Downtime

Posted on 14 Oct 2017 @ 12:57am by Lieutenant David Moreau Jr & Ensign Elizabeth Bordeaux

1,894 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: The Finnean Crisis
Location: Black Hawk/DS 15 Promenade
Timeline: MD 6 || 1800 Hours

David finished his sonic shower and changed into a white shirt that showed off his muscles and tattoos, a pair of black pants and black running shoes. He had yet to meet many of the crew, but there was on Ensign that he had wanted to meet again and not just on the phaser range. He smiled as he headed out of his quarters and tapped his combadge.

=^=Moreau to Bordeaux, care to explore the station a bit with me?=^= he asked as he headed towards the turbolift.

Bordeaux was in the gym on one of the running machines, dressed in Starfleet activewear. The chirp and sound of Moreau's voice sounded from the combadge perched above the controls. She smiled as she grabbed it, tapping it and speaking into it like a old-fashioned radio.

=^= Bordeaux here. Give me about 15 minutes and I'll meet you in the transporter room? =^=

David smiled when he heard the sound of her voice and tapped his combadge in return. =^=See you then,=^= he said as he headed for the transporter room. There was something about the Ensign and she hadn't seemed put off by his age or appearance, so he decided that wasn't a bad thing. When he arrived in the transporter room, he chatted with the transporter operator for a few minutes and double checked the Security protocols that were in place for transports.

After a quick jaunt in the sonic shower, Bordeaux had changed into her standard Federation blue jumpsuit and uniform. With a quick detour to one of the ship's science labs, she picked up a tricorder before walking into the transporter room, where Lt. Moreau was chatting with the transporter operator. She moved over to them before addressing David. "So, what's the plan?"

David looked over and smiled when he saw her in the form fitting jumpsuit. "Well, I figured we could go grab a bite to eat or see what they have to offer," he said with a smile. "What's on your menu?"

If Bordeaux was surprised by this invitation, she hid it well. When David had contacted her about exploring the station, she assumed this would mean investigating info on the de Gama and the Zone. Relaxed social invitations like this would take some time to get used to.

She pondered his question for a bit, then said, "Let's explore the local cuisine. If that turns out to be a mistake, we can always go to the bar."

He smiled as he stepped up onto the transport pad. "Now that's what I'm talking about," he said. "Especially since it's rare we get off of ships once we're active and get a chance to explore other places."

Bordeaux joined him on the pad. The transporter operator worked the control panel as her vision became obscured by the transporter field before being replaced by a noticeably darker and larger transporter bay on DS15. Panels had been removed from the walls, and a yellow-clad Starfleet engineer was fiddling with some isolinear chips. The transporter beam faded away, and Liz glanced at David before stepping down off the platform.

David stepped off the transporter pad and gave a nod to the officer at the console. "Moreau and Bordeaux from the Black Hawk for a social visit," he said before he looked at Liz. "So drinks first or dinner first?" he asked her.

"Oh, always dinner first. We can't drink on an empty stomach." As they walked out of the transporter room, a display greeted them showing their current location in the station. "It looks like we've got the most choices on the promenade. We can stroll there and pick something out, if you'd like," she said, looking to him.

"The promenade it is," he agreed as he looked at the display. "Looks like it's not too far away, so let's do that." He looked at the young Ensign and offered a charming smile, then headed the way the display indicated.

The station's promenade was a bustle activity, though Bordeaux suspected it was more crowded than usual, what with the recent re-introduction of Starfleet forces on the station. Lights and displays lit up attempting to draw in the couple as they strolled through the corridor with an allotment of issued Federation credits between them.

One sign in particular advertised a dish that looked like it contained some green, leafy flora from Finnea Prime, which seemed like a safe choice to Bordeaux. Then again, was safe really what one wanted to aim for when trying out the local cuisine? Across the corridor, an image of some sort of meat and red sauce laid on a plate tempted her appetite, and she nudged David before gesturing.

"This looks interesting," she said.

David looked where she was gesturing and smiled broadly. "Now that's what I'm talking about," he said. "Nothing beats fresh meat. Let's go have something tasty, juicy and meaty!" With a laugh, he headed towards the place with the sign.

The inside of the diner was dimly lit with lit orbs suspended in the air, hovering over the tables and causing the shadows to move slowly around the room. A water at the entrance led them to a table. A display screen lit up with a list of options to choose from, along with a small picture.

The names on the menu were foreign to Liz. Every choice was going to be an adventure. She glanced up at David, who was similarly looking at his menu.

David looked over the menu, then shrugged. "Let's just order whatever looks the most appealing," he suggested before he picked one that had a tasty looking piece of sauce covered meat with some vegetables.

"That sounds like a plan," Liz said. She leaned over the table slightly and watched David pick out a dish. She then selected some sort of cold meat and a green sauce. She looked up and said, "We'll just have to hope that one of our dishes is edible," before giving him a smile.

"If we don't like what we get, we can switch and see if we like what the other ordered," he said with a laugh. "That way, we have twice as many choices."

"Agreed," she said, smiling. Glancing around the diner, she studied the other patrons. They were in Starfleet's designated third of the station, but there were the occasional Aketi or Ferengi seated in the diner.

"This has to be one of my favorite times when I'm in space," David said. "Downtime with a lovely companion, unknown foods to tempt the palate and a place where I'm not being shot at. How about you?"

Twiddling her thumbs, she confessed, "Well, I actually haven't been in space all that much. This is my first real assignment out here." She looked at him. "It's fun, though, getting to know people. Making friends. And I'm glad the people I have met have been nice." She smiled at him.

He returned the smile. "We're all one big family out here," he said. "Except we're not related for the most part and we all have the same parent in the commanding officer of the ships we serve on. Although, I must admit, I'd have a really hard time thinking of you as a sister."

She laughed. "Yeah, I don't think we'd be mistaken as related," she said, in her mind comparing his hulking form with her petite frame.

She glanced at the waiter, who carried over two plates to their table before setting them down. "Enjoy," he said.

"Thank you," David told the waiter before he looked back at Liz. "I wasn't exactly talking about our physical appearances," he said.

"Oh?" Liz gave him a skeptical look. "What were you referring to, then?" She gave him a comforting smile as she stabbed some of the meal on her plate and placed it in her mouth. The meat was juicy with a slight tangy flavor, surpassing her expectations.

He sliced up the meat on his plate while contemplating an answer and then took a sip of his drink. It wasn't what he was expecting, but it was still good. Finally, he responded. "Because I couldn't think of you as my sister," he said. "You're a very attractive young lady and I find myself attracted to you."

Bordeaux shifted her attention back to her food, and she felt her stomach flutter. The Lieutenant's compliment was very flattering, but she wasn't quite sure how to respond. On the surface, it wasn't that big of a deal. After all, David was also quite attractive—extremely fit, with a tall and built body and tanned skin accentuated by his tattoos. She was aware enough at least to admit that.

At the same time, though, she had to wonder if David was looking to start some sort of relationship with her. Throughout the Academy, she had never really indulged in many serious relationships. A brief fling here or there, but nothing that she could write home about. The thought of starting one here, now, as she was just getting used to this new starship and its crew, was daunting.

Looking up, she finally met his eyes, which had not wavered during her period of contemplation. She said, "That's very flattering. I have to admit that I'd be lying if I said I wasn't attracted to you as well." Her eyes darted down to his chest at those words before meeting his gaze again.

David unconsciously flexed his pecs when he saw her look at his chest and gave her his best smile. "That has to be the best thing I've heard all day, Liz," he said. "I want to get to know you and discover who Elizabeth Bordeaux really is once she's off duty."

She smiled at him, before saying, "I'd like to get to know you as well, David. But . . ." She paused for a moment, before continuing, "If we're going to get to know each other more, and build this relationship, I'd like to take it slow." She watched him carefully, before clarifying, "At least at first. I've only just gotten here, and I'm just not certain what direction life's going to take me yet." She reached out and grabbed his hand in her own. "But I'd be willing to call this a first date, and a second one wouldn't be out of the question," she said reassuringly.

He squeezed her hand lightly in his and smiled. "I can accept that, he said. "In fact, I am very okay with that and I'm already looking forward to the next date, Liz. Are you about finished here? I know of a little lounge where we can go talk or just watch the stars."

She looked at him curiously, before pushing her half-eaten plate away, and saying "Sure. Let's go look at the stars."

They stood up, confirming a transfer of credits to the establishment before walking out onto the promenade.

With a smile, David offered her his arm. "Shall we?" he asked. Now that the station had been retaken and the rightful Commander put back in place, he felt safer there. Still, there was an air of suspicion and guardedness about people, and he knew that the sooner the Black Hawk headed away from there, the better they would be.

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