[right][img]https://i.imgur.com/05ACUy1.png[/img][/right][hr][img]https://i.imgur.com/6YfSA8r.png[/img] hand reached out from under the strewn about covers, groping for the alarm clock which was shrieking somewhere on the floor near the vicinity of her bed. After several seconds where her hands only found crumbled notes and dirty laundry, Rois finally threw the covers from her with an exasperated breath. She was definitely up now, as she half-leaned out of the bed to find the source of her frustration. Finally turning the damned thing off and returning it to her bedside table, she sat up in bed and glanced at the time: 0600. She had meant to push it back a few hours since she'd had to make a late night inspection in her center the previous night. Of course, late night meant nothing in this place except that someone was up when they were usually sleeping. [color=orangered][b]"May as well get up, I guess."[/b][/color] She mumbled to herself as she finished stretching and stood, moving to her bathroom to shower the rest of her sleep away. A few minutes, and she felt somewhat refreshed for the day. Brushed teeth, combed hair, and a few sprays of the water bottle for her terrarium. Stopped to give a frown at the state of her room as she turned from the tank. It was about time for a clean up, so she corralled all of her discarded notes into a corner and tossed her used clothes into another. That would do for now. She'd take care of the rest later. It's not like she ever had guests, anyways, besides her myconids--and they didn't mind at all. She slid into the last clean work uniform from her closet, clipped her badge on, and headed for the door. She stopped short, as she always did these days, to stare at the small faces huddled excitedly next to a sign that read 'Lorne Farm'. It had only recently been hung here and hastily so as Rois had 'lost' it in her own detritus for a time. When she finally got around to cleaning, she had found the picture frame cracked and ruined. Thankfully, the picture inside was undamaged. She reframed it and hung it at the door so she wouldn't forget again; she couldn't forget herself or those she left behind. They made the monotony of every day a bit more bearable. [color=orangered][b]"The ship is running, so it's gotta be a good day."[/b][/color] She said halfheartedly. It wasn't the original phrase, but that one didn't work here. There was no 'sun' to 'rise'. Just the Vitae and her lights. Her daily ritual complete, she started for the cafeteria from her living space near the Hydroponics Center. She decided that she would walk today. It made her feel like she was going somewhere sometimes, especially if she changed the route up. Maybe she'd walk around the far side of Eden or past the Archives. Anything to make her feel like that she wasn't doing the same thing day in and day out. The tiny changes made a big difference. Today she wanted to walk past all the vendors as they received their shipments of food. It was nice to see the literal and metaphorical fruits of her labor. When you spent all day staring at plants and dirt and irrigation systems, it was easy to forget why she was here. Sure, it was smooth sailing for hydroponics at the moment, but they'd had their challenges with rampant disease, malfunctioning sensors, and even a few deficiency scares since launch. Nevertheless, she felt like she hadn't had a real challenge in some time. The thing she most looked forward to these days was whatever Dr. Wolfe's[@Nieszka] latest idea was, and most of that was hands off for Rois until a viable product was produced. As she finally arrived at the cafeteria, she smiled to think of the friends and acquaintances she had made over the last five years. Dr. Wolfe was just one of them. Rois approached the serving counter wait her turn to collect food. When it was finally her turn, she requested two; a request the veteran serving staff were more than used to at this point. Rois was in the habit of taking another of her friends a meal tray at least once or twice a week. It was about that time again. [color=orangered][b]"Thank you."[/b][/color] She filled a large reusable bottle with some fresh orange juice before clipping it onto the edge of her work suit and heading off towards the direction of the Fabrication Center. That is where she would most likely find Miss Audrey Knight[@Cairo]. She would take the transit this time to speed things along and keep their food from getting too cold. On the way, she passed some rather disgruntled looking citizens standing loosely around another individual who was harping about the current political climate. It had been building for some time now, but it wasn't until recently that the civilian population became bold or disgruntled enough--or both--to make their voices and opinions public. There was unrest towards the current power structure; a structure in which the people had no say. Rois struggled with her own thoughts on the matter. While she may sympathize and on occasion empathize with some of the points that were laid out, she was also a straight-forward and logical woman and recognized the multitude of goodness the military skeleton afforded them. Alas, a large amount of the crew were not military born, raised, or trained--such as herself. She didn't know what the answer was, but she hoped it could be found peaceably if at all possible. [color=orangered][b]"Excuse me, you're blocking the bus ramp which is rude and--if I may also point out--a safety hazard."[/b][/color] The harper and his onlookers gave her a disapproving look but moved aside to let her pass. She took her seat on board, taking care to tuck the covered food neatly onto her lap while she waited for the bus to arrive near the Fabrication station, where she would disembark and navigate the familiar halls to Audrey's room. Upon arrival at the appropriate door, Rois gave a quick knock and was about to push the door comm when she was addressed by another woman who seemed to share the same destination. [@13org] [color=orangered][b]"A-Ah, yes. Just here to make sure she's eating properly. She takes such care of the automated machinery, it's the least I owe her."[/b][/color] Rois simply stood in the hallway and watched the way the new woman seemed to completely overtake the whole corridor with her energy. Whether forced or natural, this woman had maintained a formidable amount of cheeriness considering the somber attitude that permeated the rest of the ship. She supposed such bright spots had their uses during times as these. While Audrey was presumably engaged with the other visitor, she turned to hand the food and drink to the newcomer. [color=orangered][b]"Feel free to give her these as a bargaining tool for the door. It works pretty well for me. Ah, sorry. I haven't introduced myself yet: Rois Holt, botanist. Pleasure to meet you, Dr. Katz."[/b][/color] She would offer a hand in greeting but either hers or Maeve's would be busy with food and drink to balance. [color=orangered][b]"I'll head out so you can see your patient. It's about time for Eden's check up anyways."[/b][/color] Facing the door a quick moment before she left, Rois called through the intercomm to Audrey. [color=orangered][b]"I'm leaving your food with the good doctor here, so open up and eat something."[/b][/color] Then she turned to make her way back to the bus station and on to the Hub. According to Rois, Eden was always due for a check-up. It was her eternal excuse these days to spend more and more of her technically off-the-clock time on duty. The space was the most therapeutic on the ship, and sometimes she wondered if it wasn't the only thing keeping her sane these days.