Bonnie

Effie (originally known as Effervescence until a human crew member gifted her with a much-appreciated nickname) was Bonnie’s research and care assistant. She was assigned to work alongside Bonnie for the duration of their journey and expected to learn a great deal from Bonnie as she was a doctor-in-training with her own species. Unfortunately, with the nature of Bonnie’s field, it was not often that the young Ailu’t woman could get any hands-on experience. The code of confidentiality was a rather important aspect of her meetings with crew members, and it was all she had to keep some officers in the seat. Introducing a third to the equation was out of the question.

This did not dampen Effie’s vivacious personality an ounce, always bubbling with energy for the next boring task she was assigned. She was a delight. Bonnie already adored her. From what Effie had described of her previous learning placement, this mission was a rest for the young woman. She had spent almost a whole Earth year in an urgent care facility that handled the worst of her country’s accidents, emergencies and terminal care. It was certain that Effie had seen more death in her training than Bonnie had seen in her entire career. Still, she wished to help her enthusiastic junior learn as much as possible about psychiatry while under her wing. Bonnie often spent her free time copying out patient notes with key details redacted and replaced with falsities in order to give the young woman some almost-real-world cases to read through.

They were dissecting one such partial-case together when Slate’s second-in-command rapped rough knuckles against Bonnie’s office door. It had been left ajar to allow for any patients to make themselves known. Bonnie doubted Major Ellie was visiting her for psychiatric care. Commander and second-in-command were in complete synchronisation, neither would ever show what they viewed as ‘mental weakness’.

Ellie was not impressive in height, but she had an intimidating aura that granted her an appearance of being much larger. Her dark blonde hair was tied in an immaculate low bun and her face was clean of any products. Despite her harshly scrubbed appearance, her skin appeared soft and youthful. If Bonnie were a few years younger… she cleared her mind and greeted the woman.

“Good afternoon, Ellie,” Bonnie called over from her desk. “How are you today?”

“I am well, thank you, Doctor.” Ellie always spoke as though she were reading lines aloud. Bonnie wondered if she kept up her stolid tone with friends and family. If she took her Marine attitude home with her. “How are you and Assistant Effervescence?”

“I am very well, thank you.” Bonnie looked to Effie expectantly.

Effie couldn’t get a single word past her tongue. She had confessed to Bonnie under strict confidentiality that she had a small crush on Major Ellie. Bonnie felt it was sweet, even if they weren’t the slightest compatible from what she could tell. She didn’t blame the young woman for her attraction; she could admit that uniforms were a source of heat for her, too. Regardless of gender, a well-pressed shirt was sexy, and no one could tell Bonnie otherwise. However, Effie had no intentions to act on her feelings under any circumstances. She was quite firm that she would rather stick her head in the used sharps bin than confess attraction to a co-worker - a human one at that. Young love, Bonnie mused.

“Effie is also doing well, but she has a slight throat infection so is saving her voice,” Bonnie lied. “How can we help you, Major?”

“I am sorry to hear that, Assistant Effervescence,” Ellie said sincerely. “Doctor, Commander Slate requires your presence in his office.”

“Thank you for letting me know,” Bonnie replied as pleasantly as she could.

Ellie was not a patient woman by any means, and Bonnie wondered, not for the first time, if she was actually Slate’s secret illegitimate child. Another ongoing question in Bonnie’s mind was how old Ellie actually was. There was an incredible mix of youth and seasoned responsibility that emanated from Ellie. Definitely a leader in her childhood. Perhaps an eldest child.

As they walked, Bonnie attempted conversation with the stony woman.

“I hear you will be leading the rescue team for the current mission. Congratulations.”

“It is my duty to lead soldiers,” Ellie replied. She did not turn to look at Bonnie as she spoke. “I wouldn’t be here if I couldn’t.”

“Yes, but it shows a lot of trust for Slate to hand over the reins to you. Especially when you have not worked together very long.”

Ellie said nothing.

Bonnie sighed quietly. “I was only trying to compliment you.”

“Thank you, Doctor,” Ellie replied stiffly. She stuck out an arm to direct Bonnie into Slate’s office, saluted, and sped away with purposeful strides.

Bonnie had barely cleared the doorway when Commander Slate was already rising from his seat to address her.

“I need Legacy cleared for the upcoming mission,” Slate announced without preamble.

A hot fury instantly began to climb its way up Bonnie’s throat. The audacity of the commander to ask her to revert her decision. “I have signed Legacy off any form of combative duty for the next week, with possibility to extend,” she reminded him. It took everything within her to keep her tone polite.

“Why?”

“That is not your place to ask, Commander, and you know this. If I believe a patient to be a danger to themselves or others onboard, then I may discuss his treatment. Until that time, his business is private.”

“His business is to be a soldier. That is his profession.”

“He is not currently fit to work.”

Slate pulled himself to his full height. “Make him fit to work, Doctor” he demanded.

“Commander,” Bonnie snapped. “I will not be bullied into malpractice.”

“I will not have my soldiers stolen out from under me.”

“You have plenty of capable officers who are fit to work. But that is not really why you sent for me; this is not about one man. You are trying to make a point about the amount of mental health leave I have been granting.” Slate’s eyes twitched, a smaller reaction that Bonnie had expected but it confirmed her suspicions. “I am sorry to disappoint you, Commander, but I will not be shamed for following correct medical procedure.” She was on a roll and her mouth simply wouldn’t close. “You may control this ship, but your will does not control Alliance regulations. Please feel free to contact your Ailu’t representative within the Alliance if you need further clarification on the standards of medical care required of myself and my colleagues.” She almost sucked in an enormous breath at the end, so desperate had she been to say everything she wished to before he could interrupt her.

Slate was glaring down at her, but he seemed unable to speak. His mouth opened and close once, then he grit his teeth.

“I will take my leave,” Bonnie stepped back, hoping Slate could not see her fisted hands trembling. “Unless there is anything else you need, Commander?” she added with the last grains of her courage.

“If you are finished preaching, then leave,” he growled.

When she returned to her office, her livid demeanour had Effie spooked. She managed to find a myriad of small tasks to do, far away from Bonnie’s aggressive paperwork filing.

Within two days, the dusty orange planet loomed into sight from the left-hand side of The Sentinel. Supposedly there were Ailu’t soldiers stranded upon it, awaiting rescue. Bonnie could see no tiny figures with the small cursory glance she had given the landscape from her office window. Effie had her nose to the transparent pane, wide eyes searching for a hint of action.

All of the missions dished out to The Sentinel had been rather boring, at least according to the soldiers who would speak with Bonnie. It seemed they had finally built up enough credibility with The Alliance to be given the heroic jobs. The kind that would put far more strain on the crew.

Major Ellie led her hand-picked team to the planet’s surface in a small craft that had been housed in the belly of The Sentinel until now. The main ship hovered nearby, awaiting success.

Unfortunately, heroic missions are not meant to be easy. The greatest heroes in human history often tell their tales peppered with unwanted surprises.