Ali chuckled. “It goes without saying, Aiden and Dax are both brilliant. As is the Last Stand, considering the quality of our shields and armaments, which outshine most other ships of a similar size.”
“Because the railgun allows for more free power to beef up other systems,” the weapons officer added. “Along with very well designed and implemented optimization upgrades to all our systems. Even our engines, allowing us to have nearly the same speed and maneuverability as most other light cruisers, in spite of the added mass and energy consumption from our upgrades and weapons loadout. The Captain's piloting more than makes up the difference.”
“As does your shooting,” the companion said, oddly insistent. Dax gave no reaction to the praise.
Lana looked between them. “That's pretty impressive that you're as good with weapons as Captain Aiden is with flying, even though you're so much younger,” she told him.
Ali chuckled. “Actually, Dax is equally adept at all ship's systems, as well as repairs and small arms fire and hand to hand combat and other useful skillsets. He's the only one on the ship who approaches my level of competence in all fields.”
“That's amazing!” Lana blurted, shooting the young man a respectful look. He'd stiffened in his seat to his rigidly disciplined posture and his expression was carefully blank, which she'd come to realize meant he was distressed about something. Although she couldn't see what he had to be bothered about here.
“It is,” the companion agreed. “Although hardly unexpected, given his nature-”
The weapons officer abruptly stood, turning on one heel to face Ali. “In keeping with your core priority to see to the welfare of all humans,” he said in a tone that was slightly more clipped than usual, “don't you think there are some things it would be better for people to share about themselves?”
The beautiful woman went still, conveying the impression that she was thoughtful and possibly even sheepish. “Ah,” she said. “I didn't take into consideration that this is your first real relationship aside from the others on the crew as well. I'm sorry, Dax.”
Rather than seeming mollified, the young man looked even more on edge. “To reiterate my previous point, Ali.”
Lana stared between them, shocked. Wait . . . Dax looked her age, maybe a few years older, and he didn't know anyone aside from the Last Stand's crew? How was that possible? He couldn't have lost his memories as well, could he?
And what did the companion mean when she talked about his nature?
Ali turned away smoothly. “It appears there are details about you that you wish to tell Lana yourself, ones I'm inadvertently sharing simply by conversing with you. I'll leave you to it, then, and be more sensitive to your wishes in the future.”
She'd barely gone two steps when a voice from behind them all spoke sharply. “Gunner!”
Dax immediately pivoted smoothly to face the other doorway, snapping a perfect salute. Lana scrambled out of her seat to join him, turning towards where Aiden stood glaring at the young man.
The captain ignored her, as well as Ali when she hurried over to join him. “I ordered you to train your new crew mate on systems where she'll be useful, gunner,” he said quietly.
“He's been doing a great jo-” Lana began.
Aiden cut her off as if she hadn't spoken, eyes still on the weapons officer. “With everything you've been teaching her, you seem to have neglected to mention that the only reason our railgun is effective is that we have you firing it. Therefore, logically speaking, if the weapons are ever needed you'll be on them, or Ali if you were for some reason incapacitated. In other words, training Lana to use them is low priority.”
At the mention of being on weapons, the companion gave the captain a wide-eyed look, obviously not happy with the idea. But he either didn't notice or pretended not to, still glaring at Dax and waiting for a response.
“Understood, sir,” the young man said in his usual rigid tone, although his words were more clipped than Lana had ever heard them. “I believe Miss Ishiv is off duty and taking recreational time in full immersion. Engines require the least amount of technical proficiency to operate, so I'll begin training Lana on them instead.”
“That seems like a better idea.” Aiden turned to Ali, who had been giving the weapons officer a look of resigned sympathy; she instantly shifted it to one of warm supportiveness for her human. “As for you, I took you off training Lana because I wanted to actually spend time with you. If you're just going to be hanging around her anyway what's the point?”
“It's an adjustment period for all of us, my love,” the companion said gently. “I apologize if I've been neglecting you. Should we go to your cabin and spend some time together before you begin your shift?”
“Yes, we should.” He turned and strode away. Ali gave them a last apologetic look before following.
Dax started for the other door. “What are your thoughts on working the engines?” he asked Lana as she hurried to catch up.
She didn't really have any, since she had no idea what that entailed. Aside from her first meeting with Belix, and watching the elfin woman curse and hammer at a stubborn valve. “I think Belix would be relieved at the chance to do something else.”
He glanced at her, and although his expression stayed the same his tone changed slightly. “No doubt. But we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves.”
Meaning she was a long ways away from being able to take over running the engines. Months, probably, if not longer.
“It's not you,” Dax said abruptly after they'd been walking in silence for a while. Lana turned to him in surprise, but his green eyes were looking straight ahead, face as composed as ever. “If he's ever sharp with you in my presence, assume it's probably due to me being there.”
Yeah, she'd already picked up on
