Date Night Debacle (Part 3)

Posted on Thu Dec 12th, 2024 @ 4:25am by Lieutenant Julianna ("Jules") Raihan & Lieutenant Daegan Baas & Petty Officer 1st Class Jaclyn Masterson [Baas]
Edited on on Thu Dec 12th, 2024 @ 4:26am

1,579 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: A Silence of Friends
Location: Umbilical Leading to USS Thunderbird
Timeline: MD002 - 0200

True to her word, Jules danced and together, they stayed till last call when they finally had that drink. Then there was the walk back through corridors that weren't as deserted as she would have expected them to be. Much like starships, a starbase had three shifts so there were always people awake. It wasn't until they reached the umbilical that she finally spoke. "I had a good time tonight," she said softly as she turned toward him. "Thank you."

Having closed down the club they had made their way back to the ship's docking bay. Not that she needed and escort back to the ship, it was just the chivalrous thing to do. "Hey had to give you a proper welcome aboard." He smiled broadly and chuckled a bit before continuing. "I had a great time to. You certainly haven't lost your moves. It was just like ol' times."

"Yes it was," Jules said, "only different this time, no? After all, we'll be serving on the same ship for once." She smiled up at him, dark eyes sparkling with pleasure, "With the possibility of actual free time. Unlike the Academy where they tried to account for every blasted second."

He looked at her with her dark hair and expressive eyes staring at him. "I was thinking the exact same thing. No crazy schedules, constant studies, training, tutoring, or surprise assignments from arrogant instructors. What WILL we do with all that spare time and being on the same ship, after working the same shift, and more likely than not involved in the same tasks. Probably end up driving each other crazy."

He imagined them picking on each other, teasing, trading barbs and inuendo as they worked only to laugh and carry on in the holodeck or in the lounge as the ate.

"Hmmm," Elena said as she started up the ramp. "If that's what you think, Daegan Baas, it sure will be an interesting experience." She blew him a kiss and started up the ramp where her all her 'things' waited for her in an untidy heap.

Part of him had wanted to catch her hand as he left his side but he decided not to. Instead he stood there, his head lifting as he blew the kiss to him and watching her as she swayed up the ramp and out of site.

[Earlier in the Evening]

It had taken little subterfuge to gain access to the room and even less to find Daegan's computer activity on the station to figure out where they were going to be. After turning out the lights she stood in the window with her binoculars to follow the her target. Watching the paid talk and laugh as they ate her teeth clinched from time to time. She too had to involuntarily laughed as food shot from Daegan's plate and hit a pedestrian below. After that incident she left for the next destination.

Taking her place in the upper deck she waited for her quarry to arrive, occasionally sipping at a water as well as ignoring the advance of others. Sitting at the table along a rail at the uppermost level of the club she could watch both the entrance and the various dance floors and most of the clubs bars. She didn't have to wait long for her targets to appear. From her location she could watch those below without being seen due to the various lights flashing and panning about the club.

The hours had dragged on and they seemed to be dancing the night away. Needing to leave before them in order to return to her original observation point and to catch her targets in the act, she took advantage of the opportunity as they moved towards one the bars to take a break. Retuning to Daegan's quarters she looked out over the park and waited.

[Back to the Present]

After parting ways with Jules at the Thunderbird's docking umbilical Daegan turned on his heel and began the walk back to his quarters on the station. While he walked a smile spread over his face as he recalled the events of the evening. He and Jules had always been good friends but it had never gone beyond that. Oh there had been several times where things could have easily progressed but something had always...interfered. The thing was with them stationed on the same ship, the opportunities for their relation to advance were exponential. In all likely hood, with their history, their duties so closely interconnected, and the XO wanting to put a performance group together, it seemed almost inevitable. A wry grin, accompanied by a cocked brow appeared on his face at the thought and with it his decision to let things happen should the chance arise; but at the same time he wanted to ensure their friendship came first.

Strolling along the edge of the large park he passed the area that housed his quarters and after grabbing a drink at a nearby replicator he took a seat in the observation lounge looking out at the vastness beyond the massive sheets of transparent alloy that made-up the huge windows of the stations lounge. Leaning back in the lounge chair he drank his sweat tea as he thought about what the future held, what he would do on his last day of leave, and the first things on his list to see to upon his return to duty. He tried to organize his thoughts but right now all he could think about was Jules.

[Still in the Present/But in Daegan's Quarters]

Impatience was beginning to take effect and she almost left her perch when she spotted Daegan walking through the park towards the structure...alone. Her heart filling with hope at the sight and a tear fell silently. Doubts filled her mind as she questioned herself. ~Maybe they were just friends after all?~ Recalling her observations she admitted that maybe she had seriously overreacted. Here she had basically been stalking them all night and while they had locked arms a couple of times, she had never seen then hold hands, hug, or even kiss. Hell, when she had first met Daegan they had danced more provocatively than she had seen them do all night.

Brushing the tear away she sat in the chair, putting her face in her hands. "What am I doing?! I'm acting like some love sick psycho...". Having not seen Daegan turn and head towards the observation lounge Jaclyn was torn. She wanted to climb into the bed and wait for him and apologize for her actions earlier today, but there would be too many questions, and she was supposed to be preparing for her mission.

Pulling her top back over her shoulders she fastened it back up and looked about in a panic. "I gotta get outta here!" Scanning the room quickly to make sure their wasn't any sign of her presents she bolted from Daegan's room and headed for the the side entrance. Looking to see if the coast was clear she briskly walked across the park and back to the ship.

As he neared the end of his drink he made his way back to his room. Given the hour there were very few people moving about but he watch as those that were out, moved about the area. Spotting one person moving briskly, and obviously faster then anyone else he huffed and shock his head..."Someone's in a hurry."

Upon reaching his quarters he yawned as the door closed behind him. He didn't bother activating the lights and pulling off his clothes, tossing then into the chair. He yawned again as he slipped into the bed, instantly relaxing, looking forward to his dreams, and a few moments later was in a deep sleep.

[Same Time/But from Jules' Perspective]\

Jules was a creature of movement, of action. A person who thought better when she was doing something. A woman who would never take up knitting or treasure quiet nights at home alone with a blanket and stars forbid, some needlepoint project. So she unpacked and the put things away and thought about the evening, about Baas, and about the paths opening up before her.

Dinner and dancing. The night had held promise and then Baas, in typical Baas fashion, brought them both back to reality with four words - 'drive each other crazy'. Maybe, she thought, as she sorted and organized her wardrobe, the bits and pieces she had used undercover, the stuff she wore when she was just herself, that's all we are. Friends.

And probably best that way, she thought, as she lined up shoes and boots. What was it her handler had called me? Part secret keeper, part chameleon. Unreachable. Unknowable. The skills that made her perfect for the work also made her a bad choice for a girlfriend. Maybe that's what Baas saw tonight? Maybe.

You want crazy, Baas, she thought as slipped into a worn t-shirt and shorts, I can give you crazy. She lay down in bed, buried under a pile of blankets, her face covered, and lay there in the dark. Horizontal meditation that led, after awhile, to deep and dreamless sleep.

A Post by:

Lieutenant Julianna Raihan
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Thunderbird

and

Lieutenant Daegan Baas
Chief of Security
USS Thunderbird

and

Petty Officer First Class Jaclyn Masterson
Investigator
USS Thunderbird
(NPC'ed by Daegan Baas' writer)

 

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