Mission One: "Not Until Tuesday"

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Timothy Rouse
Executive Officer

Posts: 249

Mission One: "Not Until Tuesday" Jun 12, 2014 7:05:52 GMT

Post by Timothy Rouse on Jun 12, 2014 7:05:52 GMT

Deck 2 - Rouse's Quarters

Tim walked from one side of his quarters to the other. Shaking his head meanwhile. "So," he said, still not able to believe it. Alenis was right when she told him that it was a small galaxy. "We have been serving on the same ship for the last few weeks."

"Believe me, I had no idea" Ellen stuttered. She was shocked when she had seen him in sickbay minutes earlier. She'd almost fainted. Of all the people she'd expected to walk through the door, he was the last.

"I had to hear it from the Captain that the woman I can't get out of my head for the past week is only a few decks lower, and has been for all this time." Tim said loudly.

"You what?!" Ellen looked up abruptly.

"Meru just made me aware that I had no right to lecture her about dating a subordinate." he said. "Forget that,"he added, quickly remembering he was talking about the Portland's CO.

"I ..." Ellen tried getting between Tim's rambling.

"And she also mentioned that your father is a high ranking officer within Starfleet , one we’re going to be dealing a lot with soon." Overwhelmed by the jumble of emotions running through his head and the predicament he found himself in, he ran his hand through his hair. Of all the things he thought might happen on this assignment, falling in love with the Admiral’s daughter was the last thing he might have expected. "What are we going to do now?"

Ellen was still sitting, watching him walk across the room until he suddenly stopped and looked at him. She shook her head. Those eyes. She was lost in his gorgeous blue eyes. “That's very easy. We can just forget we ever met before and go about our own business,” she added.

Tim walked to her and crouched before her. "What if I don't want that?" He left the question hanging in the air, before he continued. "Look, I'm sorry for freaking out, I just... I never expected to see you again. That didn't sound good. I mean, geez."

“That’s not what I want either,” replied Ellen, placing a hand on his cheek.

"I'm sorry" he said softly.

"Sorry for what?" Ellen asked as she stared into his eyes.

"I shouldn't have left like I did. Without saying anything, you were just sleeping so... so beautiful. I just couldn't wake you." Tim said. "I couldn't be late either. I had a meeting with the Captain. I already should have been on board earlier."

With her other hand, Ellen raised a finger to her lips. “Shhhhhhh,” she said, gently telling him to stop

talking before closing her eyes and moving her lips in closer.

Tim framed her face with his hands and brought his lips to hers to kiss her. She smelled exactly as he remembered: a combination of vanilla and lavender.

As their lips met, Ellen was brought back to their night of passion on Starbase 302. Though the kiss only lasted a second, it rekindled the deep connection that was made that night a week ago.

For a moment, they locked eyes. Then, without speaking, gave in to their passion.

Last Edit: Jun 12, 2014 7:06:45 GMT by Timothy Rouse

Lt. Cmdr. Timothy Andrew Rouse
Executive Officer
USS Portland

Alenis Meru
Commanding Officer

Posts: 756

Mission One: "Not Until Tuesday" Jun 13, 2014 4:44:21 GMT

Post by Alenis Meru on Jun 13, 2014 4:44:21 GMT

Meanwhile in Sickbay, Part IV
Sickbay, USS Portland
Authors: Cmdr. Alenis Meru and Lt. (JG) Jason Beauvoir

As Alenis was about to leave the Chief Medical Officer's office, she paused in the doorway. She couldn't make out their words, but seeing them both cry before Jason kissed her good night made her eyes water.

"You're the captain, Meru. You have to be the strong one," she thought to herself as she wiped away the tears with her sleeve. With a deep breath, she forced her emotions into the pit of her stomach and put on an almost Vulcan-like facade of stoicism.

As Jason turned around, Alenis approached. Gently, she placed Ko-ko on top of a cabinet in front of the window to Brad's office. "Lieutenant, I'm sorry. We're doing everything we can for her."

"Thank you, ma'am, I know you are, just feel so useless." 'and guilty, and angry.' He finished in his head.

The last time he felt this way was when Sarah was dying is his arms, her life's blood seeping in to the stones of the Champs-Elysees no matter how hard he tried to prevent it.

Alenis stepped in closer. "You're not useless, Lieutenant. You're here for her, comforting her in her time of need." For a brief moment, Alenis thought of her own father. He was but a distant memory, left behind when Alenis and her mother fled Bajor. They never heard what happened to him, but Cardassian justice being what it was, it would have been safe to assume that he was dead. "Jason," said Alenis, placing her hand on his shoulder to comfort him. "I have no doubts that Dr. Silverton is working hard to save her. But more than anything, she needs a father right now. You're the only family she has; you're doing more than you know by just being here for her. I know she only came into your life a few days ago, but I've seen the connection between you two. If there were any doubts that you are her dad, these past few hours have put those to bed."

"I can't lose her, ma'am." Jason said with pleading in his eyes.

"I know," replied Alenis. "We're doing everything we can." She wished she could tell him that everything would be all right and that Jena would be fine. But she couldn't; she didn't know that. And right now, without the proper medication and with help twelve hours away, it wasn't looking too likely.

Tired of pecking at the transparent aluminum window between sickbay and the CMO's office, Ko-ko took to the air. Before Alenis knew it, she perched herself on Jason's head and, with her claw, began massaging his scalp. "She likes you," said Alenis, a hint of a smile appearing briefly at the corner of her mouth.

"Well, I've always been a hit with the ladies." Jason joked and then felt bad that he'd found humour in such a bleak situation.

Alenis let out a weak smile at the joke; the situation was simply too dire for any attempts at humour to be successful. "You can hold on to her for a little while if you want. Ko-ko is very... soothing. You look like you need her more than I do right now."

"Thank you, ma'am." Jason said. Then to Ko-ko he said. "Bonjour, Madamoiselle Ko-ko, I'm Jason. You remind me a little of my father's parrot, Perroquet. My father taught him to eat food right out of his mouth, and would pull at the hairs on my father's face, when he was hungry. I won't do that for you, so don't get any ideas."

With a flap of his wings, Ko-ko jumped down onto Jason's shoulder. Softly, Ko-ko let out some relaxing coos into Jason's ear and nuzzled herself against the side of his head. "If she gets hungry, I've got a menu in the replicator for her under Alenis Kappa Three. Don't worry, it comes with a bowl so you don't have to put it in your mouth." Alenis shared in the joke with Jason, knowing that in this bleak of a situation, any brief moment of levity would be invaluable. "Take care of her, and if you need anything at all, hail me right away."

Jason felt his stress reduce some as Ko-ko cooed softly in his ear. He smiled at Alenis' joke. "Thank you again, ma'am, I'll take good care of her."

Last Edit: Jun 13, 2014 4:46:02 GMT by Alenis Meru

Commander John Koenig
Commanding Officer
Moonbase Alpha

Alenis Meru
Commanding Officer

Posts: 756

Mission One: "Not Until Tuesday" Jun 15, 2014 4:20:41 GMT

Post by Alenis Meru on Jun 15, 2014 4:20:41 GMT

Meanwhile in Sickbay: Finale
Sickbay, USS Portland
Authors: Cmdr. Alenis Meru, Lt. (JG) Jason Beauvoir and Lt. (JG) Brad Silverton

The Captain walked out of Brad's office and he went back to reading. Maybe he had missed something. All the new groundbreaking research required groundbreaking equipment, of which he had zilch. Ko-Ko hopped up on a cabinet near his doorway and Brad just looked at the bird.

Hmmm, thought Brad. Maybe I've been looking at this wrong. I don't have the equipment for traditional radiation treatments so I'm going to have to get creative and perhaps a little crazy. Which seeing as stage 3 neurological damage will be onsetting soon isn't out of the question.

He continued to look at Ko-Ko who was now staring back at him locked eye to eye. Brad titled his head quizzically. Ko-Ko mimicked his head tilt perhaps out of quizzical curiosity what this human who tried to grab her was up to. Brad then started to frantically search through some historical research. Ko-Ko went to pecking at a transparent aluminum window but grew bored and flew out of Brad's sight.

Several minutes past and Jason and Meru had finished talking. The Captain was leaving when Brad shouted, "AH-HA!" and raced out of his office.

Hearing the shout, Alenis turned away from the door to face the Doctor.

"Nurse Hill I'll need your assistance here," said Brad, "My hands are a bit shaky. Replicate 50 CCs of Trimetephane..."

Maria looked on confused, "Um. Sir that is a veterinarian cancer drug used for birds that hasn't been used for 80 years?"

"Yes I know I know just do it. Its one of the few drugs we can actually replicate. Then replicate 100 CCs of Omygdolan and combine the two."

Maria shook her head but did as the doctor said. "Doctor Silverton that was an anti rejection drug used back in during live organ transplants. I barely remember it from my medical history class."

Brad sighed, "Yes Maria I am aware of that and wouldn't mind a good discussion on it but Jena and I really don't have the time."

Concerned after hearing Nurse Hill's comments. "Doctor, are sure this will work? You could make yourself and my daughter worse." Jason said.

"Yes well this is all I have to try with what I have to work with." Brad waves his hands around the incomplete sickbay.

"Don't worry though I wouldn't dream of pulling some crazy stunt on your daughter."

Brad grabs the hypo out of Maria's hand before she could consider if he had brain damage from the radiation yet or not. He injects himself with it.

"Well I'll either die horribly any moment now from the Trimetephane or live as the Omygdolan prevents my body from shutting down. Either way the radiation problem should be cured."

Everyone looked on at Brad who seemed fine. "HA-HA. I'll have to contact Doctor Huxergard that his theories seem to be correct."

"Doctor Huxergard?" asked Alenis. "Who is he? Did he come up with this treatment plan?"

"It was Ko-ko that gave me the idea actually. She reminded me of Doctor Daryl Huxergard's work on Tesderal IV. He had worked with an avian humanoid race whose planet's star had increased radiation output. He was able to use Trimetephane to help their sick due to their avian physiology. He had made some cross species theories based upon the rougher cruder drugs of old that weren't as refined and specialized as the modern drugs. He never had a chance to test them but I just proved them. Not the ideal way to do research but it seemed to do the trick."

"Well, I told you Ko-ko was a smart bird," replied Alenis. "Will this work on Jena?"

"Nearly positive. We'll give it another 30 minutes just to be sure there are no side effects in me and that everything is ok." Brad turns to Jason and Jena.

"Unfortunately Jena I'll have to ask you to continue to suffer a bit more discomfort and slight pain for awhile but I suspect you'll have a full recovery." Brad turned to Maria.

Jena smiled in spite of the pain. "Well, I think I can manage that, Doctor, after all I don't have any pressing engagements at this time." She said in the over-exaggerated way of a holovid countess.

The stress and strain of the last few hours finally catching up with him, Jason's leg buckled beneath him and he crumbled to the deck. Ko-ko sensing what was about to happen alighted from his shoulder and onto a nearby cabinet, before the Chief Science Officer met the deck.

"Jason!" shouted Alenis, rushing in to catch him but not being quite fast enough. As Maria and Brad surrounded the Lieutenant collapsed on the floor, Alenis cautiously backed off, reasoning that it was best to leave the practice of medicine to the professionals. She went to the replicator; normally she would turn her nose up at replicated teas, but in a pinch, some replicated Pyrellian ginger tea might help the Lieutenant relax a little. Not to mention that he probably hadn't eaten or drank anything since the morning.

When Jason came to on a bed next to Jena's, the first thing he saw was a large colourful bird perched on his chest, staring him down. Alenis stood beside him, offering him a glass of tea and apologizing in advance for the poor quality.

"Hello, Jena, Ko-ko, Captain. What happened?" Jason said turning to each in turn, before sitting up and accepting the tea from Alenis.

"You neglected to consume your required minimum daily intake and as such experienced a instance of syncope." Jena explained.

"I didn't eat anything, so I passed out?" Jason asked before taking a sip of tea, something he instantly regretted.

"In layman's terms, yes." Jena replied.

"Oh." He said. Then turned to Alenis and handed back tea cup. "Thank you for the tea, but that really is a disgusting blend. I have some real Vulcan spice tea in my quarters, if you'd like to share it with me some time." He told her.

"I'd love to," replied Alenis, one not prone to turning down a good cup of tea. She gave Jason a warm smile. "My apologies for the tea. Normally, I wouldn't offer my worst enemy a glass of replicated stuff, but without a teapot handy, I didn't have much option."

Jena rolled her eyes. Jason really was incorrigible sometimes. Lying on a biobed, in a weakened state, he'd just asked the Captain out, or rather 'in'.

And even more incredulously, it seemed to be working.

Commander John Koenig
Commanding Officer
Moonbase Alpha

Alenis Meru
Commanding Officer

Posts: 756

Mission One: "Not Until Tuesday" Jun 15, 2014 6:33:54 GMT

Post by Alenis Meru on Jun 15, 2014 6:33:54 GMT

Bridge, USS Portland
After the sickbay scene

After the excitement in sickbay, Alenis returned to the bridge, but not before making herself a glass of tea in her office. It was a long day, and with her Executive Officer taking care of some “personnel issues,” it would be a couple hours before she would be relieved for the night. After the excitement earlier in the day, sitting on the bridge while nothing of note was happening seemed anti-climactic. That is, until they received a message.

“Commander, message for you,” said R’vahis. “It’s Vike.”

“Put him on screen,” replied Alenis as she placed her tea mug to the side.

On the screen, Vike’s face appeared. But it wasn’t the same as before. His hair was singed, and the left side of his face was covered with plasma burns. And instead of being at the command chair of a powerful warship, he was flying a small Orion auxiliary vessel, about the size of a runabout. “Well done, Commander Alenis,” he said in a sarcastic tone, slow-clapping for emphasis.

“Ah, Mr. Vike.” Alenis stared him down on the viewscreen. “I’m afraid at our last encounter, you left before I could say goodbye.”

“My apologies for any rudeness,” he replied, sneering, “But I had some… urgent matters to attend to on my ship.”

“I see. Well, to what do I owe the pleasure.” Alenis was rapidly getting tired of this conversation.

Vike smirked at Alenis. “I just wanted to drop you a line to tell you that I’ll be seeing you again. And next time, you won’t be so lucky,” he added, scowling for emphasis

“You know, Vike, those are strong words for a guy who just had his ship destroyed.”

“Touche, Commander. But I’ve gained something far more valuable today. The Orion syndicate has many ships, and you’ve made a powerful enemy today. For my ship, my crew, my face… you will pay tenfold.”

“Threatening a Starfleet captain?” replied Alenis in a dismissive tone. She was not one to take kindly to threats. “That’s a bold move; a foolish one too.”

“Perhaps. But I am a man who keeps my promises. And I promise you, you and your crew will regret crossing me. Goodbye, Captain.”

Commander John Koenig
Commanding Officer
Moonbase Alpha

Alenis Meru
Commanding Officer

Posts: 756

Mission One: "Not Until Tuesday" Jun 17, 2014 4:56:57 GMT

Post by Alenis Meru on Jun 17, 2014 4:56:57 GMT

Old flames...
Captain’s Quarters, USS Portland
En route to DS9
The evening after launch
Authors: Cmdr. Alenis Meru and Lt. (JG) Arvel Darze

Alenis looked around her quarters. The Portland, being an older ship, meant that they weren’t quite as large or luxurious as those on newer vessels. Hers were nearly bare; she was still living out of her suitcase, as she hadn’t even had time to unpack. She’d done almost nothing so far to make these quarters her own; the only things not standard federation issue in her living room where her tea kettle on the counter and her belaklavion in one corner.

And Ko-ko, of course. She had an adventurous day the day before, and was resting in a cage near the window, pecking away at the food that Alenis replicated for her.

Tonight Alenis was brewing tea for two. The counselor graciously offered to come by for a house call, and it would be rude not to offer him a drink. Doubly so considering their previous relationship. As the water boiled, she was interrupted by the chime of the door. “Come in!” she shouted as she quickly straightened her uniform.

Arv stood outside her quarters and wanted to go inside but waited a minute he didn't want to appear to eager to go inside her quarters. He cared for her and wasn't sure what to think of how this relationship/counseling would work or if she even wanted that to happen. He was glad she wanted to keep Ko-ko, that bird had made his life miserable with her friend Alenis gone.

He came inside and looked at her she looked nice even in her uniform, "Hey there," He smiled at her the smile was warm and genuine and added as he came towards her then glanced at the cage with Ko-ko, "Seems like Ko-ko is right at home, and what kind of tea is this?" He asked noticing the tea kettle.

"Pyrellian ginger tea. I remember it was your favourite," Alenis said without thinking as she strode towards the counter. As the boiling water filled Arvel's mug, she suddenly realized the implications of her words. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to... what I meant was..." she paused to exhale and collect her thoughts before babbling any further. "Look, Arvel, we can't keep beating around the bush any longer. We need to talk."

Smiling Arv said to her simply, "You are right talking right here right now would be perfect. I think it would be the best thing at the moment. And as for the tea it is my favourite. When will it be ready?" He smelled the scent of the tea and smiled, "What kind of things would you like to discuss about us?" His eyes were warm and tender towards her.

That look. He had to give her that look. It was the same look that he had given her so many times years ago. When they were just Meru and Arvel, not Commander Alenis and Lt. Darze. She'd not expected to ever see him again, but by some cruel trick of fate, here he was, in her quarters.

Yet, for the past two years, a part of her missed him dearly. For a long time, she carried at the back of the mind the words she would say on the off chance she ever saw him again. Yet now that he was here in her quarters, Alenis was at a loss for words.

"Arvel..." Alenis glanced back down at the steeping tea for a moment, staring into the swirls. Her eyes closed, she let out a deep breath before starting over. This was difficult for her, and it was not made easier by the fact that she barely got a wink of sleep the night before without the help of the tranquilizers she'd been taking. "Arvel, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for how things ended between us. What happened at the end, none of it was my intention." With a mug in each hand, she made a beeline for a seat on the curved sectional sofa next to her guest. "You have to understand, I... I..." Normally stoic, Alenis was beginning to crack. "I didn't want to hurt you."

Arvel accepted the mug in his hand and took it gently his hands brushing up against hers slightly and for sure on purpose. As he then looked up slowly into her eyes there was warmth and a bit of pain, though the pain didn't show in his voice, "A saying I heard once I am not sure whether it is from Earth or elsewhere, though I believe it is applicable throughout the Universe is this: 'All things happen for a reason and a purpose' What I mean to say is I forgive you, I've spent a lot of time thinking and realized that I can't change what has happened in the past what I can change is how I can approach this in the future."

He smiled at her, "I've learned to let it go because every moment I spend here with you is worth more than any moments that I could've spent worrying and fretting over things. Its what is ahead of us not behind that matters." He then heard Ko-ko chime in with slight noise that was soothing. "Oh and by the way the tea smells exactly how I remember it."

"If you would ever like a cup, feel free to stop by," replied Alenis with a smile. For a moment, she stared longingly into his dark eyes. "That's why this is so hard. I'd like to... but this can't be." A single tear began to form at the corner of her eye, which she quickly wiped away. This is what they meant by the loneliness of command. "I'm your captain; you're my doctor. And Starfleet regulations..." Alenis held her head in her hands. She couldn't bear to have him see her cry.

Arv grew quiet for a moment he wanted this to happen, he had hoped it would but now that it had he was just in complete shock and awe. "Well then," He smiled at her as he sipped his tea, "Just because its against regs doesn't mean we can't bend the rules a little bit. Don't you agree? I mean I am your Doctor so I can come back for sessions here many times and people don't have to know if I leave or not. Its just that simple. We can continue or start anew its up to you."

Alenis looked back up at Arvel as she wiped away the tears. As captain of a Starfleet vessel, she had sworn to uphold the rules and regulations of Starfleet, and hold herself to a standard that was beyond reproach. Were something like this to get out, it could ruin her career and damage any sense of order on the Portland. It saddened her to think that they had to keep everything secret. As long as Alenis was the captain and Arvel was a member of her crew, their feelings for each other had to be kept under wraps. They couldn't hold hands, or visit each other in the holodeck, or even sit together in Ten-Forward. In fact, outside of the bare minimum required for duty, they couldn't be seen together lest rumours start spreading.

"Lets just take it slow for now," said Alenis. "It's not perfect, but if we have to ." She wasn't quite ready to be so suddenly thrown back into the arms of the man she left two years ago. "Now, I believe I'm in need of some neuropressure," she added as she began unbuttoning her tunic.

Watching her carefully he hated the fact that this would have to happen nothing other than this though is this better than nothing? It was. "Alenis," He said softly towards her as he helped her off with her tunic, "You are totally correct you are in need of Neuropressure, more so now than ever. Though." he said with a smile in his eyes he couldn't help but joke about this, "What about Ko-ko? Can we trust she will keep her mouth shut?" He said as he placed the tea cup which was now empty down and started to work on Alenis's shoulders.

"I'm sure Ko-ko can be trusted," replied Alenis as she tried to relax her muscles. "And please, it's Meru," she added. To her, it was jarring to hear Arvel refer to her by her first name, especially in such a setting. As he manipulated her flesh, working out months of knots and aches, Alenis pondered their situation. Having to sneak around like a couple of teenagers trying to hide from their parents was hardly ideal. They were adults, and it was criminal for Starfleet regulations to try to rob them of what they both clearly desired. But her thoughts always turned to Arvel. She didn't realize when she left the depth of his feelings for her. Nor did she realize, until she was light years away, that they were mutual.

"That was wonderful, Doctor," she said as she turned back towards him. In doing so, their dark, expressive eyes caught each others' in a way they hadn't before, at least not for two years. Drawn closer, she slowly leaned in...

Commander John Koenig
Commanding Officer
Moonbase Alpha

Tolaran Kian: Brian, can't reply via pm on the new forum or message you! Yes please to your pm! Will start something up asap!

Apr 7, 2015 18:28:00 GMT

Jason Beauvoir: It didn't make much sense that the Voyager crew couldn't make more torpedoes, after all the created a new shuttle (the Delta Flyer) as well as as some new probes, that weren't on board in the beginning. Apr 2, 2015 2:41:40 GMT

Alenis Meru: I suppose it's like Voyager -- how they fired 123 of their 38 irreplaceable photon torpedoes during the show's run Apr 2, 2015 2:22:49 GMT