Major Carver looked at her and nodded.

[b]”Soil samples at the very least.  If you can bring me back samples of the local flora and fauna too that would be even better Officer.  Do you have any comments of questions Ensign?”[/b]

Feeling her eyes bore daggers into him, Morgan smiled slightly.  Glancing sideways at her, he gave her a surreptitious wink as he answered, [b]”None here Major.  I will see to it that it is done.”[/b]

Nodding his head, Major Carver glared also at Morgan before his glance softened slightly when looking over towards Beatrice.

[b]”Very well.  You are to report back with your findings in three days.  Dismissed.”[/b]

As he turned to leave, walking down the metal walkway, Major Carver’s voice trailed after him.  

[b]”Ensign Kayler.”[/b]  Stopping, Morgan looked back to the Major.

[b]”Once, you were the best.  You aced every single course.  Every single exam, you were always the best of them all.  Its why you’re still here.  Its the only reason you’re still here.  Don’t let the past destroy everything  you once were Ensign.  You won’t get another chance than what you have now.”[/b]

And with those words, Morgan’s expression went hard.  His eyes stared at Major Carver as the seconds drifted by.....seconds that drifted into a minute.  Finally, he nodded his head.

[b]”I’ll bear that in mind Major,”[/b] he said coldly, all hint of laughter and jokes gone now.

Before more could be said, Morgan went down the metal ramp leading to the floor of the hangar.  

[b]”Today we will be going out in the EX-128,”[/b] he said without looking back to Beatrice, his tone now professional and business-like.

Arriving at the small pod, he gestured to it.  A round, circular space ship, it wasn’t big enough to fit any more than two people inside of it.  There was a ramp leading up into the interior of the ship.  It was this ramp that Morgan stood in front of.

[b]”The EX-128 is a prototype.  It was not built for comfort.  It was not built for combat.  Its been designed small deliberately,”[/b] he ran his hand across the shiny grey metal surface.  [b]”It can travel at greater speeds than the Galacticus, than any ship you’ve likely been on before Officer,”[/b] he said looking back to her with a small smirk.

[b]”When we take off, I’d recommend that you belt up and sit back for the ride,”[/b] still smirking, he walked up the ramp inside.

Inside the ship, a long corridor leading in from the outside came to a single door separating.  Pressing a small circular depression outside the door, an arched hatch opened up with a low hiss.  Beyond there were two chambers.  The one they stood in was an elongated circular chamber.  There were two beds on one side of the chamber, and what looked to be a kitchen area on the other side.  The beds were covered with simple, and clinical, white sheets, and the kitchen, for what it was, had one counter on it with what appeared to be a fridge and cooker next to it.  They were both metallic.  The whole room had a metallic look to it.  Grey metal shone everywhere, bright in its pristine cleanliness.  The only exception to this were the white covered on the bed.

[b]”There are two rooms in the ship.  Like I said, it wasn’t built for comfort,”[/b] Morgan said as he walked into the first room.

[b]”A combined sleeping and dining quarters.  Beyond the door there is the cockpit.  That is where I will be flying and [i]you’ll[/i] be navigating.”[/b]

As his eyes flickered back to her, he nodded his head.  [b]”You do know how to navigate don’t you Officer?”[/b]

Without waiting for an answer, Morgan walked next to and flopped on one of the beds.  Turning on his side and looking over to her, his smile turned slightly suggestive as he gazed at her with his dark eyes.

[b]”You know, even though we have two beds, it is possible to fit more than one person on a bed....”[/b] he patted the space next to him on the white covers.

A space that suggested that there was, indeed, room for another.  

[b]”It gets really cold out there,”[/b] he said, still looking at her with intent.  [b][i]”Real[/i] cold.”[/b]