What's The Worst That Could Happen?

Posted on Wed Aug 3rd, 2016 @ 11:32pm by Captain Charybdis MacGregor & Lieutenant Commander Selune
Edited on on Sat Aug 6th, 2016 @ 3:25am

0 words; about a 1 minute read

Mission: Taking Chances
Location: USS Bonne Chance, Deck One, the Bridge
Timeline: 2265

Bridge duty started at 0700, and of course Lieutenant Charybdis was on deck by 0645, bright and early to start the day. She checked the science station and the log readings for the night before, checked with the comm officer for messages and then paced about the upper deck for a moment before stepping down to the command deck and settling into the command chair, crossing her legs and leaning her head on her fingertips, waiting for the day to begin and the alpha shift to arrive to relieve the gamma shift.

The damage control reports from Engineering were rather astounding. Over the course of the night phasers and photon torpedoes had been brought back on line, and repairs were at 80%... and that was without the Chief Engineer amongst them. Charybdis made a note to have the Captain take an inspection tour of Engineering on his way back, so that he could satisfy himself that the work was done to his standards, as well as recognize the hard work the engineers were putting in. She could not send Captain's Compliments, but she could order up Acting Commander's complements, and put in an order with the galley to produce breakfast biscuits to have them distributed amongst the engineering crews.

Mister Quinn likely would not appreciate the surprise sprung on him, but by the time he finished overseeing the construction, the engineers would likely appreciate them, and they had pulled off some excellent work, and she felt she needed to reward them in an immediate sense.

Thus far the stress tests on the replicated parts from Ensign Tyler's experiment were holding up with no flaws. She maintained her hourly regimen testing until further notice, but she had to admit she was pleased by initial reports. It seemed the particle physicist might just be on to something there with his broadening of the applications of replicator usage. Time and exhausting testing would tell.

Selune arrived shortly after Charybdis had taken her seat, softly padding in and managing to look only half tired. She paused briefly as she approached Char, a brief flicker of emotion crossing her features as she searched for words before shrugging, offering a small smile moving to her station.

"Good morning Lieutenant Selune. I suspect that today should be far less eventful than yesterday... I won't guarantee it, but I promise to make an effort. Likely we'll be spending today hovering in this particular chunk of space waiting for a call or waiting for our away team's shuttlecraft." The voluptuous Vulcan smiled easily and casually, with genuine good humor. First time I've ever noticed those big padded feet of hers. I guess it would be a cruelty to ask her to wear boots, but she certainly does move quietly...

"Well, if you insist. If you get bored I'm sure we can find some more asteroids for you," Selune replied with a small laugh as she refamiliarized herself with her console and made herself comfortable, "At least now I know what they meant when they said 'be ready for anything.'"

As usual at this young hour of the day, Lieutenant Junior Grade Rebian Reinn Reveran, first of his name of the Reveran 'clan', was too busy trying to daydream the morning away, then to be paying attention to anything happening on the deck. "First of his name? Reveran clan? By Hermes! Reb you are too full of yourself, which is good, but surely such thoughts are a sign of a future dementia, bordering a multiple personality issue." Snapping out of his usual very insightful and meaningful thoughts. "Ha! How much can I go on like this? Insightful? Meaningful? I need a hobby. Alright I have one, I need a new, simpler hobby, like normal Terrans have."

"Mister Reveran? Do you have a course ready for us should we find it necessary to proceed to Falchion Depot?" the science officer asked casually, interrupting Rebian's reverie.

"Course? What? Ah yes!" Reb snapped back into reality as he started plotting the course. Over the course of his many carries he got used to getting back into the works of things in a moment's notice. "Almost done furanda." with theatrical movements of his hands he finished. "Aaand done!" he said proudly turning back towards Chary. "Ah, good morning Lieutenant Selune. I haven't noticed the sudden change in pleasant view on the deck."

Selune turned to reply, a slightly confused expression plastered across her face before a slightly terse voice from behind brought her up short.

"Lieutenant Charybdis, Lieutenant Junior Grade Reveran. While I do appreciate that you find me attractive, I'm commanding one of the most powerful starships in the galaxy. If you refuse to respect my name, at least respect the position, and show just a hint more decorum on the bridge, hmmmm...?" She was lecturing him again, but she still had a sense of humor about it and a half-smile on her face.

"Lieutenant Charybdis, I humbly apologize for me speaking out of term and line, but it would be a crime in the eyes of my people, and that of myself, not to acknowledge that which is obvious." he said trying to sound serious. "As a Risian I have a sworn duty to admire and compliment the beauty of world around me."

The sultry scientist rolled her eyes and chuckled. "You... you are going to just be so very much trouble, aren't you...?"

"My dear furanda, I received this assignment because of a few, not just one, Admirals, who have it going for me. Trouble is not a stranger, but a welcomed friend." he said smiling broadly. "But I promise, on my shining star, that I will never cause you intentional trouble furanda." he finished pointing to the ornament on his forehead.

"Oh, it isn't trouble you're liable to cause me, Liable-To-Return-To-Ensign-Who-Cannot-Remember-To-Use-Proper-Rank-And-Titles... I'm afraid it is trouble that you are liable to cause yourself. Charming can be magnificent in the right places and times... the bridge... is perhaps not the best place nor time..." Always with the lecture, always spoken gently. It was as if she were trying to warn him of some looming, impending catastrophe without being harsh to him...

By this point Selune's confusion had melted into a quiet giggle as she forced herself to very carefully pay attention to her instruments and along with the rest of the bridge as she pointedly kept her attention away from the duo.

"I think my dear furanda..."

"LIEUTENANT." This time there was no humor, no mirth and no arguing the tone in her voice.

"Ahem!" Redressing his voice to an official militaristic tone. "Lieutenant Charybdis! I wish to report that our exchange of pleasantries is certainly having secondary effects on the bridge crew! Ma'am!" He said in the purest, emotionless tone he could muster, from his time in the special Risian forces. "Especially our helmsman, who might get distracted from steering the ship, due to the use of loud tones. Ma'am." He finished on the same tone.

"Oh, don't mind me," Selune replied with a stifled laugh, "it's not often the entertainment comes to you."

"And then there's the fact that we aren't currently moving... but of course you knew that, Lieutenant Reveran..." the Vulcan Vixen added. Sarcasm or amusement, it was hard to read the tone in her voice.

"Course has been plotted, it is out of my hands if the ship moves or not preemari." Reb said raising his hands defensively.

"It is indeed. And now... we wait, as per our orders until we receive a signal. So, course laid in was my initial question... answer, yes, Lieutenant, course laid in. And so now... we wait." The blue-clad officer sighed heavily, a somewhat seismic event given her more than generous endowments. "I hate waiting."

"We could always tell ghost stories," Selune cheerfully suggested.

"I am afraid of talking right now preemari." Turning away from her she faced Selune. "We have never been properly introduced. "Rebian of Risia, a pleasure to meet you furanda." he said smiling.

Selune glanced briefly at the now silent Vulcan before swivelling her chair to face Rebian, "I'm Selune," she offered simply, "What does furanda mean?"

Lowering his voice to a conspiratorial tone, making sure she hears her, but the Officer of deck doesn't, he explained. "It means beautiful, in Risian, and it is generous Risian compliment. One that you fully deserve."

Selune let out a small sharp laugh, shaking her head in a mixture of amusement and disbelief before leaning forward and lowering her voice to match his, "You seem to be quite free with your generous compliments," she murmured with laughter dancing behind her grey eyes, "and I think you underestimate her ears."

In the command chair, Charybdis was busying herself with studying the damage control reports on her PDD, but nodded slowly to indicate that oh yes, she could indeed still hear them with a wry smile. She continued paying attention to what she was doing, however... the crew had time to kill, so they may as well get to know one another. A crew of friends would work together far better than a crew of strangers, after all, and they needed to feel out one another's personalities and boundaries.

"Firstly, I have not talked to her in an un-conducting fashion, as such she would have little reason to lecture me now. Secondly I am taking the polite precaution of whispering. Thirdly, it is not my fault that the female officers of the ship resemble the beauty of Deltans or Risians. If I didn't know better I would say that this was a Risian only ship. So my compliments are fair, furanda," he said chuckling and keeping a warm smile on his face.

Selune leaned back into her seat, shaking her head with a crooked smile as she fought off the desire to laugh, "Last time I checked, Caitian's didn't strongly resemble Deltans or Risians. But I do wonder how well you can navigate if you're so heavily... distracted by the view?"

"On the contrary furanda, I am never distracted. I admire the lovely morning birds, but I am also aware of the stalking tiger. Plus, navigation is easy compared to the things I've done before Starfleet, so do not worry, you are in interestingly capable hands. And I was not referring to physical similarities, beauty takes oh so many shapes and forms." he said using a theatrical tone, especially when talking about himself.

"Should I even ask what you did before Starfleet, or should I ask who the stalking tiger is?" Selune pondered aloud with a pointed glance at the command chair. Charybdis did not look up but waved her hand dismissively in a 'not me' gesture drawing another small giggle from the too easily entertained Caitian.

"Not her. Believe it or not, she is a summer breeze compared to the tigers I've had to face." he said shaking his head slightly as the summer breeze raised an eyebrow and continued working. "But back to your question, it would be easier though to ask what I haven't done before Starfleet. Less options there. Though it would be amusing to hear you ask." he said provoking her to ask.

Selune fought back the urge to laugh, shrugging innocently before petting the absurdly interesting Risan on the head like a kitten that had just fallen over, "Oh, you are a strange creature. Do try not to get yourself demoted off the ship. This shift will be far less entertaining."

"The simple idea of demotion is appalling! I have long learned to call it 'educational redressal'. It wouldn't be the first time, nor the last. Highest I've been is Commander, and then I learned a valuable lesson that making the Admiral's shuttle sing Trill mating songs during his voyage back from Trill, to Earth, without being able to stop it, is a bad idea." he said trying to put on an innocent face. "And that's only in the Federation. My time with the Risian Special Forces has been a truly interestingly ride."

Selune frowned, "If I ever hear of you doing that to one of my shuttles." She paused for a second as she considered her words, "Ok, so they're not my shuttles. But if you fiddle with them I'll... Uhm... Well. You'll regret it," she finished with a firm nod, clearly ignoring the verbal flailing of her statement.

"Make the shuttle sing, make the shuttle slightly crash, and make the shuttle commands work backwards. I am not allowed to anymore?" He leaned back in his chair. "Well that's going to be hard not to do. But I promise to try and behave. I promise to try at least." he said trying to look innocently.

Note to self, Selune thought to herself, make sure to run a thorough diagnostic anytime he is near... anything. She turned herself back to her console and began to do just that, casting a suspicious glance at her new companion, "Why is it I feel that your promise will only last as long as it's convenient?"

He laughed pleasantly. "Isn't everything in life like that? We all follow the rules as long as they are convenient or forced to. The entire human history is such an example. And that is a sad truth I had to learn many years ago, furanda." he said without losing his charm.

There was several seconds of silence as Selune hunted for a retort before shrugging and running a hand through her hair. "As you say," she conceded, "That doesn't mean I'll let you off though."

"I wouldn't have it any other way, furanda." he said smiling gently.

She paused again, letting the quiet slowly settle between them before cheerfully speaking up with a hint of pride and mixed amusement, "I guess I should apologize, the only exciting story I have is of this one time, when I flew a starship backwards through an asteroid field with minimal shields while being chased by some really big rocks."

Leaning back in closer to her he continued. "And that my dear, is in itself a great story and achievement. You should be proud with it." he continued. "I have no such great achievements, just a lifetime of trying to find my place, furanda. It does still remind of this one time I worked as a smuggler though. But I think we're stretching Lieutenant's Charybdis patience talking here. May I steal you when you get off duty for a tour of the ship?"

Selune tilted her head as she stared at Rieban with a mixture of curiosity and amused interest dancing behind her eyes. After ponderously turning it over in her head she finally gave a nod with a small smile, once again glad that her species couldn't blush and that very few could intuitively read her body language, "Sure," she murmured, "I haven't really looked around yet... so why not. After all, what's the worst that could happen?"

In the captain's chair, Charybdis silently rolled her eyes. What indeed...

 

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