Could You Imagine If We Ended Up With Children Aboard?

Posted on Tue Jan 23rd, 2018 @ 9:46pm by Captain Rueben Gregnol & Executive Officer Valiyi Uhin

Mission: Mission 5 - Liberation
Location: Deck 2 - Captains Study
Timeline: MD -20 18:00
1333 words - 2.7 OF Standard Post Measure

Reuben eyes opened suddenly, launching him out of the nightmare. He gasped for breath, his chest heaving madly from shock. His body was drenched in sweat, his heart beating violently as he tried to regain his senses in the darkened office. The Captain stared at the ceiling and placed his hand wearily upon his sweaty forehead surprised that no one had come looking for him as of yet. He had thought closing his eyes for a few moments would help after the stress that the last few days had been trying to find where the hell Mahone had gone after her note that he had found on his desk when they had stopped for a day at a Civilian base. He hoped that wherever she had gone she was going to be okay, he wished her well. She had been an ally when he truly didn’t have many.

He turned as the chimed to his office rang making him turn and sit up properly. “Come in!” He called trying to remember in his sleepy mind if he had requested anyone to come.

As the door slid open, it revealed the flowing-haired Betazoid, hand on her hip and a furrow in her brow. It was far from her normal time for slumber, but she decided if she looked drowsy enough, it would add to the minor annoyance she held. "Reuben, there is no need to shout. You're the one who called me in here, after all."

Reuben didn't rise from the couch he had been using as a bed but he did look at least more awake than the moment before. "Did I?" He wondered stretching a little before he remembered yes he did, in fact, request the woman to his office... study. He slowly rose and stretched a little more remembering why he had called her there. "Come in take a seat."

"You need rest." Valiyi strode across the room, sitting in the vacant seat across from Reuben. "And to cease stressing yourself out over every little thing. But please, tell me what's on your mind."

It was nice that she cared but the man was fine, it was his job to stress over everything. "You are Betazoid.. you tell me." He pointed out rubbing his face with a huge grin at how proud he was of himself before he sobered a little. "Have you thought any more about your long term future?" He wondered.

Valiyi rested her head in her hand and her arm on the rest of the chair, displeased with the assumption that was made. "I do not simply go prying into everyone's head because I can. But no, I have not Reuben. I have made an endeavor to enjoy my stay - despite the attitude I seem to have received by some of your crew. Why do you ask?"

"I was teasing." He needed to stop teasing the Betazoid's on his ship. They just didn't get that he was teasing them, he had become far too easy in being around them with Jeassaho. "I have a position for you on this ship." He said with a wry smile.

A frown formed on Valiyi's lips. The question was unexpected. "A position? Does your crew actually need a diplomatic consultant?"

"How would you feel about being the Executive Officer so to speak?" He knew it wasn't an easy offer but he thought she would take him up on it. They both needed something from the other at this point.

"Oh." The Betazoid's frown deepened. "What happened with the young pilot you had? Did you know she spoke fluent Ferengi? I could not imagine her in a scenario with Ferengi, at all."

"Da...I did in fact know. I am sad to see her go." He said truthfully seeing her frown crease her forehead. Mahone knowing Ferengi had been helpful in a sticky situation. "She's a firecracker." He had a soft spot for the young woman, she had been his sole ally at times and he would be forever grateful for that.

Valiyi had more questions, but it was clear that she would have to investigate the answers for herself. "I see... I must admit that I would not have thought myself aiding the leadership on a civilian vessel. I had not seen myself on a civilian vessel for a prolonged period of time either. Especially one with such a crew."

The Russian rubbed his face. "So that is a no then?" He wondered feeling a little more than disappointed. He needed someone solid next to him to run this vessel.

"It's a hesitant 'maybe.' Reuben, I will be honest." Valiyi stroked her chin while she continued. "Your crew... needs a more guiding hand than what they have been given. I cannot promise that hand, however. That does have to come from you. So long as that is recognized, it will be much easier for me to assist."

"You think I haven't been trying?" The man knew he had been disinterested up till a month or so thinking of everything and anything to get himself off of the ship. He had truly wanted to get off Rosie with her dysfunctional crew, her old-fashioned lady that Barton had put on the keel of the ship and most of all the way the ship just never worked.

"Of course you have, every good leader does." Adding a small tut, Valiyi set her hand on the table. "But if I do not state my concerns now, it will be something that could come up later in a pressure moment. I would prefer to defer to you for most leadership decisions, but if you are desiring a first mate, I will not be nearly as lenient as your last."

Silence reigned as the Captain stared at the woman. She was nothing like the other Betazoid's on the ship but then again she had been in a much higher leadership role than any of them. "Did you just tut me?" Reuben asked with a grin as he broke the tension that had been created by her comment about being lenient.

"Yes, I did." Valiyi raised her brow at Reuben. "And while I do not have plans to run your ship, I do hope that the senior staff does not revolt at the sudden change."

"You mean my Chief Science Officer revolts at the sudden change. He will have no choice, there aren't many options and I would rather have someone who won't just argue for the sake of arguing with me. We work the same way." He said softly thinking they had both been in charge of Federation Vessels. He wasn't a telepath but he was married to one by her customs and he had picked up body language between the pair relationship, it was obvious from the Party that something wasn't quite right there.

"I would hope Braden knows how to conduct himself professionally better than he does in more personal settings, but no matter." Valiyi tapped her bottom lip as she thought. "I may be able to procure upgrades through old connections, if necessary."

"Why is everyone trying to fix her." He said lightly with a pat on his desk. He was growing fond of Rosie and her quirks. She had gotten them this far despite outside influence trying to blow them up and kill them off one crew member at a time.

Valiyi's nose scrunched at his stubbornness. "Rueben, if anyone understands the need to keep this ship's authenticity, I cannot imagine anyone else but myself. But we should also make sure the nacelles do not fall off first, or the ship has plenty of recreational activities. Could you imagine if we ended up with children aboard? Honestly."

Reuben looked up and scratched his chin. "Funny you should mention that..."

OFF::

Reuben Gregnol
Captain
SS Mary Rose

Valiyi Uhin
Passenger made First Mate
SS Mary Rose