Movie Night

Posted on Tue Oct 31, 2023 @ 10:28pm by Captain Jason Faulkner & Lieutenant Elijah Cooper & Lieutenant Amon Narud

1,132 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Shakedown
Location: Captain's Quarters
Timeline: MD 5, 1900

On various terminals across the ship, there is a small ping as a message arrives.

TO: CHALLENGER Department Heads
FROM: Captain Faulkner, CO USS CHALLENGER
SUBJECT: Movie Night

Comrades, now that we have a few senior officers aboard, I thought it might be a good idea to get to know each other. On my last ship, the crew often enjoyed watching various forms of recorded media, or as the tradition is colloquially known, 'movie night'. I know we're all busy but it is a Saturday on Earth and I think it would be useful to relax a little. Overwork and excess stress leads to poor performance, after all.

Attendance is mandatory, as is fun.
----
In his quarters, Jason whistled quietly to himself as he got his quarters ready for a little party. It wasn't too fancy, certainly not compared to some of the more culinary-inclined captains he'd known, but he didn't want overdo it when he was still getting to know his crew, and they him. A few snacks, some comfortable seating, and a good selection of movies would work wonders, he thought.

A movie night in the captain's quarters, that was something that Captain Summers had never done. Elijah's former CO on the Iowa certainly hadn't been above speaking to the crew but had never invited the senior officers to his quarters. It was clear that Elijah had a lot to learn about his new CO. He finished pulling on a pair of casual trousers and then walked out of his quarters. It only took a few moments to arrive at his destination. He pulled at his shirt to straighten it and then pressed the call button.

---

What a great way to get to know others, Amon mused as he read the message on the large display just left of his desk. Sit silently and focus on anything but those around you. He knew of the old age media that Earth and many other world's cultures produced for a variety of reasons. Though Earth outdid most of the galaxy in fictional storytelling, Amon hoped it wasn't one of their doomsday stories.

The Empathic Metamorph sighed as he saw the 'Attendance is mandatory, as is fun.' at the end and closed his messages before heading out into the main sickbay area. Not many of his staff had arrived yet and so those that did were in the process of checking equipment, beds and supplies while also tending to their own unpacking in their quarters. Amon greeted them as he left Sickbay for the -wait it didn't say where the movie night was to be held in the message-. He went to the nearest comms. =/\=Narud to Faulkner,=/\=

In his quarters, Jason sighed and answered the call. "Go ahead, doctor. This had better not be a cancellation unless someone's missing a limb."

=/\=No sir, but it seems you forgot to mention where this movie night will be held.=/\= Amon commented, though regretted it instantly as he could have used a medical excuse to avoid it all. It wouldn't however hold up if the Captain looked into the excuse so it was better that he go. Who knows it could be 'enjoyable'.

Jason hastily pulled up his outbox and saw that he had not been quite specific enough. He hastily sent out a correction while saying, "Right, apparently so. My quarters, around 1900 hours, expect it to take two to four hours depending on how chatty people are."

As he said that, he heard the chime. "And it looks like some people are already showing up. Faulkner out!" Then, towards the door, he called, "Enter!"

Elijah stepped through the door, looking around as entered. "Lt. Cooper reporting for mandated fun and entertainment sir."

Silly Captain, Amon mused as he made his way to the Captain's quarters.

Jason gave Elijah a weary look, like he was already starting to suspect he might be a on a ship full of smart asses. "It's movie night, not a formal dinner, Cooper. Loosen up."

"Will do sir," Elijah said. "Though in my defense, the last time that I got summoned to my CO's cabin there was a rather lengthy discussion about the proper use of a jefferies tube with a crewmate."

Soon another chime sounded at the door.

"Come in!" Jason said, making a mental note to tell people to just barge in next time. To Elijah, he said, "I'm both curious how you can misuse a Jefferies tube and don't want to know."

"That depends on what you consider misuse, which, I find to be a fairly subjective term," Elijah said.

Amon entered and he was still in his uniform, though his jacket was unzipped and the undershirt exposed. "Evening all." He greeted them.


"Excellent, looks like people have arrived," Jason said, rubbing his hands together like some sort of movie villain. "In case you are not aware of what movie night entails, we will be watching a film of my choosing," he waved at where a couch and several chairs were facing a screen on the wall, "and enjoying various sweet or savory snacks." He now gestured towards a small kitchen nook, where a number of bowls were sitting with popcorn, peanuts, and small chocolates. "My kitchen is not as... excessive as some other captains, but you'll find the synthesizer has a wide range of options. Don't look at me like I'm crazy for very explicit about this, I had to explain it to a Caitian once and let's just say their audio-visual traditions are very different than those of Earth."

"Junk food, nice!" Elijah said.

"And what film are you selecting?" Amon asked, he wondered if it would be Earth made. Most likely.

"The last one I watched involved some sort of large shark," Elijah said. "I couldn't figure out what everyone was so scared about it, the whole thing looked fake as hell."

"We're going with a classic from 2237, Peura's production of Beren and Luthien, which I consider to be the best version. Angharad Bowen as Luthien, Sipho Minenhle as Beren, Sukel as Elu Thingol, and the masterful Larem sh'Keryas as Sauron." Jason held up a warning hand. "I should tell you all that there are some musical sections, in case that causes any traumatic flashbacks... or are you all too young to have been in the fleet for that debacle?"

Elijah shook his head. "No sir, missed out on that one...that bad?"

"Somewhere out in space, it seems,
there is this glowing thing.
A starship tried to study it,
now everyone must sing," Jason replied in a sing-song cadence. "No? Okay, now I just feel old and I don't feel like talking about the Enterprise's screw-ups. Everyone, grab a snack and a seat. Computer, roll the film!"

OFF:

 

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