Meeting in the Mess (Part I)

Posted on Fri Apr 22nd, 2022 @ 8:08am by Cadet Senior Grade Meghan Stefani & Cadet Junior Grade Renae Villanova & Cadet Senior Grade Daniel Weaver & Cadet Junior Grade Emma Mendez

1,289 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: The Cadet Cruise
Location: Lounge
Timeline: Night before Launch

ON

Everyone was on board, ready to launch at 0600. While the officers met in the conference room to go over logistics, the cadets were invited to a getting-to-know-you party in the lounge.

In walked a red-haired girl with bright green eyes. She looked around at everyone in the room. "Hi" she said approaching one of the nearby cadets. "I'm Emma Mendez. Security Division"

Renae was practically bouncing as she entered the lounge. The first thing she noticed was another redhead. "Hi!" she said, running over to Emma and hugged her. "I'm glad I'm not the only redhead here."

Emma smiled at the other girl. "Yeah, same here. What department are you from?" she asked curiously.

"Science." Renae grinned. "Specifically, botany. I love plants. What about you?"

"Security and tactical" Emma said. "I'm acting chief for the cruise" she told her with a smile. She held out two fingers like a pistol and pretended to shoot.

Daniel walked into the lounge, dressed in his Cadet formal wear, looking a cross between sharp and uncomfortable. He looked around at who was here, before spotting the Commodore at a table with members of the skeleton crew. Once they locked eyes, Daniel walked over to the bar counter, in an attempt to move further away from that table in general.

Meghan walked in and paused, noting a couple of cadets at a table, the Commodore at another, and Daniel at the bar. She wanted to go sit by Daniel, but wasn't sure if he'd appreciate her company, or if it would draw the Commodore's attention. It was also likely he'd think her a stalker.

She decided to compromise. She walked over to Daniel first. "Good morning."

"Hey." He looked over to her, a pleased smile on his face. "Good morning. Find your room assignment? They stick you with a roommate?" Daniel tapped on the seat by him and motioned for the bartender to get his attention. Of course, because they were all cadets, their choices were limited. "Do you want something to drink?"

She smiled warmly at the invitation and sat down next to him. "I have my own room, at least for now. It's nice because I'll be able to read late if I want to." She looked at his glass. "I'll have what you're drinking. What about you? Do you have a roommate?"

"No..." Daniel said, looking away for a moment, before looking back to her with an uneasy smile. "One guess as to how that happened." He finished his drink of Bajorian Kava Juice, than gestured for another.

Impulsively, she put her hand on his. "It's okay. I think you deserve it." She blushed and took her hand away to pick up her drink.

Daniel smiled a bit, looking over to her, before nervously chuckling. "Maybe you and Shafin deserve it. To me it feels more like I am taking a backseat to my own career." He looked over to her as the bartender put down a glass of his Kava Juice. "You know what I mean?"

"I do. I'm great with book learning and writing papers, but the practical application makes me nervous." She took a sip of her drink and then looked at him again. "I know you don't know who I am, but I've watched you play a time or two, and I've been in two classes with you. I think you deserve to be here. I don't know where you'll fit best, but whatever it is, I'm sure you'll do well."

"When I play, Meghan... my thought isn't on me. It's on my team. I don't take the spotlight, I direct it to who its best suited for, giving each player a chance to shine in their own way." Daniel said, with a smile, before taking his Kava Juice in hand. "I hate the spotlight. I hate the attention. I like getting familiar with what my team can do and knowing when and where to use them to overcome an obstacle." He looked over to her, smiling a bit, bringing his glass close before adding. "I just don't like it when he decides something before I even have a chance to make that decision on my own." He took a drink, letting it settle, before swallowing it. "I didn't ask for the nepotism. I don't want it, but that's all people see."

She paused for a moment, then shyly admitted. "I don't see the nepotism. I see someone who does what's best for the team, not himself. That's the mark of a good leader."

"Thank you." He replied with a pleased smile. "You're the first one to think that. Now you know why I go by my mother’s name instead of my fathers. A few people recognize the name and immediately its stories and 'if you need anything, Kid, let me know. Put in a good word to your old man for me'. It's annoying." Daniel drank a bit of his juice.

She groaned softly. "I can't imagine what that must be like. If it helps, I didn't know until last night." She took another drink. She glanced at the Commodore. "I hope you'll have a chance to show what you can really do on this cruise."

"My mom encouraged me to come and not just decline the opportunity." Daniel said, looking over to Meghan, smiling a bit. "She even said a little prayer to the Profits for a good journey." He felt slightly embarrassed, telling her that information, before continuing. "She said, the Commodore in his own way, wants to make sure I have options. But his options feel less like options and more orders. Like I was one of his subordinates and not his son."

"That's a tough position to be in." She shook her head, then smiled. "But I like your mother." She hesitated. "He didn't act much like your father last night. Maybe he'll soften when he actually has a chance to see what you can do. At least, I hope so."

"We'll see, but I won't hold my breath." Daniel replied softly, taking a drink, before placing his glass down. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pour my family drama all on you." He hesitated slightly, not sure how best to salvage the situation. "Tell me about yourself." Was the best he came up with in such short time.

"Don't be sorry. You needed someone to talk to, and I don't mind listening." She smiled again before continuing. "I'm pretty boring. My parents are professors. I went to college to study history and archaeology. Then I decided I wanted to explore other worlds, so I joined Starfleet. I dance, but not competitively. I'm basically pretty boring."

"History and Archaeology, huh?" Daniel said, smiling a bit, as he looked at her happily. "Have you ever seen the ruins on Bajor? My mom took me once when I was little. A friend of hers got us permission to go and she explained to me all about the significance of the place. Really interesting." He paused slightly, hesitant a bit, before adding. "If not... maybe I can take you sometime."

"I'd like that very much. I haven't seen them yet, but I want to." Meghan smiled back, pleased they had something besides this cruise in common.

Daniel seemed to nod, raising the empty glass in a bad attempt to hide the slight red in his face, before setting it down and asking for another. "Then it's a date. After the cruise, we'll go explore the ruins together."

(To be continued...)

Cadet Junior Grade Emma Mendez
Security Division

Cadet Junior Grade Renae Villanova
Science-Botany

Cadet Senior Grade Daniel Weaver
Command

Cadet Senior Grade Meghan Stefani
Science

 

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