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