BUT WHAT IF...it was aliens.

[directorofhydra]

[It's supposed to be an easy mission. Escort company cargo to Whedon station. The company pays well, this is routine. Under commander Garrett, they've co-opted (rented, as Ward is fond of saying) Captain Melinda May's ship. There's Jemma and Fitz, a pair of techs, Coulson, a science officer, Palamas, Piper, Wong, and Reaper - something that Grant gives him no end of shit for. Besides, they're going to be in hypersleep for a good month at least - possibly two, so while he salutes Skye - May's co-pilot and wonders what it would be like to share a tube with her, his mind is half on that and half on the crate that commander Garrett says is "essential" to survival. The back half of the trip'll end up being surprisingly boring. Sign in and out.

Ours is not to wonder why kid. Ours is but to do or fucking die. Just like your dad would want huh?

He'd never tell Garrett he considers him far more of a father then James Ward - board of directors member and personal friend of Weyland's ...lineage - but it looks good for HYDRA company having a son of the board of directors onboard. Thankfully the old man keeps it to himself. Palamas gives him a sympathetic look though as the ship shuts itself down, auto piloting out to the stars...

When he wakes up it's like no time has passed but something is clearly off. The place is quiet a few tubes are empty, and while he's puking his guts out and unaware of any of the other active pods there's no chance or opportunity to look up and see anything or anyone quite yet. He's just curled over trying to come back to his senses - senses that haven't alerted him to the lack of Garrett - overseeing his hypersleep as always - or Palamas and Piper playfully flirting.]

simple mission they said. go home on leave they said...

Comments

[directorofhydra]

John wouldn't do that.

[It's automatic. His head spins and he tries to steady the deck before shaking himself a bit like a dog. It's said so matter of factly that it might be sad. The man is the boy's religion.]

He likes seeing Palamas and Piper wake up. Kara's got a real knack for getting out of these. where're you showers?

[There's an overwhelming sense of silence about the ship. It makes Ward glance over his shoulder at May with a frown.]

[busdriver]

Yeah, that's not weird at all. [She can't bite back the sarcasm. Garrett's already on her last nerve and his fan club isn't helping.

She starts moving, shakily, leading the way to the showers.] This way. [The Zephyr's layout takes some getting used to. She's starting to think she should've handed out maps. And she'd like to hope they're not far behind the others. Maybe they'll catch up to them in the showers. Failing that, there's only so many common areas on the ship. People tend to congregate in the galley. It's quiet enough to hear the thrum of power through the ship, like a steady heartbeat, and for her it's a comforting sound. It isn't her style to worry about a problem they might not even have—but she is making a mental list of checks to perform once she's feeling more alive.]

It's Ward, right?

[directorofhydra]

[He smirks but he's shaken by a sudden chill and he wraps his arms around himself, rubbing his biceps before he shivers.]

You learn to tolerate it. Just like these pods.

[Moving to follow her he's aware of the silence once again. The chills around the ship and - he smells the shower before he sees it. There's a very distinct smell like someone threw something up mixed with something that died.

The kind of smell that makes you anxious you're naked. Looking to May he straightens.]

Yeah. Grant Ward but everybody calls me Ward. No relation to Wards of the company.
[Lies and slander but it's a bit hard to get behind that. There's a real smell and he frowns at her. It's hard to miss that they're both in their underwear and something - well. Something is off.]

Pipes need to be flushed.

[busdriver]

Hmph.

[They can agree on something: Garrett's a lot like the pods. Depending how long she's with him, she'd even say he makes her sick.

The smell hits her all at once. She doesn't have a ready explanation for this one. The pipes should be fine. It doesn't make sense. She puts her arm out to stop Ward from walking past her and into the showers.]

Let's not. [She's just thinking, maybe they could knock 'shower' down a few places on their to-do list?]

I'd better go talk to Mother. It'd be helpful if I knew what the hell you guys were "escorting."

[This isn't her first attempt to find out, and she doubts it'll be the last.]