Posted by Ensign Karina Niles (Doctor) in Post Sim - Karina finally gets back aboard. Councelor Check in

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Stark Nightstalker (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Post Sim - Karina finally gets back aboard. Councelor Check in

Posted by Ensign Karina Niles (Doctor) in Post Sim - Karina finally gets back aboard. Councelor Check in
Posted by… suppressed (4) by the Post Ghost! 👻

SNIP

She smiled at Cherry then nodded to the CIO. “Ok I guess… I mean, I went to help a station in distress and come back to find my ship gone, no one knows where. The find mirror galaxy, verse, whatever people running around the station causing hatred and discontent. And then I find out my ship is trapped behind a wormhole it can’t escape and you all come back as if nothing even happened.” She laughed and shrugged. “At least we didn’t have to deal with acid dripping monsters. Or at least, I hope you didn’t.”

“I guess I’m fine. All things considered.” She laughed. “But in all seriousness… I am glad you all are back and ok. The station is all right, but it’s no Athena.”

Karina
Doctor

Stark nodded, “You couldn’t be more right, there’s no place like the Athena,” With a wry smile he continued, “I wonder where our next journey will take us?”

Stark Nightstalker CIO

Karina laughed. “I honestly don’t think I’d mind facing those acid creatures again, as long as I’m on board. Coming back and finding you all gone, and no one knowing what had happened… well, it was definitely a little disconcerting.” She glanced back at the inner door. “You know, you should consider taking up counseling. You have an uncanny ability to get folks to say things they hadn’t planned on admitting.” She gave him a sly look and grinned teasing.

Karina
Doctor

Smiling broadly he looked at Laraan’s door, “Could be part of the reason for the attraction I suppose,” he admitted, “Intelligence Officers and Counsellors use personal information all the time and the methods can sometimes be similar, sharp thinking there Karina”.

He chuckled, “However, I think counseling people by hanging them off tall structures until they talk might be frowned on”.

Stark Nightstalker CIO

“Only if someone sees you,” she laughed. Leaning against the wall she smiled. “Have you considered just threatening them with the tall structure?” She glanced back at the Counselor’s door. “Maybe I should come back later. Seems the Counselor’s skills are needed right now for something more pressing than nodding to me.” She sighed and smiled once more at Stark. “I admit, it’s good to be back. Wait and all.”

Karina
Doctor

Stark barked a laugh, “Karina, just threatening takes all the fun out of it but then you’re a much nicer person than I am,” he looked at the door, “Well, if Laraan is too busy then perhaps Janna is around.” Looking at Cherry Blossom he raised an enquiring eyebrow.

Stark Nightstalker CIO

“I don’t want to be a bother. It’s not like I’m going anywhere again. At least, not soon, I hope. Didn’t realize how much I considered this home till it was lost.” She laughed but it still shivered her spine remembering its absence on her return… and no one knowing why or how.

Karina
Doctor

Stark looked intently for a second, “You really should stop doing that you know”.

Stark Nightstalker CIO

She frowned a moment like a child being scolded. “Doing what?” She honestly didn’t seem aware of anything she was doing wrong.

Karina
Doctor

Stark had many expressions ranging from “I’m going to have to kill you now” to “I’m going to have to kill you later” but for a brief second his eyes showed something entirely new, compassion.

“You need to stop thinking and saying you are a “bother” because you most certainly are not anything of the sort”. His gaze broke slightly and showed a little confusion as if to say “Where did that come from?” He looked suspiciously at Laraan’s door and then caught Cherry grinning at him from the reception desk and his eyes shot wide as a very unfamiliar emotion hit him, embarrassment.

Stark Nightstalker CIO

Oddly, it was Karina’s own look and feelings of embarrassment that kept her from recognizing them in Stark. “Oh… that.” She shrugged and shifted slightly in her stance. “Seems that’s all I was for a long time, both here and on the other station. Guess it’s a habit. I’ll work on it.” She smiled at him, the glow on her cheeks slowly fading. “Just keep kicking me in the sin if I forget. Deal?” This time her smile was aimed at him when he looked back at her.

Karina
Doctor

“Deal”, he grinned and then let out a small sigh, “It’s been a very long time since I had a conversation like this. As you know I make time to catch up with everyone aboard so as to keep my finger on the pulse so to speak, but most of the time there’s the hidden quest for treachery and intrigue. Talking to you is just… normal. You have no idea how I’m craving some “normal” right now”.

Stark Nightstalker CIO

Karina sincerely blushed this time. “I think everyone could. I know how hard it was on this side. But I can imagine how it was for you all. Mirror Universe and alternate dimensions. This ship seems to be a magnet for them.” She smiled and nodded to him. “Normal sounds amazing. How about dinner tonight? My quarters? I promise a normal meal and normal company. How’s that sound?”

It was the boldest move the doctor had made in a very long time. She just hoped he wouldn’t laugh.

Karina
Doctor

“Definitely up for that Karina,” Stark said without hesitation, “Mind if I add Laraan to the invite?”

Stark Nightstalker CIO