Visiting

Posted on Wed Jun 28th, 2023 @ 10:56pm by Captain Tristan Faust & Chief Petty Officer Meredith Corden

0 words; about a 1 minute read

Mission: Mission 3: The Peace Ship
Location: Deck 5: Captain's Quarters

Meredith had been getting her own leg healed and attending to her duties. She had wanted to let the captain rest or visit with those closer to him. But, as one of the personnel who worked directly under him, she did want to drop by and see how he was doing. She walked into the room carrying flowers, already in a vase. "Captain?"

Tristan's vision was finally clear enough that he could read without difficulty. He was sitting in his Eames Lounge Chair finally reading From Russia with Love. He set the book down, "Oh, good afternoon yeoman," he said and then looked at the flowers, "Those for a date?" He asked with a smirk.

"Yeah, I just wanted your opinion on the arrangement," she joked, setting them down. "They're for you. I hear it's been pretty rough?"

Tristan smirked, "Thanks," he said, "I don't think any woman has given me flowers before." He sighed, "More like the irony... When things are crazy, some R&R would be a God send. Well, now things are crazy and I have some R&R... But I have so many responsibilities waiting for me."

"Now I feel special," Meredith said, half-teasing. She turned to him. Her hands clasped lightly behind her back and she looked thoughtful. "It'd be waiting for you if you were sunbathing on a beach too. Just try and put it out of mind."

The Captain chuckled, "Thanks Meredith," Tristan responded. "Probably not a bad idea if I think on it," he said, "Better than sitting here rereading books." He sighed, "I hate to ask, but how high is the stack of clipboards?"

"Higher than you'd like, but probably not as high as you fear," Meredith said. "Most of it can be dealt with by whoever has the conn."

"Well that's a relief anyway," Tristan responded, "I know there's an expectation or perhaps stereotype that the Captain needs to know everything about the ship including the number of neutrinos emitted from the dilithium chamber... But it is excessive."

"You mean you don't know the number of neutrinos?" Meredith exclaimed, bring a hand to her mouth in mock horror.

"Definitely not," Tristan responded, "And any Captain who says he does is a liar." He leaned on the armrest and stood up. He was stiff all the time thanks to the bandage. "Maybe that's too mean...," he said, "I could use a cup of coffee. Would you like anything?" He concealed the sharp pain from his face.

Meredith didn't miss that look of pain. "Let me get it, Captain," she insisted, and started towards the synthesizer. "It is my job, after all." She offered him a smile, glancing back.

"Thanks," Tristan responded with a sigh, "I do think higher of you than stewardess. I hope you know."

"Oh, I know," Meredith said. She got a slightly sly smile like she was considering a joke but she apparently decided against it. She got the coffee from the synthesizer and prepared it just as he liked it. She knew that well by now. Then she returned and handed it to him. "But I am supposed to make your life easier."

"You certainly do," Tristan responded with a smile. "Thank you," he added as she set the cup down, "Of course with you don't all the paperwork, I'm not sure what I'm suppose to do while I'm laid up."

After giving him the coffee, Meredith sat down, crossing her legs and folding her hands neatly over her knee. She smiled. "You could try, I don't know, relaxing?"

The Captain chuckled, "That's harder than it looks," he responded and then picked up the book, "I've been trying."

"20th century?" she asked.

"Always... 1957... John F. Kennedy's favorite book, and my favorite James Bond movie," Tristan responded before setting the book back down onto the arm of the chair.

"Kennedy?" she said, trying to remember. "The Cuban Missile Crisis, right?"

"Yes, exactly," Tristan responded with a smile, "Let me guess, you've been reading up." He chuckled.

"Maybe a little." She leaned forward and lowered her voice, as if confiding a secret. "My boss is obsessed with that period." She laughed. "But I remember my basic Cold War history from school."

The Caption laughed, "That is true," he responded, "Always wondered why they covered that in depth. So much going on in the 20th century, but it was a century of war..."

"Early pre-warp space exploration really began in the 20th century too," Meredith said, "as did widespread international organizations that were more than just military alliances, but I think they like the clear contrast. Before World War III, horror and conflict. After World War III, humanity comes together, rebuilds, and reaches for the stars."

"Absolutely," Tristan responded with a nod, "Are you sure you didn't miss.your calling as a teacher? That was well.done."

"I feel more like a student still," she admitted. "Usually."

The Captain nodded, "As we all are... Constantly," he said with a smile. He sighed, "Well, I better let you get back to it... Feel free to send someone over with some of the reports waiting for me... I'd like to be someone up to speed once I get cleared for duty, which shouldn't be for too long."

"I was good talking to you, captain," Meredith said.

"Likewise yeoman," the Captain responded with a sincere smile as the young woman stood and left his cabin.

 

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