A joint project
Posted on Wed Sep 16th, 2020 @ 5:24pm by
Edited on on Wed Sep 16th, 2020 @ 5:25pm
2,233 words; about a 11 minute read
Mission:
Episode 10 - New Home, Same Pioneers
Location: Lieutenant Ameri O’Flannagains Office
Timeline: MD008 1100 hrs
Ameri had just gotten back to her office from giving out some orders to a couple of her operations officers.
She got herself a bottle of water and sat down at her desk, going through some paperwork while she waited for Lieutenant Rockwell to arrive.
Ameri had asked to borrow someone from engineering and she was glad it had been Clarissa. She liked her attitude, she was confident and very good at her job. Ameri could see her going far in her career.
Clarissa walked into the office of Ameri. She was summoned to see Ameri, so she knew protocol needed to be followed. "Lieutenant Junior Grade Clarissa Rockwell, reporting as ordered sir." Clarissa said, with a big smile on her face.
“Come in and have a seat,” Ameri said with a warm smile. “Help yourself to something to drink. I was really happy when I was given you for this assignment.”
"Thank you." Clarissa said, as she took a seat. "What are we going to be working on exactly together?" She asked, with a curious look on her face.
“I would like to do some testing on the sensor array,” Ameri explained. “Before we head out again, just to make certain there are not any issues we need to deal with.”
"I can help you with that, seems pretty straight forward." Clarissa said to her. Clarissa wondered why Ameri wanted to meet with her, she thought the dinner went pretty well last night.
“I will send you a message with when we will be doing the testing,” Ameri informed her. “I need to clear the time frame with command.” She smiled then. “Enya was really taken with you last night.”
"She is a great girl. Your are doing an amazing job raising her." Clarissa said, with a warm smile on her face.
“Thank you,” Ameri said with a smile. “She is our pride and joy.” She sighed. “We were concerned she was going to lean towards security. Don’t get me wrong it is a great department but I am not enamored with my daughter serving there.”
"My best friend works in security, and she is doing pretty well, not sure if you meet Elle, I think she transferred to Empok Nor, when you and the Commander first arrived on the Pioneer." Clarissa pointed out to Ameri.
“I know who she is,” Ameri nodded. “Though we never had much of a chance to sit down and talk.” She sighed. “Security is a good job it’s just I don’t want her in a position that puts her in the frontline of danger.” Ameri took a drink of her water. “But she is nine and if she chooses that as her career I will support her.”
"It is hard to watch the ones we love, be put into harms way." Clarissa said, knowing it must eat at her, that Quinn puts himself into harms away, when he leads away missions.
“When we first got married I barely handled it,” Ameri replied. “And I still worry just as much but there is a peace mixed in with it. Quinn will always do what he has to in order to get back to us but this is who he is I wouldn’t change him for anything.”
"I bet in time, if she chooses to go that route, you will learn to adapt to it." Clarissa suggested to Ameri. She felt for the young mom, but she still had 9 years to go, before she had to worry about Enya joining Starfleet.
“I’m sure I will,” Ameri smiled. “Quinn will be a lot of help. I know he leans towards Engineering but we have always been each others strength.”
"I have no doubt, that you will be her rock, when she will need it." Clarissa said with a big grin. "Are you almost ready to get started?"
“Yes,” Ameri nodded as she stood. “Let’s go get the tests done. I’ll feel better once I get my report turned in.”
"By your lead." Clarissa said, as she stood up, and got ready to follow Ameri out of the area. She hoped this would not take long.
Ameri led the way. “I am thinking with you and I running the tests we shouldn’t be at it long. We simply need to make sure there are no issues between our systems and the array using several scenarios.”
"Sounds a like a good way to start." Clarissa said, as she prepared her tricorder.
Ameri went to the station and started running the first simulation. “I don’t know what it is but Instinctively I feel there needs to be an adjustment.”
"If I need too, I will recalibrate the sensor array. Let's hope that simulation goes off smoothly. I am also hoping our numbers don't get skewed with this simulation." Clarissa suggested to Ameri. She had a feeling they would. But that was the point behind the calibration, make sure the sensors were working properly.
Ameri watched the console and so far everything seemed to be running smoothly. “It is looking good so far...”’she started to say. “Looks like we are running into an issue. The systems are conflicting with the array.”
"How do you want to proceed?" Clarissa asked, as she started to think, this is very nice. Less formal, and a good way to get to know someone.
“Let’s reconfigure the array,” Ameri suggested. “Then we can check the systems.”
"I will start the calibration test, if that does not work, we can try to recalibrate the array." Clarissa suggested to Ameri.
“Yes,” Ameri nodded. She respected Clarissa speaking up. They were doing this together and in Ameri’s mind it was about a successful test.
"I will set up this terminal to run a diagnostic." Clarissa said, with a big grin on her face. "May I ask you a personal question?" Clarissa asked, hoping she would say yes.
“Yes,” Ameri nodded. “Feel free time ask me whatever you want.”
"When did you know your husband was the one?" Clarissa asked, wanting to hear all the juicy details. She felt a strong connection to Jayden. She wondered if he was the one. She needed some reference, to see if he was.
“I was attracted to him the first time I met him,” Ameri admitted. “I looked in his eyes and I knew he was going to be something special.” She paused for a moment. “I think I was half in love with Quinn in our first date. Looking back now I think I knew from that first moment. But when I knew I wanted to marry him was the thought of not being together. Of him going off to another assignment. It killed me inside.”
Clarissa did not feel the same about Jayden, when she first met him. She thought he was cute, so she slept with him. But did she want to share that tidbit with Ameri. In a way she felt obligated too. But she would not do that, if she did not ask her.
"I know how you feel, I hate seeing Jayden go on any dangerous mission. Luckily he is a junior officer, and rarely goes on missions." Clarissa pointed out to Ameri.
“It isn’t the same for everyone,” Ameri continued. “But I think when you wonder if they miss you, how their day is going and can’t wait to spend time with them, then you realize they have become a part of you.”
"I know exactly what you mean, I have asked Jayden to move in with me, he practically lives at my place already." Clarissa pointed out to Ameri.
“And what did he say,” Ameri asked her, curious. She thought back to when her and Quinn decided to live together. There had been no asking, it had been a mutual decision from talking, like they both just knew it was right.
"He said yes, but honestly he has practically moved in. Yet he keeps his residence on the books. Makes me wonder, why?" Clarissa said, feeling a little frustrated.
"Why don't you ask him," Ameri suggested. "There is nothing better than just asking him. Maybe he is nervous about having some habit or being around too much. Men can have some crazy ideas at times."
"I have hinted at." Clarissa said, as she was processing what Ameri had told her. "Maybe a direct approach, would be better to handle this situation." Clarissa said to herself, trying to convince herself this was the best course of action.
"You are a direct approach person," Ameri said with a smile "I admire that about you, if you want to know something you come out and ask. Waiting on Jayden will make you crazy."
"Not there yet, but fastly approaching crazy." Clarissa suggested as a humerous joke.
Ameri laughed. "It will work out, Clarissa." She hoped that the engineer didn't mind her using her first name. "Anyone can tell Jayden is serious about you. I think he just overthinks at times."
"Now how to get him to stop doing that." Clarissa said, with a big smile on her face. She meant that to be more humerous than something she wanted to do. Then she went on. "He is a good guy, lucky to have him. Just wish he saw, that I feel lucky to have him in my life."
“It will come with time,” Ameri said in encouragement. “Your relationship is still new, there will come a day where you will look back and it will seem that these things were unimportant. Quinn and I had our moments.”
"we've been together for about a year now and you would still classified that is new?" Clarissa was a little surprised to hear her say that.
he didn't think it was unreasonable for them to move in together specially after nearly dating for a year.
“I’ve been married to Quinn for a lot longer,” Ameri said with a smile. “It’s new to me.” She looked at her. “Jayden wants to move in, maybe he just needs for you to say it again.”
"You're probably right I'll do you so during our next date night. Which happens to be tonight." Clarissa said with a big grin on her face she was really looking forward to it.
“Oh date night,” Ameri smiled. “Quinn and I manage one once in a great while. With our schedules and raising a daughter, we have to plan them out ahead of time.” They needed to have one soon.
"The good thing is, pretty soon, you can have them on a regular basis, cause Enya is getting old enough to look after herself." Clarissa suggested to Ameri.
“We leave her with the Hologram teacher during the day,” Ameri said. “So until that time, we try to be home to spend time with her.”
Clarissa was happy that Ameri did not snap at her for making that assumption. Some parents hated it, when you tried to tell them how to raise their kids. Which she was not trying to do.
"A good start, plus what girl does not like going on dates with her man, and feeling like she is special." Clarissa asked Ameri.
“I love it when Quinn plans a date,” Ameri smiled. “He is meticulous about every detail and I always end up feeling so loved.” She laughed. “I sound kind of sappy!”
"Being sappy is not a bad thing, if its around someone you trust and love." Clarissa pointed out to Ameri.
“Thank you for that,” Ameri said with a smile. “I am very thankful for Quinn and Enya. We wanted to have two or three children but Enya was all we were meant to have. I am afraid I over mother at times.”
"I think you are doing a good job with her." Clarissa said, with a warm smile on her face.
"Quinn is my rock," Ameri confessed. "Enya and I have a really good relationship but on occasion we clash and he is good at steering us back on track." She smiled. "We both have the same stubborness at times."
"Sounds like a match made in heaven. I know Jayden and I are on that path. I have a good feeling about it." Clarissa said, with a big warm smile on her face.
"When I first saw you two," Ameri confessed. "I thought you looked cute together." She winced. "I know that sounds kind of juvenile. But the more I see you together the more I can tell you two are good together. Your relationship keeps growing."
"Thanks, glad to hear you say that." Clarissa said, with a big smile on her face. "I hate to be cutting this short, but I think I see Jayden walking this way." Clarissa said, as she noticed a man looking like Jayden approaching them.
"Go," Ameri said with a smile. "And thank you for your help. I feel better knowing the sensor array is running smoothly." She watched as Clarissa headed towards Jayden. It warmed her heart the look in their eyes for each other.
A joint post by;
Lieutenant Ameri Ó Flannagáin
Chief Operations Officer, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Junior Grade Clarissa Rockwell
Assistant Chief Engineering Officer, USS Pioneer
RSS Feed