This Just In...

Posted on Sat Mar 16th, 2024 @ 10:56pm by Ensign Tobias "Toby" Dienstag & Ensign Brooke Parker & Luminous Traite Ms

0 words; about a 1 minute read

Mission: Mission 5: The Price of Paradise
Location: Deck 4B 22
Timeline: M5 MD06 (2268.07.29) 1000

"It's still bothering you?" Brooke inquired in a slightly annoyed tone. Her slender form was parked on the tiny couch in her quarters.

"Well, I needed to do half way decent to be command certified," Toby responded, the young man was sitting next to her, a forlorn look maring his gentle face. He scratched at the sandy swoop of hair on top of his head in an attempt to vent some stress.

"You realize even if you happened to pull bridge duty during an emergency everyone else would have to die before you took command," Brooke explained. Toby was highly intelligent, borderline genius, but the young man could be oblivious to the most obvious things. "What did the Captain tell you? The result is always the same, but it's how you deal with it that matters."

"True," Toby responded, "But still, I feel like I could have done things different..."

"You survived a few waves, I've heard that's better than most other officers in the fleet captains even," Brooke responded.

"How is Mike taking things?" She asked, trying to change the subject.

"Not bad I suppose," Toby responded, "Although he's been drinking a lot lately... I don't think he knows what to do now, since the Defiant's end was so... Final..."

Brooke nodded as the door opened.

Luminous had paused for a quick moment outside the compartment door. Yes, this was the correct number so her new quarters. She cleared her throat then entered.

There were two people there, a male and female. She assumed the female was her new roomie.

"Oh, excuse me. I was told I would be sharing quarters with an Ensign Brooke Parker?" Lume started.

"I'm new on board. And not Star Fleet," she pointed out the obvious probably given her gaudy civilian clothing.

"I'm Luminous Traite," she figured she better throw in her name too. On occasion some people even recognized it from her journalistic work.

"Oh, yes," the young woman responded as she stood up and walked over, "I'm Ensign Parker... Pleasure to meet you and this is Ensign Dienstag."

Ahh, she was right then, this was her roomie, Lume smiled, "Nice to meet you."

Toby stood up and walked over and gave a nod in the way of greeting.

"You too, Ensign," she smiled at the handsome but very youthful looking ensign. God, maybe she had just interrupted a possible tryst? Not a good start. Although they both were dressed.

"Toby just stopped by for a few minutes, but he can certainly head out if you need to unpack and get settled in," Brooke responded, "In fact, I could leave too if you need to."

"Oh god no, he is welcome to stay. Certainly you too, this is your quarters afterall. I'm the new roomie," assured Lume.

"In fact if you two had plans to .....I mean...you know...just you two privately ...you know," she hinted heavily without coming right out with it.

"I can go wander around and come back later. No big deal," frankly she hoped if she would be later bedding one of the crew, young Miss Parker would allow her the same privacy. It's what good roomies did for each other.

The young lady's brown eyes widened slightly, "Oh, ah, no... Toby and I aren't together," she explained as her pale cheeks blushed ever so slightly.

Oops, guess she had that wrong, Lume realized.

"I'm not her type," Toby added with a chuckle, finally speaking. This actually happened quite often since they did spend quite a bit of time together.

"I'm not his either," Brooke responded.

"Ummm, OK, got it," Lume nodded. One could take that more than one way. They just weren't compatible or......he was into guys and she was into ladies. But she wasn't about to push it.

"I can certainly go though, if you want to get better acquainted," Toby added, "The first week or so of being roommates is usually the most important... Setting boundaries and all that."

"Well, up to you. I don't want to chase you though. You must have come for some reason involving you two .........in conversation," Lume didn't want to get off on the wrong foot with either of them. They both seemed nice enough.

"Oh, just... Business and a few other things," Toby said, he wasn't comfortable taking about any of this in front of a stranger, especially a reporter. "I'll head out and see you later," he added with a friendly smile before walking out the door.

"Sure, we probably will, Ensign," Lume smiled as he left then turned back to her roomie, "Maybe not your type but he's cute in a boyish sort of way."

Brooke walked back down to the couch and sat down, crossing her legs in her uniform miniskirt, "Toby is our computer whiz kid. Have you met many of the crew yet?" She asked.

"Umm, no. Had a briefing with the captain. You know he gave me all the rules I am to follow. Which I probably won't succeed in some of them but hey, he was nicer than the last admiral I talked to," Luminous chuckled.

"He then informed me of my quarters and your name. I promise I will try not to bug you too much. If I am really doing something which annoys you, just tell me. I can be a bit....well, too much. Or so I've been told.......a lot," she stood there. She still needed to get her luggage yet.

"The Captain likes to get the rules out of the way first thing. But I'm sure you'll find him to be reasonable... And sure that's easy enough," Brooke responded, "I'm sure services will get your dunnage routed over here sooner or later. In the meantime, have a seat and a drink. You look like you've been running around all day..."

"It's been a busy day, but I'm used to it. This job can involve a lot of moving around and long hours. Not that I'm complaining," Lume nodded, glad to hear she did not even need to chase down her stuff.

"What do you have to drink?" she wasn't sure how that worked in a military ship. This wasn't a luxury hotel.

"Ah, well the synthesizer can dispense about anything except alcohol," Brooke explained, "You can get it aboard but unless you bring it yourself, it's only served at the aft lounge." She stood up and walked over to the synthesizer built into the bulkhead.

"Damn, that's what I figured. Well, I do have some rather expensive liquor in my bags. For special occasions you know, I am not an alky," Lume informed her.

"OK, how about an iced coffee with vanilla? Caffeine strangely does not keep me awake," she requested.

"Easy enough," Brooke responded as she keyed in the sequence.

"So, if you don't mind me asking, how long you been on the Midway? And exactly what do you do? You know, your duties, skills?"

"Since launch, a large group of us... the junior officers are all '68 Academy grads," Brooke responded, "And well, I work in Science Lab #2. I'm an Astrophysicist by training and always wanted a deep space assignment. Although on this ship we seem to find more combat than scientific discoveries..."

"Ahh, OK, a scientist. One subject I was never good in in school," Lume chuckled, "The only science test I ever got a good grade on, an A, I copied a classmate's answers. I was twelve but already a bit of a bad girl."

"I see," Brooke commented. Fast and loose with the rules, sounds like a typical investigative reporter.

"Yes, combat. I did read up on the Midway's voyages thus far. Do you have any idea if your ship's next mission might involve conflict?" she couldn't help but be curious.

"Probably will, but our missions and their details are usually kept under wraps until after we leave dock," Brooke responded, "For security... Usually the Captain meets with the Commodore who assigns missions based upon Starfleet Command's orders."

"Oh right, that actually makes sense. I do understand the need for security about that sort of thing. I've never been on a military ship before," Lume took the offered coffee, "Thanks!"

"Hey! Change of subject. Captain Faust said that you would be helpful when I mentioned using the holodeck. Like if I wanted to reserve an appointment or however that works," the newcomer inquired.

"Well, you kinda missed your chance," Brooke responded, "At least for the moment. Toby is the one who's in charge of the Holographic Rec Deck. Although it's a duty he loathes having." She set the coffee down onto the tiny surfboard shaped table.

"Wait! What? Cutie pie there? Oh geez....you know maybe the captain had mentioned his name but it flew right by me. I really should have remembered, it's part of being a good journalist. Remembering people and what is said," Lume sighed.

"Cutie pie?" Brooke laughed but didn't have the energy to tell her.

"So, captain said the place is often quite busy so .....what is Toby's room number. I am going to head over there for a bit. By the time I'm back, hopefully my ........dunnage...you called it, will be here so I can unpack."

Luminous was not usually noted for her patience.

"Ah, he's down the hall, 4B 36," Brooke responded, "Although he is off duty so I'm not sure he'll be up to making rec deck reservations. I'm surprised he hasn't set up something automated by now."

"4B 36....got it! Thanks, Brooke! I won't bug him long, just ask him to hook me up with a reservation is all. Later!" Luminous rose, drained her coffee in some long gulps then set it down and hurried out the door.

 

RSS Feed