ILLUMINARRPG: (9-1420) CMO Lt. Quinna Solice/ SFI Michael Weston

[Al Muir]

Mission:  Death in the Shadows

Day 8

Stardate 2446.02.08


(USS Illuminar - Deck 2- Weston’s Quarters - CMO Lt. Quinna Solice/ SFI Michael Weston - 1420)


In the time that Quinna had been sleeping Weston had managed to stay busy. He did not want to take the chance of destroying the new cover he had been able to create the night before for both himself and Quinna by leaving. Eventually they were going to have to go to sickbay to retrieve the PADD, but that would be for a different mission, and a different time.


If he was being monitored, then his access to the computers would most likely be monitored as well. He wanted to keep those appearances up as well. When he woke up he began a computer search of Captain Sekal. He wanted to know what these people thought that they had on the Vulcan. He also needed to tread carefully since he had no desire for Luma to put him in a time out in an airlock or a very tight Jeffries tube.


After a few hours of eye burning research he found a few items that were interesting but nothing damning. Perhaps it was all completely made up, but in his experience Michael had found that all good lies had a modicum of truth to them.


At 1300 hours he decided it was time for lunch. Amazingly Quinna was still asleep. He decided to leave her be. She clearly need it and it would give him time to prepare a decent lunch. Replicators were fine for the most part, but real cooked food had a flavor that replicators could not reproduce. Sadly he did have to replicate many of the ingredients, but as his mom used to tell him, the most important ingredient was love.


He had lost himself in the ministrations of creating the meal when he heard a voice call out.


“Michael?”  It was a mixture of curiosity and concern.


He left his work and went to to bedroom.


“Well good afternoon sleepyhead,” he teased. “How are you feeling?”


Quinna moved to sit at the edge of the bed, “I am not sure.  I have never slept this long. Why did you let me sleep?”  Quinna was looking around for her boots.  “Something smells good.”  Quinna stood and adjusted her clothing.


Weston shrugged, “You’ve had a busy couple days and you seemed to need it. My motto is, if your body is telling you something, you should probably listen.”


He could smell his work bubbling in the kitchenette that the VIP quarters had. Must be in case some mucketymucks can only eat certain foods.


“I hope you like real Italian food,” he said, kissing his fingertips and spreading his fingers. “Mama Weston’s spaghetti and meatballs. Well, almost. There are some things that needed adjustments due to the replicators.  However, I think I done her proud.”


Quinna was ready to leave, she was so late for her duty that her shift was almost over anyway.


“Oh you cooked.  I so love pasta.”  Quinna was torn.  “Oh well I missed my duty shift anyway.”


“Yeah, don’t worry about it,” Michael said. “I made sure they were aware you wouldn’t be there. Don’t worry I was discreet.”


Quinna moved over closer to the chef.  “So are there any alternative motives by seducing me with spaghetti?”  Quinna asked.


“Other than hunger,” he replied, “and the fact I hadn’t cooked for you yet. No, not really. Maybe I’d like you to like me?”


“I have about two minute left if you want to come on out to the table,” he invited as he left the room.


Quinna made her way to the table.  She put her boots and sweater down on the floor next to the chair.


He went into the kitchen and checked the pasta. He picked up a strand of spaghetti from the water, blew on it and took bite.


He looked over at Quinna and wiggled his eyebrows. “Perfecto.”


He stirred the sauce and gave that a taste as well. Looking at the pan he nodded and frowned at the same time. “Not quite mama’s but not bad.”


He dumped the pasta into a strainer and brought it to the table, then serve a portion on the two set plates. Then he went back and brought out a pan of meatballs, putting two large ones on each plate. Finally he brought out the sauce and served that on top of everything.   He put the sauce pan in the kitchenette then joined Quinna at the table.


“Bouno appetitto,” he said, looking on expectantly.


“It looks wonderful.”  Quinna said. “My compliments to your mother.”  Quinna twirled some spaghetti onto her fork and took a bite.  The fork was a bit over filled but she managed to take a huge bite.  She always made the first bite the fullest.  “Mmmmmm”  she moaned as she was trying to get that first bite down.


Michael smiled, “I will pass your compliment along.”


Using her napkin she wiped her mouth, “Sorry, that first bite has always been the doozie since as long as I can remember.”


“Never apologize, kid,” he smiled. “The greatest compliment is a stained shirt.  It’s a little early for wine for me,” he admitted, “but I did replicate some lemonade if you like.”


Quinna agreed, “That would be great.  I am actually not drinking right now.”  After a Pause, “I was thinking, I need to be back in sickbay and back on the duty roster.”


Michael shrigged his shoulders, “I can’t say I’m not worried about letting you out of my sight.  But can we finish lunch first? After I did not give them a time to expect you.”


Then he went on, “I’ve spent a bit of my day looking for any information on the evidence that they may have had on Sekal. Can you remember anything else that Sanchez may have told you?”


“Everything is on that PADD.”  Quinna said, “I know you found it.  Where is it?”  She was not willing to give up anymore until it was in her hands.


Michael took a bite of one of his meatballs then went to get the drinks. He returned with two tall frosted glasses filled with iced lemonade. He placed a cup in front of Quinna then sat down with his own cup and took a sip.


“That is refreshing,” he said. Then he looked at Quinna innocently. “What makes you say that?”


“Really, Michael?”  Quinna started, “Do you have it?  No wait, do you know it’s current location?”


Michael laughed heartily, “You are learning to ask the right, direct questions my dear.” He nodded and for a reward he gave her the truth. “I have found it, and it should still be where I left it.  If you like, when we’re done eating we can collect it.”


Quinna thought for a moment.  “No.  First off, that was too easy to get you to agree to that.  We should keep two halves of the knowledge apart.”  Quinna went back to eating her spaghetti.


Michael nodded and smiled, “You are definitely getting the hang of this. Agreed.  Until we can act then we keep our information to ourselves. You don’t need to know where the PADD is and you can keep your secrets.”


“Agreed, but I am not going to sit here and hide away.  I need to be back on duty.  I need to be unsuspecting of what can potentially happen.  If they suspect I…”  Quinna suddenly stopped,”  This meatball is great.  You have to teach me your secret to a juicy meatball.”


Michael put his knife and fork down and leaned forward. He shook his head. “I’m afraid that there are somethings that I am unwilling to part with in this life.”  Then he say back and smiled, “Although if I were going to share with anyone, it would be you.”


Quinna blushed at the moment, “Maybe one day you can tell me your recipe.”


“Maybe,” Michael nodded, and lifted his glass. “Here’s to one day.”


(reply none)

(posted by Al Muir and Kris B)



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