The Knight and M'Lady

Posted on 19 Mar 2016 @ 9:03am by Senior Chief Petty Officer Mila Rasputin & Ensign Aidan Crehan

2,419 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: Outbreak
Timeline: MD 4

After she finished packing a carry case for her and Chow, she had made sure that the little Capuchin monkey was allowed on Yolvanda II before she headed for the flight deck. She wore a pair of denim shorts that came to mid-thigh, a white halter top and a pair of sunglasses. Chow rode on her right shoulder and gave friendly hoots to everyone they passed in the corridor and got a few surprised looks, but people had seen stranger things in space.

When she arrived, she looked around in the hopes of finding someone to share a shuttle with before she spotted a tall man waiting by one of the shuttles and wondered if he were a pilot or was waiting on one. Smiling, she headed over his way. "Excuse me," Mila said. "Are you waiting for a pilot to go to the planet, or waiting for passengers?"

Aidan looked at the young woman in front of him. “I’m waiting for a pilot, actually.” As he pulled himself up from leaning against the shuttle, his pack fell slightly off his left shoulder. He hoisted it back up over his light blue t-shirt and removed his right hand from the pocket of his knee-length shorts. He waved at the monkey perched on her shoulder. “I can’t fly one of these things. Are you the pilot?”

Mila laughed. "Nyet. I am looking for a pilot and someone to share a shuttle with," she said. Chow looked up at the man and cocked his head to the side, then hooted softly. "I know, Chow. I'm sorry." She turned to look back up at the man. "This is Chow and I am Mila Rasputin, the Captain's Yeoman."

Aidan smiled. “Well, you’re welcome to share this shuttle with me, Mila.” He looked to the monkey, “And you was well, Chow. I’m Aidan Crehan, Alien Archaeologist and Anthropologist. Well, for this cruise anyway,” he said, extending a hand to the petite Yeoman.

"Thank you, Aidan," Mila said as she took his hand for a polite shake while Chow grinned at him. "I am grateful for your offer. I have no real plans other than to relax. What are your plans on New Risa?"

Aidan gently shook her hand, but not in the normal grasp he would have had it been his father. “I have been to Risa once before; however, it was a long time ago. I’m anxious to see how ‘New Risa’ compares with old Risa. I am looking forward to trying some of the native cuisine. Other than that, I may peruse the marketplace.”

"That sounds like a good idea," Mila said. "Would you mind a companion while you do so? I am afraid that if I go alone that something may happen." She gave a nervous laugh. "Even though Chow will protect me." She reached up to give the little simian a pet on his head.

Aidan smiled at Chow. “I’m sure he would, wouldn’t you?” He then turned his attention back to Mila. “I don’t mind a companion at all, Mila. I’m sure you’ll be safe,” he added, taking note of her nervous laugh. Aidan looked up at the sound of heavy footfalls on the flight deck. It was an Ensign in Command reds. “It looks like our pilot may be on his way. May take I your bag in for you, Mila?”

"Why, thank you, Aidan," she said with warmth that went to her eyes. "It will be a delight for us to go with you." She indicated Chow. "He never lets me out of his sight unless I'm working. I've had him since he was a baby." Chow gave another hoot as he eyed Aidan, then stuck a paw out.

Aidan took Mila’s bag. “He’s a good protector, then. I welcome the both of you,” he said grinning. Aidan noticed the outstretched paw and was uncertain what Chow wanted. He put his hand out anyway to see if it was a small shake or what.

Chow shook his hand politely and gave a hoot before he released Aidan's hand and patted Mila on the head.

Mila laughed "He approves of your company," she told him. "He pats me on the head when he approves of someone to let me know that. Shall we board and prepare for paradise?"

“Let’s,” said Aidan. Then he extended his arm, “After you, Mila, and your knight protector.” He looked at Chow and courtly dipped his head. “Thank you for your approval.”

Mila smiled and entered the shuttle with Chow, who jumped off and leaped onto a seat, then patted it with one paw and looked up at Aidan. "I think he's picked out seats for us already," she said with a laugh before taking the seat. "Would you care to sit with me, Aidan?"

He laughed and looked at Chow, then at Mila. “Of course I wouldn’t care, Mila. Thank you.” Aidan stowed their bags and took a seat next to her. “If I’m not mistaken, earlier you spoke a word of Russian? Nyet, I believe it was.”

"Da," Camila said as Chow made himself comfortable in her lap. "Da means yes and nyet means no. There are times when I forget and switch back to Russian. What is your native language?"

He smiled and nodded. “I like hearing native languages. It’s part and parcel of the anthropological side of me. As far as mine, it’s El-Aurian.” And that was usually where he lost people. And how he came by his nickname at the Academy.

"El-Aurian?" she asked as she cocked her head. "I have heard of your people. It is a very sad tale." Her voice became sad as she said the last. "It is a terrible crime what happened and needs to never be forgotten so it does not happen to other species. May I hear you speak a few words if it does not trouble you?"

“You are right, it should never be forgotten. And it doesn’t trouble me at all to speak it. I don’t get that kind of opportunity often.” He spoke several words and then translated. “It means ‘the stars are splendid tonight.’” He felt the shuttle lift as the pilot began he exit maneuvers. "Thank you."

Mila frowned for a moment at his mention of stars, but she forced herself out of the moment. "It is a lovely language," she told him. "And yes, the stars are splendid tonight and every night. I know a song about stars, but it is sad, the same as many Russian songs are."

“Then let us forget the sadness,” said Aidan. “This is R and R on New Risa. It should be a time of fun and happiness; so off with the sad songs and days gone by. Write a new song, Mila, a happy one. Hey, be one of the few who write and sing a joyful Russian song.”

"I have a feeling that will be easy with you," she said. The man was handsome, easy to talk to and she found herself willing to learn more about him. "By the end of this trip, we shall both be singing and the entire ship shall smile with the joy that will be brought."

He smiled and dipped his head towards her. “Good, that’s what I want to hear,” he said. There is no reason such a rare and lovely bloom should droop, he thought to himself. “But my singing could stand some improvement before we go doing it around the ship.” Aidan thought briefly of his karaoke experience the other night with the Cadets. “I would like to hear you sing sometime, though. That is, if it’s no trouble and you wish it.”

"Perhaps when we get there," Mila said as she thought about different songs that she knew which weren't sad. "I am hoping that we can find some musicians to play background as I left my PADD on the ship which I normally use."

“Oh, if this Risa is anything like Risa in the Alpha Quadrant, I’m sure we can find some musicians somewhere,” said Aidan. “So other than singing, what else takes up your spare time? Assuming that a Captain’s Yeoman has spare time.”

"I like to run, swim, play Parrises Squares, do sleight of hand tricks, and I'm currently trying to train Chow how to do parkour tricks when I have time," Mila said. "What about you?"

“I like anything outside,” replied Aidan. “I’m not much of an indoor person. But when I can’t get natural sun and wind, like on a planetside excursion, I tend to my books. I have a few holodeck programs that are outdoors that I use from time to time. It’s not quite the same, but it satisfies.”

"I am not much for using the holodeck unless I am training Chow," Mila said. "I spend a great deal of time in my quarters other than that, which is probably not a good thing. I guess I am used to the sound of silence."

“Then I suppose I have a challenge before me today, to get Mila Rasputin accustomed to sounds other than silence.” He paused and looked at Chow. “I don’t know if one pets monkeys, but may I pat him? If he allows.”

"You may," Mila said with a smile. "He pats me all the time and he shook your hand, which means he approves of you. As for the challenge, I think that I could get used to a challenge beyond meeting the Captain's needs daily. I had to deliver an invitation to him from the Administrator of New Risa before I packed my bag to come here."

Aidan reached over and patted Chow on the head, then gently on his back. “I’d bet that would be challenging, taking care of things for someone who has so much to take care of himself. But it sounds like you were kept busy right up to the last minute. You must be thankful for some time off of the ship.”

"Captains need more help than they let on to anyone," Mila said as Chow cocked an eye open to look at Aidan before closing it again. "That is why Yeomans exist. We handle much of the administrative duties when they are passed to us."

The pilot entered the atmosphere of New Risa and began a descent towards the planet. "We'll be landing in five minutes," he told them.

Aidan looked over to Mila. “I know you said you had no plans other than to relax, so do you have any preference as to what you’d like to do first? Rest? Marketplace? Native cuisine?”

"Well, it would be nice to put my bag someplace," Mila said. "I have a room at La Nova."

He laughed. “Now why didn’t I think of that? It’s a great idea. Your bag would eventually get heavy, weighing my shoulder down.”

"You did not have to carry it around the entire time, but I thank you for carrying it for me, Aidan," she said with a warm smile. "Where are you staying?"

“You’re quite welcome, Mila. Though, it wouldn’t have been a problem. At any rate, I have a room reserved at the Suraya Resort, down near the beach,” he said. “I can walk you to the La Nova once we disembark, if you’d like, so you can drop off your bag?”

"Why thank you, Aidan," Mila said. "That's very sweet of you. I would have liked to get a place by the beach but was told all the rooms had been booked already. I have been very busy and made my reservation at the last minute."

The pilot came in for a landing at the port and shut the shuttle down. "We're here, lady and gentleman. Enjoy your stay. I have more people to ferry down who don't like transporters."

Aidan stood and removed the bags from their locations. He shouldered his pack and held Mila’s in his hand. “We can switch if you want. It’s already paid for.” He turned his back to open the hatch and motioned for Mila and Chow. “After you,” he said.

"Why would you wish to stay at my hotel and for me to stay at yours?" Mila asked as she woke Chow up and put him on her shoulder where he wrapped his tail around her neck and peered around. She exited the shuttle and turned in a circle, her long hair flying in the warm breeze before coming to a stop again.

As he exited behind them, he watched her turn and then saw her brunette hair flying. She seemed even prettier in this atmosphere; sun, wind, now it all needed was surf. “You said that you would have liked to get a place by the beach but all the rooms were booked already. Mine could have been that one last room.” He turned and close the hatch.

"Maybe if it were a double occupancy," she said. "I could not make you stay in a hotel that wasn't on the beach." Chow looked around and gave several happy noises.

“Well, it sounds as if Chow likes the idea of staying on the beach,” he said. “I like the idea of you staying on the beach.” He looked at young woman standing in front of him. Yes, surf.

"You do?" Mila asked, sounding surprised.

“Well if you’re still afraid that something may happen to you alone, the resort would be a bit safer,” replied Aidan. “I don’t like the idea of trying to explain to the Captain why his Yeoman is in Sickbay being treated by the Doctor for wounds suffered during a beating. I like being in Starfleet, I would rather not end my career before it begins.”

She smiled as the wind blew her hair despite Chow trying to catch it playfully. "Then I will sleep on your couch, my knight in shining armor," she said.

“Uh, no,” he said. “You shall have the bed and I shall have the couch, milady. Now, shall we walk down there? It’s a nice day after all.”

"Why thank you, kind sir," Mila said. "Shall we?"

Aidan held his arm out an angle for Mila to take hold of. “We shall.”

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