Without Emotional Outbursts Please

Posted on Sun Aug 8th, 2010 @ 9:24pm by Lieutenant Commander Sara Archer & Commander Jordan Gunning

Mission: Shadows Fall
Location: The Ridge Lounge
Timeline: MM2, MD1 1950hrs

[ON]

Sara led the way to the crew lounge, her Aunt Jen in tow. Sara was in the middle of some story about one of her missions, presumably something that was not classified. “That’s when he came around from behind me. He was quick, for a Ferengi, but I was still quicker. I couldn’t bring my phaser around, but a couple of kicks and a leg sweep put him down on the ground.”

Jennifer was laughing at the story. “I still don’t see Ferengi putting up much of a fight.”

“They didn’t on the surface, at least not around me. The ship took a bit of a beating though. The marine contingent was late to arrive to the ship, so the crew was mostly on its own. I heard the ship’s pilot put up quite a fight though. It was still a crazy plan. I don’t know how those Ferengi thought they would get away with theft of Starfleet property. Even by faking the medical emergency, they broke a number of the Khitomer Accords.” Approaching the bar, Sara pauses her story long enough to order a couple of drinks. “Two saurian brandies, please. Anyway, she was a good ship. I found out later that she was decommissioned due to the extensive battle damage received on my last mission with her.”

“What happened?” Jennifer asked, taking her drink from the bartender.

“I’m not entirely sure. I know they met up with some pirates. I spent the whole ordeal crashed on a planet with a broken leg, fighting off a squad of the same pirates. Good times.” Sara picks up her drink, eyeing in cautiously. She was known to partake occasionally, but never on duty. It was getting harder and harder for her to consider herself off-duty. She lifted the glass to her lips, just starting with sips. “You don’t want to hear my stories though. You’ll just get more worried about me. Tell me about what you have been up to.”

“There isn’t much to tell, sweetie. My life isn’t nearly as exciting as yours. I’ve met someone, a nice gentleman that I go dancing with sometimes. I don’t know if it’s anything serious, but that’s the biggest news in my life.” The two McClellan women continue sharing stories at the bar, trying to catch up after years of little correspondence.

He had already spied them when they walked into the room. He'd have loved to have said it was because of a familiarity with the two women but instead it was due in no small part to the striking appearance of the uniformed woman. He slowly pulled himself to his feet, feeling a little more apprehensive with every step. These women clearly knew each other but he couldn't envisage a situation where he wouldn't talk to her. He couldn't see her rank but knew that she must have been new to the ship; probably one of the people they picked up from Starfleet Headquarters.

He felt a hand on his shoulder as he approached her. "I wouldn't bother." Came the voice. "Half of her personality is classified. Not only that, Crewman; I don't think a Lieutenant Commander would appreciate your advances."

"Aye, sir." The young man replied dejectedly. It was as though he had just been slapped in the face. His sigh was almost audible to the entire room as he exited through the double doors.

Jordan approached Archer from the side as he had heard rumours of the kind of fates which befell those who approached Intelligence Officer from the rear. "Commander."

The uniformed woman turned to see her colleague. "Ah, Commander Gunning. I'd like you to meet my Aunt Jen."

Jennifer leaned over to Sara and whispered in her ear. "Why didn't you tell me you had such good looking shipmates."

Sara gave her aunt a glaring look. "Mr. Gunning is the chief of security on the Iapetus."

Jennifer extended her hand. "Jennifer McClellan. It's a pleasure to meet you, Commander."

"And you, Mrs McClellan, but please; call me Jordan. Ranks tend not to apply in social situations although I wouldn't be surprised if Sara has you call her by her rank." He said with a chuckle.

"Then by all means, Jordan, you can call me Jen. Sara can be a little uptight sometimes, but she's always been a good kid. It just takes a lot to crack that shell of hers." Sara leaned back against the bar, not really amused by the banter at her expense.

"Relax, Sara. We're only playing." He turned to the barman. "I'll have a Glaapian Fireheart, please."

The barman looked Jordan in the eye and sighed when he realised he was serious. He began the complicated process of mixing the drink.

"You tried the Fireheart before? I tried it on shoreleave on Archa Four a couple of years ago. They're really exceptional." He eyed the two women. "Quite potent though. Care to join me?"

Jennifer didn't hesitate at all. "Oooo, sounds exotic. I'd love to try one."

Sara just offered a wave of her hand. "Saurian brandy has always been my drink. I'll just stick to that."

Her aunt gave her a little nudge. "Come now, Sara. I thought you were going to lighten up a bit. That includes trying new things and deviating from your routine. You're having one." Jennifer turned back to Jordan. "We'll both have one." Sara only closed her eyes and nodded.

"Excellent! Barman, two more please." Jordan turned towards Sara's aunt. "What brings you aboard the Iapetus? Just a social visit?"

"I have some friends back in San Francisco that knew her father. They let me know when Sara's been reassigned, or coming near Earth." She nudged Sara again and winked. "She's not the only one in the family that can find information." Her ear to ear grin returned. "They told me that after your stop at Earth you were heading out on a new mission to the Delta Quadrant. I wanted to make sure I got to see Sara again before she left. After my sister died, she's all the family I have left." She continued after a short pause for breath. "We talk over subspace occasionally, but I wasn't going to pass up the opportunity to see my little niece." She wrapped her arms around Sara and gave her another squeeze, a look of near pain on the officer's face.

Jordan chuckled inwardly watching Archer's face become more pained as the interaction progressed. The barman placed the three drinks on the bar and Jordan slid him a strip of latinum by way of a tip.

"Dezf'a!" He said as he raised the glass to the women.

"Cheers!" Jennifer replied, raising her own glass. Again, Sara only gestured, never really in a festive mood. Those reports were still on the back of her mind. Jennifer took a drink of the Fireheart. "Whew, that is potent, though it delicious. Do you have any family on Earth, Jordan?"

"No, I don't. I love going back to Earth but my family are scattered all across the El-Aurian colonies. My half brother, however, is in Starfleet. We don't speak much though. Last I heard he'd been assigned to a Defiant Class vessel in Galactic South." Jordan sipped the drink and thought about his brother. They'd been close as children but with Alex being older it was unsurprising that the two had drifted apart.

"That's too bad," Jennifer replied. She seemed sincerely disappointed that Jordan didn't have any family in the area. "I was just talking to Sara about the importance of family. You know, I bet she could find out where he's been assigned. Couldn't you do that, Sara?"

A puzzled look formed on Sara's face. "Aunt Jen, Mister Gunning's current assignment is hardly classified. Besides, that's not really what I do. If the Commander wished to know where his half brother is assigned, he only has to look that up in the fleet records."

Jennifer nudged her niece. "I know that, I just thought it wouldn't hurt you to do something nice for a friend."

"Don't worry, Jennifer. Sara has saved my life on more than one occassion. Her finding out where Alexander is assigned would only be a tiny display of friendship compared to that." Although I suppose there would have been an investigation if she'd let me get my head blown off.

"It's good to know that Sara is making an impression on someone out here," Jennifer said, still beaming with pride.

"You would have done the same for me, Commander," Sara replied. "I was just doing my job."

"Of course. I would have done the same for any of my fellow crew but I'd have done it with more urgency for a friend." He admitted. El-Aurian blood often meant that it was possible to invoke an outpouring in someone by giving away just a small amount of personal emotion although he doubted that would be the case here.

"I worry about Sara so much, always afraid that she's out here all alone. I'm so glad to see that she has such great friends to take care of her." Jennifer nearly had tears streaming down her face. The emotional outburst didn't seem to come from the original target, but the idea still worked. "I keep trying to tell you that you have friends here. You just need to open up." Sara only nodded, taking another sip of her drink.

[OFF]

Lieutenant Commander Sara Archer
Chief Intelligence Officer

Lieutenant Commander Jordan Gunning
Chief Tactical & Security Officer

Jennifer McClellan
Sara's Aunt [NPC - played by Lt. Cmdr. Archer]