Captain Johnson paced around in his cabin. He knew that he had covered his tracks well, he had never spoken to Ben about the murder of Paul Franklin in places an AI could overhear but he wasn't sure that he could trust Ben not to speak of it. He still couldn't believe his ace in the hole, the man from the future, turned out to be so incompetent. He had missed killing the new security chief before she landed on Van Halen and then once she was aboard he allowed himself to be incapacitated so easily. He punched the wall and said out loud, "I'm surrounded by idiots!"

On the entertainment grid, Treecy walked with Mo and Kumiko, "So, how do you like your new assignment?" Kumiko asked as they sat in a booth at a Moo-vee Diner, a style of restaurant that was popular in the Federation. All three women sat in a booth that faced a screen on the wall that showed a movie. On the table in front of them were three milkshake-like dessert drinks.

Treecy shrugged before taking a sip from her drink and then said, "So far so good, the guys on my team are all professional. The Captain is a little... Um, strange."

"Has Ben given you any trouble?" Mo asked while tapping her finger on the table.

"After I hit him with a stun stick and kicked him off Van Halen, he's been quiet. He hasn't even logged on to this network since then. I have Alice keeping tabs and she will notify me when he shows up here on the E grid." Treecy smiled at Mo.

Mo frowned and then said, "Treecy, you need to be careful. I think there was someone on Van Halen that was assisting him."

Treecy nodded, "There are a few people on Van Halen that are pretty suspicious that's for sure. Starting with that Captain Johnson. But also the new guy, Captain Jack. Most of the officers on the destroyer have a motive as they have been held back from promotion, they have had their achievements stolen, or were busted down in rank by Captain Johnson or the late Captain Franklin."

Mo nodded and said, "Based on the reports I have read, I suspect that Captain Franklin's accidental death may have been a murder. Make sure you are careful when looking into it. I am not sure who you can trust over there. Since your ex hacked the AIs, I don't even know if you can trust them."

Kumiko sighed and then said, "Alright, that's enough shop talk. Treecy, I think what we both want to know is... What happened with you and the ex?"

Treecy smirked and then said, "He wants to get back together but I'm still mad at him. Plus, he tried to kill me. So, fuck that guy."

Kumiko frowned, "What do you mean he tried to kill you?"

"When Mantis brought me over to Van Halen, one of the turrets aimed at us and fired. If I hadn't noticed, or Mantis would have hesitated we might have died."

Kumiko looked at Mo and then said, "Treecy, why would Ben want to kill you? He followed you here to get back together with you. That makes no sense."

"Well, he was kind of acting like a jealous ass though..."

Mo cleared her throat and then said, "No, Treecy, Kumiko's right. That guy would never try to kill you. You really need to talk to him and find out what is going on."

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Treecy made a face and then nodded, "I guess I hadn't really thought it through. I was so mad when I got on Van Halen, I just reacted and let the stun stick speak for me." Treecy tapped her fingers on the table much like Mo had been doing earlier, "Oh that reminds me, there is this plaque in my new office that says, 'Running with the Devil since 1978' what does that refer to?"

Kumiko and Mo laughed and then Mo answered, "You know how the Van Halen family is famous for classical music, right?"

"Sure who doesn't know Mortimer Van Halen or even the great Keanu Van Halen?" Treecy nodded.

"Ok, well one of the crew members on Van Halen found out about a Van Halen that played music back in the middle ages and dug up some old song that they started using as their own theme music. That's where it comes from."

"Ah, I see, music from back then was so simplistic. It must be a joke then."

Kumiko nodded and added, "Yeah, they didn't even have true instruments back in those days. It was all wood, wire, and magnets. They couldn't even hit high notes."

"Can you even imagine trying to make music without a Cherub AI?" Mo shook her head in disgust.

Treecy laughed, "You are such an old lady sometimes, Lieutenant Dedmon."

Mo frowned and then raised an eyebrow, "Why do you say that?"

Treecy snorted, "The Cherub AI is like so ancient."

Mo raised an eyebrow, "What do you guys use now?"

Treecy thought for a minute and then said, "Oh. Yeah sorry, I guess I forgot that wasn't invented for a few thousand years after your time. Um, we use a suite of AIs that compose what we call new age music. The music from your time is something only old people ever listen to. You know, the kind of people who listen to that music because its an acquired taste."

Mo nodded thinking about the music her parents listened to, "No, I do know what you mean. My dad is like that. He only listens to Classical Hiphop because he swears that modern music has no soul."

Kumiko looked at Treecy and smirked, "You always do that I notice, whenever I ask about your relationship you change the subject to something Mo gets excited about."

Treecy blushed and turned her head away, "I don't know what you are talking about."

Mo frowned, "Treecy, you know you will have to talk with him this time, because it's also a security matter." She thought a moment and then asked, "How will you talk to him now that he's off the Van Halen?"

Treecy touched her head, "He's still in range for me to talk to, that's why I had his van move to 1500 kilometers."

"What if he just ignores you?" Mo took a sip from her drink.

"Well, then he won't have the chance to talk to me, and that's the only reason he came here."

Mo and Kumiko looked at each other, "Wow."

"She's like, 'He won't have the chance to talk to me.'" Mo spoke in a pretty good imitation of Treecy's voice.

Kumiko laughed while slamming her hand against the table, "Oh my god, you must have been practicing that! Yeah but she totally said that. I liked the part at the end!"

Mo tilted her head in an imitation of the way Treecy moves and then using her impression she said, "The only reason he came here was to see me, duh."

"What the hell? I do not do that head thing!" Treecy put her hand on her waist while pouting angrily.

Kumiko was laughing and hitting the table. Mo was giggling at Kumiko. Treecy was still pouting and had her head turned away. She huffed and then said, "You too are just jealous."

They both looked at each other and then shouted at Treecy, "Yes!"

Kumiko looked at Treecy, "Girl, there isn't a woman that has seen you here that isn't extremely jealous or crushing on you."

"Yeah, totally that. Both I bet." Mo agreed

Treecy blinked at the two women, "I have no idea what you are talking about."

Kumiko chuckled, "Girl, it's not normal for crewmembers to just happen to drop by with 'greeting' flowers all the time. You are the only person that has ever happened to."

Alice walked up dressed like the server who brought their drinks and said, "Hello, ladies. There is a gentleman who wishes to greet Second Lieutenant Treecy de Santos asking for entry to the Diner, will you allow the entry?"

Mo asked, "Who is asking?"

Alice smiled and then looked at Treecy, "Captain Chet Johnson."

Mo and Kumiko looked at each other, "Yes we allow!" They turned and stared at Treecy.

"Yes, I allow it." Treecy sighed closing her eyes.

A moment later Captain Johnson walked in the door wearing a fancy black suit. His hair was slicked back and in his hand was a bouquet of red roses. He confidently walked up to Treecy and handed her the roses, "Hello Second Lieutenant de Santos, it's wonderful to have you on Van Halen, it's almost as if we met by fate."

Treecy's eyebrow twitched, "And the flowers?"

"A greeting gift, of course. Although, I suppose you could also say it's also my announcement that I wish to court you." Captain Johnson smiled.

Mo and Kumiko erupted into laughter once again. Captain Johnson briefly glared at the two women before laughing softly as if to show he realized he had to laugh.

Treecy blinked a few times and then managed, "I'm sorry Captain Johnson, I'm afraid it wouldn't be proper for me to date my commanding officer."