Page 161 of Every Almost

No big deal.

PART THREE

ROOTS

SEVENTEEN

THE WARMTH

Three days later,a music program existed on Charlie's datapad and on every datapad on the Emberkind. Anyone could play songs through the datapad's speaker, some headphones, and also control audio output in any room on the ship. Tavi had helped create a software that was able to queue up songs, shuffle them, and even build playlists. He had already started converting the rest of Charlie's cassettes, more than happy to spend hours at his console importing the music off the tapes, listening to every song as each one was converted to digital output.

At the next crew meeting, Charlie, Tavi, and Maren presented it to the entire Emberkind staff. Everyone seemed intrigued by the invention and the abilities they had given to the program. Charlie reveled in the positive reception amongst the crew. It was the first thing she had helped build on the Emberkind that was completely spur of the moment, based on a want and not a need, and didn't have anything to do with the run of the ship. It was purely for entertainment, and she was beginning to see, just in that initial announcement, how it wouldbring happiness to so many of the crew members. And she'd done this with the two people she realized were becoming her friends, something she hadn't expected to occur aboard an alien ship while she was traveling through uncharted space.

Charlie's gaze traveled around the room, watching the crew explore the new music program on their datapads. She saw Tavi talking to Selowen, seeming slightly frustrated. Charlie could only imagine what it was he was trying to show her.

Maren was by her side, leaning towards Charlie. "I think we're a hit," she said, her eyes scanning the room and seeing everyone with their heads buried in their datapads.

Charlie nodded. "I think we are," she answered, looking over at Maren fully, seeing a wide grin on the Noethan's face.

"You know, you're going to leave a mark here," Maren said. Charlie's smile faded, letting those words sink in before Maren continued. "It's almost a shame Earth is a non-contact planet. I think it would be so much fun having you aboard." Maren looked over at her again. "And I don't think I'm the only one to think that."

"I do, that's for sure," Tavi said, coming up to them both, startling Charlie slightly as he'd practically snuck up behind her. "You're good people. You're Emberkind people."

Charlie considered what Tavi had said and, the truth was, at least if she was being honest with herself, this moment, with the music system and Tavi and Maren and the whole Emberkind crew enjoying what the three of them built, was the closest she'd felt to home since before Helen had passed.

"Thanks, really," Charlie said, putting her arm around Maren's shoulders and laying her palm on top of Tavi's. "You'rebothgood people, too. And are you seeing the reactions from everyone to the music system?" She asked, pushing Maren and Tavi's attention to the crew around them and the excited facesstill blazoned across each and every member in the room. "They're excited!"

"As they damn well should be!" Tavi exclaimed. "Wait until they hear Michael, or Queen, or Prince! Or even Tom Petty. Man, they are in for a fine tasty treat," he said, his eyebrows raising up and down to Charlie and Maren. Charlie laughed, while Maren just gave Tavi a look.

At that, Charlie's gaze moved around the room further, finally landing on Reyna. She met her eyes, realizing the Captain had already been looking in her direction. Reyna smiled, then bowed her head to Charlie before standing up straight again. Charlie immediately recognized it as 'you did good.'

Charlie returned the smile, reeling over something she did that seemed to matter to the Captain. She stood a little taller, then lifted her shoulders with a tilt of her head, pretending to shrug off the compliment.

Reyna rolled her eyes at Charlie's reaction, causing Charlie to laugh softly. Reyna reacted to that with a laugh Charlie couldn't hear, but then, just, held her gaze.

Tavi's voice broke through, causing Charlie to break eye contact.

"What do you think, Charlie?" Tavi asked.

"I'm sorry," Charlie said. "What do I think about... what?"

"Were you even listening?" Tavi asked, mock hurt written all over his face.

"Sorry, Tav, not intentional."

"You know, that's the second time you've called me 'Tav.'"

"I'm sorry?—"

"I like it. A lot. So, you're forgiven."

"Thanks,Tav," Charlie said, emphasizing Tavi's new nickname.

"Now you're gonna start making me blush. Let's move on before that happens!" Charlie laughed before Tavi continued."Anyway,here'swhat Iwassaying when you weren't paying attention..."

As Tavi repeated his idea for upgrading the software handling the water temperature for one of the habitats, Charlie's gaze returned to Reyna across the room. But the Captain was deep in conversation with Torvax and Selowen. And though Reyna wasn't looking at her, Charlie was smiling, because Reyna was, bright and beaming and full, and that was more than enough to make Charlie happy.

In the daysfollowing the crew meeting, Charlie's music did something she never imagined.