McCallister and his wife, Reyas, were indulging themselves in a rare, tranquil evening together in the serene seclusion of their quarters. The gentle glow of candlelight enveloped the room, casting soft, dancing shadows on the walls. The table was meticulously set with a pristine white tablecloth, gleaming silverware, and delicate crystal glasses brimming with rich, ruby-red wine. The scents of a gourmet meal wafted through the air, mingling with the subtle fragrance of fresh flowers that graced the centre of the table.

The gentle strains of jazz music played in the background, the mellow tones of a saxophone blending seamlessly with the piano. McCallister took a sip of his wine, his eyes sparkling with contentment as he looked across the table at Reyas. Her face, illuminated by the candlelight, appeared serene and radiant. The soft, velvety texture of the wine on his tongue, the warm, comforting scent of the food, the gentle touch of Reyas’ hand as they reached for their glasses-all these sensory details added to the richness of the moment. This was a rare moment for the two of them. Earlier that day, McCallister visited her while she was finishing a training exercise with the cadet unit and told her he would prepare a romantic dinner for them both. No one else was going to be around. Intrigued by it, Reyas had agreed to her husband’s proposition, and after both of them had gotten off from duty, they quickly got out of their uniforms and into something a bit more casual. Even their son, Alfie, had given them some privacy. As they continued their meal, speaking about their day, it felt like they had gone back in time from when they had first met and started to couple. 

It was nice. 

It was perfect.

It was relaxing. 

“I can’t wait for us to be back on our journey exploring the rest of this area,” McCallister confessed, his voice filled with a boyish enthusiasm that reminded Reyas of their early days together on the Triton.

Reyas chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “I take it then that you have had enough of our time with the Entharans?” she teased, arching an eyebrow in mock inquiry.

McCallister gave her a look that spoke volumes, a mixture of amusement and exasperation. “It’s more one particular businessman, but yeah, enough is enough.” His expression seemed to be saying more than his words. McCallister knew she could read him like a book when he did that look.

Reyas laughed, a melodious sound that blended harmoniously with the jazz in the background. “Well, I must admit, it’s been nice to explore another culture.”

“You’re such an optimist,” McCallister chuckled as he topped up her and his’ glasses of wine. 

They shared a smile, enjoying the comfort and intimacy of the moment. The conversation flowed easily, touching on the day’s events, the ship’s business, and light-hearted anecdotes. The tranquil evening was a much-needed respite from their command duties’ usual hustle and bustle. Their fingers occasionally brushed as they reached for their glasses, each touch a reminder of the bond they shared. Outside the large viewport, the stars streaked past a silent witness to their peaceful evening.

Elsewhere on the Odyssey, Duncan and his husband were wrapped up in their own private moment of bliss. They had just finished a vigorous game of spring ball and found themselves alone in one of the ship’s smaller, more secluded recreation rooms. A soft, dim light was casting gentle shadows, creating an intimate and cosy atmosphere.

Duncan, still catching his breath, pulled Court close. His fingers wove through Court’s damp hair, pulling him into a series of tender, passionate kisses. The thrill of the game and the exhilaration of their closeness heightened the intensity of their embrace. Court, laughing between kisses, gently pushed Duncan away for a moment. His chest heaved with exertion and amusement, his eyes bright with playful energy.

“You’re aware we’re acting completely irresponsibly right now? As senior officers of the ship, James would have our heads if we were caught in an awkward position.” Tobias remarked, his voice a breathless whisper as he glanced around the empty room.

Duncan grinned, his blue eyes twinkling with mischief. “We haven’t had any private time, just the two of us, without either Jordan or William being around or the galaxy demanding our attention,” he pointed out, his tone a mix of longing and justification. His fingertips traced gentle patterns along Court’s jawline, eliciting a soft sigh from his husband.

Court’s laughter softened, his eyes reflecting the same desire and love. “True,” he admitted, wrapping his arms around Duncan’s waist and pulling him closer. “We’ve earned this, but to play it safe,” Court paused and told the computer to lock the doors to the room and deactivate the internal sensors. 

The two men chuckled as they continued to be close. Their lips met again, a slow, lingering kiss that spoke of deep love and longing. Everything outside was forgotten as they revelled in their intimacy. 

Court pulled back slightly, his lips curling into a soft smile. “You know, we should do this more often,” he murmured, his breath warm against his husband’s ear.

Duncan chuckled. “Absolutely,” he agreed, his hands caressing Court’s sides. “No interruptions, no responsibilities—just us.”

Court’s laughter returned, filled with warmth and affection. “I like the sound of that,” he said, leaning in for another kiss.

In the Auditorium, Jen and Rosle were enjoying a much more public but no less delightful evening. The Auditorium was bustling with activity, the lively hum of conversation and laughter filling the air. 

Seated at the bar, Jen and Rosle were engaged in easy conversation, their drinks in hand. Jen leaned casually against the bar, his eyes never leaving Rosle. She had an infectious smile and was sipping her drink thoughtfully.

“So, Commander Tierra offered to have us over for dinner with her and Abbej soon,”  Jen mentioned, his tone casual but curious as he watched Rosle’s reaction. He was curious to see what she thought about the idea of them going more public with their newfound relationship. The background chatter and clinking of glasses seemed to fade as he focused on her.

Rosle smiled, setting her glass down. “That sounds nice,” she replied, her eyes warm with affection and a hint of excitement. “I think it would be a lovely evening. Besides, it’s about time we started socialising as a couple.”

Jen nodded, his expression grateful yet relaxed. “It’s still early days, and I don’t want to push you into anything, but I like the idea of us taking the next step,” he said, his voice gentle yet earnest, reflecting his inner emotions.

Rosle reached out, her fingers brushing against his in a tender gesture. “Me too,” she agreed, her smile widening as she looked into his eyes. “I think we’re ready for this, Lukiz.”

In their quarters, McCallister and Reyas were swaying gently in each other’s arms, slow dancing to the soothing strains of jazz music after finishing their meal. McCallister’s hand rested on Reyas’ waist while her head leaned against his shoulder, their movements perfectly synchronised.

Suddenly, the gentle hum of the ship’s engines faltered, the lights flickered, and the music skipped a beat. McCallister lifted his head, his brows furrowing in concern, just as a violent shudder ran through the ship, causing the entire room to tremble. 

Before they could react, the ship was rocked by a series of explosions, the force of which threw them apart. The music cut off abruptly, replaced by the blaring of emergency alarms. The lights flickered and went out, plunging the room into darkness before the red emergency lighting flickered on.

“Computer, report status!” McCallister commanded, his voice steady but urgent as he helped Reyas to her feet.

The computer’s response was fragmented and delayed. “Multiple systems failures… explosions in… sections.”

Reyas reached for her combadge, her fingers tapping it quickly. “Bridge, this is Captain Reyas. What’s happening?” she demanded, her tone sharp.

Another explosion rocked the ship, the shockwave sending them stumbling. They shared a brief, intense look, their romantic evening shattered. There was no response to Reyas’ call. 

“We need to get to the bridge,” McCallister said, his voice firm with resolve. It covered his concern as to what was happening to his ship. 

Before she could move, the door to Alfie’s room burst open, and Alfie rushed out with Jordan beside him.

“Dad, Mom, what’s happening? Is everything okay?” Alfie asked urgently, his eyes wide with concern as he looked between his parents.

McCallister and Reyas exchanged a quick, worried glance before McCallister spoke, his voice steady despite the chaos unfolding around them. “We don’t know yet, Alfie. Something’s gone wrong with the ship. The intercom is down in this area. We’re going to the bridge to find out.”

Jordan, standing by Alfie’s side, looked equally worried. “Should we come with you?” he asked, his voice earnest.

Reyas nodded, her maternal instincts taking over. “Yes, let’s all go together,” she said decisively, reaching out to put a reassuring hand on Alfie’s shoulder. She glanced at Jordan with a grateful nod, appreciating his solidarity with Alfie.

McCallister quickly retrieved his combadge from where it lay discarded on a nearby chair. “Let’s go,” He said firmly, leading the way as they made their way through the now dimly lit corridors towards the bridge. The ship trembled occasionally under their feet. 

This wasn’t the romantic evening that McCallister had planned. 

Duncan and Court were in the middle of a passionate embrace, their lips locked in a deep, fervent kiss. Just as they were lost in their kiss, a sudden, violent jolt shook the room. They pulled apart, their faces inches from each other, breaths coming fast. Duncan grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief despite the alarm.

“Wow, Tobie, you sure know how to rock my world,” He joked, his voice breathless and teasing.

Court laughed, but the sound was cut short by another, more powerful explosion that rocked the ship, sending them stumbling. The lights flickered and went out, leaving them in near darkness before the red emergency lighting activated. The alarms blared, a stark contrast to their earlier intimacy.

“Bridge to Captain Duncan! We’re experiencing multiple systems failures and explosions in several sections!” The urgent voice of Commander Tomaz crackled over the intercom. “I can’t get through to Fleet Captain McCallister, sir.”

Duncan’s expression turned serious as he grabbed Court’s arm. “We need to move now!” he said urgently before he told Tomaz to stay calm and that they were on their way. Deep down, he hoped nothing terrible had happened to his commanding officer, but he had to put that concern to one side right now. He needed to deal with the bigger picture in the here and now. 

They bolted out of the recreation room, and their private moment unexpectedly ended with the crisis. The corridors were chaotic, filled with crew members rushing to their stations. Duncan and Court navigated through the confusion, their faces set with determination as they headed towards the bridge, ready to tackle whatever disaster had befallen the Odyssey.

In the bustling Auditorium, Jen and Rosle were deep in conversation, their drinks in hand. The first sign of trouble was the sudden dimming of the lights, followed by the sound of power surges. The room’s chatter quickly turned to murmurs of concern as everyone noticed the unusual behaviour of the ship’s systems. Jen and Rosle exchanged worried glances.

“What’s happening?” Rosle asked, her voice tense.

Before Jen could answer, the ship was rocked by a series of violent explosions. The force of the blasts knocked over tables and sent drinks flying. Jen instinctively grabbed Rosle, pulling her to the floor as debris rained down around them. The once lively lounge was now filled with the sounds of alarms and the panicked shouts of crewmembers.

“We need to get to our stations,” Jen said urgently, helping Rosle to her feet. His eyes scanned the room, ensuring other crew members did the same. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice filled with concern.

Rosle nodded, her face determined. “Let’s go,” she said, gripping his hand tightly for a brief moment before they rushed out of the Auditorium. Their romantic evening was suddenly ended, replaced by the harsh reality of a ship in crisis. As they navigated the chaotic corridors, their minds were focused on the immediate need to stabilise the ship and protect their fellow crew members. Jen was worried about what they would find once they reached the bridge. How badly damaged was the ship? Were they under attack? Who was responsible? He tried to close these questions down as he approached the nearest turbolift; still holding on to Rosle’s hand, they entered the lift and found both Duncan and Court in it. 

“Looks like we’re not the only ones who had their night interrupted,” Court remarked as he looked at the intertwined hands between Jen and Rosle.

“Bridge,” Jen called out to the computer, ignoring Court’s attempt at teasing him and finding out about him and Rosle. Their focus had to be on securing the ship. 

What was left of it.