We meet again

Posted on Sun Jun 22, 2025 @ 8:17pm by Civilian Mathias McPhee & Civilian David Scarlet

2,702 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: Time After Time
Location: Deep Space 5, Docking Area

Mathias wandered around the station, which was a minature city. Many sights, sounds, things to taste and enjoy. Mathias paused when he stopped in front of an eatery catching the scent of freshly baked bread, and the scent of tea, pastries. It reminding him of his sisters shop upon another station. They would have liked being here, especially the strong feeling of magic coming from somewhere. He purchased a muffin, nibbling upon it as he followed his sense of needing to be somewhere. He arrived at the docking area, having gone through the security protocols. His feeling strengthened, much like it happened upon Poseidon Station. It looked like he was wandering aimlessly, however it wasn't aimless, munching upon his muffin as he felt an even stronger pull. Walking around several other ships, he stopped when he saw a ship that had a lot of wear and tear. Curious, Mathias approached the ship, seeing if he could find the owner of the ship and if the hatchway was open. "Yo the ship!" his Scottish accent coming out as he called out.

"Yes," Scarlet replied to the technician. "I'm the owner now and what I need is a space worthy vessel. You lot can clean the databanks for whatever information you think is worth it, but I need something that can fly without needing a roll of duct tape."

The technician sighed and nodded her understanding as she finished copying down everything in the Padd.

It was then that Scarlet heard the familiar voice and accent and turned around slowly. He raised an eyebrow and stared grimly at the familiar face. He took a step forward and then another, stalking toward Mathias with determination.

"You... You're everywhere I go." As Scarlet got up to Mathias he pushed out his hand to offer it to the familiar man. A smile cracked through the grim visage. "It's good to see a familiar face."


Mathias chuckled. "I actually got here before you." taking Scarlet's hand and shaking it then pulled him in for a heartfelt embrace. "Good to see you my friend. This place is huge compared to Poseidon Station. One never can tell who you may end up running into, or catch a glimpse of." Mathias giving an impish grin. He released David from the embrace. "What brings you out this way? And I see you got yourself a ship as well. And care to go get a bite to eat while we chat? I'm buying."

"It was the closest station and that beater wasn't making it very far otherwise." Scarlet looked back at the ship that had brought him this far. Hopefully it could be brought up to code enough to save it from the scrap heap. It'd grown on him in a weird way. "But that's what happens when it's crewed by paklid zealots."

He looked back and could see the confused look growing on Mathias' face. He raised a hand to stop the barrage of questions before they started. "I'll explain it all in due time. You mentioned food? I've been living off rations for the last couple of weeks so a replicator would be amazing right now."

"C'mon I've got something better than replicated food. There are places that serve real food, and what are you in the mood for? Pizza, burgers, steak dinner with all the trimmings? I can afford it." Mathias giving a chuckle. "Unlike how I was on Poseidon Station. I even have a place." leading his friend from the shuttlebay and towards the rather large promenade. It will take days to cover it all, a hundred decks for the promenade. I've never been on a celestial style station before."

"Me either." Scarlet replied as he looked around. He wasn't sure how long he'd be here, most likely not long enough to explore it fully.

"Good to hear you're doing well here Mathias." He continued. "You deserved a good break. As for food, I'm not picky. Like I said, rations."

Mathais eyes danced with an impish gleam in his eyes. "Poseidon Station was the start of my getting on a different postive path.Hopefully." guiding them into a restaurant where they were immediately seated. "Two house special steak dinners, and some good drink for my friend here. A very good ale or beer or both." the man giving a laugh. "A time to celebrate two friends meeting again. Your steak I believe you like it rare to medium rare?"

"Medium Rare." Scarlet replied with a nod. "You don't need to order for me. I promise I won't bite the server... or make them cry."

Scarlet couldn't help but allow a grimace to come across his features. As good as it was to see a familiar face, it may complicate things. "You've found your place, but I'm not certain I've found mine or if I ever will. Once that ship is repaired I'm going to see what's next and decide the next steps. I've been at the beck and call of too many major players and I think it'll be nice to do things for myself for a while."

The former marine chuckled. "I'll just need to figure out how to pilot the damn thing when it's not threatening to implode at every juncture."

"Sounds exciting." Mathias jested, with a small smile. It disappeared, "I know the feeling of being at the beck and call of others." the waiter siipped away quietly to put in the dinner orders, "I do hope you will find a reason to stay here besides yours truly." giving a half heearted chuckle. A sly expression appeared and a mysterious smile came to the surface.

"I have a question for you while we are waiting for our dinner, have you spoken to your mystery woman lately? The one who gave you reason to smile and laugh?" Mathias looked down at the basket of rolls that seemed to appear as if by magic, complete with softened butter to spread upon the rolls. He reached over and picked up one, slicing it in half and added the butter.

Scarlet looked away for a moment and stared off into space before looking back. "No, with all the commotion while I was gone, I don't know where she ended up." The man shrugged as he grabbed a plain roll and ripped a piece off to pop into his mouth. Plain bread at this point was a luxury to him. "The advantage and disadvantage of being hard to pin down, is that it works both ways sometimes."

"Only one who seems to be able to find me with either bit of regularity is that Orion, Mirae..." Scarlet scoffed. "I've even been checked for sub dermal trackers. Nothing. But she's persistent and pops up at the strangest times. Not sure if letting her live that first time is a blessing or a curse now." He motioned to Mathias. "Considering the two of us in one spot I'd place credits on her showing up sooner than later. She hates you more than she hates me and I shot her."

"Yeah, I know Mirae hates me, she nailed me with a muffin before she and I ended up having a conversation." Mathias taking a deliberate bite of his roll, as he regarded David. "It is due to the people who I was associated with." a bitter huff came out. "I think I told you I almost died due to those--people?"

He took another bite of the roll, then noticed the waiter was bringing over their dinner. "Looks like our food has arrived."

The food was placed in front of the two men, and the waitress also placed their drinks on the table. She left going off to her other duties. Mathias picked up his knife and fork, cutting into his steak, it was done to perfection.

Scarlet stared at the food for a long moment before he slowly picked up the cutlery. It'd been a while since he'd had something even remotely resembling a decent meal. His stomach growled angrily at his hesitation and he responded by slowly cutting a piece of the steak and popping it into his mouth. The morsel seemed to melt in his mouth as he slowly chewed and savoured the flavour and juices.

"This is all too surreal." Scarlet said softly after a moment. "I've spent countless days watching pressure gauges and flickering screens just hoping the ship didn't implode on me. I finally find a safe port and within the hour I'm sat with an old friend enjoying a steak."

"It's jarring." He continued. "I'm still in survival mode."

"I understand that feeling." Mathias set to work on cutting his steak into pieces before resuming his enjoyment of the steak.Fourth bite in, Mathias paused and looked at David. "I'd like to repay you for letting me stay at your place, when you had to leave on your mystery errand.I've got a two bedroom suite, you can stay in one of the bedrooms, if you are willing, to do so. No strings attached. "

"Only until that ship is repaired, or I get my own place." Scarlet replied firmly. "I've no intention of being an imposition."

He held up a hand quickly. "And don't say I won't be."

The grizzled man looked down at his food once more and pushed the mashed potato apart before taking a bite of it. "I just need to get my feet under me," He paused for a moment then. "Have you been here long enough to know who to contact in security? I've given access to the logs but I'll probably still need a debrief."

Mathias closed his mouth, stifling his protest when David had stopped him. He knew his friend didn't like being an imposition and Mathias had felt the same way when he crashed on David's couch. "I am not familiar with the security here as of yet as I've not met them. Though, once we get done eating, let's grab your go bag and head to my place, and you get yourself spruced up a little bit.There is a place we need to go to, in about an hour." his eyes crinkling up with his mysterious smile. Mathias resumed eating his meal, at a steady pace, the food disappearing rather quickly.

Scarlet raised a weary eyebrow. "I just arrived, you're the only person who seems to know I'm here, there's no place I need to be." He took a bite of the steak and chewed it slowly before swallowing.

"You know how I feel about surprises." Scarlet commented while looking around. Mathias was harmless, but at times misguided in his enthusiasm.

"This is true, you don't like surprises so- perhaps you can be her surprise instead, David. The woman who gave you reason to smile upon Poseidon Station--she is here on this station." Mathias stopping there, to put the last bite of his food in his mouith, chewing with his mouth closed, a twinkle in his eyes. Mathias felt quite satisfied, at relaying this piece of news to his friend.

Scarlet watched Mathias as he took his last bite.

"Nope." Scarlet put down his fork and knife before standing up from the table and walking away.

Mathias was dumbfounded at David's reaction. "What the--" Mathias wiping his mouth and throwing some creds down on the table for a tip the, ran to catch up to David. "Okay what's your problem?" walking alongside David. Mathias was a romantic at heart and well he thought David would be happy to hear that the beautiful woman was here.

Scarlet continued walking in silence and barely seemed to notice when Mathias caught up with him. He suddenly wheeled on Mathias and pointed a finger right to the man's face. "Don't... don't spring shit like this on people."

He turned and continued walking. He didn't know where he was headed, but it was a large station. After struggling for his life for the last while and suddenly having come across here with familiar faces and the promise of others, it felt too good. Was he actually dead and this was the afterlife? Or some cruel joke being perpetrated by a cosmic entity just to mess with him? Scarlet didn't know and just walked as he tried to process the jarring events.

Mathias took a step back, a hand raised his palm out. "I didn't quite know how to tell you except for how I did. She doesn't know you are here. She doesn't know I am here. You had just arrived, and well, I've only been here for three days. Granted my delivery could have been a bit better?" Mathias resuming walking alongside Scarlet."In truth I didn't know if I would see you again but, here we are.I go where I in essence follow my feet, and I seem to have an uncanny ability of finding some people I am supposed to find. Or rather someone I have a strong connection to. David, we became friends,and there is a connection.You accepted me inspite of my eccentricities. You made my life on that other ship, bearable."

"I need a drink." Scarlet said as he stopped walking and looked around quickly, following the signs with his eyes he saw there was something nearby that promised drinks that could strip paint. He glanced at Mathias. "You can come, but don't talk until I'm ready."

Mathias gave a nod, not saying a word to Scarlet. When they went inside the place, the lean Scotsman gave an approving nod as the pub looked like the one he was used to going to, when he was back home in Scotland. Bellying up to the bar, he asked for the strongest whiskey or even the strongest drink the man had. Mathias was wanting a strong drink as well true to his agreement to Scarlet, wherever Scarlet wanted to sit, Mathias would follow.

The small pub, apptly named 'Big Bens' due to the themed decor, didn't have many tables, but the centralized bar had a few remaining seats. Scarlet took one and motioned for the barkeep. The slender saurian walked over, but before they could ask Scarlet pointed toward the nearest bottle of rum.

"I'll need that, and a shot glass." He said quietly.

"One of those days?" The bartender replied as they put the bottle and an empty shot glass in front of the man. "I'll keep checking in."

Scarlet popped the cork and poured his first of many shots as his mind began to go through the process of figuring out what had happened the last few days. A few shots in he finally turned to Mathias. "I don't think I'll be here long. Either my ship can be repaired or I'm going to find passage. Nothing personal, but I don't know where my path is going to lead right now."

Mathias felt a sharp pang go through him, as he listened to David. He understood though, his friend had gone through a lot already. even before Mathias had met him. Mathias poured himself another drink, the bottle he had halfway empty. He tossed back the drink setting the small glass down.

"I am saddened but also, I do understand." he looked from David to the glass in his own hand, having not let go when he set it down on the top of the counter. He reached with his left hand to pour himself another drink, watching as the amber colored liquid filled the glass. "You've got to do what you feel is best, my friend. I'd like to try to convince you to stay, but that--is still up to you." his voice went slightly hoarse, choking back the emotions that were welling up.

"Don't cry." Scarlet ordered. "Drink." He refilled the glass Mathias held and then his own. "Cheers to the moment."

With Scarlet's order of not to cry, to Mathias's amazement, the emotions just receded rather quickly. "Okay that was unexpected." giving a bit of a smirk. "Had no idea you had that power in you." he held up his glass. "You're right, Cheers to the moment. Thank you for the reminder, much appreciated."


Mathias McPhee
Civilian
DS5

David Scarlet
Civilian
DS5

 

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