USS Paladin

Compiled by Calvin Capps
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Mission: Interlude
Mission Day: 2
Stardate: 2407.01.21
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(USS Paladin, Holodeck 4, FSXO 1st Lt. Stephiea Rath and COPS/3O Ensign (sg) Michael Ian O'Connor, 1903)
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(USS Paladin, Holodeck 4, FSXO 1st Lt. Stephiea Rath and COPS/3O Ensign (sg) Michael Ian O'Connor, 1903)

  Looking back at Stephiea he smiled, "Shall we?"

  Steph returned the smile and moved her body closer to his, wrapping
her free arm around his mid-section while holding his hand with her other,
allowing him to lead.

  "I'm not the best dancer in the galaxy,"Steph admitted a little
shyly.  "Don't laugh at me too much if I step on your toes by mistake."

"To be honest I'm better at Jigs, and the slightly faster steps myself,
but I won't tell if you won't."  Michael said with a grin as he lead
her around the open floor.

  "This party was a really great idea,"Steph said, as they danced. "I
think we really needed some rest and relaxation.  How do you like the
Paladin so far?"

"It's a good ship, and from what I can tell a good crew," Michael
said.  "Bigger than what I was expecting for my first major
assignment, there aren't a lot of Meredith class ships in the fleet,
and I didn't think they'd put an Ensign in charge of Operations on
one.  I also have to say, being on the ship with the most firepower in
the sector helps me sleep a little better at night."  Michael said as
they danced.  "How long you been with Starfleet?"  Michael asked,
hoping to work his way away from business, towards other lines of
conversation.

   "Well," Steph began a little shyly a small smile on her face.  "I
was in Star Fleet for two years before I was joined and that was a little
over a year ago now.  My previous host was a Chief Engineer on the USS
Banshee.  Before that I was a scientist specializing in astrophysics and
subspace mechanics.  Before that I-" She stopped suddenly realizing that
she was rambling.  "Sorry," She said, blushing while looking down at her
feet briefly.  "I've been in Star Fleet for a little over three years now.
Been a fighter pilot the entire time, and I love it.  The sense of freedom
when your out there is amazing, just you and the starts.  Like you can
almost reach out and touch them."  She stopped again shaking her head with
a sigh.  ~Stop rambling!~  She screamed at herself.

   "So tell me," She said, looking up into his eyes, "why did you join
Star Fleet?"

"I joined up before the war started, so it was more a job like any
other back what seems like years ago.  I was looking for something
other than a 9 to 5 job.  I wanted to get out and do something
important, or at least help someone else do it.  To be honest I also
had my share of wanderlust after university.  Now with the war going,
I just want to make sure my family has some place safe to go home to.
Now it's about justice, and honor, as much as that sounds horribly
cliche."  Michael said with a shrug and a smile as the moved around
the improvised dance floor.

    Steph nodded.  "Yea, I joined to see the universe too.  Wasn't
interested in a '9 to 5' job," She said.  "Of course that was before I
applied to the symbioses program.  Never thought I'd be joined so soon
though, but no regrets there."

"So, excuse me if this sounds like the most generic 'getting to know
you' question ever, but other than dance with the odd Irish operations
officer, what is it that you do for fun on a ship like this, besides
flying."  Michael asked with broad grin as he looked down at Stephiea,
noticing not for the first time since they started dancing that she
had a very pretty smile, and eyes to match.

    "Me?" Steph said, suddenly feeling nervous and looking down at
their feet before looking back up at Michael's face . "Well I like to work
on Isis, that's my fighter.  I've made quite a few modifications to her.
Having the memories of a Chief Engineer comes in handy from time to time.
When I want to unwind, I'll enjoy a good holo-novel on the holo-deck.  I
also enjoy camping, hiking, rock climbing, listening to good music, and
getting to meet new people.  I really enjoy meeting new people.  What about
you?" She asked as the moved across the dance floor.

"Me?" Michael asked innocently, realizing that Stephiea was shy, which
went completely against everything he knew about pilots, but who was
he to argue.  "I tend to program when I'm bored, little programs that
don't really do anything worth while, just entertaining little things.
Also like do holoprograming, and the odd holonovel, something to get
lost in.  Currently my free time is being taken up with a new project
I started, been working on some AI programming."  Michael said with a
smile.  "If you can't tell, I kinda like computers."

     Steph's eyes went wide and she looked up at Michael in surprise.
"You work on AI programming?" She asked, "Oh, that's wonderful!  Absolutely
wonderful!" Steph stopped dancing suddenly and bounced up and down with
excitement.  She grabbed Michael's shirt and pulled him down toward her
while she stood up on her tippy-toes and kissed him full on the lips.  She
let go of his shirt as she grabbed his hand.  "You've got to Isis!  She's
my baby!"  Steph started dragging Michael toward the door, still bouncing
about excitedly.

Michael grinned broadly, it had been a long time since anyone had
kissed him, at least like that and in the time between heart beats his
brain reminded him that he very much liked it, and encouraged him to
continue with what ever actions had resulted in the aforementioned
kiss.  However it was between the next two heart beats that logic
reasserted itself, at least partway.  "Whoa there," Michael said
chuckling and digging his heals in.  "After that kiss, which I am
greatly honored to have received by the way, I would do just about
what ever you wanted me to.  However, I've got to run this crazy
party, at least until dinner is served and people are settled in, so
we will have to put off a trip to see Isis."  Michael said, holding
tightly onto Stephiea's smaller hand.  "I will make a deal with you
however,  you stick around till the end of the party, or at least
until I decide to leave, and I will be at your beck and call when ever
you want to take a look at Isis, your wish will be my proverbial
command," Michael said, neglecting to mention that she out ranked him
and could just as easily order him to do what she wanted.

      Steph felt herself blushing again as she stopped tugging on
Michael's arm, realization of what she'd just done sinking in.  ~Oh my god
I really kissed him!  I just met him!  I can't believe I kissed him!  He's
going to think I'm a hussy!~  Steph looked down at her feet as she let go
of his hand, her cheeks burning.

      "Sure, I understand," She said, not able to look at him.  "Sorry
but I don't normally kiss men I've just met.  I guess I got a little
carried away.  Hope you don't think I'm...  I mean I hope you don't think
less of me for it."  She forced herself to look back up at him as the music
stopped and people started moving off the dance floor.

Michael smiled down at the now obviously embarrassed fighter pilot, who
seemed to be doing her best to dissuade him of any and all stereotypes
fighter pilots may have earned in their years of service with the
fleet.  Gently he lifted her chin with his index finger so she was
looking in his eyes.  "There, I won't have you staring down at the
floor like that over a little thing like a kiss," he said.  "No, I
don't think anything less of you for kissing me.  Like you said, you
don't normally do that, so I figure I just made a really good first
impression," he said with a wink, doing his best to make her feel
better.  He quickly led her off the dance floor before they became the
center of attention.  "Please don't worry about it, I hate when my
friends worry about stuff like this."  Michael said, hoping that she
would be able to see there was no reason to be embarrassed.  "And I
meant it, as soon as this party is over the two of us will go down to
the fighter bay and you can introduce me to Isis,"  Michael said with
a friendly smile.  "I'm looking forward to spending more time with
you, where it isn't so loud and we can talk easier."

       Steph sighed, still feeling embarrassed and not sure if Michael was
being honest or just patronizing her.  She shook head and looked up at
Michael with a small smile.  "Lets get something to eat," She said, "I'm
starved."  ~Now if I can just stop acting like a silly school girl.~ She
thought as she turned and headed toward the buffet table.

Michael just smiled and nodded and followed her towards the smell of
food.  He wasn't quite sure she believed that he still didn't think
anything less of her, but he didn't so he'd just have to keep working
at it.  Hopefully she'd forget about it in due time and they could go
back to enjoying the party and hopefully leave as good friends.

(posted by Wes and Patrick)
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Hope you enjoyed!