Hide and Seek

Posted on 31 Jul 2018 @ 6:09pm by Lieutenant Amaranai Franklin

849 words; about a 4 minute read

Amaranai was outside of Charlotte's room. There wasn't a lot of time left before they were able to board the Galileo-A, so the older Franklin sister wanted to spend the day with Charlotte before her duties really got out of hand.

Entering the room, Amaranai called for the lights and saw that Charlotte's bed was empty. It had been made, but it didn't look like it had been slept in all night. She wanted to get angry. She wanted to yell at her sister. But that wasn't what was good for the two of them. Amaranai took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down.

"Computer, locate Charlotte Franklin," she said.

After a moment, the computer finally responded.

"Charlotte Franklin is located on Deck 10, Section 3."

Amaranai sighed heavily and dropped her shoulders. She turned around and left their quarters, heading for the turbolift. Her mind was racing with all the things she wanted to say to her sister and at the same time, her mind was telling her to be calm and allow her sister to explain herself.

It took several minutes for Amaranai to make her way to Deck 10, Section 3. When she did arrive, however, she didn't find Charlotte. Instead, she found the girl's communicator.

Clever

When she picked up the communicator, it activated.

"Okay, sis," Charlotte's voice rang out. "You've got exactly fifteen minutes to find me before I move again." There was a pause. "And don't expect the computer to help you." There was a girlish giggle from the other end of the communicator - something Amaranai hadn't heard from her sister in a long time. "Go."

Amaranai was a little thrown off by her sister's happy tone and the giggle, so she stood there for a moment before her brain reacted to the command from her sister.

The security officer began to think of the various places that Charlotte would be allowed to go as a civilian (and there weren't that many), especially if she needed access to communications. Since she was already on Deck 10, she decided to do a cursory search of a few places, thinking she might not be that far.

In fact, she hadn't been that far. But Amaranai had not arrived within the fifteen minute time frame.

"There is an incoming text message for Lieutenant Amaranai Franklin," the computer intoned.

Amaranai looked around and found a console and brought up the message that she knew was from her sister.

Not fast enough. Fifteen more minutes and I move. I'll give you a hint, though. I'm within one deck up or down.

Amaranai closed the message and stared at the console. After a moment, she reopened the message, and using her own security clearances, found what station was used to send the message. Deck 11, Section 7. She grinned and headed to the nearest turbolift.

The brunette exited the turbolift and made her way to Section 7. She found the console, but still no Charlotte. She tapped the console and found another message waiting for her.

I imagine you used your skills as a security officer to figure out where I was, so I made sure to not be here when you got here. One more hint and one more chance. I'm still on this level. But, since I'm giving you a major clue, less time. Ten minutes. Go.

Amaranai closed the console window and looked around. Charlotte had to be close. It hadn't taken her that long to figure out where the girl had been and to get there. Though Amaranai was a little annoyed by her sister, she was also having fun - something the two of them had never really gotten to do because of their age difference. Amaranai wandered the halls of the deck looking for her sister but was unsuccessful. She noted that her time was running out and instead of getting flustered, simply allowed the clock to end and hope that Charlotte showed herself. She sat down in a lounge area nearby and waited.

A few minutes later, Charlotte strode up to her sister and smiled.

"You really shouldn't give up like that," she said to the older woman. "You probably would have found me soon."

Amaranai stood up and moved closer to the girl, looking stern for a moment. This reaction caused Charlotte to tense up until her sister began to grin.

"You cheated," she said. "You changed my time limit. If I had had those extra five minutes, I would have found you."

"Sure, lieutenant," Charlotte mocked with a smile. "Maybe you don't deserve that promotion after all."

Amaranai pulled her younger sister into her arms and gave her a large hug, happy that they seemed to be over whatever had strained their relationship lately - at least, for a moment, they were.

"Come on," Amaranai said. "Let's get some breakfast."

The two headed to one of the station restaurants and ate and talked and laughed, choosing to avoid any subjects that might ignite the embers of anger, bitterness and jealousy that lay dormant in each of them.

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