Testing the waters

Posted on Wed Sep 12th, 2018 @ 11:25pm by Captain Cynthia Jackson & Lieutenant Azelya Korr

2,144 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Mission 0 - Christening of Legacy and Crew Arrival
Location: Senior Officer's Mess Hall
Timeline: 2261.182 1200

Having been up for at least six hours and having completed a good portion of the tour of her ship, Cindy decided that it was time to have lunch. She headed to the Senior Officer's Mess Hall to get some freshly made lunch or to get some from a food synthesizer. The mess hall was devoid of anyone except Cindy and a redhead with the most penetrating blue eyes.

The statuesque captain, in her sleeveless gold mini skirt duty uniform, strode towards the woman she believed to be her Chief of Security. She sat down next to her and in a perky voice announced, "You must be Azelya! I've been anxious to meet you!"

After the enthusiastic introduction, the only sound that issued forth for the next few moments was a choking and gasping noise as the woman jerked her head up to take in the Captain. "Ma'a--ack". Grasping her throat, she swallowed forcefully and stood up, offering a formal salute as her face turned beet red.

Once on her feet, it was easier to see that she was in her casual uniform reds, with loose slacks and a tunic. A sheen of sweat clung to her skin as she stood there, a crumpled towel on the seat next to her, having just come from the gym.

"Sorry, Captain didn't see you come in. I had been meaning to check in, there was just a sea of paperwork waiting once I stepped on board."

Cindy watched the Security Chief choke and salute and unable to help herself, started snickering. "All that trouble, just for me?" She laughed again. "No need to get all bent out of sorts, Azelya. I don't stand on ceremony. Well, not usually. If I have to pull rank, I will but I'd rather see everyone comfortable and working well together. Feel free to call me Cindy or Captain Cindy, if you need to use a title."

She threw her long, wavy hair over her shoulder and tried to calm the redhead. "Don't worry about the not checking in immediately. If every person checked in with me immediately upon getting onto the ship, I don't think we would ever lift off. 1100 people are quite a crowd. Hopefully, they won't be keeping you busy. I pray that all you have to do while on Legacy is paperwork."

Of course, she's as charming and attractive in person as she seemed from afar... Starfleet knows how to pick them. Mused the redhead as her lips parted, smiling softly in response to Cindy. "Thank you, Captain, er, Captain Cindy. You and me both, though. As well as I can handle a phaser, I'd prefer to never have to use one again. Then again these days, and with this ship, I doubt we'll be so lucky."

As if she ruined the mood, the woman fidgeted, leaning on a single foot, popping the other into the air slightly behind herself.

As she balanced, her right hand drifted up to rub at her own neck. "But, that's why you have me, and the security team, of course! It's a crack squad, that's for sure. I was almost done with their onboarding, but I needed to break a sweat and grab some food." Her head inclined to the half-eaten chocolate tiramisu on the table. "Were you looking for a bite of something as well? I'd love to pick your brain on a few things."

"Yes, I was looking for something to eat," she admitted. "Perhaps we should use the food synthesizers. What would you like me to cook up for you?" Cindy offered. "And do feel free to pick my brain. That's what I'm here for!" she bubbled.

Cindy made a gesture with her hand for Azelya to sit and make herself comfortable. She moved over the food synthesizer and hit some buttons. At the same time, she giggled and told Azelya, "You know, you remind me of Bec." Realizing that Azelya probably didn't know that her first officer preferred being called by her second name, she explained, "Our executive officer. She prefers being called by her middle name. She too, thinks we're heading for trouble." Teasingly, Cindy continued, "Are all security and former security officers brought up the same?"

Reseating herself with a relieved expression, the blush only slightly lingering in her pale cheeks, she casually tossed a napkin over the Tirimusi she had been nibbling on. "I'd actually love a Cobb Salad. I need to get more protein, carbs are my... enemy." A sidelong glance is tossed at the napkin as she trails off for a slight moment.

Bouncing her eyes back up to Cindy, her warm smile returns, leaning on her elbows as she looks to the Captain. "Well I haven't met Bec just yet, but she sounds like a smart woman." Mused Azelya, her smile faltering, seeming distant. "With the events of the past few years burned into memory, Starfleet is just always going to be in dangerous waters with how far we push our exploration. We shouldn't stop, but, we should be wary."

Leaning back in her chair, crossing her slender arms, a dry chuckle escaped her lips. "So in a way, I guess we are all trained the same, or get it beaten into us through reality. Here's to the Legacy bucking the mold, though, in one of many ways, eh?"

Cindy brought the food to the table. She brought a simple Caesar salad for herself with water. She laughed at Azelya, "What do you mean carbs are your enemy? You look fabulous!" Personally serving Azelya, she continued, "Maybe I just have a different reality. I came up through science. So, exploration is the height of my field. I can't even begin to imagine what might be out there! Maybe we could even find a non-carbon based life form!"

Chuckling under her breath, she pulled the salad the Captain had graciously prepared for her over and started to pick at it with less gusto than she had demonstrated with her dessert. "Well thank you, it's that old saying... I like to exercise because I like to eat, you know? Too many pleasures in life to miss out, but it's a balance."

She's filled with so much energy... how does she keep this up. Maybe it's just the new command? Ruminated Azelya as she swallowed the first bite, the Captain eliciting a wide smile from her with her enthusiasm. "Don't get me wrong, that's why I'm here. New lifeforms, new planets, new food!"
She wiggles the fork at Cindy which has a few leaves of lettuce on it. "It's brilliant. It's what we need to do. I guess I just get lost in everything that could go wrong. If we have people like you reminding us though, we'll never lose that spark."

"Is that your guiding star, for the Legacy then? Make us a beacon of exploration and goodwill among the galaxy?" Inquired the woman opposite her, settling down to dig further into the salad.

Cindy picked at her salad, eating a bite here and a bite there as Azelya spoke. She did not want to miss a word that her Security Chief said. "Well, if exercise is what you want, I would be happy to work you out!" She gave a short laugh and apparently oblivious to any innuendo continued, "I'm thinking of starting a racquetball league. Could be fun!"

Her green eyes sparkled, lightening to turquoise as she started. "And, yes, I hope that Legacy is nothing more than exploration and goodwill across the galaxy but ultimately, the Admirals will tell us where to go and what to do." When she finished, her eyes were more solid green in color.

Azelya twitched at the comments reading working out, internally groaning as a half smirk, half smile spilled over her lips. I have a feeling she acts this way with everyone... "Well, count me in if you do. I'm going to need all the distractions I can ma'am."

As she listened to the Captain finish, she squinted, noticing the color shift properly for the first time. "Of course, yes, the Admirals...I'm sorry." She trailed off momentarily. "...but your eyes, why do they change? Er..." The woman quickly speared another bit of the lettuce, rushing for a new bite. "If you don't mind, that is."

"Stop calling me ma'am," Cindy scolded Azelya playfully. "Don't make me write you up. Cindy or Captain Cindy, if you insist. Certainly, when we're talking just like this, I hope that it would just be Cindy." She laughed, her eyes starting to get more turquoise in color.

"So," Cindy continued with a giggle and taking another forkful of salad in her hand. "You have already noticed that about me.... My mood ring eyes.... This is why I don't play poker!" Throwing her hair behind her with a light shake she munched on the lettuce. Swallowing, she continued. "My official eye color is hazel. They tend to be more on the green side of things. They get lighter and lighter, even getting into blue when I'm really happy. They've mostly been light green, turquoise and blue this week because I'm so excited about this ship." As if on cue, her eyes did turn a light blue. "You don't want to ever see my eyes brown."

A rolling chuckle bubbled up and out of her mouth as she laughed around the salad, covering her mouth with her hand for a moment, the scars on the right hand visible now to the captain. "Fiiiiiiiiiiiiine Cindy. Apologies, hard to switch me to 'casual' mode. Don't get the chance too often, sadly. That's simply fascinating though! Your heritage... or something else?" Her fork waved curiously in the air at the other woman, thoughts swirling about quickly. "Do people... try and influence the color once they know?"

Cindy made a mental note of the scars but said nothing for now. "Do people try to influence the color?" Cindy shrugged. "I don't know." She chewed some of her leaves of lettuce as she thought about it. "I'm pretty sure nobody would want them to turn brown, so if they do, I think it is only in a positive manner."

Shrugging happily and tossing her hair behind her shoulders, she inquired, "Why do you have trouble being casual? All fun and no play makes Azelya a dull girl!"

"Hrm. Well, I'll steer clear of brown myself if I can... I'm happy no one has never tried to take advantage of it." Polishing off the last few bits of her salad she leans back in the chair, tossing her fork into the bowl with a practiced flick of her wrist. "That's me, though. I learn something unique, then of course worry about it being exploited. Security, much?" A tired smile followed her words, shoulders sinking ever so slightly.

"It's not that I can't be casual, it's just after so many tours out... there." Stark blue eyes float to peer out the nearest viewport, a hint of whimsy rising in her tone. "I've been forced to be in this, state of being, where I'm always on my toes. Never knew who to trust, who had my back, and who may be looking to exploit a weakness of me, my crew, or Starfleet." A pause, long enough for her eyes to drift back to those of Cindy. "Think you can help a woman out with learning out to, what's the idiom.. 'chill out'?" Chuckled the vibrant redhead.

"Oh, I think I can help with that," Cindy said laughing vibrantly. "Of course, it might come with a healthy dose of perky, too. I hope you would not mind. As to trust, I would suggest trusting me. Not only am I the Captain, so it is mostly required to trust me, but I'm a pretty good friend."

"Bring on the 'perky'." A smirk bolted across her lips, locking eyes with the woman across from her for a brief moment. "I could use some in my life. I may take a bit to open up, but I feel that great friendships always take time. Something we should work towards, hrm?"

Unlocking her eyes, she pushes her bowl forward with a small nudge, her confidence flickering. "...anyways, I'm sure I've kept you long enough ma'am? I need to get to the office and start setting up camp."

Feeling that she had accomplished her goal, Cindy rose from the table. She enjoyed that smirk from Azelya and was planning on bringing more of that out later. Also, Cindy was quite amazed at the depth and intensity in Azelya's blue eyes. "We will have five years together, Azelya. I'm in no rush. Set up camp and I'll see you soon, I'm sure." With that, Cindy headed out of the mess hall to continue her rounds.

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