Crossing Paths

Posted on Mon Jul 15th, 2019 @ 6:08pm by Executive Officer Jake Ford & Captain Rueben Gregnol & Jeassaho Kea (*)

Mission: Mission 9 - Daucina
Location: Coral Reef City
Timeline: MD 07 17:00
1515 words - 3 OF Standard Post Measure

"I can't believe we got to see the Aldebaran Spitfires! And they won, too!"

The gushing of his companion drew the faintest of warm smiles on Jake's face. He'd probably never been close to as enthusiastic as the young man beside him was. Billy was barely five-six, young, and wildly inexperienced in the ways of the universe. Jake had taken him under his wing not long after his arrival, keeping the kid clean and out of trouble ever since.

"I'm glad we managed to fit it in before I headed off-world," he replied. The statement dampened the young man's passion for a moment.

"Yeah."

Spotting the hesitation, Jake clapped the young man on the shoulder.

"Don't worry, Billy. I'm sure Brax will find another big friendly giant to work the door and he'll look after you just as well as me. Maybe Seth." The thought of a massive Gorn alongside the scrawny human sounded more like something from a sitcom. "Or...someone."

"Probably not," Billy sighed, his spirits well and truly washed out now.

"Hey, c'mon. Let's head down to the bazaar. With the Spitfires in town we can probably find you some knockoff merch to take home with you," Jake suggested. Billy brightened a little and nodded at the idea.

The Maritime Bazaar was in easy walking distance of the arena. It made perfect commercial sense to have them adjacent, with all the tourism local games brought. Jake had spent a lot of money there in the few months he'd been local. One of the street vendors sold some of the best Kesatian Ale this side of Romulus, much to his bank account truly hating him.

"Oh man, I'm still freaking-out over that last play. I can't believe Jaxxon pulled it off!" Billy was still enthusing about the game as they approached one of the pop-ups that seemed to be flogging trinkets and various zero-gee football products.

Jake browsed for a few minutes, and was about to suggest a purchase, when a face in the crowd of nearby tourists caught his eye. Not one to usually forget a face, he sensed that the individual in question was someone he recognised, but wasn't able to place. Like a passing acquaintance from a long time ago. It was the sort of moment that plagued his thoughts as he struggled to place it.

Jeassaho was pretty sure her husband was not impressed with her at the moment at all as he trailed behind her, one it was hot and he was outside and two he was currently holding one too many bags from the market. It was only fair in her opinion as he got his Zero-G game and the Betazoid got the market, marriage had to be even.

"Don't look at me like that Gregnol." The woman said spinning around and walking into Jake accidentaly. She stepped back towards the stall taking off her specs to look the man over. "Oops... Sorry, you aren't my husband." The woman said and looked around for the big Russian but he was nowhere to be seen for the moment.

"Not unless you know something I don't," Jake remarked with a genial smile and nod. "Pardon me." He glanced-up again, spotting the tall man approaching. Evidently the individual the young woman had been attempting to speak with. That odd vibe of familiarity was still there, a feeling he couldn't quite shift.

"Not at all. I think my husband would be dismayed to hear that I was married to someone else." The woman said as she saw Reuben approaching. He looked a little confused at how he had lost her in under five steps but he stopped as he took in the man who she was talking to.

"I know you?" Reuben said stepping to Jeassaho's side looking the man up and down before looking at the kid. He didn't like knowing people without being able to place them properly.

"I was just thinking the same thing," Jake replied, sizing the man up. The minimal height difference was a giveaway. He snapped his fingers. "Starfleet Academy. Class of '79?" It started to click into place now.

The Captain raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Oldie." The woman next to him murmured making Reuben grin at her for a moment before he turned back to Jake offering a hand.

"Reuben Gregnol." He introduced himself properly. It had been a pretty big class so it was hard to keep track especially after his 'death' and kidnapping that had held him hostage for two years and led him to end up being in charge of SS Mary Rose

Jake shook, firm grip meeting firm grip. "Jake Ford. Weird seeing Starfleet out here. Wasn't sure I'd heard of any ships dropping by." He'd have heard of it if there had been a contingent of shore-leaving crewmen inbound. Any bar worth its salt kept an eye out for just such an eventuality. "So, uh...honeymoon, or just vacationing?" he inquired, his glance flitting between the man and the woman standing close by.

Reuben smirked. “Lots of Starfleet out here with the base above and research station out there somewhere.” He was pretty sure that most of the people on the beaches around Reef City were Starfleet personnel searching out the sunshine while they could. “Though I am not technically Starfleet anymore.”

“We are escaping our ship for a little bit. Though this would have been better than the honeymoon we got.” Jeassaho teased her husband before she looked at the kid. “What about you little one. What are you doing here?”

Billy blinked with a 'who me?' expression, immediately looking at Jake for a prompt.

"He's just excited 'cause we got to see a zero-gee game before I headed off-world," Jake explained with a grin. "Daucina is nice an' all, but I've got a hankering for something new. There's only so many drunks you can throw out of a bar before it becomes a little dull."

“Da the game was good.” Gregnol said with a grin appearing on his face towards the child stood there. The man was an avid zero g fan and had played it for the Academy. It was one of the few things that he had been missing from a Starfleet Ship.

“So where are you heading off world?” Jeassaho wondered thinking that if she didn’t say something it would get into a discussion of football.

"You know what? I have no idea," Jake admitted, scratching his head. "I figured I'd sign-up with a freight run or something once I got topside. There's a few ships out there that'll take on an experienced hand. Not many crew to be had out here with proper Federation security training and a clean record." He shrugged. "I'll take what comes my way, as always."

"Maybe Mr Gregnol knows someone?" Billy chirped-up, then fell quickly silent again, realising he'd possibly spoken out of turn.

Reuben and Jeassaho shared a look for a moment like some silent communication was going between them for a moment before Reuben smiled. "How you feel about a ship with a slightly less clean record but leaves in a week?" The Captain offered.

Jake's head tilted a little. Seemed a little too good to be true, but then he never was one to look a gift horse in the mouth. "You serious? I mean, it's a push to say we go back a bit..." he shrugged. "Hell, why not? Isn't like I've had any offers yet. And I assume the pay is at least somewhere near average?" his eyebrow raised just slightly, seeking confirmation.

"Average enough that we don't lose people often," Gregnol said with a small smirk as his wife nudged his side as some inside joke between them. "We are docked up there." He said indicating the base that was visible to the naked eye and used as the access for bigger ships.

"That's great. That's...really great." Jake was momentarily lost for words. It wasn't every day this happened. "I suppose I should join you there. I don't think you mentioned the ship's name...?"

"SS Mary Rose." Gregnol said simply. It was the only civilian vessel of its size and it still had the stupid old earth ships figure on it that he had been putting off for nearly a year. "Trust me you can't miss her." He hadn't spoken truer words in a while.

Wait - the Connie? Jake blinked. He'd heard she was in port, but he hadn't quite believed the chatter around town. He figured it was a few drunk bar patrons making out like they'd seen an old ship of the line in dock. He took a moment to straighten himself up, catching himself before he yelped in amazement.

"No. I don't think I will," he nodded sharply. "It's an honour to be joining you, Captain."

OFF::

Rueben Gregnol
Captain
SS Mary Rose

Lieutenant Commander (LOA) Jeassaho Kea
Engineer
SS Mary Rose
(PNPC Gregnol)

Jake Ford
Chief Armoury Officer
SS Mary Rose