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<p>They would make their way through the day with all the same practiced ease as ever, and yet just below the surface, simmering uncomfortably, would be the dream. There, just beneath their skin, would be–</p>
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<p>“Captain on deck,” the automated system announced as soon as their ID was recognized. The faint chime that followed, a thing doubtless engineered to sound soothing and reassuring, always sounded inquisitive, as though the station was curious to hear their thoughts on the matter.</p>
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<p>“Yes, yes,” they muttered under their breath, though with their lisp, with the dream still dogging them, it came out a breathy <em>yeth, yeth.</em> “I’m here now.”</p>
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<p>The seats in the board room were, thankfully, all full already — or had been, as the rest of the command staff rose to their feat. Soot waved them off with a smile. “<mark class="selected">Sit, sit. Sorry I’m late. Couldn’t decide between the five identical outfits they give me,<q class="comment">Thit, thit. Thorry I’m late. Couldn’t dethide between the five identical outfit-th they give me,</q></mark>” they said breezily. They let their expression warm into a lopsided smile — though all smiles are lopsided when only half of your snout works. “That, or you’re all here <em>early</em> because it’s Dr. R’s last shift on this rotation. Congratulations, my dear friend.”</p>
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<p>The seats in the board room were, thankfully, all full already — or had been, as the rest of the command staff rose to their feat. Soot waved them off with a smile. “<mark class="selected">Thit, thit. Thorry I’m late. Couldn’t dethide between the five identical outfit-th they give me,<q class="comment">Sit, sit. Sorry I’m late. Couldn’t decide between the five identical outfits they give me,</q></mark>” they said breezily. They let their expression warm into a lopsided smile — though all smiles are lopsided when only half of your snout works. “That, or you’re all here <em>early</em> because it’s Dr. R’s last shift on this rotation. Congratulations, my dear friend.”</p>
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<p>Applause around the room. Earnest applause, too, Soot was pleased to notice. Dr. R’s reputation as one of the kindest, most competent CMOs in the Delta sector was well-earned. The old man was positively beaming, the wrinkles on his face showing how truly, deeply he inhabited all his own smiles.</p>
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<p>There were short speeches from all of the rest of command, all veterans. The head of security praised his efficiency in getting the crew back up and moving when they were injured. The chief justice praised his commitment to treating <em>everyone,</em> not just the ‘good ones’ on board. The logistics officer jokingly grumbled about just how much of a stickler he was about turning on suit coordinates, which so often degraded during cryosleep.</p>
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<p>When attention finally turned to Soot, they smiled and stood, paws clasped behind their back, and said, “I’ve known Dr. R since I was a child, and must say that there are few who are as cool under pressure as he is. I certainly do my best, but…well.”</p>
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