Wine, Shuttlecraft, and the Gas Giant

Posted on Mon Mar 11th, 2013 @ 4:07pm by Ensign Anthony La Baron & Lieutenant Anandra Delair

2,931 words; about a 15 minute read

Mission: Mission 82 - The Aggressor
Location: Starbase 400, Runabout, Kaleb System
Timeline: Between 'Random Beginnings' and 'Heading to Earth'

Anthony had a successful day aboard the Princeton. He had managed to get some preliminary work on the old Cruiser but had no time to actually explore the relic of a ship. Hopefully his next time aboard the Princeton he'd get to see the bridge, see where his Great-Grandfather used to call the shots.

For the time being Anthony had found different ways to pass his time. On this night in particular, he was pleased with his options. Anthony briefly stopped by his quarters to fetch his bottle of Chateau Picard, vintage 2367. The wine was a gift from his Grandfather which he procured on one of his last cargo hauls before retiring. Anthony felt that he'd approve of his grandson sharing it with an attractive woman aboard a shuttlecraft. After grabbing the wine and putting on a quick splash of cologne, he began walking towards the promenade.

The time passed quickly in Anan's quarters as she found menial ways to occupy her mind, forbidding herself from wandering thoughts of the day's events or her handsome new friend. She may have peeked at his personnel file, just out of curiosity - but that was the extent of her wandering mind, at least until the time of their meeting approached. She briefly deliberated over whether to change, then ultimately decided to stay in what she'd been wearing, though she did loosely tie her hair back before leaving for the promenade.

It was -slightly- less bustling at this hour, but there was still plenty going on all around her as she kept a keen eye out for an Ensign with long hair. A smile spread over her face when she spotted him from behind - unmistakably familiar and carrying a bottle of wine. "Well hello there stranger, you lost?" she greeted with a warm smile and a hand gently place on his forearm.

Anthony felt his heart skip a beat when she grabbed his arm. He turned to face Anan.

With a grin he said, "I was until you ran into me again."

She merely smiled, bowing her head slightly in modest response to his compliment, then offered him her arm so that they may walk more closely together. "Walk with me, and tell me about your shift, for starters."

"I doubt you'd like to hear that," Anthony looped his arm between hers as they walked, "Preemptive Sensor Calibration, Databank dumps, it's all very very dry stuff. I'd much rather hear about your day."

"Oh, it wasn't all that exciting," she said coyly, looking around as they walked. "I met an interesting man earlier." she looked sideways at him. "I charmed him so well that he was 15 minutes late for a duty shift, at which point I returned to my quarters where I was left to daydream and perform menial tasks - like lute practice."

"Is that so? Are you sure he didn't charm you?" Anthony teased.

"Maybe a little.." she teased. "But then again, maybe more than a little..after all, I don't go on runabouts to the Kaleb System with every Ensign who bumps into me." She gave him a smile that said it all - that he had indeed charmed her rather well.

"I'm flattered you decided to fly with me instead of one of the the hundreds of other Ensigns on the station," Anthony led her into the turbolift. "Shuttlebay 1." He said to the computer.

"How could I resist such a handsome offer?" She stepped into the turbolift, leaning casually with her back against the wall (where she could look at him) - she wouldn't normally display such lazy posture but they were off-duty after all. When the turbolift stopped she would step aside, allowing him to lead the way.

The two of them exited the turbolift into Shuttlebay 1 which was bustling with activity. At any given moment, at least five shuttlecraft were either launching or landing. Even more daunting was the amount of shuttlecraft that weren't in use, each parked in rows that stretched through the expanse of the Shuttlebay. Anthony saw the shuttle which he reserved earlier being prepped for launch.

Anthony shouted over the noise of the shuttlebay, "Looks like they've already got the shuttle prepped for us."

Rather than attempt to shout her response, Anan nodded and gestured for Anthony to lead the way - he would be captain on this flight after all. She boarded the vessel after him, taking a look around the cabin as the hatch sealed behind them. At the helm, she ran a hand over the console, nostalgic to be at the controls of a vessel after so long spent in counseling offices and the like.

"A counselor and a pilot?" Anthony smirked, "You get more and more interesting with each passing moment."

"I should be honest," she said with the slightest hint of a smirk to match his. "I only dabble." she said, seating herself at the station. "And mostly in holodeck programs." She pushed a strand of hair back from her eyes, turning in her seat to look at him expectantly - not that she was in any particular rush to get this mission under way.

"Thankfully we aren't doing stunts today," Anthony sat down at the copilot's station, briefly placing his hand on hers as he did, "Just a simple flight out followed by an orbit. Then, while the computer compiles data on the planet, you can 'pick at my brain' some more while we share a drink."

Anan felt her pulse quicken just a hint at the warmth of his hand covering hers, and her smile widened, full and bright in his direction. She wasn't going to gush about how much she looked forward to this evening but she was clearly beaming, her eyes locked on his as she pulled her hand out to take his, giving it a gentle squeeze. It was a silent 'thank you' of sorts. "That'll be my favorite part, naturally." she teased about picking at his brain - and there was a total truth to it, she was eager to get to know him better. She broke her hand away from his, entering her security codes into the console and setting a course. "Course laid in," she said, giving him a wry look as she added an ever respectful "Captain."

"Engage." Anthony smiled as he imitated a famous Starfleet officer.

The shuttle's thrusters engaged with the stroke of a keypad and propelled them from the shuttlebay. Anthony engaged the impulse engines and the craft's cabin was filled with the gentle hum of propulsion.

"I always loved the sound of starship engines," Anthony listened to the hum attentively. "Ever since I was a child."

Anan let out a wistful sigh. "Oh me too," she said. "My father was a warp scientist, and very passionate about starships too, he instilled his love of engines in me." With the course laid in and the shuttle moving at a desired speed, Anan allowed herself to turn away from her station to face Anthony. "What about you? What was your first experience with a starship?"

"I was born on one." Said Anthony, looking out at the stars and occasionally glancing at Anan. "The USS Atlanta. She was an old Miranda Class Cruiser. My father was the captain."

"So exploring really is in your blood." she noted, turning back to her console just to glance at the readings. "And what about your mother?" she asked.

A brief look of sadness and nostalgia crossed Anthony's face. "She was a JAG Officer aboard the ship. I still remember all the times she tried teaching me Federation Law. Not the most entertaining stuff for a four-year-old. Can't say it hasn't come in handy a few times though."

Anan was able to deduce from his expression and the details of what he'd said that the story of his mother was a painful one. Briefly, she thought about her own experience with her mother's death; about how young she'd been and the years it took for her to get used to the idea, let alone cope with it. In short, she certainly felt for him, but she was hesitant to turn this into an impromptu counseling session, no matter how badly she wanted to. Still, the fact that he mentioned a specific age lingered on her mind with the look of sadness that had briefly come over Anthony, and her counseling instincts begged to kick in - she decided to approach the subject from a more ..vague angle, imploring him to open up about it. "You miss her." she spoke softly, a hand gently placed on his forearm.

Anthony reciprocated the the touch by putting his hand on hers. Somehow he knew the conversation would end up on the subject of his mother, much to his dismay.

Anthony simply said "I miss her every day."

Serendipity pulled through for Anthony as Kaleb V came into view. The super gas giant completely dwarfed the shuttle with its supreme magnificence. The planet seemed to be a melange of brown, beige, and crimson clouds which danced lazily together as gravity pulled them along.

"It's quite beautiful isn't it?" Said Anthony, looking into Anan's eyes.

In a way, Anan was relieved that he didn't elaborate - she wanted tonight to be memorable, without sad memories clouding the atmosphere..and surely if she counseled him in regards to his mother, she would close her eyes in bed later that night with her own mother on her mind as well as him. Her gaze shifted from Anthony as they approached the planet and for a moment she stared at it's majesty as it filled the view screen from corner to corner, before her eyes met his and she exhaled. "Absolutely beautiful." She took his hand, already feeling the intoxication of the night despite the fact that they hadn't even cracked open the wine. "This is perfect," she said, squeezing his hand. "I'm happy you invited me."

"And I'm glad that you crashed into me on the promenade." Anthony laughed, "Computer, please replicate two glasses in the observation lounge and begin synchronous orbit. Once orbit is achieved begin a full sensor scan of Kaleb V."

The computer began to move the ship in response to Anthony's orders. He then gestured to the observation lounge in the back of the ship.

"Shall we retire for the evening madam?" He said with a grin.

"It would be my pleasure." she smiled, standing from her seat and leading the way to the back of the craft, immediately moving to grab the glasses from the replicator and set them on the table. "You know, I've never had Chateau Picard," she said, taking a seat. "Which is surprising, he's always been one of my favorites." 'Favorite' was a bit of an understatement from the woman who'd practically nursed a school girl crush on the famed officer, in addition to her hero worship of him.

Anthony grabbed the glasses and put it on the table with the bottle. He smiled at Anan, "I was more of a fan of Kirk to tell you the truth, and Sisko for that matter, blasphemous as that may be."

Anthony uncorked the wine and poured it into the glasses. He ran the glass past his nose savoring the perfume of the contents.

Anan gave him a playful look of scrutiny at the mention of Sisko, but only because he pointed out how blasphemous it might be - she didn't really think it was. "Sisko was a principled man." she shrugged. "And I can see why you'd like Kirk, I think." she said, considering him for a moment. Kirk broke a lot of rules for his greater principles; she got the sense that Anthony was similar, or could be. "Thank you." said Anan, picking up her glass and taking a moment to similarly experience it's fragrance. "And since it's my first time trying it, our first glass, and our first ..away mission." she said, hesitating briefly before the words 'away mission' out of reluctance to curse the night by calling it a 'date'. "We should have a toast. To new beginnings." she said with a smile, raising her glass to meet his.

"To new beginnings." He returned the smile. "And to future...away missions."

Anthony knew deep down the word date was on the tip of her tongue, but he figured it would be best to play word games for the time being. Anthony sat down next to Anan and took another sip of wine.

"Anan, you don't have the black eyes of a Betazoid, You have too much hair to be a Deltan and you are far more interesting than any Human woman that I've met. What planet are you from?"

Anan smiled coyly, setting her glass on the table. "Mr. La Baron, that is the second time you've seen right through me." she teased. "You're right on all accounts - I'm El-Aurian."

"I've never had the pleasure of meeting one," Anthony said between a sip of wine, "From what my Grandfather told me, they can be very inquisitive, almost to the point of being prying. Imagine that" Anthony shot a playful smile at Anan.

"Imagine that." she laughed softly. "We might not have gained our reputation as great listeners if we didn't ask questions, you know." she added pointedly. "Actually, my father used to tease me about being human - he always thought they were too..impulsive." She arched a brow at him as she sipped from her glass, debating whether or not she thought he seemed impulsive, too.

"Being impulsive is what put Zefram Cochrane into the Phoenix. At least that's how I look at it." Anthony looked into Anan's piercing blue eyes. "Personally I like to be a little more strategic than impulsive."

Anan nodded - he had a good point about Cochrane. "Spoken like a true scientist." she said, her tone soaked in admiration. "And no doubt you did some strategic thinking about tonight."

"Of course," Anthony leaned in closer. "They say life is like a game of chess, and I always play it tactically."

"You play chess?" she spoke softly and instinctively moved a little closer, too, as if pulled by his gravity. "I think you and I are going to have a lot of away missions together.." Looking directly into his gaze, she couldn't help herself from bringing a hand to his face, rough with unshaven ends. She'd wanted to touch him like that from the moment she saw him, and now it was even more irresistible not to kiss him..so she did.

Anthony was caught off guard by her move. While he did like to play things strategically he certainly didn't expect her to move that fast in that direction. For a split second he wondered if they were moving too fast. Those thoughts were snuffed out as he pressed his wine stained lips against hers as he wrapped his right arm around Anan's back.

For Anandra, 'too fast' was a highly relative term which didn't usually apply to her emotional impulses, so the thought wouldn't even cross her mind unless things started to move beyond kissing. For the meantime, she allowed herself to be lost in the kiss for just long enough before, with a hint of reluctance, pulling away from it (but not too far from him). "I'm sorry, I.." she spoke barely above a whisper, her pulse pounding in her ears. It'd been too long since she felt the adrenaline rush that comes with sharing a first ever kiss, and now that she'd already begun her apology she found she really didn't have a good reason for it, so she finished it off with a little jest. "Impulsive."

Anthony put his forehead to hers and smirked, "No need for apologies, I'm quite pleased that the night has turned out the way it has. It's not often I get to meet somebody as impulsive as me."

Anan closed her eyes, inhaling his scent, content with the current situation. "I'm quite pleased myself," she said with a smile.

Anthony opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by the computer.

"Priority One message from Starbase 400." The computer stated.

Anthony rolled his eyes, "What is it?"

"Ensign La Baron this is Yeoman Trujillo, we need you in the Hydroponics Lab, sir."

Anthony gave a sigh, "I'll be returning to the station shortly, Yeoman. La Baron out."

Anthony closed the channel and turned his attention back to Anan. He pressed his lips to hers once more, not caring about the hydroponics lab, or the station, or the fact they he only knew Anan for a day. At the moment it all felt so right, and deep down he knew this was just a taste of things to come. He only hoped that she felt the same way.

This time the kiss was unexpected on her end, though far from unwelcome..unlike the interruption that preceded it. "The impeccable timing of Starfleet.." Anan mused, giving Anthony some space. She was disappointed that the evening would have to end, but like Anthony, she looked forward to the future. It'd been a long time since she had a day like this, or more specifically, it'd been a long time since she'd met someone who so instantly and easily won her over as he had. "Thank you, Anthony, it's been a wonderful day and I look forward to more just like it." she said with the warmest of smiles, then stood from her seat with the glass of wine in hand. "I'll go plot a course."

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