The Last Mission
[Told from the Viewpoint of Jane Westmuir. Also starring Jules May.]
”Are you… really sure about this, Captain?”
Jules looked at me, his eyes still shining like those of a child on a Christmas morning, but the way he had put his words told me that he was, indeed, starting to wonder about my sudden idea of sending him on a mission, as I had opposed it earlier on several other occasions.
”We don't have a chance. We're understaffed and we need someone experienced to solve this matter. I can't leave, nor can Thomas and you know damn well why.”
”But the timeframe...”
He added and I snapped at him. I didn't mean to, of course, but I had sunk several hours on this thought process and I had come up with no other alternatives. This pained me, but I had no choice.
”I know bloody well about the timeframe!”
I hissed and Jules looked almost offended by my tone, but he took it with his usual calm, carefree way.
”Alright then, you're the boss.”
He shrugged, but I could see that certain glint in his eyes which told me that he was delighted about this chance to reminiscence on the memories tasting of honey and vinegar.
”I guess I need to leave Stompy behind?”
He turned to look at me, in that boyishly hopeful way which made him look much, much younger. I could almost picture him in the grey overalls, oil stains on his knees, black smudge on his cheek, him saluting me enthusiastically when I'd arrive in the hangar. 'Everything's ready for departure, captain!', he'd shout, out of breath after running to me like an obedient puppy.
Almost.
”I think it's for best. I'll see that he's in good hands.”
I answered to my not-a-puppy-anymore Jules, giving him a small, apologizing smile.
”He'll be waiting for you when you get back.”
I added, and suddenly realized he wasn't that young boy anymore. No, he was more experienced, more knowledgeable of the tech than I was, the backbone of the downstairs lab. And here I was, giving him the same silly voice like he would have been just a rookie. He noticed it too and gave me a knowing, slightly teasing grin.
”You're getting flashbacks again, aren't you?”
Jules asked me, poking me in the chest which would never have been allowed in the old days.
”No, I was just deep in my thoughts.”
I answered, slightly flustered and shook my head to clear my mind and took a deep breath.
”Just try not to cause too much trouble.”
”I never cause any trouble.”
He answered me quickly and 'innocently', forcing me to breath sternly out through my nostrils.
”Come back in one piece. And that's an order.”
I gave him the best boss look I could muster, even when I knew he had grown immune to its effect years ago.
”Aye, Captain~!”
Jules waved his hand when he giddily frolicked out of the door, leaving me standing in my office, praying for all the gods and higher powers to watch after that idiot.
”Are you… really sure about this, Captain?”
Jules looked at me, his eyes still shining like those of a child on a Christmas morning, but the way he had put his words told me that he was, indeed, starting to wonder about my sudden idea of sending him on a mission, as I had opposed it earlier on several other occasions.
”We don't have a chance. We're understaffed and we need someone experienced to solve this matter. I can't leave, nor can Thomas and you know damn well why.”
”But the timeframe...”
He added and I snapped at him. I didn't mean to, of course, but I had sunk several hours on this thought process and I had come up with no other alternatives. This pained me, but I had no choice.
”I know bloody well about the timeframe!”
I hissed and Jules looked almost offended by my tone, but he took it with his usual calm, carefree way.
”Alright then, you're the boss.”
He shrugged, but I could see that certain glint in his eyes which told me that he was delighted about this chance to reminiscence on the memories tasting of honey and vinegar.
”I guess I need to leave Stompy behind?”
He turned to look at me, in that boyishly hopeful way which made him look much, much younger. I could almost picture him in the grey overalls, oil stains on his knees, black smudge on his cheek, him saluting me enthusiastically when I'd arrive in the hangar. 'Everything's ready for departure, captain!', he'd shout, out of breath after running to me like an obedient puppy.
Almost.
”I think it's for best. I'll see that he's in good hands.”
I answered to my not-a-puppy-anymore Jules, giving him a small, apologizing smile.
”He'll be waiting for you when you get back.”
I added, and suddenly realized he wasn't that young boy anymore. No, he was more experienced, more knowledgeable of the tech than I was, the backbone of the downstairs lab. And here I was, giving him the same silly voice like he would have been just a rookie. He noticed it too and gave me a knowing, slightly teasing grin.
”You're getting flashbacks again, aren't you?”
Jules asked me, poking me in the chest which would never have been allowed in the old days.
”No, I was just deep in my thoughts.”
I answered, slightly flustered and shook my head to clear my mind and took a deep breath.
”Just try not to cause too much trouble.”
”I never cause any trouble.”
He answered me quickly and 'innocently', forcing me to breath sternly out through my nostrils.
”Come back in one piece. And that's an order.”
I gave him the best boss look I could muster, even when I knew he had grown immune to its effect years ago.
”Aye, Captain~!”
Jules waved his hand when he giddily frolicked out of the door, leaving me standing in my office, praying for all the gods and higher powers to watch after that idiot.
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