The one with a fight

Posted on Monday, 11 May 2020 - 12:27pm by Commander Soral & Lieutenant Alex Kingsley

Mission: Operation: Recall
Location: USS Fontana| XO Quarters
Timeline: MD4 (immediately following staff briefing)

{ON:}

They walked in silence to the quarters they were now sharing. Soral's mind was going a mile a minute. He knew that she would not be pleased. As they neared the door he had an odd feeling.

The door hissed open and they walked through it, Alex with more force then he.

“What was that?!”

The doors had barely closed behind them before she blurted out her question. Unable to stay silent and for once not believing he had told the entire truth when she challenged him in the briefing room. Out of the corner of her eye she caught a glimpse of Bones, ball in mouth and clearly wanting to play before his puppy senses tingled and he retreated back to his bed. Curling up to watch the scene unfolding.

Turning to face Soral she rolled her eyes, “stay on the ship?! Really?! Do you think I’m so incapable?”

Soral stayed silent for a moment. "No. I think you are quite capable. You would be a greater help here. It was logical." It sounded a bit hollow to his ears. It was logical yes but he also wanted her out of harms way.

"Muniz is just as capable to help from the ship," she countered, "he's been involved from the beginning. If anything he is more suited. And if you wanted a good pilot, Yolen is the best on the ship."

"Which is why we need him out there. You will be needed to take the CO and Vali when Stillwater is located and it is deemed safe." He realized he'd just outed himself.

"Safe? Is that what this is? You are benching me until you think it is safe?" she shot back, temper well and truly flaring now. As she said it a cup on the table beside her tipped over and she quickly righted it. Safe. What was safe anyway? The warp core could breach, there could be any number of things that happened to the ship while they were left behind, sitting on their hands. "You can't - that's illogical! It's unfair!"

"Is it unfair to want you safe? At least as safe as I can ensure." He stood their and crossed his arms looking quite cool. "You are right. It I dangerous here." He thought a moment but safer than going to hostile planets."

"Yes it's unfair," she told him. It was hard work staying angry when he was remaining so calm. But she was managing. "Would you do this to Yolen? Or Doctor Rose? We don't even know what those planets will be like so maybe staying aboard is the most dangerous option. Unlikely but maybe. Or maybe the planets wont be as bad as we think. But you can't put me in a bubble Soral."

"Doctor Rose and Yolen are different." He could sure as hell try to keep her in a bubble.

"No you can't! And Why? Why are they different? Because they are men? Because they are older?" she demanded. "Because they don't live with you...? I don't understand Soral."

Soral stared at her a moment. There were a couple of thins that filtered through his mind. While he reflected on them he simply answered, "They are different because I am not in love with them." His mind though back to the cup. Why had it tipped over on it's own....and how had she known about his thought about trying to keep her in the bubble...most curious.

That took the fight out of her. She stared at him, clearly not sure she had heard him. "Sorry, what?"

He raised an eyebrow. He'd been so distracted he'd let the truth slip out. He was Vulcan though. He would own the truth. "They are different because I am not in love with them."

"You love me?" she repeated, not sure she entirely believed the words coming out of her mouth as a smile appeared on her lips, fighting to be seen against her simmering anger at him.

"Indeed. While it is a short time that we've been together I do love you. It is a fact. Quite an unbreakable one."

She was - rarely - speechless. Because his words rang with sincerity. "What kind of scientist argues with facts?" she said softly, moving to wrap her arms around him.

He returned the embrace. Holding her tightly. "I wish to keep you safe Alex." He sighed, "Is that so wrong?"

"No," she admitted, "but I'm not on this crew to be side-lined when things look dangerous. Can you understand what I mean?"

"I can."

She looked up at him, slightly mollified now. "No more bubbles?"

"I will do my best. I will always wish to protect you, it is instinct. Can you understand that?"

She nodded, "I guess so. I'll always worry about you too."

"We should get back to our stations. We are still on duty." He said. "Unfortunately."

“Are you sure that isn’t too dangerous?” She teased.

"Indeed. I am considering adopting a new non Vulcan custom." He said as he motioned for them to leave the quarters.

“Oh?”

He waited until she entered the turbo lift just before the doors closed to take her to her science lab he said, "It's the Ferengi custom about women and clothing. You have made me think that I have dismissed that custom too soon." Her face was priceless as the door closed.

{OFF:}

 

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