Chapter Text
The Star Beagle Adventures
Episode 4: Starship Trooper
Scene 1: Sister Bluebird
4.1
Sister Bluebird
”We’re living in the trees… And we’re flying in the breeze… We’re the bluebirds…”
Guz Maxwell was absurdly handsome with dark skin and a straight nose that made him look more Italian than Spanish, a sparkle in his light brown eyes, a thick, close-cropped mop of coal black hair and the effortless athleticism and flawless skin of a teenager. As if all that wasn’t enough, he had a sweet, natural tenor voice and played the electric guitar as if he had been born with one in his hands.
It was a generic instrument, designed to link into any comm system. Guz hadn’t bothered to detach the control panel, which could be placed on the floor for foot control.
Raanda Habib would have jumped his bones in a hot second, but, alas, Guz didn’t swing her way. So she had to content herself with enjoying his voice. At 19, she was a few months older than him and felt a little protective. She was, herself, another dark-skinned beauty - not perfect features, but deep brown eyes, a Persian nose and the flawless skin and effortless athleticism of youth - none of which she adequately appreciated.
She and Guz were relaxing in the back of the Bluebird, which had brought the song to mind. Spike and Sasha were up front. Guz had finished the song and was now casing the guitar despite her pleas for another song.
“I could go on for hours, but grandpa told me to never sing more than one song at a time,” Guz said. “That, and never let anyone hear you sing a song more than once if you can avoid it.”
“Can you teach me how to play guitar?” Raanda asked.
“I can,” Guz replied. “But I won’t.”
“Why not?” It was delivered with a pout.
Guz laughed easily. “Because you don’t want to know. You may think you do. But you really don’t. If you wanted to know how to play, you would already be doing it.” He handed her the guitar, which he had already carefully snapped into its case, then got up and stretched.
The Bluebird did not have windows in the rear compartment. There was a viewscreen, a couple of cots, and some of the crates had been stacked to create a sort of standing table for taking meals while standing.
The rear compartment was fairly cavernous - the Bluebird was a standard sized Star Fleet runabout - but there was very little room to move about because it was heavily loaded with supplies: Spare parts. Top quality sensors. Field gear. And weapons. Lots and lots of weapons…
4.1