It's short, but I was randomly inspired and it's done now.
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Chapter 22: Of Alcohol and Dying

"It's just a hassle, you know?" Icarus's drink careened through the air nearly hitting the various control panels and landing with a gentle thud back on the table. "I mean, such unfathomable distances and such an appallingly uninspiring view the whole time." He sighed loudly and leaned back into the chair without much grace. "Back and forth and to and fro and blah blah. You'd think the technology would improve somewhat and make the whole business less disconcerting."

Naomi smiled as her head nodded. "Travelling and taxiing must have some redeeming quality..", she began, "I mean, you've been doing this for years you said."

Icarus's head tilted and he looked towards the ceiling as if in deeper thought than this question would normally require answering. "Well, the money," he said, "and you meet some of the most interesting people and you see some amazing worlds.." In normal circumstances this introduction would branch into further conversation, but Icarus was having some issues moving his tongue which had otherwise neglected to feel like a part of his body since about ten minutes ago.

A brief moment of silence passed that was neither uncomfortable nor productive. Icarus carefully refilled their glasses. Naomi deemed the pause worthy of a change in subject, took a sip and stated, "It's funny really, I was going to university on Carrotus to become a doctor. I was so caught up in it, but all it took was this random happenstance for me to give it all up on a moment's notice and realize it was never important to me." Icarus wondered if the drinks had loosed her tongue a little more than would be good for them both right now. He promptly forgot he had even had this thought as he watched Naomi's lips move. It was deeply reassuring that after all these years Naomi would still drop everything for him. A sense of peace saturated his numb limbs as Verity popped onto the deck.

"Good ..day," she began, coming into the word slowly.

"Yes, day, night, evening, it's space so whatever sounds good at the moment," chuckled Icarus. "You know we really appreciate you fixing the problems we were having, the ship's on autopilot now and we should be getting to Carrotus sooner or later. I don't really enjoy travelling. These drinks we're having are good and I think I will have another. Me and Naomi here were just catching up and-"

"I'm sorry," interrupted Naomi, laughing, "he doesn't talk much, but when he starts he just goes on about nothing important." Verity smiled politely.

"Yes, I was just about to head to my quarters to get some rest," she said, "and was wondering if everything has been running smoothly."

"Yeah, you did a fantastic job fixing everything," said Icarus enthusiastically, once again sloshing his drink around. A little bit sloshed out right onto a control panel, dripped down onto the circuitry, and caused a delightful display of sparks. The panel's lights flickered off. Icarus could be heard swearing at himself. "Knock on wood," he said lamely.

Naomi sighed, "We'll take care of this one, you can go get some rest. There is a small cabin with food and drinks if you're interested, take whatever you like." They exchanged a few more words and soon Verity was walking and climbing calmly through the ship. She took a bit of food from the cabin and plopped onto a mattress that seemed shoved into the corner. Grabbing a book from her bag, she sat and ate as she read, occassionally looking out the southern window towards war-ravaged Diamondus sinking slowly into visual obscurity. Some time later she slipped into the comforting void of unconsciousness.

Something similar to a few hours later, she was jolted upright and then rolled onto the floor along with other suprise acrobatics. Most people would have taken a moment to regain composure before slowly getting up and saying things like "What?" Verity, however, immediantly jumped back onto her feet after having stopped rolling and circled the room wildly, fully alert, wondering what had just happened. A small speaker in the corner of the room flickered with static before Icarus's voice could be heard. "Holy crap," he stated. Verity paused and took these words into consideration. "It would be most gracious if you could come onto the deck, begging your pardon. Thank you!" The speaker clicked off. Verity shrugged, annoyed but curious, and soon made her way towards the deck.

Just as she entered the ship violently shook again. This time it was accompanied by a loud and startling 'BANG!' Icarus's seat swiveled around. "You're just in time," he said, "we were just getting around to dying and all.."

"Stop saying that!" yelled Naomi. Verity stood with her arms straight and hands open keeping balance. "Look, apparently there's some ship trying to kill us," she explained, motioning Verity to come forward and look at the screens. "See, right there-", she pointed at one and Verity's eyes followed before widening. "We don't know why, and everything we've tried to do to communicate has gotten no response. Just now they opened fire on us! I think they've been trying to take out engines on the left wing.."

Verity knew what was coming next, she just didn't know how to explain it without making everything seem that much worse.