Mind If I Sit?

Posted on Sun Jan 7th, 2018 @ 7:14am by Colonel Jason "Jack" Frost

1,480 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Unknown Life, Unknown Dangers
Location: Medical Starship Avaya (Nebula Class)
Timeline: Prior to 'Reporting in'

Ever since getting to the Remler Array the crew were ferried off the Dreadnought by people in bio hazmat suits, while Jack could understand the need for it it made him feel like the more dangerous thing since anthrax and that any moment the staff would pounce on him. Everything was taken from the ship including pets, which obviously was subjected to the same rounds of tests everyone else was. The Avaya was practically empty in terms of crew, only medical staff and billet spacing was available because of the sheer amount of unknowns with what ever this organism was.

Jack was assigned to one nurse, pleasant younger woman, friendly, made the whole experience more palatable. A charming young thing, by young he meant younger than he was or at least she looked it. Multiple scans, blood tests, comparison reviews, more tests, strict food intake. His body didn't enjoy what it was being subjected to in the least. It was hard for a Marine to take such a forced change in eating and physical demands placed on it. He felt tired, fatigued from all the tests.

As people were cleared medically they were freed into the population and for him he found himself in Ten Forward, only problem was that with a crew greater then that of a Galaxy Class, finding a chair was at a premium.

Several women were seated at the corner table in the medical area of the lounge. One, a Bajoran by the look of her earring was talking animatedly to the another woman whose vibrant purple hair stood out against the blue of her medical uniform. To call it simply purple was doing it an injustice as it traversed every shade of purple from magenta to violet, to end in white at the tips. Unbound as it was now it was glorious.

Laughter raised from the table and two of the three women rose, straightening themselves to go on duty. Only the brilliant haired one remained, nursing a drink and gazing out onto the Array with a sort of wistfulness to her.

"I hope I am not interrupting, but to nurse a drink like that should be criminal, especially alone." Jack spoke breaking the silence, or her moment of gazing.

Acacia was startled out of her reverie by the voice, but she tipped her glass towards the seat beside her, giving it a shove outward with her foot so he knew he was welcome to seat himself. "Please, join me. I'd hate to go to the brig so early in a mission"

"Well can't be having that now can we?" Jack took a seat and looked around briefly before looking at Acacia again. "Busy day?" Stupid question of course it was, over 1000 crew members on the Dreadnought all crammed into a Nebula class.

Her smile created the hint of a dimple in her cheek and she nodded her affirmative "Every day is a busy day. I was just...woolgathering about what it would be like to actually be an explorer and get off this heap."

"You mean apply for a starship posting, first thing I did when I graduated and never looked back since. Sure planetside has its comforts but with a starship the view changes almost daily." There were some beauties and such that only a starship could provide.

"I did apply, a few times actually. Ive been waiting for a month now for reassignment. I hope it comes soon. I'm not a planet bound kind of girl." Acacia gazed at him for a long moment silently measuring him up and sipped her drink.

"What have you been applying for?" It was strange for someone to wait for so long for reassignment, usually those things went through quickly especially for medical personnel. "Have you been applying by region of space or by position?" Jack gave her an assuring smile, knowing himself that sometimes paperwork took time but surely not this long.

"I know I've just got to wait it out. But what I want is a position on a battleship or a deep space explorer. " her face was wistful for a moment. "On the plus side about this posting is i get to meet and chat with wonderfully interesting people such as yourself. " Acacia did not add that she thought he was handsome, keeping that to herself.

"Been called a few things in my time as a Marine but interesting is a rare one." Jack chuckled, still it was nice of a compliment at least. "You should wait to see what happens with the Dreadnought, pretty sure a score of vacancies will appear, always does after a close call. Curse of the ship I guess, always in the thick of things."

"Whats the most common nice or complimentary thing you get called then?" Acacia asked as she drank in his smile like a woman starving. She quite liked it and couldn't help but do so in return. "Though I must say- a ship that is cursed to always be in the action sounds wondrous."

Jack rattled off a few of the things he'd been called in his time with a smile as some of them were pretty colourful. "If you want that you should speak with the Commodore, he can approve transfer assignments, given the history I'm sure the Doctor could use all the help down there when the ship gets into a scrap."

A snort of laughter escaped her at some of the more creative names he'd been called. "I might just do that. It would be wonderful to have something new to learn, study and do."

"No doubt in my mind you will find it on that ship, it does like to keep you on the toes especially when you least expect it." Jack replied with a smile. "Just be careful what you wish for, the ship has a knack for biting people in the ass when they least expect it."

"That's okay- I've got plenty of ass" she laughed softly sure that she could handle anything the ship or it's crew could dish out to her. She dimpled at him before taking another sip of her drink. It burned down to her belly and she exhaled slowly in enjoyment.

Jack couldn't help but smirk at the remark. Since he'd not seen her ass he could only take her word for it, but it was amusing none the less. "I'll take your word for it." It was also the safer option at least for him. "So what do you have planned next, anything fun or turning in for the night?"

"Nothing that immediately pops to mind. My drink and my bed unless something comes up." Acacia's smirk echo'd the one on his lips.

"Now you are tempting fate there with comments like that." Jack replied with a chuckle. "I think you will fit in nicely with an attitude and humour like that."

"Isn't that what makes life fun?" she asked, referring to his quip about tempting fate.

"Well yeah, but watch out you don't take on more than you can handle." Jack had made that mistake more than once but blamed his marine nature stepping up to the plate. "So anyone waiting for you at home?" A bold question. "Not expecting someone to come tapping on my shoulder am I?"

Another laugh answered that as she shook her head "No. Not at all. Why, you making me an offer? Your girl might not like you bringing me home. " her bright smile and the twinkling of her eyes made it clear she was teasing him.

"What did I say about tempting fate hmmm?" Jake's eyebrow raised, a smile on his face and a look about him like she was playing with fire. "There is no girl, just the green." Indicating the profession.

"What did I say about making life fun?" Acacia countered with amusement lighting her face. Could the green handle her, or would she be handled? Either way sounded like a win in her book.

Jack smiled. "Want to get out of here?" He asked boldly, perhaps to some degree rather forward of him. "So many people in here takes 50 is a crowd to whole new levels."

"There is something to be said for privacy." Acacia agreed as she finished the last dregs of her drink and left the glass on the table for the attendant. "Shall we?"

"Yeah lets." Jack said standing up and pushing his chair back under the table again. Getting in was easy, filtering through the people just to get out took longer.

She followed closely behind him, allowing him to part the crowd for her. It also afforded her the chance to check out this handsome specimen of man from the back. This promised to be a most pleasant night indeed.


OFF:

Lt Colonel Jason 'Jack' Frost
MCO
USS Dreadnought

and

Lieutenant Acacia Thomas
Surgeon
USS Dreadnought

RSS Feed