Brittany: First impressions

Who: Cassandra, Brittany
When / Where: Jays' funeral
Cassandra brushed a tear away from her cheek and sighed, her normally sanguine expression in danger of collapsing with emotion as she watched Jay's coffin slide into the airlock
"I guess I'll never get into his pants now" she muttered dejectedly
Brittany shot her a glance out of the corner of her eye
"Oh, come on" she whispered back "You were more into the idea of stealing him from that Salter woman. You'd have been bored within a week"
Cassandra shrugged noncommittally
"I may have been willing to make allowances for a starship Captain..."
Brittany smiled
"You never know, you might get lucky with the next one..."
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Who: Brittany, Cassandra
When: Some days later
Where: The royal suite – a couple of adjoining staterooms hastily appropriated for the queen
Brittany fidgeted nervously with her teaspoon, twirling it like a baton down through her fingers and back up again before tossing it irritably down onto the table amidst the teacups, and flopping back into the plush confines of the sofa
"Where is that damn woman?" she sighed
"En route" Cassandra, sat next to her, murmured; her fingers moving over her handheld "...same as the last time you asked, two minutes ago"
Brittany curled her lip
"Regardless" she snapped peevishly "She should smegging well hurry up"
The door chimed moments later and Brittany stood, looking expectantly over towards the entrance, before glancing back down at Cassandra after a moment, who in turn sighed and heaved herself off the sofa to amble across the room and open the doors
"Yes!?" she enquired of the Captain and her bodyguard
Castillo was only a centimetre or two taller than Cassandra, so the two women were able to stare levelly into each other's eyes, Castillo's pupils perceptibly dilating
"I'm 'ere to see 'ze Queen" the Captain growled
"Good for you. You'd better come in..."
Cassandra stepped aside to permit access
"Although you're going to have to leave your meat at the door" she smiled coldly, her hand shooting out to block the Captain's progress as she nodded towards Castillo's bodyguard "He's a security risk"
The big man trailing the Captain hesitated, his eyes flashing in anger, but like the well trained lackey he was, he hesitated, looking for askance
"I am not 'appy wit' zis" the Captain snapped
"Tough shit honey. You wanted to see the Queen; you play nice and do it our way"
Fifi bristled but nodded to her bodyguard "Eet's ok Barry. Wait for me out 'ere"
Wordlessly, the man nodded and retreated, standing in wait opposite the suites doors in the corridor, his scarred hands clasped in front of him
Cassandra favoured him with an evil smile as she swung the doors closed behind the Captain and then turned to stride quickly across the room
"Captain Fifi Castillo" she tiredly announced, moving around behind Brittany to observe the Captain, who stepped forward, nodded curtly and sat down on the sofa opposite the Queen
"Do sit down" Brittany breezed "Ms. Jones. Tea, if you will...?"
Fifi raised an eyebrow, and smirked as Cassandra shot Brittany a black look but made her way over towards the kitchenette
"I see you 'ave your leetle pet trained well"
"My 'little pet'" Brittany smiled "Is the one who figured out how to weaponise your wormhole drive; a little more research and she's fairly confident she'll be able to tear stars from the sky with it. You'll probably want her heading your science department"
"Huh" Fifi sneered, dismissing this with a wave of a hand "Just another traitor. Much the same as yourself..."
"How dare you!" Brittany snarled, standing to glare down at the Captain "I'll not have you impugn my character when your own pedigree is so suspect!"
"Oh? And 'ow do you figure zat?" Fifi spat back, standing too, in an effort to try and regain the upper hand, and glare back at Brittany
"Oh, come on!" the Queen sneered "You'd have to have the IQ of a glass of milk not to realise the next Captain of this crate would be some lickspittle JMC lackey on a short leash held by the associates of Eckerslike, who – in case it escaped your notice – was a traitor not only to his country but our entire smegging species!"
Brittany paused to stare hard into Fifi's azure blue eyes
"And you accuse me of being a traitor? Perhaps we should have you gene screened and subjected to a deep trawl before we allow you to continue in your role as Captain? Space Corp directive 90210?"
Fifi narrowed her eyes at this
"For what reason?" she hissed
"Oh, you know... security" Brittany breezed "My security, to be exact. Wouldn't do to have some murderous Hymenoptera halfbreed or an insane simulant loose on this ship, after all..."
"The 'alf breeds are all dead" Fifi said flatly "Everyone knows zat"
Brittany snorted
"Your chief of security is still alive. Go figure"
She turned, leaving the Captain simmering with anger to stroll across the room and gaze out of the window, taking in the near infinite majesty of star field beyond
"You're dismissed, by the way" she called over her shoulder "Be a dear and plot a course to New Buckinghamshire, would you? There's a coronation I need to attend there"
"I came 'ere to tell you to get off my sheep" Fifi spat "Ah'll not 'ave my orders dictated by you"
Turning, Brittany's expression hardened
"Now!" she near shouted "Or you'll get to see who is really in command here!"
"You 'ave no auth..."
"Do you want to be the catalyst of a full public inquiry into the JMC's involvement with the Hymenoptera!?"
Captain Castillo stalked out of the room without so much as another word
Smirking at the exchange, Cassandra placed a tea tray down on the coffee table and strolled across the room to join Brittany at the window
"I think" she nodded towards the slamming door "that you just made an enemy there"
"I'm not that bothered" Brittany growled "I don't like that woman very much"
"I know what you mean" Cassandra mused "She may need killing... a lot"
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