After Dinner Chat

Posted on Sun Aug 18th, 2019 @ 8:36pm by Captain Cynthia Jackson & Lieutenant Commander Charlotte Hudson

1,859 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Mission 2 - Love ORION Mistaken
Location: Captain's Quarters

After dinner concluded, Cindy made it a point to wait for Bec. Cindy remembered that during dinner, Bec stated that she wanted to speak with Cindy. Frankly, after dinner, Cindy wanted to speak with Bec, as well. Something was off but she could not put her finger on it, whatever it might be.

Once everyone exited dinner, Cindy pulled Bec aside. "Do you mind coming to my quarters? I would like to chat with you before I go to bed."

"Uh... sure, Cindy," Bec said, giving Ayden a wave before giving Cindy her full attention. "What do you want to chat about?" She asked curious about this and some of Cindy's behaviour from during the dinner.

"Well, actually, I thought there were some things that you wanted to talk about. You implied as much at dinner." She then laughed and threw her head back, "Heck, you practically shouted it for all to hear!" She giggled contagiously. "It really was not that subtle."

"And neither were you," she responded with a smirk. "Stammering and blushing like a teenager." She shook her head and sighed. "I would rather wait until we got to your quarters to discuss this," she said softly, a more worried tone than intended coming from Bec.

"I was not stammering or blushing!" Cindy insisted as she walked briskly to her quarters. Her long legs outpaced Bec's shorter stature forcing the XO to pick up her pace if she wanted to keep up. When Cindy reached her quarters, she opened them and waited for Bec to close the door behind her.

Being used to others walking faster than her, Bec picked up her pace. She wasn't even slightly out of breath when they finally reached Cindy's quarters. Once the doors closed behind her, she cleared her throat. "You were stammering and blushing, but that is beside the point. I'm concerned with our guest. She is begging me to let her have free run of the ship. And she seems to only care about the planet she came from when it's brought up. Otherwise she's way too happy. There is something wrong here, but I cannot put my finger on it."

"Why would I stammer or blush?" Cindy asked critically. "But even so, I agree something's not right. I don't know what either. I do understand why she would care about her planet. But, what's the deal with Jane and Vivyra getting so close so fast? I mean, I thought that, Jane had her eyes, um, elsewhere."

"On me, you mean? Yes, she did. And when Vivyra's not around, she still does," Bec shook her head. "But we were only seeing each other casually," she added. "I don't trust Vivyra. And I have spoken to Jane, she wanted to be the one to ask you this, but I suggest she be removed as Vivyra's watchguard. I feel her relationship is clouding her vision where Vivyra is concerned."

"Jane wanted to ask that?" Cindy asked confused. "Something is very odd. Maybe I should put Neza in charge? She could maybe verify whatever Jane did on Vivyra's medical and check for anything else odd? I mean, I've never seen a submissive Orion female, have you?"

"She did after we had a chat about her connection to Vivyra," Bec ran a hand through her hair. "I wouldn't force it on Neza, but yes, we can ask her to. And no, I've never met an Orion female like this. Normally they play submissive and then get forceful. And normally they don't have a good effect on women. So I'm wondering why we're all fine around her. There are too many questions and not enough answers." She practically growled in frustration. "Something is going on here and I can't figure it out."

"Do you have a better suggestion than Neza?" Cindy asked curiously, as Bec stated that she did not Cindy to order it. "And how do you suggest that we find the answers? The only way I can think of at the moment is to go to her planet. Jane said nothing unusual about her scan when we got her on board or after."

"There are few female choices, Neza, Xenia, or Lamia would be my top choices," she responded with a shrug. "I just don't like where this is going. I'm concerned and my gut is screaming that we're headed into a trap." Shaking her head Bec leaned against the bulkhead by the door. "Something is just not right here and it bugs me that I cannot figure it out. Instead of a puzzle with one piece missing, we have that one piece and are looking for the rest of the puzzle."

"But what trap? What puzzle?" Cindy blew air up to her bangs that did not move much. "Let's stick with Neza for now. She's a scientist. She will have the ability to ask questions and not take things at face value." Cindy shuffled uncomfortably for a moment, "Let's assume that this is a trap for one second. To accomplish what? Vivyra does not seem interested in going anywhere or doing anything, except spending time with Jane at this moment."

"She wants to spend time with everyone," Bec pointed out. "When she gets you alone, she's in her element, at least that's what I've observed. There is something going on, but I don't know. She's trying to endear us to her so we take her back to her planet. But why? If she escaped, why does she want to go back so bad?"

"Her classmates?" Cindy offered. "Free them?" Cindy shook her head. "Maybe we need to all meet and compare what Vivyra has told everyone."

"Possible, but once free, one normally isn't quite so excited to go back, even if it means saving friends," Bec pointed out. "I don't know... like I said, something seems off with all of this and I can't figure it out."

Cindy decided to attack that logic, slightly. "What would you do if I was captured, Bec? Or missing? And Legacy was forced away for whatever reason. Would you just leave me?"

"No, I wouldn't, but if I had been held captive and I had to go back for you, I wouldn't be positively beaming about it," Bec said with a shrug. "Maybe I'm cynical, but damnnit, there's something bothering me about Vivyra and I feel like everyone's telling me that I'm just the girl crying wolf."

"I do not think that you're crying wolf. I appreciate your suspicions. But sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, right?" Cindy shrugged. "In any case, I really should be talking to Neza. And, perhaps I should have a talk with Vivyra, myself?"

"Should also talk with Jane," Bec said with a frown. "I broke my promise to her about talking to you together, but I felt it necessary given the circumstances. I really hope that my gut is wrong about this, Cindy."

"Me too," Cindy told Bec. She paused for a long time and studied Bec carefully. "Anything else on your mind, Bec?"

"Not about this," Bec smiled and shook her head. She was going to dismiss herself, but then thought that Cindy deserved to know. "Since that call from k7, the guy all banged up.. I've been.. having nightmares. About that away mission that went wrong..." She ran her hands through her hair. "But Jane and Ayden have been helping me with that. I'm fine. I just, haven't been sleeping that well."

"Do you need a leave?" Cindy asked concerned. "Not every mission goes wrong, you know? Sometimes stuff just happens."

"No, I'm fine, it's memories. Ones I don't particularly like reliving," she gave Cindy a sad smile. "I mean, reliving the torture you went through and rewatching a member of your crew die because of torture isn't exactly on everyone's to-do list." Bec paused and rubbed the back of her neck. "Like I said, Ayden and Jane have been helping me. Mostly Ayden now, but they've both been a great help. I just didn't want to keep anything from you. I can't earn or maintain your trust if I hide something like that."

"You've always had my trust, Bec!" She put her arm around the much shorter woman. "And you can always tell me anything. I'm here for anyone on the crew, especially you." Cindy threw her hair to the side, "And for the record, I did not blush or stammer."

Bec laughed, and shook her head. "You did, but I won't say a word to anyone about it." She grinned and brushed a piece of Cindy's hair off her shoulder. "Keep telling yourself you didn't, but I saw you!"

"Ridiculous!" Cindy told Bec. "You keep your delusions. I think that maybe you're attracted to her and just pawning it off on me."

Bec laughed, truly laughed at this. "You? Jane? Maybe, yes, but Vivyra? No. She's not my type. I'm not one for submissive people...."

"Neither am I." Cindy grinned remembering her ex that got her into trouble back in the day. "I like a man that can take control.... Put me in my place!" She then threw back her hair and laughed gleefully, "Like that's possible!"

"Too bad it's only men you're interested in," Bec said slyly. She shook her head and laughed.

"They're equipped to fit better," Cindy replied with a giggle.

"Hmmm... you do know there are...toys... to help with that aspect?" Bec grinned mischievously.

"Well aware, Bec. They've been getting regular workouts," she told her executive officer with a heavy sigh. "But there's no substitute for the real thing. Too bad my position will likely keep me from finding anyone worthwhile."

"Oh, I doubt that Cindy. I'm sure the right person will come along and you'll be putting the toys to rest eventually," she chuckled. "But now that I know way too much about your nightly habits, I'm going to go in search of one of my bad habits. Good night, Cindy." Bec didn't move, however, instead waited for Cindy to either bid her good night or start up another conversation.

"Too much?" Cindy asked laughing. "I do believe that you started it. And, I believe you have had much more luck with your nightly habits." She shrugged and sighed. "Hopefully I have not kept you from any...."

"Nah, they'll still happen. And I've had more luck because of two reasons. One, I'm much more free with my 'love', and two, I'm not the Captain." She shook her head. "Open yourself up to new experiences and I'm sure you can find some fun and love."

"Oh, I'm quite up for new experiences," Cindy replied honestly. "There's very little that I would not try once."

Snickering, Bec just shook her head and headed for the door finally. "I'm sure women are on that 'would not try' list," she teased as she reached the door. "Good night Cindy."

"Good night, Bec." Cindy watched as Bec left, wondering if that was really true. While she was not personally attracted to women, what would be wrong with trying it? Mentally she shrugged and decided that she would save that question for another day.

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