An Unwelcome Change Of Plan

Posted on Wed Jan 10th, 2018 @ 5:59am by Captain Rueben Gregnol & Lieutenant Selina Fenruse (*) & Brent Cadascott (*)

Mission: Mission 5 - Liberation
Location: Deck 13 - Docking Hatch 2
Timeline: MD -30 10:30
983 words - 2 OF Standard Post Measure

Rueben paced the floor of the docking hatch nervously as he waited for one former Starfleet Engineer to arrive to help him placate an active Starfleet Engineer who would want nothing to do with what was happening on his ship. He felt guilty about taking her from where she belonged but the man a year ago had been a cold-hearted bastard and only thinking of his own solitude when Barton had just left him with a heap of junk and Intelligence was constantly on his case about this or that.

“Nice of you to join me.” He commented on as he saw the Cardassian finally join him outside the docking hatch. “And before you ask I know I could have picked the very nice hatch up by the Bridge but I didn’t really want my deck crew to see me get punched and someone cry.” He muttered partly to calm the emotions that were going through him as the hatch started to recycle the air to accommodate the different pressures from the ship.

Keeping her head facing towards the hatch, Draia Theroh only spared a quick glance in Reuben's direction with a bit of side-eye. She shook her head just once. Adjusting the front of her magenta jumpsuit, Draia confidently said, "I won't cry when she punches you."

"It's not you crying." The Captain revealed softly as the hatched opened a man stepped out with a familiar woman in cuffs. Selina stood there in a long maxi dress looking like she had been picked up from a holiday. Selina was shivering as her arms was bare and the Russain didn't fail to see the bump under her belt. "Brent?" Reuben demanded taking in the scene before him. The Intelligence Operative looked at Reuben and smirked as he caught sight of the man for the first time in six months.

Spinning on Brent (while keeping a more than respectful distance), Draia snapped at Brent, "What are you doing with her like that?" --Her question was almost more of a whine than a snarl, but it was dripping with condescending incredulity-- "You're going to let her go now, right?"

The Intelligence Officer looked at the Cardassian and shook his head. "As you requested Gregnol," Brent said pulling out a device that loosened the handcuffs before he grabbed it away, stowing it in his pocket again.

"I requested a year ago," Reuben muttered as he took his jacket off and held it out to the shivering Betazoid. Selina looked utterly and totally exhausted.

"I finally got the request." The man shrugged, it took time sometimes to get transfer requests. "She is your issue now not mine anymore Commander." He said turning to leave.

Having lost interest in Brent, Draia pushed her way between the men and she snatched the jacket away from Reuben's half-hearted offer. Circling around Selina Fenruse, Draia draped the jacket over Selina's shoulders. For this woman, in this place, in this time, Draia withdrew all the bravado that came so naturally to her. Gently, she asked, "How was your journey?"

Selina blinked a little confused at the woman before throwing her arms around the woman not caring for a moment, Draia was a familiar face in a world that had become dangerous in the last week. "They arrested me on vacation." She whispered as Brent disappeared and Reuben went after him into the airlock.

At first, Draia leaned back slightly when Selina threw her arms around her. The Cardassian stiffened up. As far as Draia could remember, this was the first time she had shared even a moment of physical contact with Selina. Given the asymmetrical friendship they had experienced, Draia stopped herself from fully recoiling from Selina. She let Selina hug her. Draia didn't hug back, but she took it like a champ. "Arrested you for what? Aggressive do-gooding?" Draia asked.

Selina felt the woman resisting the urge to back up and away from her but the Engineer didn't care, she wanted a hug and some type of contact even if it was from the Draia. "Sorry..." Selina held up her hands in a peaceful manner before she noticed the bruises on them from where she had resisted the arresting officers so they had put the cuffs on tighter behind her back and sedated her. "I don't know... they never actually told me. I'm not always do-gooding." She shook her head putting her arms through the jacket, looking at how huge it was on her slim frame. If it had been any other time or place she would have laughed.

At first sight of the bruises on her arms, Draia actually reached out to Selina. She genuinely wanted to comfort her and maybe it was too late; she also knew poking and prodding at bruises would be the opposite of comfort. Draia held back from actually touching Selina again. When Selina spoke of not always do-gooding, Draia sassed back with, "I wish you'd included me in those times..."

"I am not sure you would approve and let me get into trouble," Selina muttered back just as sassily. She was too tired to hold back her temper. "Seems you've landed on your feet," She wondered softly as she looked the woman over, she looked a lot healthier and happier than the last time she had seen her.

Reuben came back and looked at the women worried, it wasn't a look that normally passed his face. The man looked grey and he opened his mouth. "We've got a problem." The man said softly making both women looked at unsure. Gregnol never admitted they had issues, it was things that they had to overcome.

What could have happened in five minutes?

OFF::

Draia Theroh
Engineering Chief
SS Mary Rose

Lieutenant Selina Fenruse
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Viking, NCC-76640

Rueben Gregnol
Captain
SS Mary Rose