It'll be lonely this christmas

Posted on Sat Sep 12th, 2026 @ 9:59pm by Daniel Davis & Nathan Crawford

Mission: Justice
Location: Nathan's Quarters
Timeline: Christmas Eve

 

Daniel had watched his friend for a few days be either ignored by town folk or the crew, and finally had enough of it. Smith had known exactly what he was doing when he had chosen the man to be his defence, knowing the man would fight for him. Nathan was not a bad one at all; he was one of the few he respected as a man and as an officer, but he had the sense of a knat sometimes. The Logistics Officer tapped on the bulkhead outside his office and waited to be let in, knowing he would be alone.

"I won't take no for an answer." He called.

Nathan got up from his desk and walked to the door and opened it. "Hey there Daniel. Please come in." He glanced at the law books on his desk, some civilian and some military. He turned back to his fellow officer. "I could use a break...and a stiff drink. Care for one too?"

Daniel held up the bottle he had. “I came here for that one when I saw you come back and kick several buoys off the pier.” Daniel said coming in and closed the door behind him. Daniel looked around the room and smirked. “This room looks pitiful Nathan.”

Nathan gave Daniel a dirty look as he opened a cabinet and pulled out two rock glasses. "Well between watch standing and preparing a legal defence for a morally bankrupt git whose only redeeming quality is he's the only one who understands all the ins and outs of our entire electrical grid for the ship and town...I haven't really had time to tidy up."

“It’s not much of a redeeming quality.” Daniel said grinning still as he poured two full glasses of the hooch he had gotten from town into them both. Daniel did not need the hooch but who was he to deny that his friend needed the support. “You look like you could use a large drink.”

Nathan nodded as he handed one of the glasses to Daniel. "A large drink and a lack of a conscience. The only defence I can come up with is to try and impeach the testimony of the women Smith has victimized. Which considering none of them came forward at the time the attack, no eyewitnesses and no medical forensics. It may not be that hard to defend a rapist. I just wish he would agree to a plea deal."

“Well, lack of conscience isn’t going to happen, as you are the most honourable man I know,” Daniel commented as he sat on the couch in his usual spot and crossed his legs in front of him, resting his ankle on his opposite knee. “You cannot possibly think going that route is a good idea?”

"Ethically?No." Nathan sipped his drink. "But right now it's a case of he said, she said. Well, ten cases of he said, she said. Which, in a court of law prior to the Fall, Smith would probably beat. The jury is still apt to convict him on hearsay. Impeaching victims testimony is his only real defence and, unfortunately, I am the person that has to mount that defence. It's going to tear apart this town and our own crew."

"We both know half of those women don't like the other half, so there is no way there is no... this is not a plot against him. We both know he is creepy." Daniel took a sip of the hooch and smirked at the taste. "This is good stuff... but yeah, it is already tearing us all apart. We should have locked him up and then got him off next time we leave port for somewhere." Daniel had never liked the younger man. There was something about the way he looked over women but on checking with the women in his command, there had been no issues, just rumours of things that he had documented.

Nathan sighed. Smith may be a a vile creeper, but he was the best dsmn electrician on the ship. He had kept the lights on for the ship and Thistledrift for the better part of two years. Nobody else knew the electric grid better. Would the powers that be really punish him if he was found guilty? The big question was: could the ship and the town maintain power if he were banished, imprisoned or executed for his crimes? How many could die if the power went out. "This whole situation is...what's the phrase Juliet use...fucked up beyond all repair."

"What are your biggest worries?" Daniel asked, interested to hear what the man was really worried about before he broached the subject that had most likely caused him to kick the buoys.

Nathan let out a scoffing noise of frustration. "Where to start. Our relationship with the town for one thing. All of us have made friends here. The power grid. Smith was a semester away from earning his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering. He has been Europa's most proficient electrician since we found him in London two years ago.

"There are other electricians." Daniel laughed. "He got it because others were younger, plus old George lives in town. Do you really think the man would give up his cold fridge?" Daniel laughed, thinking of the man who had retired to live on land. "He would love apprentices if it came to it."

Nathan sighed at the mention of their former ship mate who had resigned his commission for shore life and a new wife just prior to Halloween two months ago. "George retired because he spent 25 years at sea and Smith had the skills to take over. It was a win-win for everyone at the time. Now who's going to get the only master electrician next time we set sail?”

“There are options Nath.” Daniel was not worried about it in all honesty. He was more worried about the women in town knowing they were safe people. “You are worrying about that problem which is easily fixed. Smith is not important in grand scheme of things.”

Nathan nodded. "He does have an inflated opinion of himself. Doesn't he?"

“Yep and for some reason you believe it. Who are you and what have you done with Crawford?” Daniel demanded grinning as he leaned back in the couch and picked up one of the files.

"Smith knows the Europa's and Thistledrift's power distribution systems better than anyone else. He's worked both. We have perhaps two other Electricians that know most of the ship's systems and can do simple repairs for Thistledrift. George is good and will probably be able to keep the power grid for Thistledrift going for a while still. But we need to face the fact that Smith is the primary person who has kept the transformers from going dead in town." Nathan gave a tired sigh. "If Thistledrift's power goes out, people will suffer. Some may even die."

“So that brings me to the whole kicking buoys off the pier.” The younger man wondered taking a gulp of his drink as liquid courage.

Nathan fixed his gaze on David. "Cassandra is angry I am solicitor for Smith and that I am going to do my sworn duty to provide the best legal defence possible."

"Can you blame her? You're her... Whatever you are to her." Daniel wondered, looking up at the man. "There are a lot of angry people in town over it Nath. I know you have this moral compass, but he has fucked us all over. I was talking to Gem, and he tried it on with her before she let him know she liked women. He was forceful, but she can handle herself."

"I...I asked her to marry me when we got back into port last week." He took the bottle and topped off his glass. "I should be celebrating Christmas with the woman I love. Instead I am studying criminal law procedure in my cabin and drinking with a fellow officer."

“With just a fellow officer Nath I thought I was more than that.” Daniel teased as he got more comfortable and got back the bottle before the man drunk it all away. “So she said yes then?” The man had no doubt Cassie said yes but it was nice to tease the man just a little.

"It's a little complicated." Nathan took a long sip. He could already feel the effects of the first drink taking hold. He would need to quit after the second if he was still going to make it to midnight vigil at the church. "She had a fiancé when the fall occurred. They left Bristol together and parted ways on the road. He went to Oxford and Cassandra came here. Both weere looking for their families."

“I know. Me and Cass are friends. Her mum invites me for tea sometimes.” The man admitted. “But how does this make you complicated?” Daniel was not seeing the connection to why it was complicated.

"It probably wouldn't be under normal circumstances this long since the Fall." Nathan paused to gather his thoughts. "I don't know if you've met the young man yet. René Rouen is...was a courier. He arrived in Thistledrift at the beginning of December while we were out to sea. He was commissioned by James to deliver a message and package to Cassandra. It seems her fiancée is still alive and doing well in Oxfordshire."

“We’ve heard about Oxford.” The man said sitting up as he started to put things together in his head. “Ah… and what has Cass said on it or are you jumping the gun on things?” Daniel wondered quietly.

Nathan was quiet for a moment as he formed thought into words. "She wants to get closure with James. I can understand wanting that. I didn’t get that when Felicity disappeared during the Fall."

“If the roles were reversed what would you do?” Daniel wondered. “And I do not mean just with Oxford but with her defending someone you mistrusted and had hurt people?” He said knowing this is why they were friends. There was no judgement just him trying to get through the emotions. “Because I have never seen you kick a buoy or look so… distressed and I was there that day we got back to Portsmouth.”

Nathan didn't have to think long on his answer. Cassandra was, first and foremost, a woman of integrity. She always put others before herself. If she had one fault, it was failing to delegate responsibility or to send others into danger without being there to face that danger with them. "I would trust she has her reasons and that she would explain those reasons when she was good and ready. She inspires trust in everyone because she always leads from the front." He gave a sigh. "Even when she should step back and let others face the danger first." He looked at Daniel and chuckled. "You know all this already."

“Well I do think that is a conversation between you both but she is the type of leader we always wanted before we got Skye.” Daniel took a sip of the whiskey and sighed a little. “I don’t think there is anything that is going to stop her.”

"I concur." Nathan glanced at the law books scattered around his office. He then turned to Daniel with a sad smile. "I appreciate the drink and the talk, but I should probably get back to..." Nathan interrupted himself with a latrge and loud yawn. A wave of fatigue washed over him. "On second thought. Perhaps a night's sleep would be best." He brought the glass to his lips and drain the contents down his throat.

“Aye give church a miss and get some rest. I’ll see you at colours in morning.” Daniel got up lazily and grabbed up the bottle. “I will save this for New Year’s Eve just incase.” He murmured leaving the room and Nathan by himself. He had to fix this somehow.

Nathan began closing and stacking law books in his office. Ten minutes later he was showered and sitting on the edge of his bed. He couldn't help but wonder if there was still a chance of repairing his relationship with Cassandra. He picked up a pillow from his bed and pulled out a t-shirt tucked in the pillow case. It was a t-shirt she had worn the last time she had spent the night in his quarters.

Nathan pulled the t-shirt over the pillow and settled into bed. He hugged the pillow close to his chest and rolled onto his back to stare at the ceiling. He fell asleep five minutes later hugging the pillow close and wondering if he would ever hug Cassandra again.