Finding The Lost

Posted on Wed Feb 19th, 2025 by Paige Cohen & Charlotte Preston

1,489 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: M01 - The Hooke
Location: Corridors, USS Hooke
Timeline: Present

Charlotte wandered around the ship while her mother was off doing things that Charlotte assumed needed done. This was an absolute first for her, being on a starship, so she didn't quite know what to expect. So far Charlotte had gotten lost at least once while trying to figure out her way around the ship. It was small, and at least she'd not gone anywhere she wasn't meant to be.

Not like Outpost Nineteen where she'd ended up in places where she wasn't meant to be at least a dozen different times. She had learned while wandering around that there were two other girls her age on board, and that was it. There weren't other children like on the outpost where there were around a dozen different children. That would take some getting used to, then she bumped into one of the other girls.

"Oh..." Charlotte said almost immediately after walking straight into the other girl. "I'm so sorry," She frowned.

Paige had been on her way to the crew mess to get something to eat when someone had bumped into her from behind. The twelve-year-old turned around to see Charlotte standing there. It took her a moment, "Oh hello," She said somewhat cautiously. "I'd heard there were other girls on board, but I didn't know who they were. I'm Paige," She added.

Charlotte felt her cheeks burning with embarrassment, "Charlotte Preston," She identified herself. "Nice to um... Meet you Paige." She added with a nervous laugh.

Paige could immediately tell the other girl was somewhat nervous, "Paige Cohen," She added. "Are you related to the ship's Executive Officer?"

Charlotte nodded, "Her daughter," She said. "My Dad is the Executive Officer of a different ship." She added, "This is the bigger ship so I'm staying with my Mom now that my parents are assigned to different ships."

Paige thought it must be nice to have two parents, but she said nothing about that. "I was just on my way to the crew mess deck to get something to eat. Did you want to come with me?"

Charlotte thought this over, questioning if she was actually hungry or not. It probably wouldn't hurt to know how to get there, "This is my first time on a ship and I have no idea where I'm at," She found herself blurting out somewhat awkwardly, "Yes please." She concluded.

Paige's expression softened quite a bit, "Oh that's all right," She said. "I've lived on starships for quite awhile now," She tilted her head. "If you don't mind my asking, where did you live before?"

"Outpost Nineteen," Charlotte replied. "And before that I lived on Earth with my grandparents. I don't remember living on Earth though," She added at the end. Charlotte looked around, "So where is this?"

Paige didn't have the appropriate answer to the question, "We're on deck three," She then considered showing the other girl around the ship for a little bit. Food could always wait, it wasn't like the crew mess was going anywhere and she doubted anyone had cooked anything. Paige had heard there would be an assigned officer making food rather than doing the replicator thing.

"I can show you around the ship." Paige offered.

Charlotte's eyes immediately lit up, "Okay," She said. Knowing her way around the ship would probably be quite valuable. "I'm kind of tired of getting lost," She remarked softly. "This ship is more confusing than it probably should be."

Paige grinned warmly, "It takes some getting used to. But everything is centered around the turbo lifts. Here," She started toward the central point of the deck. "I'll show you how to get around so you're less confused besides I heard we have class in the morning."

Paige entered the turbo lift, "Deck seven," She said as soon as Charlotte was inside. "My Dad thinks there won't be a teacher on board, but it'll be over subspace. We'll just have a classroom where we can do our schoolwork."

"I heard that too," Charlotte replied just as the turbo lift came to a halt and the doors opened revealing the corridor for the deck. "I think what I'm getting confused about is how every deck looks the same." She stepped out of the turbo lift and looked around.

Paige followed behind Charlotte, "I don't think we'll have to go much further down into the ship than here. The holodecks and other facilities that we want to use are above this point."

"Is a holodeck like a holosuite?" Charlotte asked, "On the station we didn't have a holodeck."

"I think so," Paige answered. "I think one is just bigger than the other, but they do practically the same thing." She led the other girl toward a space that was more aft than where they were originally. Once she came to a stop the door sensed her presence and opened up. Inside there were three desks, two lab tables, and a large viewer on the bulkhead. "This is the classroom," Paige told her.

Charlotte looked around, "I don't know about subspace schooling," She quipped somewhat nervously. "Have you ever done it?"

"No," Paige answered. "It can't be all that bad I hope," She swallowed after speaking. "Would you like me to show you where the holodecks and such are?" Paige asked, no longer wanting to think about school for the time being. She was nervous thinking about it being over subspace because Paige felt as if so many things could go wrong with that.

"Sure." Charlotte shrugged then followed Paige out of the classroom and back toward the turbo lift. Once they were inside she spoke again, "You said the holodecks are one deck up?"

"Yes," Paige answered, "Deck six," She added. The turbo lift lurched before heading upward. "There's only fifteen decks on board the ship and most of the lower decks are crew quarters and engineering spaces. That's what my Dad said anyway."

Charlotte was beginning to wonder how the other girl knew so much about the ship, "Did someone show you around when you first got here?"

"Oh yes sort of," Paige replied. "I've mostly unpacked my things though, speaking of which the quarters where I'm at are up on the third deck where we bumped into each other." The turbo lift came to a stop and Paige stepped out prior to leading the other girl through them. "There is a gym up here if you like to exercise," Paige said as they walked past the crew gym.

"Most of the on board facilities are shared because there aren't many people on board so there's no reason why they can't be shared," Paige continued as she led the other girl toward the ship's holodeck facilities. "There are three holodecks on board."

"That's not many," Charlotte pointed out. However, she understood that it was most likely due to so few people on board the ship. Once they were outside the first holodeck Charlotte looked inside. It was quite similar to the ones at the outpost. There was a grid on the floor and little indication that it was much different than anywhere else.

Paige turned, "Above us is the ship's medical facilities," She pointed out as her stomach growled a little bit. "And, up on deck two is where the crew mess is located. Are you ready to get something to eat?"

"Oh yes," Charlotte answered.

Paige grinned warmly, "So am I," She pointed out. "Let's go." Paige led the other girl back toward the turbo lift without saying anything else. "If you ever get lost any of these wall panels can be used to show you where you're located or where something is."

Charlotte looked at the wall panels as they passed by them. "Oh interesting," She replied. That would have been useful when she got lost earlier. Charlotte said nothing about that even as they stepped inside the turbo lift. At least now she had an idea of how to get around a little better, she was thankful for that much.

Paige leaned into the wall, "Deck two," She said causing the turbo lift to take off. "It may only be replicator food today, I don't know if any of the supplies have been brought aboard. Dad said we're supposed to be getting someone on board who will make meals rather than just replicator food."

Charlotte nodded, "I don't think I've had freshly cooked food besides what my Mom would make sometimes on the station."

Paige grinned, "Freshly cooked food is pretty good." She remarked, "My Dad can cook though I don't know how often he plans on doing that here like on the ship we were on before." She added as the turbo lift came to a stop and she was able to step out of it. From there Paige led the other girl to the crew mess, hoping that it wasn't just replicator food, though she wouldn't complain if it was.

 

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