Party by the Numbers
Posted on Wed Aug 9th, 2023 @ 2:31pm by Major Cornelius Tremble & Lieutenant JG Mira Jayna
Edited on on Wed Aug 9th, 2023 @ 8:16pm
0 words; about a 1 minute read
Mission:
Episode 14 - The Poseidon Adventure
Location: USS Pioneer - Various/Poseidon Station - Various
Timeline: MD007 2000 hrs
Neil stared at his image and brushed a bit of lint from one sleeve. The tailored dress uniform still fit properly, and he’d spent an hour double checking the measurements of the devices and medals that were prescribed for wear. Normally, a ball like this would require evening wear, but this was a Corp function. The Birthday Ball.
He still felt like a marionette though.
Sighing, he pulled on the highly polished Sam Brown belt and frogged the pyro saber. The boat cloak he’d discovered was also prescribed because the function was not being held aboard Pioneer.
Apparently, someone in the Uniform Compliance office thought it required and the General had opted to not exclude it from the uniform of the day.
Sobel had an odd sense of humor.
Since Neil was going to be under arms for at least part of the night, he’d added a flapped holster with a phaser to the belt. The saber and the phaser required him to wear a cover: thus, he’d also trotted out the visored full-dress hat. Neil centered that piece of kit on his head and double checked the shine of his low quarter shoes. He tugged on the white parade gloves as well and took stock, made a face at himself then turned toward his door.
As he exited his quarters, he picked up the corsage he’d ordered up from Poseidon’s hydroponic lab. In this case he’d been in a mood and chose a Trill Lamprey blood rose. He hoped Jayna wasn’t allergic, but he’d opted to take the risk. The rose had a parasitic vine that would wrap about the wearers arm. And then change color and bloom depending on the individual DNA and biology of the wearer. Each was unique and from what he understood, the vines secreted a numbing substance and wouldn’t hurt.
Much?
The symbiotic nature would keep the flower alive if it could get the initial wearer’s blood every couple of weeks. Neil paced quickly through the ships mostly empty decks and approached Jayna’s quarters.
Jayna spent a lot of time picking a dress. Normally, she would have opted for a slim-fitting black dress with long sleeves, but Neil asked for sexy, and she didn't want to disappoint him. She finally selected a dress in deep blue. The top was silk with a lace overlay that shimmered in the light. The style left her arms and back bare and showed just enough cleavage to be appropriate. The skirt fell in soft folds to the ground with slits on both sides to facilitate movement. Her only jewelry was a pair of sapphire earrings to match the dress.
She slipped on a pair of matching sandals and checked herself in the mirror to make sure everything was in place. She was both excited and nervous for the evening ahead and wanted to look good.
Neil let his contact trigger her door's annunciator while he was still a few paces away and he had to grin when the handshake access automatically cycled the door.
Apparently she was waiting for him.
He stepped inside Jayna's quarters and stopped short as he caught site of her. As the door cycled shut behind him, he let out a wolf's whistle and said, "Jayna, you look great. You'd make a good dog break his chain."
She couldn't help laughing, delighted at his reaction. He was the only one she cared to impress tonight. Then she took a moment to look him over. "Wow. I've been told there's nothing like a Marine in dress uniform, but...wow." She gave him a soft kiss. "I like your saber, too."
Neil glanced at his dress scarlets and put a hand on the saber's hilt. "It's kind of a pain, really. Especially the sword knot flapping around. I much prefer your outfit." He stated, eyeing her up and down again. "And I brought you this," Neil said, bringing up the clear case with the dozing flower.
"Trill Lamprey blood rose," he said. "Breath in the top tube and it'll wake up to you. You can touch it then and wear it where you like. I hear some of them are twitchy and pick their own place to ride."
"I've never seen one of these before," she said, taking the case. "It's beautiful. Thank you." She breathed gently into the tube and then opened the case and caressed one of the petals. The flower shivered and moved toward her. As she took it out, it wrapped itself around her wrist and up her forearm, anchoring itself in place. "I'm glad it likes my arm." It would hopefully last longer there.
Smiling at her reaction, he continued "Sturdy things. And as long as you let it feed every couple of weeks, it'll last for a year or more."
Then he made a face.
"A Klingon with the hobby of botany once altered their biochemistry and then seeded them around his labs as attack orchids. I had twenty of the things trying to murder me on an Op before I came aboard the Pioneer."
Several thoughts ran through her mind at once. She was incredibly grateful he had survived the plants, they could live for up to a year if fed, and they could be weaponized. She decided to comment on the last. "I've never thought of using plants in that way before. It sounds like it was a challenge." And something she would look into in case she ever encountered anything like them. "I wonder if there's a special toxin for carnivorous and murderous plants?"
"Only while in reproductive mode," Neil said, deadpan. "kinda like Earths Preying Mantis, most likely."
Jayna shook her head. "Weaponizing bees is way above my pay grade." She put her hands on his shoulders, once again appreciating how good he looked in his dress uniform. "I'd rather not think of the poor male praying mantises. Or murderous orchids--even if they were trying to pollinate."
He grinned and pointedly leered at her then. "Not a bad way to die if you have to. Obviously Not dying is preferred but...have I mentioned you look sensational?"
He did, but she was pleased he appreciated what she chose. "Thank you." She leaned up and kissed him. "And try not to die tonight. I have other plans for how I'd like to end the evening." She ran her hands down the front of his uniform as she stepped back. "Besides watching you in your finery."
Neil glanced down at the medals, cords, ribbons and bobs and sighed. "It's all. Very. I don't know. I feel like a marionette. The General thinks he's cute," he grumped as he ushered her out the door, then offered her his arm.
Then he grinned. "Speaking of Sobel, I received a notification that he's set up a VIP, VOQ for me as a thank you while we stay on Poseidon. Want to share until Pioneer departs?"
She caressed his cheek with her hand. "How can I resist getting you to myself for a few days?" The opportunity to spend time with Neil where he didn't have to run off to take care of one thing or another was one she couldn't pass up. On top of that, he could use some time to relax after all the work he'd done to make sure the ball went smoothly. She hoped they would be able to visit the planet, too. She slipped her hand through his arm and smiled. One day she might tell him how happy she was with him, but tonight was to celebrate the SFMC.
"I am irresistible," Neil confirmed as they made their way off of Pioneer and into the station proper. He was taking the long way to the designated area. The boat cloak and the saber were irritating but after fifty meters, he had them more or less under control. As they neared their destination, more and more people in formal dress were appearing and they found a small crowd awaiting them.
Standing before the doors in full dress were Corporals Fry and Shy, in their roles of Corporals of the Guard. He checked his chrono, then activated the doors. They slid apart revealing a large area draped in the colors of the FMC with Flags of Federation member worlds hanging overhead. The dance floor illuminated with slowly rippling spotlights and the band began playing chamber music as Neil and Jayna swept in, stopping on the opposite side from the Table for the Fallen. Glancing at her, he said. "And now to work. He watched as the Sobles and other dignitaries were admitted by the Corporals of the Guard and he kissed Jayna's hand. "Ready for the show?"
"As ready as I'll ever be." At least her role for the night was a supporting one. She would enjoy watching the arrivals and definitely looked forward to dancing with Neil later.
A Joint Post By
Major Cornelius Tremble
Executive Officer, USS Pioneer
Commanding Officer, The Cure
Lieutenant Junior Grade Mira Jayna
Assistant Chief Intelligence Officer, USS Pioneer
Intelligence Liaison, The Cure
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