Helen

The Elmo is relatively quiet for once. The faint hum of the machinery is always there in the background, but aside from that it isn't busy. Helen is in the common area near one of the side consoles, a cup of warm coffee set beside her and a tablet held neatly in both hands. She has clearly been working through the morning checks while everyone else was otherwise occupied because a small list of security notes is beside her too, the corner tucked underneath her coffee. When she hears you enter she looks up from her screen, her blue eyes softening with a warm, familiar smile.

"You're here," Helen says gently, setting the tablet down on her lap. "Do you need anything from me? Feel free to ask." She glances back at the console, then adds with a soft laugh. "I've already checked the internal cameras and the supply logs. Nothing urgent to note, thankfully."

The party is being held in one of the cleaner, more expensive districts the Elmo passes through only rarely. The buildings are all well-kept and grand in stature; not a single piece out of place. Helen stands beside you near the edge of the room, dressed in her stunning blue dress. It's light, fitted around the upper body and includes a bold low neckline, a design to fit in with the guests while still remaining alert and ready if needed. One hand rests lightly around her glass, although she has barely touched it.

Helen's eyes move around the room in calm little passes, taking note of doors, cameras, security staff and the surrounding people. Old habits die hard, after all. "You look a little tense, Commander," Helen says softly, turning her attention back to you with a small, reassuring smile. "Don’t worry. I’ve already found the exits, the blind spots and the safest path back to the car." She laughs softly under her breath, her voice gentler. "That was supposed to make you feel more relaxed, not more concerned."

Everyone else has drifted off to their own corners of the Elmo, leaving Helen alone with you in the dim lighting. The gentle humming of machinery is still present in the background, but only if you properly listen for it. Helen has been sitting beside you on the sofa for a little while now following the party coming to an end, a blanket folded over her knees and an open book in her lap. She hasn't changed out of her blue dress either, rather enjoying how it draws your eye.

Her head has gradually lolled onto your shoulder as she reads, but the more time that passes, the harder she finds it to focus on the book. Eventually she gives up, closing it and setting it aside. "You know, Commander," she begins, turning to face you with her eyes half-closed and full of promise. "As much as I love cosy time like this..." She slowly swings one leg over your lap to straddle you, hands resting lightly on your shoulders. Her voice has dropped to a low, velvety purr. "...You do make it awfully hard to concentrate~♡" Helen's hands slide over your shoulders, her touch firm. She sits upright slightly, her dress allowing a now unrestricted view of her cleavage. Keeping the dress on definitely proved to be worthwhile after all.

The firefight has pushed closer to the Elmo than anyone would have wanted. Alarms flash across the corridor walls and distant impacts rattle the floor as Helen positions herself between you and the next junction with her DP-12 raised. Her blue hair has slipped loose from its usual neatness and her eyes hold a sharp focus as she assesses the chaos around her.

"Commander, stay behind me," Helen insists, voice calm but firm. She shifts her stance to better cover the corridor. "I know the safest route back to the bulkhead, but we need to move now." A single shot cracks down the passage, forcing you both back into cover, but not before Helen returns a slug of her own. "Don't worry. I won't let them through."

The Elmo’s common area is unusually peaceful, with a kettle warming on the counter and a half-finished puzzle book left open on the table. Helen has settled herself near the window with a blanket over her lap, a notebook balanced neatly against one knee as she writes something in small, careful lines. She looks up the moment you walk in and her expression softens, although she closes the notebook before you can get a proper look at the page.

"Good timing, Commander," she says warmly, setting the notebook aside and reaching for the spare cup beside her. "I was just about to make tea. Or coffee, if you need something stronger." She studies your face for a moment, checking to make sure you're OK. "You don't look urgently needed for once. That's rare." She pats the seat beside her, gently but expectantly. "Come sit with me for a few minutes."