The Quartermaster

Posted on Saturday, 27 March 2021 - 5:38pm by Lieutenant JG Adrianna Eberhardt

Mission: Operation: Trail of Tears
Location: USS Standing Bear | Main Engineering | CEO's office
Timeline: 2394

ON:

Adrianna walked down to Eyelaya's office the next morning. She had a few queries that she was hoping Eyelaya would be able to assist with. Bad dreams had caused Adrianna to consider all of the worst case scenarios that could happen in the upcoming weeks.

Seeing Eyelaya's office door open, she knocked on the frame, "you got a minute?"

"For you? Absolutely!"

Adrianna stepped in and had the door shut behind her, "the picnic was fun. I know it was supposed to be for Haru, but I enjoyed it." She took a seat.

She smiled. "Me too. I really love the program. Are you okay if I use it now and then?" She stood and walked to the small replicator. "Anything to drink?"

"Of course," Adrianna replied, "it's one to be alone with though. I've built the programme for peace." She nodded, "I'll have a coffee please."

She got the coffee for herself and for Adrianna. "So, how can I be of help?" She asked sitting down at her desk and sipping the warm brew.

"When we first met, you were tweaking some designs for some innovative tech. Did you get anywhere with the shield?" Adrianna asked.

She smiled. "Not only did I get somewhere I perfected it... sort of. The catch is the shield works for an hour only and needs a full five minutes to recharge to be usable for another hour."

"That's seems like it would buy you time though," Adrianna nodded impressed, "earth has the movie franchise called 'James Bond'. In the series, there is a character called the quartermaster, or Q for short. He invents gadgets and weapons. You are my Q." Adrianna paused.

She laughed. "Well alright then! We can test them on the holodeck if you like."

Adrianna nodded, "I'm more here because I'm about to walk into an active war zone without the ability for a Starfleet safety net-- not guaranteed one anyway."

She sat up. "What? What's going on?"

"Remember that message in a bottle thing you made?" Adrianna began, "long story short, it's got Leopold's family on potential death row. We need to sort it out. We've been granted permission to go to Ekos. We'll be leaving in a week or two."

"For receiving a message from a family member?"

"For receiving a message from someone who deserted his planet," Adrianna replied.

"Oh boy." She lowered her head. "I'm sorry. Okay so what will you need to be safe?"

"That's why I'm here," Adrianna nodded, "I need subtlety and no trace to Starfleet. I'm open to suggestion."

She smiled, "I got lots of that. What are we protecting?"

"Preferably, Leopold and myself," Adrianna teplied, "he needs to take the priority. Preferable a distraction in case executions are planned."

"I have undetectable sensors, shields and all you'll need. Do the two of you have time tonight to go through it all?"

"We can find the time," Adrianna replied. She then sighed and ran some fingers through her hair, "Gawd I'm more nervous about going to Ekos than I was about being in Italy."

"It will be fine. The power of love can conquer all."

Adrianna raised a brow and smirked, "that's cheesy, even for you."

"Sorry," she blushed. "Been hanging out with Grol too much."

"You worked out your predi-pidic-predicicime-problem?" Adrianna asked, "about whether you were just friends."

"He still thinks we're just friends and well I've not slept in my quarters for a week now." She grinned. "Men, we let them have their dreams."

"Interesting," Ade nodded, "I've been in that kind of relationship. Be warned--without boundaries or a label, you may end up heartbroken."

She sighed. "Story of my life." She reached across and touched her friend's hand. "I'm just happy to see you come out of your shell."

"Good way to change the topic," Ade noted with a somewhat cheeky grin, "I'm just saying, you'll need to get to a point of deciding what you are to him."

She laughed, "When the time comes, for now no label is necessary. Now Shall we meet tonight in the holodeck?"

"Only if you give him the night off," Adrianna grinned.

"Hm....well I have to think about it." She closed her eyes. "Sure." She laughed. She walked over to Adrianna and hugged her friend. "I'm so glad we're friends."

Adrianna, for the first time other than with Leopold, didn't flinch. Instead she accepted the hug and even reciprocated. "Me too," she replied.

OFF: