EXETERRPG: (3, 0730) CO, Captain Trip Williams and Civilian Addison Queen

[Will Banowsky]

Mission: Murder on the Exeter Express
Day: 3
Stardate: 2445.12.03

(USS Exeter – Ready Room– CO, Captain Trip Williams and Civilian Addison
Queen  – 0730)

As Trip walked into the ready room he realized that someone else was in his
ready room.
“Ms. Queen?” He asked as he saw that Addison Queen from the Starlight
Lounge was placing a tray of tea, milk, honey, sugar, and some waffles on
his desk. “Who was it that ordered my breakfast, was it my wife or was it
my yeoman?”

Addison looked up as the doors opened, temporarily distracting her from her
task. “Good Morning Captain” she said with a quiet, demure smile on her
face. “A combination of both actually. Ensign Helms asked Mrs Williams for
a tray to be brought up.”

“Well, shows how much they care and how much I prefer real milk to the
replicated stuff.”

“Isn’t it more or less the same stuff?” Addison asked, a look of confusion
on her face.

“Its shit you know, not that it tastes like shit, the replicated stuff is
quite good, its just that it is shit. They take our waste, recycle it,
break it down, reform the atoms, and tada. Replicated matter.”

She opened and closed her mouth a couple of times, “I...kind of wish you
hadn’t told me that, but now you mention it it makes an odd kind of sense.”
She was genuinely fond of the Captain, and his wife in particular.

“Sorry that was a bit inappropriate it.”

She laughed warmly. “It’s okay. Growing up I was exposed to all kinds of
things. I had meant to be out of your way when you arrived, so my
apologies, I’ll pass on your thanks to Mrs Williams though.”

"I'll thank her more appropriately later." He said with a wink.

She blushed, “She’s…” Addison looked puzzled for a moment. “Can I ask...is
she like that all the time? What I mean is...she took me under her wing,
always makes sure that I and all her staff are okay and happy.” Ashlyn had
indeed taken Addison under her wing when she’d come aboard, little to no
training or formal qualifications, Addison was terrified of working in the
starlight lounge, but Ash had proved to be a gentle, warm hearted mentor.

"She's a wonder woman thats for sure." Trip said with a laugh.

Addison smiled, aand laughed gently, put at ease by the Captains easy
nature, which given what had happened according to ships gossip, he’d be
forgiven for being a lot more grumpy this morning.

"Ms. Queen, may I call you Addison?"

Addison nodded. “Of course Captain.”

"Addison, why don't you pour two cups of tea and join me. I've got time to
chat for a bit and you're pleasant enough company."

“If you’re sure Captain, that would be nice.” She picked up the milk, and
poured a small amount in each cup, then picking up the teapot, poured them
a cup of tea each, the steam from the aromatic liquid teasing her nostrils.
She then picked up one of the cups and passed it over to the Captain, and
then sat down herself at a chair opposite, her tea in hand. Sipping the hot
drink, she sighed gently, not remembering a time where she was treated as
such an equal.

"Addison, tell me about yourself. You're what 18, 19, 20? You can't be much
older than 21."

She smiled, “Just turned 21, not long before I came on board.”

"Family, boyfriend, girlfriend, hopes, dreams?"

Sipping at her tea, she drew a breath thoughtfully as she answered. “No
partners, maybe one day, but I want to settle into learning how to improve
me first you know? I had a bit of college behind me, but I dropped out, I
couldn’t settle into what I’d chosen to do, so just wandered, and travelled
some. Then I realised that I was three years down the line and I have
nothing, no job, no real experience in anything; so I put in for civilian
service in the Fleet, Ash interviewed me day before the Exeter shipped out
of DS9.”

"Has it been worth it?"

“I don’t know honestly, I like it here, but...can I ask? Is it normal to
just feel itchy? That you need to see new things, experience new things?”

"I wouldn't know. Ive wanted this since I was 7. I'm 23, am a Captain, I've
got a wife with a kid on the way. I wish I felt that way. But I've never
felt that itch."

“You seem very grounded for such a high flier, no pun intended exactly.”
Addison smiled. “I’ve known people with half the success that you have turn
out to be complete monsters.” She sipped at her tea again, it was weaker
than she preferred it, but it was nice to just sit and chat with someone
completely different than she normally did. She blushed as she complimented
him.

"Can I ask an awkward question?"

Addison nodded. “Of course,” she said, “ask away.”

"Am I hot?"

Addison wasn’t precisely ready for the question being quite so searching
into such a personal issue, “Wow...Erm...I mean yeah, I think that you’re
dead cute, what’s the old word? Buff I believe?” she blushed embarrassed at
the admission. “Why do you ask?”

"On mars, I was nicknamed by some of the bar staff at the fighter wings
favorite pub as admiral what a waste. That I was too pretty to be in
Starfleet. Sometimes I wonder...sorry this is silly."

“Wonder what? That you could be a total player? That’d be a real shame.”
She smiled playfully. “It’s not silly at all.”

"But I wonder am I weird for wanting this stability and domestic felicity
at 23 when many of my peers want to explore...ummm...park their...dock
their Starships in strange ports if you catch my meaning."

“Oh, I understand, I met a few of those back on DS9. One thing on their
minds.” She visibly shuddered, “all too well.”

"My guess is you're the normal one. You have that itch, I don't. I should
be sleeping with alien super models. But instead I am married to a
wonderful woman. And i love that. I have no itch. But you're having the
itch is more the norm."

“Do you ever regret it?” She shook her head, “regret isn’t the
word...wonder what might have been had you and Ashlyn not settled down?”
She winked, “I dunno, play that field...sow those Texan wild oats?”

"Not really. When you know, you know. I mean sure, sometimes when my mind
wanders. But she's my rock. Honestly Id be lost without her. I mean
honestly, without her, i don't know. I'd be happy, but I think I'd be less
grounded."

She shrugged, and sighed to herself internally. Trip was something else,
she hadn’t been exaggerating about the officers on DS9, hovering around
like flies on muck, but they all paled into insignificance as she shared
tea with the man in front of her. “More like the rest of the Flyboys? I
doubt that, I think that you’d still do you pretty well. It’s nice to see
you and Ash together though, you always look so...well...together you know?”

"She brings the best out of me."

“Can I ask something? You, Ashlyn and Ailynn were at school together yeah?”

"Once upon a time."

“Was the Commander always that intense?” she paused for thought. “She’s
kind of scarey, weirds me out a bit.”

Trip began laughing. "Ailynn is special. She's smart as hell but sometimes
her people skills are...well all Brackens are intense like that. But she's
a sweetheart. I think she just had a hard time connecting you know. We're
not always made to adapt to every phase. She'll be an admiral before I am,
that's for sure. She's made for this work. But in high school she was the
library queen. I made it 4 years of high school without entering the
library."

Addison laughed. “I totally see that, no offence.” she finished her tea,
and placed the cup back on the tray, laughing gently. “So Brackens are
intense and highly strung, but you married one anyway?” she teased him
playfully.

“Ash is different. She didn’t know she was one until….” Trip paused. “Well
its not my story to tell really. But all Brackens have a sweet side to
them, but and are intelligence, but Ash, her intelligence is more, in
social intelligence. Honestly if she wanted to, she could go to school for
counseling and be one of the best counselors in the fleet.”

Addison raised an eyebrow gently, curious. “Could she do that? And stay on
board I mean?”

“Probably. My uncle Will got his law degree that way, and now he’s the
Judge Advocate General of starfleet.”

“I never realised that such a thing was possible,” Addison admitted.
“Figured that it’d be monitored and you’d be split up or some such. With
that said though, Fleet’s a lot smaller now than when those rules were
written I suppose.”

“How’s the tea?”

“It was lovely thank you.” She sighed. “I should get on before Mrs Williams
thinks I’m hiding somewhere with her husband drinking tea.” she giggled
gently. I’ll leave the honey and waffles. You’re supposed to eat well to
keep your strength up or something.” she said playfully.

“I was wondering why the tea wasn’t as sweet.”

Addison looked puzzled, “I’m not with you.”

“I put honey in my tea. I’m weird like that. The waffles don’t need them,
because if they are the Trip Special, they’re filled with chocolate.” Trip
paused. “Have I mentioned I might have a chocolate addiction. Part of the
reason I work out so damn much.”

“Well, you look good on it, you’re clearly doing something right.” Addison
tidied the empty cups back onto the tray. “I don’t tend to go for many
sweet things.”

“You’re a charming person Addy. Mrs. and I should have you over for dinner.
Also if you find anyone you think is cute, let me know, I’ll order them to
date you.” Trip said with a laugh joking, “And if they have significant
other, I’ll order them to split,” Trip slapped his knee. He found himself
hilarious.

Addison laughed. “Be careful of making those kind of promises.” she said
smiling gently. “I might just take you up on it one day.”

“Then we’ll really see how effective my orders are.” Trip said with a laugh.

“Captain.” She said, standing up, a demure, cheeky smile on her face,
“Thank you for the company, and for allowing me to join you. It was a
lovely, warm gesture from you.” She picked up the tray. “Have a good
morning Captain.”  She then stepped carefully around the chair, and slowly
left the room, the tray balanced on one arm.

Trip smiled. ~Good kid. What am I talking about, kid. She’s practically my
age. Have a I really become such an old man, that I’m calling people in my
peer group, kid.~

As Trip sat down at his desk waiting for his first appointment, he felt
something he had never felt before. A question, a wonder. What else is out
there? Could there be more? Is this all there is? In that moment, for the
first time in his life, Trip began feeling a bit of wanderlust. He began
feeling the way many his age did. He began feeling the itch.

(Reply none)
(posted by Will and Mark)
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