close one of them and-"
The door slid open. Minh and Stephanie's jaws dropped simultaneously as they looked at a half stripped, surprised and uncharacteristically out of sorts Captain Valance as he had his back patted down by a frantically apologetic Ayan.
Stephanie shook her head slowly; "I don't want to know."
"I do!" Minh grinned.
"Well, no time for it. We have a signal from the Samson. They'll be here in a few minutes," Stephanie informed flatly as she grabbed Minh by the arm and hauled him back towards the bridge. "C'mon, you can question them later."