TECH CONFERENCE:: Fancy Meeting You There

Posted on Tue Jul 21st, 2020 @ 10:35am by Major Levi Drake & Petty Officer 2nd Class Halla Dezom (*)

Mission: Cosmos
Location: Starbase-621
2180 words - 4.4 OF Standard Post Measure

Loud noises and crowds had never been (and likely never would be) Halla's favourite thing. They typically made her tense and left her with a headache all day. Why she loved quiet labs and spaces so much. She strolled through the bluish lit halls admiring all the sea life that was amazing to find on a base such as 621 and it made her see why the tech conference was being held there of all palaces in the universe it could have been.

The Trill never knew she had a thing for colours and fish and colourful fish until she had seen that aquarium. Aquatic creatures of all kinds and in all colours surrounded her where ever she turned. The water seemed to glow with light and the animals seemed just as happy as Halla was to be there on her time off between helping Karis with organising stuff or with helping the crew she had grown to know on 621 the last time they were there.

"Thinking of buying a pet?" a deep, grizzled voice behind her asked. Leaning against the wall, Levi had a vaguely amused expression on his face. Indeed, this was likely the first time he'd seen her in a non-work mode since their very first encounter. It showed in his stance and posture, although his semi-constant state of alert was always there today he seemed a bit more relaxed.

The woman grinned and took a long moment to compose herself before she turned and looked at the man. It had been weeks since they had seen each other in anything other than a professional capacity. She had no idea where they stood at all but it was good to at least see him. "Maybe." She said with a shrug off her shoulders.

"Thinking of a fish, huh? I get that. Low maintenance. Look interesting enough to anyone passing by." He tapped the glass with the tip of his finger. "Not particularly exciting, though. Sure you don't want something more adventurous?"

Halla smiled and moved over to where he was. "What are you doing here Major?" She wondered realising she had not congratulated him on the promotion.

"Browsing," he replied. "My sister's birthday is in a few weeks." He eyed the tank again. "Think she'd like a fish?"

"How are you doing to get it to her alive?" Halla questioned back with a small smirk as she looked around. It was a cute idea but impossible so far from home. The aquarium was opened twenty-four hours days as it was a walkway through the base most of the time but it was nice to just have a moment in the light where they could just almost talk. It had been a whirlwind few months where they never seemed to just talk.

"Doesn't have to be alive," he muttered. "Certainly considering my sister..." he straightened, offering her his hand. "Okay, not a fish then. But at least I made a catch."

“What has your sister done to deserve that type of present?” Halla shook her head at him and took the offered hand allowing herself to be pulled closer. They had not at a moment like this for awhile, it was soul soothing if she had no idea where they stood. “Oh did you really?” She wondered looking up at him.

"I did," he confirmed with a little grin. Being off-duty had his guard down. He was more relaxed, less 'professional' and more willing to let go. "Prettier than a fish. She smells a lot nicer, too."

"I should hope so. I showered after dance class. They actually have a well-being spa on the base run by an old friend so I have been going to her classes when I am not on duty." She replied trying to get him to grin more. It was slow work and she really was not sure why she stayed and tried but she did.

"You dance?" he asked, curious. "Tell me more."

"I do dance. I wanted to like most little girls be a dancer but Starfleet offered me a better life purpose but I still use dancing as exercise and I love to attend classes." The Trill blushed more and more as she told him. She had thought he knew that side of her but obviously not.

"So, what? Latin? Ballet?" he asked, genuinely curious. "I mean, you'll never get me to one of those classes, I don't think anyone wants to see that...but that doesn't mean I'm entirely uncultured."

"You are not that bad." Halla pointed out remembering their first date and the bar they had ended at. "I do a bit of all kind but ballet is my favourite." It was hard to define what Trill dancing was like but it was as close to it as she could think of.

"I think I'd like to see that, one day," he remarked, taking in the tank full of dozens of tiny aquatic creatures floating around. "Did the tech conference not interest you? I figured being a scientist and all you'd have been right at home with the gadgets and the geeks."

"I am sure we can arrange a private show sometimes." She flirted stroking a finger along his cheek before she stepped back to give him some space. "I am not a scientist but to answer your question the events on today do not interest me so much so I thought I would check out the base."

"It's a big station. Lots going on. I think there was a weapons demonstration coming up, some new phaser rifle tech they're excited about. Or if you're not excited by the gun show...I could treat you to a gun show..." he flexed his bicep a little, a grin forming.

Halla grinned wildly as she span back to see him flexing his bicep. Weapons demonstration could wait she needed to enjoy this moment. "Well, Major that was not what I expect. I am starting to think you like me after all." She could see easily that she was breaking down his resolve day by day that he

"Like you?" he inclined his head, matching her smile. "I'm missing a weapons demonstration to stand next to a fish tank. Of course, I like you."

"Mmmm Hmmm... Want to try and make that weapons demonstration?" She wondered holding out her hands to him invitingly. She loved how a smile from him brightened everything about him.

"If you're sure," he replied, a little surprised she'd suggested it. A welcome surprise, for sure.

He took her hand and led her towards an elaborate setup where a Bolian engineer was waxing lyrical about a new fangled energy weapon he'd been part of a team developing.

"Persuasive fellow, isn't he?" Levi remarked. "What do you think?"

"Bolian." Halla commented on with a small whisper back as she listened carefully "Could have used them on that sea base." She teased just a little thinking they had been very lucky to have not permanent damage from the even but Halla could imagine all the damage she could have cause with the energy weapon.

"The Bolian or the weapon?" he asked, a little smirk on his face.

"You sir! A fine officer of our dedicated and celebrated Marine corps!" the Bolian must have noticed him speaking, as the demonstrator picked Levi out of the crowd. "Perhaps a demonstration from a clearly skilled and experienced expert such as yourself?" he suggested, motioning to the weapon.

Levi glanced at Halla. "I don't know...what do you think?"

"I think you should not have worn your uniform despite how fetching it is." Halla without hesitation pushed him forward with a shrug to take part in the display. It was only fair and the Bolian was not going to back down.

Half-heartedly grumbling, Levi let himself be ushered to the front.

"What do you say, a little target practice?" the Bolian suggested loudly. He tapped a control and some holographic targets appeared in the air. The demo area was large enough to permit the targets to be a reasonable distance away. Nothing too difficult, though. Levi picked up the demo rifle and tested it in his hands. It felt solid enough, and balanced. He tossed a little glance at Halla.

"So, want to make a wager on how many I'll hit, then?" he grinned.

Halla smirked. "Sure. What we wagering?" She wondered narrowing her eyes at the grinning as the crowd just watched them.

"I'd say dinner, but that's easy," Levi shrugged. "I keep seeing you in your uniform. How about a proper date? And you wear a nice dress this time."

“I am in a dress now?” She challenged with a grin. “But sure you get to pick where and when if you shout all of the targets. But if you lose you have to come to one of the scientific panels.” Halla was sure she got the best end of the deal in both cases but did not comment just stepped back to let him focus. The bolian rolled his eyes at the fair but said nothing.

"Really?" Levi snorted. "That's not so bad. You can do better than that," he replied. Maybe she was more confident in him succeeding than he thought she would be. He shouldered the rifle momentarily. "At least make it something for me to break a sweat over."

“It’s around Seabases and how they are important.” She teased just a little before shrugging. It was all she had at the moment when she did not want to scare him off. She wanted something proper with him but it was all awkward sometimes, they had not exactly had normal events happened.

"All right. You had your chance..." he retorted, bringing the rifle around. Seeing this, the Bolian fired-up the sequence.

Levi, being a highly trained marksman, made short work of the first three targets. The weapon was a little unusual in configuration compared to the standard, but he was able to cope. Three more targets appeared soon after. He polished off the first, then the second, then there was a strange sound from the phaser and a strange burning smell. As he pressed the firing stud to finish the last one off, the weapon spluttered a little.

"Huh..." he lowered it and glanced over at the Bolian. "Maybe not quite ready for active service," he remarked, tossing the jammed weapon back over to the embarrassed-looking demonstrator.

It was obvious what was going to happen but it was amusing watching it all play out as the weapon jammed and the Bolian turned a darker shade of blue. Halla watched him a sly grin on her face as the weapon was tossed back to the Bolian and the crowds started booing. It was a shame as it looked like it shot well. "So that went well?" She offered as the man appeared back with her.

"Prototypes. They don't handle well when used properly," he explained. "I guess you won, then." He shrugged at her. "I missed one."

"You would have got it though?" She mused putting her hand in his. "How about we do both?" Halla offered as the room got busy around them again as everyone started talking about the prototype not working and how embarrassing it must be for it's creator.

"Deal." Levi nodded with a relaxed smile. "But we're doing the science geek stuff first; I need to have something to look forward to."

Halla grinned and nodded. She could accept that compromise easily. It was easily the best one she had made in months seeing they got to have moments together like this one. It was nice to see into his world without them being chased and he got to see into her world without the craziness from the being that was chasing them. It was almost too perfect but the woman shook that away quickly not wanting to think on her ex and that chaos or any of the million other things she had to do or say or feel that day. “You know I was kidding about it being sea base expo right?”

Levi raised an eyebrow. "What have I just agreed to go to, then?"

"It really is a boring subject about the planet below. Sorry. It is all connected to an ancient earth culture and they cannot figure out how it happened or when yet." It was unique in that none of it was known as it was all still in the exploring stage. Halla was trying to learn all she could for her next examination.

"A mystery? I suppose I could go for a little bit of that," Levi said. "They probably all died from some disaster or something. The usual story. Maybe a big war."

“See now you cannot say I do not take you anywhere exciting.” Halla grinned a little and just tugged on his arm. It would give them someone to talk about over dinner if they got to have it without some type of drama or mishap. A woman had to have a dream after all.