Cherubim and Seraphim
A Captain
Scarlet and the Mysterons Multiverse Challenge Story
By Tiger Jackson
While the Cherubim
and Seraphim were meeting Colonel White, Cloudbase went into a state of chaos.
On the Hangar Deck,
crew members raced for the exits and dived for emergency straps as the
depressurization sequence suddenly started, stopped, and started again.
A fire klaxon
sounded in Sickbay. Dr Fawn scrambled his staff to move the patients to safety,
then stopped, puzzled, as the hammering klaxon suddenly turned into “Carol of
the Bells.”
Comm links switched
on in the mess hall and began broadcasting Lieutenant Lilac’s recorded personal
diary. As names were mentioned howls of laughter and indignation followed the
red-faced young Lilac as she fled the hall for her quarters.
And in the
Officers’ Lounge, a coffee machine went berserk.
* * * * *
Captain Scarlet studied his friend
Blue, who continued to gaze bleakly through the Lounge viewport. What Blue
needed was something to distract him so he could start healing inside. And it
had to happen before Blue’s grief began to affect his performance on duty.
He saw a tic in Blue’s cheek as
someone behind them laughed. Life is
continuing around us, Adam.
“You shouldn’t be telling stories like that about your supervisor, Michelle!” But Lieutenant Teal had to stifle another burst of laughter. “Need a warm-up on your coffee?” he asked, still chuckling as he got to his feet.
“Please,” she replied,
handing over her beaker with a huge yawn. “Make sure it’s decaffeinated. I’ve
got another night shift and I don’t want to be awake all day.”
“Want a cookie or
something to go with it?”
“If you mean
‘biscuit’, sure.”
Teal made a face at
his friend before picking up his own mug and taking the few steps to the coffee
bar. He loaded the used mugs into the automatic washer, then put a fresh beaker
under the beverage dispenser, punched his order into the machine, and waited.
The lights on the beverage panel began
to flash. Teal frowned. That had never happened before. He must have made a
mistake while hitting the buttons. He tried again. The beverage lights flashed
wildly. There was a loud CLUNK behind the food-delivery panel.
It was the last thing Teal heard
before the door opened and he was hit in the forehead by an oversized and
misshapen jaffa cake, followed by a shower of decaffeinated coffee.
* * * * *
Lieutenant Peach
heaved an inward sigh of relief. At least the tour of Sickbay was going well.
It seemed like everything that could go wrong on Cloudbase had done so since
the pilots arrived. They’d had to skip several stops because everyone was too
busy or too distracted to do much more than curtly acknowledge the Cherubim and
Seraphim before returning to mechanical and personnel problems. Even the mess
hall had been in an uproar, probably because someone had apparently attacked
the public-address system with assorted cutlery and a chair. Sickbay, though,
was relatively serene, a welcome oasis.
It couldn’t last.
Dr Fawn had just
introduced Nurse Wheat, when there was a commotion in the reception area. A
trio of junior officers burst in, carrying a fourth, clad in a teal vest, who
was unconscious. A nasty swelling was growing on his left temple and his face
and hands appeared to be scalded. Behind them came two women, one supporting
the other, who also appeared to have been scalded on her arms and legs.
The tour was
obviously over, the visitors forgotten. Peach motioned to her charges to follow
her, and they slipped out as quickly as they could while Dr Fawn and Nurse
Wheat went to work.
“I could do with a good cup of coffee,” said Calamity, wistfully. “I wish we could have gotten some while we were in the mess hall.”
Someone’s stomach
growled ferociously. Simplicity looked startled, then patted her midsection
with a smile. “Hungry.”
“We’re not that far from the Officer’s
Lounge. There’s a food-and-beverage dispenser there, if you don’t mind being
limited to biscuits to eat. We might as well go there now.”
Tiffany looked and
sounded irritated. “Biscuits will do for elevenses but I expect lunch to be
more substantial.”
Scowling, Peach led
the way.
* * * * *
The coffee machine
had finally emptied itself. Or perhaps it was just tired. Whatever the reason,
it had gone quiet.
Captains Scarlet
and Blue examined it from a cautious distance.
“Do you suppose the
Mysterons got at it somehow?” asked Blue.
“It’s a
possibility. Remember what happened to that non-alcoholic champagne?”
Blue grimaced; he’d
never forget that. “They usually give at least a cryptic warning before they do
something.”
Scarlet nodded.
“It’s probably just a genuine malfunction then. At least, we’ll have to assume
it is, for now.”
“The Mysterons
would have to be getting desperate if they had to resort to using a coffee
machine to attack Spectrum!” Blue replied.
Scarlet smiled. It
was the first joke Blue had cracked since Symphony’s death. Well, he
thought, as he and Blue picked up their radio caps from a table and mopped
coffee off them, at least Adam isn’t glued to the window for the moment.
The Lounge doors
opened just then and Lieutenant Peach came in, followed by her five charges.
Peach swallowed
what she’d been about to say. The room looked like a war zone. Furniture was
overturned. Books, magazines, beakers, tea cups, hats, and crumbs were strewn
everywhere. The air smelled strongly of coffee, tea, chocolate, and assorted
juices. And everything looked, well, damp.
Although just about
everyone’s head turned when the doors opened, Captains Scarlet and Blue were
the first to step forward, behaving as if everything was perfectly normal.
“Good morning,
Lieutenant. I see you’ve brought us visitors,” said Captain Scarlet.
“Yes, sir. These
are the new pilots: the Cherubim and Seraphim,” answered Peach. Both men
noticed that the names stumbled off her tongue.
Tiffany looked over
the captains with an appreciative eye as Peach spoke. At least Cloudbase had some
attractions for her.
“I’m Tiffany
Seraph, squadron leader,” she announced, causing Peach to close her mouth with
an audible snap. Tiffany pointed to each of the other pilots as she
named them.
Captain Scarlet
glanced at his friend before speaking. Replacements for Symphony and
Rhapsody. Blue’s expression was one of polite interest. Scarlet knew him
well enough to recognise it as a mask.
“I’m Captain
Scarlet. This is Captain Blue. And these newcomers,” he added, as two men
entered the Lounge, “are Captain Magenta and Captain Ochre.”
“We heard there was
some excitement here,” said Captain Ochre as he surveyed the wreckage of the
lounge, then grinned as he turned his gaze to the women. “We should have
guessed why!”
Seraphs, Cherubs,
and captains shook hands as they exchanged polite greetings. Calamity stammered
as she took Ochre’s hand and released it quickly. Pink spots appeared on her
cheeks.
“It’s a pleasure to
meet you,” Ochre said warmly.
“Welcome to
Cloudbase,” added Magenta.
Paucity Cherub brightened
visibly as she caught Magenta’s slight accent. “Ah, you’re from Ireland, too,
Captain?”
“I was born there, but I grew up in an old
Irish neighbourhood in New York City.”
Magenta saw an
emerald flash in Paucity’s eyes. A flash of what, he didn’t know, but it was
disconcerting. He was about to say something when an ominous rumbling came from
the coffee machine.
“Oh no! Why didn’t
someone stop the automatic refiller or at least pull the plug when we had the
chance?” groaned Lieutenant Silver.
Before anyone could
act, the machine let loose another blast of something that, in other
circumstances, might have been a pleasant cup of Lady Grey tea.
Calamity Seraph
turned and leapt to escape being splashed by the scalding cascade. She collided
with Captain Ochre and the two of them crashed against a sofa. It fell only
half way over, its momentum slowed by the several people who had already taken
cover behind it. Ochre and Calamity rolled up and over the top of the sofa
before landing on the floor in a tangled heap with a slow-moving junior
lieutenant.
Thinking quickly,
Paucity Cherub simply upended a glass-topped table and crouched behind it. From
behind this sturdy, transparent shield, which neatly deflected a rock cake as
it hurtled out of the coffee machine’s cannon-like orifice, Paucity could see
everything that happened. And watch everyone. Especially Captain Magenta.
Tiffany Seraph
scrambled to safety with Captains Blue and Scarlet. Somehow, she managed to end
up tightly sandwiched between them.
“Great perils have
this beauty, that they bring to light the fraternity of strangers,” exclaimed
Eccentricity Seraph, before ducking and huddling behind some chairs with
several officers she hadn’t been introduced to yet.
Only Simplicity
Cherub stood still and in the open, watching the machine spew hot beverages and
biscuits in all directions.
“Simplicity! Get
down!” shouted Calamity, trying without success to figure out which flailing
arm was hers so she could pull the Cherub out of harm’s way.
An aromatic fountain
of Vienna-roast coffee rose almost to the ceiling. A hurled hobnob shattered
against a chair, leaving a deep dent in the metal frame.
The tall,
red-haired woman didn’t respond. She seemed mesmerized by the machine’s antics.
So far, nothing had touched her.
Then with a deep
mechanical belch, the machine launched a digestive biscuit straight towards
Simplicity. She watched calmly as it approached, apparently unaware of the
danger the doughy discus presented.
“Look out!” someone
yelled.
At almost the last second,
the Cherub sidestepped the flying biscuit and snatched it out neatly out of the
air. She stooped and retrieved the rock cake that had ricocheted off of
Paucity’s make-shift shield. In one smooth motion, she hurled the cake back at
the coffee machine.
The small baked
missile hit the panel’s OFF button squarely and firmly, burying itself to a
depth of several millimetres before exploding into crumbs. The machine groaned
and gurgled as it died, then fell silent.
Simplicity stood
nibbling her biscuit with a childish expression of contentment as officers and
pilots slowly and cautiously emerged from their hiding places.
When Ochre and
Calamity finally got disentangled, the captain offered the Seraph a hand
getting to her feet. “It’s been nice unwinding with you, Calamity, but Magenta
and I just stopped in to grab some coffee on our way to report for duty.” He
smiled kindly at the deeply blushing young Seraph. “Magenta, you coming? We’re
going to be late!”
Lieutenant Peach
looked around at the mess, then at her watch. “Time’s getting on, so I’d better
skip the rest of the tour for now and show you to your quarters. You probably
want to unpack and rest a while before your first briefing in the Amber Room.”
She smacked her forehead. “I forgot to get your quarters assignments!” She
stepped over the comm link.
“Lieutenant Green,
I’m with the, um, pilots. I’m supposed to show them to their quarters but I
don’t know where they’re assigned to. Can you patch through the list?”
“Sure thing, Peach.
I’m transmitting it now.”
A small screen on
the comm link lit up. Peach read it carefully. Then she called Green again.
“Erm, Lieutenant? I
think there’s been a mistake.”
“What’s the
problem?”
“I’m looking at a
recipe for pigs’ knuckle quiche.”
“WHAT? Sounds
bloody awful! Remind me to check the menu before eating in the mess hall this
week. Here, I’m re-sending the quarters assignments for the Cherubim and
Seraphim.”
The comm screen
flickered, darkened, then brightened again.
“Have you got it
now, Peach?”
“Yes, if you meant
to send me Captain Ochre’s football pools¼¼.”
“Don’t say that out
loud!” hissed Green. “Lucky thing the Colonel’s left the Control Room. Look,
I’ll try again. Stand by.”
The comm screen
danced once again.
Peach read aloud,
“Beautiful offshore waterfront property in Hawaii for sale. Super investment!
Low down payment, volcano guaranteed to be probably dormant, no tidal waves
since Tuesday . . . .”
There was a choking
sound from the comm.
“Peach, just take
them to the Angels’ quarters. The crew in Hangar Deck had a copy of the room
assignments before they arrived and their stuff has been brought up by now.
You’ll have to figure out whose room is whose by looking at the luggage.”
“S.I.G.,
Lieutenant.”
Peach led the
Cherubim and Seraphim down to the deck where the Amber Room was located and the
pilots and some of the senior officers traditionally quartered. The first door
they stopped at had the name “Symphony Angel” beside it. Peach knew that the
name cards for the Angels’ quarters should have been removed before now, but
she could guess why they hadn’t been. Even though the rooms had been emptied
and cleaned long ago, removing the name cards would be removing the last trace
of the Angels’ existence. No one wanted to do it.
“Shouldn’t our names have been put up
by now?” declared Tiffany. “I hope this isn’t a typical example of efficiency
around here.”
Peach clenched her
teeth as she unlocked the door and led them inside. A small pile of luggage
rested on the floor. Peach recognized it as a limited edition from a very
expensive designer. She mused that those three bags probably cost as much as a
junior lieutenant earned in six months.
“Mine,” said
Tiffany curtly. She looked around at the bare walls and sparse, functional
furniture. Her nose wrinkled and her eyes narrowed. “Are these officers’
quarters?” she said in disbelief. “I expected at least some decoration!”
“Symphony’s – ”
Peach’s voice caught. “The Angels’ personal belongings have been returned to
their families.” She cleared her throat before continuing. “These are standard
furnishings. Everyone’s allowed to accessorize and decorate their quarters to
suit their personal taste.” And I imagine you want yours to look like Buck
House, she thought. “You can start settling in if you like or all stay
together and I’ll show everyone where each of you will be.”
“Aren’t we in
adjoining cabins?” asked Paucity.
Peach shook her
head. “All the senior officers’ quarters are scattered rather than concentrated
for security reasons. And shift assignments affect room assignments. It’s
considered better not to have too many personnel concentrated in one place at
one time because the Mysterons could…” Her voice trailed off.
“You mean, kill all the Angels?” Calamity
asked without thinking. She slapped a hand across her mouth as she realised
what she’d said. “Oh, I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have said that.”
“No, it’s true.
That’s exactly why.” Peach sounded subdued, like she was trying to fight back
tears.
Tiffany’s lip
curled. “I’ll stay here and start unpacking. If the others’ quarters aren’t any
better, there’s no point in seeing them. I’ll find out where they are later.”
Peach was relieved.
The Seraph’s haughtiness was getting on her nerves. “Fine. You can use the comm
link to order a lunch sent up from the mess hall. I’ll be back at thirteen
hundred hours to escort you to the Amber Room.”
As soon as the
others were gone, Tiffany scowled again at the dull grey surroundings and made
a mental note to order some proper bedding and artworks to be sent from her
home. In the meantime, she might as well unpack. It was annoying, Tiffany
thought, not to have a maid or at least a scout to do it for her, but she’d
known there would be hardships. As long as she wasn’t expected to do her own
laundry, it would be tolerable. Just.
She inspected the
closet and each drawer of the bureau before putting any of her clothes inside.
They were clean and empty. There wasn’t a trace of the woman who had previously
occupied Tiffany’s quarters. But she soon discovered that the desk’s drawer
wasn’t quite empty. It got stuck partway when she tried to pull it open. With a
shove then a hard pull, she dislodged a folded paper from deep inside, where it
had jammed itself between the lip of the drawer and the edge of the desk. It
appeared that someone had shoved it deep into the drawer so as not to think about
it too much, or to hide it from someone else. Certainly the cleaners had
overlooked it.
Tiffany pulled the
paper out and unfolded it. It was a handwritten letter dated in late February
of this year. Hardly a couple months ago, thought the Seraph.
My Darling Karen,
Tiffany rolled her
eyes.
I’m glad you’re enjoying your visit with your family. But I wish I could
be there with you.
Did you know Paul was knighted by King George before last Christmas? Paul’s kept that a secret from almost everyone. He didn’t tell me, and I’m his best friend! Even his own father only found out by accident. But you know Paul.
No, I don’t, Tiffany sniffed,
feeling a bit cross yet intrigued.
Has Dianne told you about Valentine’s Day? Well, if she hasn’t, I’m
going to spoil the surprise. Paul proposed to her and Dianne accepted. They
haven’t talked about setting a date yet. I guess it’s enough that they’re
committed to each other.
Karen, have you thought more about us getting married? I know my father
has made the decision very difficult for you. I wish I hadn’t suggested taking
you to meet my family last Christmas. I didn’t know Mother would invite the
whole, extended family for a party while we were there. If I’d known that, we
never would have gone, or at least I wouldn’t have told my father about your
background. I’ve always known that he’s a small-minded man, but I was as
shocked as you were when he accused you of being a gold-digger, only interested
in my family’s money, just because you were born and raised in middle-class
Iowa. I certainly never dreamed he’d shout it in front of everyone during the
party. But what he thinks doesn’t matter to me. It shouldn’t matter to you. I
love you with my soul and I’m not complete without you.
I’ve re-read this letter and I’m sorry if it sounds like I’m putting
pressure on you to give me an answer. I don’t mean to. If you aren’t ready,
then I’ll wait for you.
All my love,
Adam
Who are Karen and
Dianne? thought Tiffany. And who is Paul, who was knighted, and Adam, who’s
wealthy? Maybe Karen was Symphony Angel?
There was no
address and nothing special about the stationery. Tiffany shrugged as she
tossed the letter on the desk. Probably Karen’s earth-bound boyfriend had written
it.
Author’s notes:
The letter Tiffany reads refers to
incidents in two excellent stories by Mary J. Rudy, Good Knight, Dear Lady and Moonlight
Rhapsody.
The story about the disastrous Christmas
party is in the works. :-)
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