Fun Run

Who: Eddie Monsoon & Peter Marwood
Where: Blue Dwarf
When: The day after returning from their adventures
Marwood looked himself over in the mirror above the tiny stainless
steel sink in his quarters. He'd been back aboard Blue Dwarf for a
day and had taken the time to shave, shower and catch up on some much
needed sleep. He'd been to the barbers and had his long, unruly hair
cut into a regulation crew cut. Looking in the mirror, he was the
picture of what the JMC and Space Corps wanted to present themselves
as - handsome, brave, professional and at the pique of human fitness.
However, Marwood wasn't what could be described in the best of shape.
He had rarely worked out since leaving the Academy, and his penchant
for drinking and smoking had taken it's toll on his body, leaving him
with, well, with a bit of gut. That was why he was wearing the
football shorts and t-shirt. Starting today, he was going to get
himself back in shape. He had quit smoking and had cut himself down
to having one or two pints a day. He was going to get his body back.
"Holly" Marwood said to no-one in particular, and a few seconds later
the disembodied head of a bald man, aged about 40, and who spoke with
a distinct east London twang. This was the ship's computer, Holly. A
computer with the IQ of 6000.
"Wotcha Pete" said Holly rather un-computer like.
"Hey Hol, can you pass on a message to Eddie Monsoon please?" said
Peter.
"Right you are, dude. What's the message?" asked Holly
"Just tell him I'll be down to his quarters in a few minutes to start
our run" said Marwood, doing up the laces to his trainers. He left
his cabin and made his way down the corridor to the Xpress Lift that
would take him to Eddie's quarters, over 30 decks below. As the lift
doors opened, he realised that someone else was in the lift. It was
that cute little redhead who was one of the Technicians. Feeling a
little self-conscious of his shorts and t-shirt, he stepped into the
lift. He pressed for level 490. The lift started it's descent.
"Hey" said Marwood to the Technician, he hated awkward silences
"Lieutenant" she curtly replied
"How are the repairs on Starbug 5 coming along?" he was fishing for
topics to talk about, ANY topic.
"Their coming along fine sir, the chief reckons we'll have it up and
running again in a day or two"
"good" said Marwood "that's good to hear. Never know when we'll need
ships"
A few seconds passed, before the girl spoke up
"so, what are you up to?" she said, taking in the shorts and t-shirt.
"oh nothing, just going for a run." he smiled back at her
nervously "you can join me if you like" he said. She looked at him
and looked down at the khaki trousers and short-sleeved shirt she was
wearing.
"some other time maybe, lieutenant" she said in a voice oozing with
dry humour.
"how about, I don't know, meeting for drinks later? Parrotts?" he
said. He didn't know why he was saying it, maybe it was shell shock
from the past couple of weeks spent - in his mind - a bad James
Wood's movie.
"I'll think about it" she said. The lift came to a stop and Marwood
realised he was at his destination. He said a brief goodbye and
stepped out of the lift. Just as the doors started to close, he heard
the technician say "nice shorts, lieutenant".
A few minutes later, Marwood stood outside Eddie's quarters. Pretty
much all the cabins belonging to the enlisted personell and non-
senior officers were the same - a grey room with two pairs of
lockers, a wall monitor/mirror and a small basin that swivelled round
to reveal a stainless steel chemical toilet. To help stop
claustrophobia, a large diamond shaped window above a tiny two-person
seat showed the black infinity of space. Marwood rang the door chime
and a couple of seconds later, the door slid open to reveal Eddie.
Eddie had changed considerably during their adventures, he'd somehow -
Marwood and he were still unsure how - been de-aged by twenty years
and was now approximately thirty. Due to some bad LSD contaminated
cider he'd drank at a stopover on the moon of Cygnus Beta, Eddie had
decided to cut down on his drinking. Well, cut out drinking cider and
spirits.
"wotcha mate" said Eddie. He was wearing a pair of tracksuit trousers
and a green basketball vest.
"Hey Ed, ready to start the workout?" asked Marwood
"You betcha mate, Now I've got me body back I can finally put it to
good use" smiled the happy security officer
"You mean like being able to do your job better and not spend as much
time in the brig?" inquired Marwood
"No, I mean now I'm young again and if I can get into shape, I'll be
burning chicks off my body with a cigarette butt!" and with that,
Eddie began jogging down the corridor. Peter let out a sigh, and
promptly followed after him.
Since Eddie's quarters were near the rear end of the ship, they'd
decided to run right to the front of the ship to the ram-scoop
control room, right at the front of the ship. Five miles away.
"That….was….exhausting mate" said Eddie in between breaths, as they
both sat sweaty and tired outside the control room.
"Was worth it though….right?" said Marwood
"Yeah mate….no pain….no gain, eh?" said Eddie, starting to regain his
breath
"Pint at Parrotts?" asked Marwood
"Yeah" said Eddie
<To be continued and tied into the new plot>