001 | video

[suddenlycaptain]

[ The video is turned on, showing a woman with short blonde hair with a serious expression on her face. Her arms appear to be crossed over her chest, number obscured by the way they’re settled. ]

My name is Carolyn Fry. I am [ and here there’s a slight pause, her posture straightening ] the captain of the Hunter Gratzner and a pilot. I’d like information on the layout of this ship, the shuttles, the chain of command, and everyone’s experiences here. I want to know what I’m dealing with, or at least be as well-informed as everyone who’s been here for a while. Don't worry about saying something that someone else might have already said; I'm interested in your personal experiences, as well.

[ There’s another pause here. ] Thank you.

[ One hand moves, as if to shut off the feed, but then Fry adds something else. ] And Riddick? I'd appreciate it if you spoke up, all things considered. [ You know exactly what she's talking about, big guy. And next time you're trying to hide yourself from people, work on not having such a distinct voice. ]

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[suddenlycaptain]

[ It would be a better impersonation if she had goggles and no hair, but well... that's asking a bit much.

"But I think he's a nice guy." Fry's not going to dispute it, not going to say what Riddick's done. Instead, she says, ] Do you try to talk to him a lot?

[the_vishual]

I like to. He doesn't answer much, though. Just--at the jumps, I like to say hellp.

[suddenlycaptain]

Before or after he has his goggles on?

[the_vishual]

Sometimes after, but mostly before.

[suddenlycaptain]

That might be why. [ She can't imagine it's too comfortable for him in the lights, not with his eyeshine. ]

[the_vishual]

I think it's pretty.

His eyes, I mean.

[suddenlycaptain]

[ If it were anyone else but Riddick, Carolyn might agree. As it is she looks like she's going to say something before shaking her head. ]

Still, he might be more willing to talk if he has his goggles on.

[the_vishual]

So he might like me afterall?

[suddenlycaptain]

I don't know. It's hard to tell with him.

[the_vishual]

you know him very well.

[ And there's a brief pause as Chase tilts her head to the side, curious. ]

Do you love him?

[suddenlycaptain]

Not really.

[ "You know I am? You don't know anything about me" and he'd been right. She just knows what Johns told her, what Riddick told her and what he'd let her see.

Of course, those thoughts go completely out the window at Chase's next question. If she were the sort to choke on air, she probably would have; instead she stares, mouth open. ]

What?

[the_vishual]

Do you love him?

[ Same words, just repeated a little slower. ]

[suddenlycaptain]

Why would-- No.

[ Deep breath, Carolyn, don't get mad at the girl. ]

No, I don't.

[the_vishual]

But you know a lot about him, miss.

[ The world and the universe and how it's made? Chase has that memorized. Things like feelings? Not so much. ]

[suddenlycaptain]

Just because I know more about him than other people here doesn't mean I know that much -- or that I love him.

[ This is one of the more awkward conversations of Carolyn Fry's life. ]

[the_vishual]

But you're close to him. Like Spock is to Uruha.

[suddenlycaptain]

I'm not close to him.

[ Dying for someone doesn't make you close. ]

And I have no idea who those people are.

[the_vishual]

You haven't heard of Spock?!

[suddenlycaptain]

Didn't I just say that?

[the_vishual]

But everyone knows Spock.

[suddenlycaptain]

I don't.

[the_vishual]

You should ping him! He's the best.

[suddenlycaptain]

[ Oh, kids. ] Why's that?

[the_vishual]

He's teaching me his world's ways, as well as the mandate for Starfleet, the program he's in--and on top of that, sometimes we play 3D chess together and talk about astrophysics and the fundamental theorum of the vast majority of the other sciences, miss. Plus, he has funny eyebrows.

[suddenlycaptain]

[ This kid... in some ways she's very much a child, and in others she's something else. Carolyn can't quite put her finger on what it is, but something's unusual. Still, her lips twitch up. ]

He sounds interesting -- he and his eyebrows. I'll have to keep my eyes open.