EXETERRPG: (1 - 0900) CO, Captain Trip Williams and Morale Office, Ensign Ash Williams

[Mark Howard]

Mission: Space was cool before it mattered

Day: 1

Stardate: 2446.04.25

(USS Exeter -Personal Quarters - CO, Captain Trip Williams and Morale
Office, Ensign Ash Williams - 0900)


Trip entered his quarters in an attempt to make a quick stop on his way
back to the bridge.


“Honey, you here? I stopped by your office but they said you weren’t in.”

Ash came through from the bedroom, followed by Ronnie. They’d had quite a
long conversation, Ash stating that Ronnie couldn’t pick today's clothes.
The conversation had ended with the agreement that Ronnie would wear
whatever she wanted today.

“Nanny’s going to be a little late this morning; I’m just sorting out some
bookings and appointments.”

“What’s the point of having a nanny if she isn’t going to be around so you
can work,”

“I’m certain that there’s a good reason, I’m not making an issue of it as
it isn’t really inconveniencing me.” Ash said, “it’s one morning.”

Trip shook his head, “we can discuss that later. I just wanted to let you
know that Ailynn was safely on board.”

“Ailynn?” Ash said, wishing that she’d fought harder, the garish pink tutu
clashed horribly with the bright yellow t-shirt and purple hat. “Ailynn as
in Ailynn Ailynn?”

“Yeah, I only found out about 3 hour ago when her shuttle forwarded the
crew manifest. She’s Starfleet’s special Medical Envoy.”

“She’s what now? Can’t that girl switch off for…” Ash sighed. ~No she
can’t, she never could.~

“Yeah, that’s what I said. It’s like, if you insist on working, can’t she
be here. But then again…I don’t think she ever viewed anything medical as
working.”

“No she doesn’t. My sister should have known better than to…” Ash stopped
talking, and changed sentence. “Always been the same.”

“I mean, when we were kids, I would occasionally rip my stuffed animals so
she could stitch them back together. Playing doctor was one of the only
ways I could get her to play Starship.”

Ash laughed. “I can believe that.” She said, watching Ronnie as she stroked
Layla. “Gentle hands Ronnie.” Turning back to Trip she spoke, “So why is
Fleet Medical interested in this? A special envoy for a nebula study?”

“Curative properties of Space radiation.” He said with a smile. “Ronnie, I
think we need to add extra lighting to your closet, you look like you got
dressed in the dark.”

Ronnie stuck her tongue out at her father.

“It was easier.” She said with a sigh. “Ronnie…Manners sweetie.” Ash said,
privately wondering about genetic memory, and the possibility that Ronnie’s
two year old body had retained old-Ronnie’s ability to swear like a sailor
in a house of easy virtue. “I see. So that’s what the focus is. I did
wonder.”

“I mean there are lots of things to study inside a Nebula. But preliminary
readings indicate that some of the radiation present in minerals found on
asteroids in the nebula could have medical applications. So they send the
workaholic who doesn't know how to rest.”

“I worry about her, I really do. I’ll have a word, at least try to get her
to pace herself, she has a team and I’m assuming Sciences and Medical at
her whim. I’ll yell at my sister too for sending her.”

“Good luck with that. Aimee still scares me. But then again, I deserved her
wrath on many an occasion.”

“All that aside. How are you? Honestly.” She slipped her arms around her
husbands waist and gave him a gently hug.

“Well, I still haven’t been as present as I’d like with the kids, but the
lower stakes have been quite….welcomed. Still finding that work life
balance. But I’m ok. Truly I am.”

“Good. It’s quieter, you seem a lot less torn; and others are happier.” she
rolled her eyes to Ronnie.

“What about you? All good?”

“I’m fine. I have a post-partum massage and yoga, then I need to look at
the boring stuff of actually reading the things that I’ve been putting off
for a while.”

"Would be nice to actually have time to read. Glad things are going well."

“Yeah, I know I wouldn’t have expected to ever say this, but I’m glad
Cerise is around. She’s my best friend, such a gentle girl.”

"Who would have ever thought queen bitch would become queen nice." Trip
paused. "Sorry that was a bit uncalled for on my part."

“Be nice you.” she playfully admonished. “She’s a good friend, we have
lunch regularly.”

"I do worry about her. Sometimes I feel that out outside of you and lt.
Brightwood, she's all alone."

“I don’t see her socialising with many, if any others, I hear people say
her classes and treatments are great but, as you say, I think that she
spent so long pushing people away, scared to open back up. With that being
said, she’s happy, and falling for Brightwood, so that is something.”

"Maybe.  Probably. I just worry about my people."

“I know, you carry too many worries. I know you have to but you don’t
delegate enough.”

"But as long as I have you, I'll be ok"

“We both will. Won’t we pest?” Sh asked Ronnie, “so long as mommy gets to
pick your clothes, yes?”

"Fine, but only if daddy let's me sit in the big chair."

"OK Ronnie but let mommy change you first." Trip said softly.

Ash led a more compliant Ronnie to the bedroom, where she put on the dress
and shoes that she’d actually picked nearly an hour ago. Smiling happily as
the bot of them reemerged, she turned to Trip. “Ready?”

"Ready."

(Reply none)

(Posted by Will and Mark)
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