Re: Picket
((*adjustments due to Major arrival and previous setting twists between.*))
Between the Major’s arrival, the people shifting in and out of the food-prep area, and the primary silence concerning most of what happened outside, Cam was finding herself a little lost. Even if there had been a big discussion about what transpired out there, she probably would have only understood a bit of it.
She gathered enough to figure out the basics just from passing mentions. Mole People?.. Confusion settling into her features, some vacuous expression where she blinked slowly then shook her head. The twist and turns of the day, hadn’t numbed her completely though, as Ashton offered a seemingly timid smile to Smith, or rather his back as he lumbered off.
The smile slipping slowly neutral, Cam watched the doorway he’d departed through for a long while, with a haunted distance in her eyes. The smile returned again though, as she went back to cleaning up the cooking mess. She’d heard Bernhard’s words, and picked out the points of relevance to her, comparing notes with the one that Brown had briefed them on.. She would really have to clear things with the Major if she was going to keep taking initiative in assigning roles to people. There was a wince inward, as the whole situation was her fault.
Though she wouldn’t have felt as bad, save for the conflicting reaction here and there. With a slight flutter of a breath, she realized and connected that Marcus had departed prior to the Major’s address, and so with a polite.. “Be excusing me..” Lieutenant Ashton went to track him down before he got too settled.. It probably didn’t matter, he’d just be waking up a bit later than had been implied, that notion stopped her short. One pale hand drifted to the back of her neck rubbing lightly, the thumb of her other hand tucked into the ever-present (these days) rifle strap at her shoulder.
Maybe it was best just to leave it be.. Awkwardly the Danish Officer turned and went about familiarizing herself with the areas she’d be patrolling when the lights went out. Get a feeling for the sounds and what littered the areas.
///////////////////////////////////////// On Watch, 2300+?/////////////////////////////////////
Time had been unkind, and there was a lot on her mind. Cam stalked the quiet beneath the thrumming of rain, it was an infernal sound when someone was tired and had no stimuli save one foot before the other and peering through shadows and glom. At least the night vision was helpful in that regard, even if the droning of trickling water and rhythmic patter of droplets threatened her state of mind.
That’s probably why, she didn’t notice at first.. Or was she even sure.. Ashton’s head tilted slightly as she paced through the building’s ground floor toward the Kitchen. Lifting the radio, Cam clicked down the button.. “I checking, Sound.. Under floor? Maybe moving” As those words were spoken the old wood floor groaned beneath her feet and she paused.
Listening.
Then, rifle ready and low.. She thumbed the safety- click* , and continued moving to investigate that possible entrance.. Her left hand slid through the sling rolling up snug into the strap for stability as she reclaimed her grip on the weapon itself.