Greetings Said the Spider to the Fly

Posted on Sun Jul 6th, 2025 @ 8:40pm by Candy Templeton & Lieutenant Commander Aer Feshau-Patton
Edited on on Sun Jul 6th, 2025 @ 8:43pm

1,856 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Mission 5 - The Cold War Ends
Location: Intelligence Office - Level 5 - Faltan Station
Timeline: MD 02 - 1125 hours

No news to report today, so far. Candy thought morosely to herself. And, Kaylee was way too suspicious for her own good. She probably went to Connor by now who probably was less than thrilled that I involved him. Of course, he probably told her only nice things about me. It is not in him to be spiteful. She chuckled softly to herself.

By now, that would likely mean that the marines hate me, but what else is new there? Stupid jarheads and everyone new is suspicious of me. How fun! Well, perhaps we should just pre-empt it and visit Aer. She's married to the new XO. Who knows? Woman to woman we might connect or might hate each other.

With that thought, Candy headed over to intelligence with the intent of meeting Aer.

Aer's office sat next to the intelligence suite. She'd requested changes be made to the layout, the addition of an overwatch platform above the analysts with multiple screens that can be utilised for view various data streams and incoming information.

"Ma'am." a voice came through the intercom. "We have Candy Templeton out her wanting to speak to you. No appointment," the man said dryly, almost as if he wanted the ground to open up and swallow the woman whole.

"Put up the security screens on all console and upper deck. She's not to see anything and you can bring her through." Aer said with some interest.

Was she walking into the lions den, or was Aer the prey and hadn't realized?

Candy allowed herself to be escorted into intelligence. Contrary to what Aer might expect, Candy did not obviously look around to see what might be going on around her. Candy's eyes were fixed and she wore a pleasant smile.

When she arrived in Aer's office she stuck out her hand out confidently for shaking at Aer and said, "I've been looking forward to meeting you. I'm Candy Anise Templeton, from your friendly Federation News Reporting Service."

Accepting Candy's hand Aer smiled pleasantly at the woman. A front to show no suspicion on her part but internally she was sizing the woman up. "You have? I feel honoured, Ms. Templeton." Aer feigned ignorance. "I'm not all that interesting but come in and take a seat." She gestured to the sofa area. "Would you like anything? Once I sit down, it's not all that quick for me to get back up again...."

Internally, Candy wanted to laugh. The fake ignorance was too much. Nonetheless, she widened her smile and said, "Ah, yes, the twins. You and the new XO. Congratulations. When are they due?" Coming back to the answer regarding the getting anything, "There's no need to trouble yourself with getting me anything. Should I need anything, I am certain that you can direct me."

Aer nodded, accepting Candy's refusal of anything to drink. As such she began to make her way over to the sofa area, "Thank you. I've got about 4-5 months left but I've been told that twins usually like to push their luck a little and come earlier." Aer sat down as elegantly as she could and regarded Candy. Her pregnancy was no secret, Jack liked to talk about it. At length.

"I can't say that I've ever had the experience," Candy replied offhandedly. "Are you settling in well?"

Aer smiled, easing into the cushions as she gave her abdomen an absent-minded rub. “Settling in is always a little different when you’re doing it with two extra passengers,” she said with a soft laugh. “But yes... things are starting to feel familiar.”

She studied Candy just long enough to register her stillness—how she hadn't looked around, hadn't asked anything. Interesting.

“You’ve been here what—eight years now?” she asked, voice casual, inviting. “That kind of time gives you a sense for when things shift. I imagine you notice changes before most of us even know there’s something to notice.”

Aer tilted her head slightly, smiling with a practiced ease. “So, tell me... what’s changed lately?”

Her tone was light. Just two women talking. But the question? That was anything but small talk.

"What has changed?" Candy asked with an amused smile. "There are so many things that have changed in the universe, or here, or even in this sector." The reporter nonchalantly extended her hand and then dropped it when she was finished with her vague comment.

Candy was pleased with the start. Aer was careful. Perhaps the two of them would actually get along, well, as much as Candy got along with anyone. "But, I must wonder why Faltan is going through such personnel changes now. Does that not make you think?"

Aer gave a soft hum in the back of her throat, the kind that wasn’t quite agreement but wasn’t dismissal either. “Personnel shifts always draw attention,” she said lightly, fingers grazing the edge of the memory crystal at her collarbone. “Especially when they happen all at once. People start whispering like something’s about to happen, even if it isn’t. And then, sometimes... something does.”

She glanced at Candy, her expression open but not unguarded. “But then, that’s the nature of places like this. People come, people go. New names fill old shoes. You can convince yourself it’s just routine if you want to.” A faint smile flickered. "I’ve found it’s usually a little more complicated than that.”

Her tone remained even, almost casual. “Still, I imagine you’ve already heard more than most. People like to talk when they think no one’s really listening.” She didn’t press. She didn’t need to. The real question hung gently in the space between them — not what Aer knew, but what Candy might offer without meaning to.

"That is true. There are lot of new names and yet, some old shoes remain...." Candy let the words dangle for several moments, and then left silence between the two of them. When nothing occurred, Candy inhaled dramatically. "And well worn shoes, well, they are comfortable, though sometimes they get worn out, is that not so?"

Her tone stayed playful, yet serene, as she continued. "But old and comfortable is not good for my business. It does not make headlines and then people turn the channel. Could you imagine how that would look for me?" Candy asked while her eyes got larger. "So, I wonder if perhaps, a new insole could be placed into the comfortable shoe...."

Aer gave a soft laugh, her hand drifting again to the memory crystal at her collarbone—a thoughtful gesture more than anything else. “That’s the trouble with comfortable shoes,” she said with a smile. “They know the way too well. It’s hard to notice when the path has changed beneath them.”

She didn’t look away this time. Instead, her gaze met Candy’s with a quiet steadiness, not defensive, not guarded—just… aware. Engaged.

“Still,” she continued, her tone easing into something almost companionable, “you’re right. Headlines don’t write themselves, and no one tunes in for quiet corridors and procedural stability. Sometimes it takes someone willing to stir the dust a little to see what’s really settled underneath.”

Her expression softened, the faint smile returning. “I’ve met reporters who chase stories with a spotlight and a shovel. You strike me as someone who uses a mirror instead.” A pause, not quite pregnant—just intentional. “That’s rarer than it should be.”

She shifted slightly in her seat, more relaxed now. “So... if you’re planning on walking these halls with new insoles, Candy... maybe you and I should walk a few of them together.”

Candy's grin grew dramatically at that statement. "I was hoping that you might say that." She leaned forward. "While I am more than certain that you can have some of your operatives do some snooping, there are places that you cannot get to that I can. When the station was without a steady chief intelligence officer, you could say that I served in an unofficial capacity."

She clucked her tongue against the roof of her mouth before continuing. "I think you will find that we have more in common than not and, right now, you need information. Am I correct?"

Aer let out a soft breath, her expression easing into something far less formal than before. “You’ve got a gift, Candy. People talk to you... not because they have to, but because they forget why they shouldn’t.”

She leaned back slightly, fingers tracing the curve of the crystal at her collarbone. “That’s not something I can train into my officers. It’s not something I can control either. But I can respect it.”

Her gaze found Candy’s again, steady, thoughtful. “Thing is, not all intel needs to be locked behind doors and clearance tags. Sometimes the most valuable truths are the ones passed in whispers, shared over drinks, or tucked between harmless stories. But if we’re going to play in that space together...” she gave the faintest smile, “what you bring has to be more than just interesting. It has to be worth it.”

She tilted her head, voice softening just slightly. “You work with me—really work with me—I’ll make sure it’s not a one-way street. No promises, no red carpet. Just… open doors. Where they matter.”

A brief pause. Then, gently:

“Sound like your kind of arrangement?”

"It does," Candy confirmed. "I've been working that way with M'Mira for years, all the way back to when she was just a Chief Ops officer on the planetary station."

The reporter rose from her chair, wearing a self-satisfied smile. "I'm very glad that we could meet. I was hoping that you were sensible."

Aer rose carefully, her hand steadying against the chair as she stood. At the mention of M’Mira, her expression didn’t shift, but something behind her eyes flickered. The name hung there for a breath too long—unacknowledged, but not ignored.

"So, the captain’s been talking," she thought. Not surprising. But what kind of secrets had M’Mira fed Candy’s way, and why? That would interest Jack. It interested Aer, too, in a quieter, more calculated way.

She offered a graceful El Aurian bow, measured and serene. “You’ll find sensibility tends to serve me better than spectacle,” she said with a faint, knowing smile.

Her gaze lingered on Candy just long enough to suggest depth without challenge. “Thank you for the visit. First impressions often say more than people intend.”

Another small bow—genuine, but weighted now with quiet thought. “Be seeing you, Ms Templeton.”

"And you, too, Commander. I think this arrangement shall be most interesting." With that, Candy strode out, hips swaying, and head held high. It would be pleasant not to be immediately at odds with this new Intelligence Department.

And when Candy was gone, Aer would make a note. Not about what was said—but what wasn’t.

 

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