Ghost Signals, Episode 5: Part 2.3

As L'Jahna is set to respond again, the signal from her end starts to cut out and get distorted over the course of Dez's next line.

AC SECOND CLASS DEZ-LEI (Cont., trying to fix it as she speaks) You still see or hear me, L'Jahna? I--Come on, don't shite out on me now. Not before I can tell you...

A few moments later, after not achieving a great deal of success re-establishing the connection, she gives up and lets out a sigh.

AC SECOND CLASS DEZ-LEI Flark--okay, I'm not sure if you can hear me right now. But on the chance you are, I must say in case things become...chaotic here- my hearts are always yours.

At this point, we hear the sound of doors sliding open in the distance. Raiven walks in the cargo bay. It takes a couple of beats for her to hear the AC Second Class speak in the distance; her ears perking up at that moment.

AC SECOND CLASS DEZ-LEI (Cont., V.O.) It's been this way since our first cortan. Since I first saw the glow of your eyes in the night sky. Felt the touch of your skin, tasted your lips which tasted like sweet Toeplatts as our bodies...

CUT TO:

Dez in the same way we saw her before, chuckling briefly and letting loose a coy, flirty smile as she speaks.

AC SECOND CLASS DEZ-LEI I apologize profusely for not telling you this more often. But the moment I return to our homestead, I pledge to do so along with so many other things...

Her train of thought is interrupted by the sound of clanging heard to her left. Dez glances there for a moment before returning to finish the rest of her thought.

AC SECOND CLASS DEZ-LEI Till next our eyes meet, mi-ama!

CUT TO:

Raiven looking on at the soldier just as she starts to come into her line of sight. She grins a little bit at the display of love that she'd heard earlier, along with Dez's protectiveness hanging up.

RAIVEN (to AC Second Class Dez-Lei, observing her protectiveness) Chatting with your mi-ama isn't a criminal offense, Dez.

AC SECOND CLASS DEZ-LEI (as she slips the comm in her pocket, to Raiven) It's a move of instinct, being the lone female in the unit. (gets back up)

RAIVEN I thought the Sky Force didn't go for that kinda patriarchal junk.

AC SECOND CLASS DEZ-LEI (explanatory) That's the face they present to the commoner. Underneath that though, it's just as bad as with any other part of society.

RAIVEN (pause, then the two start walking) Yet you still fight for it. Still go out of your way propping it up...

AC SECOND CLASS DEZ-LEI (fires back) Many of the bombs and weapons we use were birthed from your precious Consortium. They protect many jerks and many of those you love and respect for. I imagine you consider such a balance worth the work and the subsequent love for it.

Raiven is set to reply, but holds back a split second later; her mind accepting of the premise to the reply.

RAIVEN ...Fair point.

The two of them briefly walk down the hallway in silence to the destination.

CUT TO:

A shot of the Danverian in the middle of the screen; a rectangular touchpad display visible to the right, flashing green at the moment. You can see the back of the good Doctor move in the direction of the side with the touchpad.

AC SECOND CLASS DEZ-LEI (noticing the toolkit in Raiven's left hand) The scan was successful, I presume.

RAIVEN Huh...?

She looks down briefly at her toolkit, and returns back to Dez-Lei.

RAIVEN (remembers) Oh, right. I did peg something intriguing going through the mystery object. I wanted an up- close view to see if it was something more.

She presses the button in the center of the touchscreen. A couple of seconds later, the door opens and a large vial of orange-green colored solution (the fuel) emerging.

AC SECOND CLASS DEZ-LEI You know how to slip that into the ship's engine?

RAIVEN Not even close. Fortuitously, Steggy has a pretty good line how. She'll fill you in on the exterior layout once you suit up.

AC SECOND CLASS DEZ-LEI "Suit up?" You-- (stops speaking upon realization; brief chuckle) Of course, the Gooner gets the dangerous assignment!

RAIVEN (walking to Dez-Lei) I can always dish it to Steggy if you're not up to the task.

AC SECOND CLASS DEZ-LEI Not a flarking chance! I heart space walks- haven't done one since the sims back in the Academy.

The soldier takes the vial with both hands more easily than Mz. O'Ozahl had done. She then turns and heads off-screen right with the large glass vial underneath her left arm.

AC SECOND CLASS DEZ-LEI (Cont.) Best of fortune with that ugly bucket of bolts.

RAIVEN (starts strong, then trails off as the point gets muddled) Same to you with the space walk, and the...not flatlining thing.