(band music:<a class="externalLink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jm3nbTt0X5c" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jm3nbTt0X5c</a>)<br/>An hour has passed since the hangar bay incident. Both Todd and Garrick had returned to their respective rooms to get showered and dressed for the ball that was taking place in the mess hall.<br/>He had stepped into one of the ship's many Head's before joining the party.<br/>Garrick was dressed in his finest military uniform. Black  from head to toe with red trim along the buffs and seams, the stiff traditional Imperial High collar insured proper posture at such events. Rank and medals were prominently displayed on the right breast as well as the Imperial navy insignia. The buttons were a fine silver-nickel blend to reduce tarnishing that went straight up the chest until just above the pectorals where the material made an acute angle up towards the shoulder.<br/><br/>Garrick studied himself in the mirror, his usually spiked hair laying flat, barely tamed by an excess of gel.<br/>He sighed, straightening his gig-line, as he turned sideways.<br/><br/>"Perfect."<br/><br/>The ball itself was loud. The sweet humming of the band's strings combined with the heavy beat of techno seamlessly. Garrick felt a little out of place as he surveyed the landscape. In the middle of the room, couples danced together in swift fluid motions, dresses fluttering in the wind and a volley of twisting and turning faces passed Garrick's vision like the many faces of trick mirror.<br/>On the right side of the room, a great table, laden with food of all sorts, fine and delectable  stood as the patrons swarmed around it. Like flies on a carcass, crowding and obscuring his view.<br/>Beyond, were the tables where the crew sat and ate, regaled in their finest evening wear.<br/>Garrick's gaze shifted through the crowd, looking for Todd.<br/><br/>He had considered skipping the function all together. He hated large crowds of people, ever since he was young. Being an only child as he was, he was used to solitude. Perhaps why he felt so at home in a cockpit rather than a lab. But Todd had convinced him to go, stating that it was an excellent opportunity to meet people and to get free food.<br/>Garrick had protested, but for the sake of friendship and the thought of free food. Garrick agreed.<br/>Yet, now his comrade was nowhere to be seen.<br/><br/>"Where is he...he said he'd be here." Garrick muttered to himself in sight frustration, as he moved along the edge of the hall, carefully avoiding the standing gaggles of chatting crew.<br/>Garrick sighed as he leaned up against the wall.<br/>He was about to leave when he saw something that made him turn on his heel.<br/>Behold, there sitting on the dessert table, was none other than a true blue, non-replicated, fresh baked stack of Pecan Pies.<br/><br/>Garrick's frown instantly evaporated.<br/>Garrick moved in quickly, past several of the standing groups of people to the dessert table.<br/>He didn't bother grabbing a plate or a knife. Garrick picked up a fork and grabbed an entire pie, quickly rushing off into the crowd again before the cook could even so much as get the first curse word off at him.<br/><br/>Garrick smiled to himself as he curled up in one of the farthest corners of the dining hall, away from the band, and everyone else.<br/>As he stood there, savouring every bite. He couldn't help but think of home, of Blackwald.<br/>And what a bittersweet taste it was to him.<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>