EXETERRPG: (1 - 1135) LtCmdr Alex Jones & CSO Lt(sg) Erin Cortez

[Jaclyn Smith]

Mission: A new day dawns
Day: 1
Stardate: 2446.01.28


(Earth, San Francisco- outside Starfleet HQ - LtCmdr Alex Jones & CSO
Lt(sg) Erin Cortez - 1135)


After having changed into a new uniform, Erin had spent some time with
Greta, just listening to her and being there. Walking back towards the
outdoor cafe, she fixed a stray hair that had dropped onto her face and
sighed. ~Sometimes, I just wish that I hadn't had the career start I have
had but, it makes me me. If Gen were here, I know she would not apologise
for who she is and neither should I.~ she thought to herself as she walked
towards the cafe.


Alex retrod his steps from earlier, after a shower and a change, now
wearing his normal sand coloured boots, jeans, and some band t-shirt that
his younger brother had told him was ‘well retro innit.’ Which Alex took to
be a good thing, rounding the corner he saw Erin just sitting down at the
same table as before, the gentle breeze lifting her hair. Managing a
nervous smile as he sat down, he greeted her by her first name, now neither
were in uniform. “Erin, fancy meeting you here. Now we’re both a little
less soggy, we can talk perhaps? I trust your friend is...well as is to be
expected?”


Smiling softly, Erin nodded, "She's… as well as anyone can be after that.
But thankyou for asking."


“Good to hear.” He said pleasantly as he sat down.


"Mind if I order something to eat? Been a busy morning and I haven't had
time to eat yet."


“Not at all. I’m peckish myself, so please, go right ahead.” He caught the
waitress's eye.


Smiling, Erin ordered some food and sat back, finally feeling like she was
relaxing a little.


“I’ll have the same, thank you.” He spoke to the waitress then turned his
attention to Erin. “So, you said you were CSO, formerly Counsellor?”


"Yeah… it's a long story but something happened a year or so ago and I
ended up at Starfleet Medical. Didn't know what I wanted to do and ended up
getting head hunted by Admiral Kane."


“Ah. Kane I know by name. Was this before or after you stuck him with the
arrow?” He teased pleasantly. By nature he was quite an introverted shy
type, but found himself relaxed by Erin’s pleasant nature.


"That was after. We got to know each other and turns out that he was
academy archery champion. He knew I was as well so, naturally a challenge
ensued." She smiled.


“Naturally.” He laughed. “I’m guessing the challenge ended in sickbay? Or
was that the challenge? ‘I bet you couldn't hit Admiral Kane in the arse!’”
He smiled and chuckled to himself at the thought.


Erin laughed, "No sickbay visit. It was a total accident that, thankfully,
I realised before I actually let the arrow fly and swung round. Think a
pigeon got very startled in the tree nearby us. Although, when I told
Admiral Kane, he laughed and congratulated me on my reflexes."


Chuckling gently, He nodded a thanks to the waitress who had brought the
food to the table. “Poor old pigeon.” He said whimsically. “Well, it’s a
good job you hadn’t got your bow with you this morning. I am sorry about
that. Woolgathering.”


Erin shook her head a little and took a bite of her food, "Seriously stop
apologising. It was as much my fault as yours. Like I said, no score draw."


“Well, that’s kind.”


"So, come on. You seem to know a bit about me now. Return the favour. Tell
me about you and why you chose that shirt of all the shirts in the world. "
She replied winking cheekily.


“This I’ll have you know is a genuine...I’m actually not sure who these
characters are, it was a gift from my little brother. He’s ten years
younger, and has a very different philosophy on life than I do.”


"He sounds fun. Only one sibling?"


Alex shook his head. “Four of us. Two older sisters, me and my younger
brother. So the two girls were the princesses, the younger brother was the
golden child. I was the only one that really did anything. Parents were
very anti-Starfleet, calling it ‘a fascistic monolith; a military in all
but name.’ So...they were pleased when I went to the Academy.” He rolled
his eyes at the memory of the almighty argument.


"I bet. I was lucky. My mom was Starfleet. A doctor. She left to go into
private practice. My dad… well, the man I call my dad has a horse ranch
outside of Santiago. He's a good guy. No siblings although always wanted
some."


Alex heard the immediate clarification regarding Erin’s father, that raised
a couple of lead on questions, but none of them were his business, should
she want to elaborate, she would have done, and so he let the matter pass
unhindered. “It’s funny.” He ventured, easing into the conversation more
than he had in a long while. “We always want what the other had…”


"That's true. The grass is always greener I believe the saying is." Erin
replied,  sitting back in her chair. ~I can tell he caught the mention of
my dad but he didn't ask… gentleman.~ she thought to herself.


“I had a friend who was an only child in high school, but he wanted lots of
brothers and sisters, I however, with three siblings, always wanted to be
on my own. It’s strange.”


"What about you then? What is family to you?"


Alex nodded, and sighed. “In all honesty I’m not sure. I feel a disconnect
from them. I love them because they’re family, but that’s about as far as
it goes. I’d like to say it’s sunshine and roses, but I don’t get any of
that, I’m largely a stranger to my parents, but they’d doted on the girls
because princesses, and my brother because he can’t possibly know better
because he’s the youngest.” He shrugged, “It is what it is. They’re about
and we chat, but that’s all it is. Beyond my relatives, family...at my
age...not sure it means the same thing as it does to a young thing like
yourself.”


"Young thing? That's kind of you to say. Don't feel young. I've probably
seen more than most my age. But that’s a story for another time. Don't want
to give away all my secrets yet, do I?" She replied with a wry smile.


He smiled shyly. “Yet?” He finished the last sliver of marinaded chicken.
“Well, i’d like to hear just a fraction of those stories. I don’t have many
myself more’s the pity. Desk officer most of my career.”


"There’s a few I could tell. Grew up with horses and my dad was she archer
of the family so I picked up my love of it from him. I know it makes me
sound like Robin Hood but it's more than that.


There's something pure about a bow and arrow. Call it a link to our past,
whatever… I love it. Don't get much of a chance these days. " Erin replied
with a tinge of sadness on her voice.


Picking up on the apparent regret, he half smiled half nodded. “Not much
call for the bow on the Fleet’s most advanced ship.” He said gently.
“Arrows and plasma conduits are not a great combination.” A silly joke and
a half wink, but Erin had a pretty smile. Not that he should notice such
things in one so many years younger than himself. She was pleasant company
thought, he considered, an easy to talk to manner.


"Definitely not. And I think our chief engineer would have something to say
if she found an arrow buried into the core." She replied with a laugh.
Taking a sip of her drink, she glanced at him. Something about him was
making her relax and forget the problems that had been plaguing the ship
recently.


"What about you? What do you do for fun?"


He blushed gently, “I enjoy sketching. Sometimes I come down here, and just
while away an afternoon with a pad and a couple of pencils, I like this
place. It’s not far from the docks, so you see life unravel here.”


Erin smiled, "That's part of the reason I come here. I'm a people watcher.
Nothing as artistic as that. Do you exhibit?"


He shook his head gently with a blush, and a shrug. “It’s just my thing,
I...keep it to myself, it’s nothing fancy, really.”


"Oh come on. You're an artist. That is fancy. You don't want to see my
attempt at drawing."


“I said I sketch stuff, I did not use the word artist, and nor will I
ever.” He smiled and objected. “Besides, art is subjective, what can be
wrong with what you do?”


"Let's just say it would be embarrassing. I can barely draw a stick
figure." She replied laughing. "Although I have been told I have a good
singing voice."


“Oh so that you need to back up...When I sing the deaf lady four doors down
bangs on the wall.” He teased. “You sing to an audience ever? I wish I had
that kind of talent.”


"No, uh uh. No way. Never performed. There's only a handful of people… "
Erin paused as the memory of the alternate universe flashed into her mind.
The memory of being Genevieve and singing in front of a hall of people.


“Oh? Not the ‘big gig’ type of girl?” He ventured.


"I'm not brave enough to go on stage. Never have been. Like your art, it's
something just for me."


Chuckling gently, he smiled. “You sound like every ringer I’ve come
across.” His attention was pulled away from the table, a puzzled look on
his face.


"What are you…." Erin started to ask and then noticed his gaze had been
drawn away, "Earth to Alex.   You okay over there?"


“I’m so sorry, forgive me, you ever hear of the word doppleganger?” He
asked, still switching his attention.


"Yeah… of course. Why…." Erin replied, puzzled.


“Okay, so you see the dark haired lady, lavender coloured dress, very
pregnant, with the black lab walking up?”


Glancing, Erin nodded. Recognising Ash immediately but feeling slightly
mischievous,  "Don’t tell me that dog is a spitting image of your family
dog or something?"


Alex looked at her but laughed. “You are trouble, funny girl.” He shook his
head. “Makers be my witness I saw a Commander at HQ this morning that was
the image of her, few inches taller, and admittedly less...with child, but
they could use each other as a mirror, it’s uncanny.”


Biting her lip, Erin let out a small chuckle, "I'm sorry… I can’t… The
heavily pregnant lady is Ash. Ash Williams. My captain's wife. The woman
you saw at HQ… probably Ailynn. My… well, she's my best friend." Erin
sighed.


“I see. Uncanny how people look similar sometimes.”


Ailynn was going through things. Things that she understood but couldn't
help her with. One of those you have to figure it out on your own things.
As much as Ailynn had been there for her during some of the darker moments
of her life and, as much as she wanted to be there for her now… she knew
her friend was stubborn and needed time to figure things out on her own.

Ash saw Erin first, from the short distance, the daft Labrador pulling
slightly at the lead, excited to be off the ship and out and about.
Stepping toward the table where Erin sat, she smiled warmly, “Erin,
Sweetie. How are you?”


Smiling back, "Not too bad. Better than earlier. " She replied,  smiling at
Alex. Turning her gaze back to Ash, she added, "Ash, this is Commander
Monaghan. He insists on going by Alex. Alex, this is Ash Williams. "


Alex stood up with a smile, and motioned to the seat that he had vacated.
“Ma’am. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”


Ashlyn smiled at the gesture, glad to take a load off her feet. “Thank you
Alex. I appreciate that.” She gestured to her abdomen with a warm smile,
“this is getting heavy. Layla...sit.”


Alex, she noted, blushed gently, and half made a show of checking his
watch. “I...have a message, Erin...Mrs Williams, please excuse me? I need
to chase this up?”


Looking at him, her head tilted slightly. ~Now, it's either the appearance
of a pregnant lady or i said something…~ she thought to herself. Smiling,
she nodded, "Of course. You know where you can find me now. Just watch your
step next time." She winked.


Ashlyn smiled warmly, a glowing twinkle in her eye. “I didn’t mean to drive
you away Commander, you don’t need to.”


Alex nodded, “I appreciate that Ma’am, review board message. You understand
of course. I should...Erin, you’re the nicest person I’ve ever spilt coffee
onto.” He turned to Ashlyn. “Ma’am.” then with a shy smile turned away and
after a quick conversation with the waiter and a motion to the table,
smiled and walked away.


Ashlyn watched his retreat with a gentle eye. She thanked the waitress for
the immediate glass of water, slice of lime, and a bowl of water for Layla,
who lapped happily. After a long sip at her drink, she turned to Erin she
raised an eyebrow, but said nothing


Seeing the look, Erin leant back in her chair and threw up her hands,
"What?"


Ashlyn sighed. “It baffles me that since I’m not an officer, people think
they can slip things past me? You know how Ailynn can read you?”


"Yes… she has a gift with that. Knows me better than I do myself sometimes."


“She’s an amateur.” Ash smirked with a naughty smile on her face.


Furrowing her brow, it took Erin a second to realise and, when she did, she
knew she was blushing as she replied, "Wait… you think… no.. it’s not like
that. We just sort of…. Well crashed into each other."


“And were so traumatised by it you sat and had what looks like a rather
nice sauteed chicken carpaccio salad?” She smiled.


Erin shook her head and laughed, "I swear you Brackens are just
incorrigible. I literally met him an hour ago. He's nice but.. I'm not
looking. Not now anyway. Too much to deal with." Erin replied quietly. She
knew that Ash would be aware of more than most. Most of the crew would have
known what had happened during the trials but she still hadn't unpacked
what had happened between herself and the woman sat opposite her.


Glancing at her bump, she smiled warmly, "How is the young man doing?"


Ash watched the flow of emotion on Erin’s face, she was genuinely fond of
her, they’d shared such an intense experience, it had seared itself into
Ash’s soul. Looking down she hefted a sigh, and reached out, placing Erin’s
hand on a certain place on her lower bump. “One second, he’s lively this
time of day.”


After a second, movement. Erin's eyes grew wide as she smiled, "I felt
that. That's… just incredible. Although, if he is anything like his father,
he is probably saying "Get that crazy lady away from me." She winked as she
gently moved her hand back to the table.


“He’s doing fine.” Ash smiled warmly, glowing happily. “Shall we?” She
motioned to the path around the large lake.


"Sure. Could do with walking off that food."


“Here.” Ash passed over Layla’s lead as they stood up and gave their thanks
to the waitress. Ash hooked her hand into the crook of Erin’s elbow.


Erin smiled at her and looked at Layla. The pup was so happy that she
envied her. ~must be nice to have a simple life.~


“Okay, so...we need to chat don’t we.” she smiled gently.


"I think so." Erin replied, with a heavy sigh as she directed Ash to a
nearby bench.

(Reply none)
(Posted by Jackie and Mark)
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