STF

Replacing the Console in Security

Posted May 29, 2020, 11:46 p.m. by Lieutenant Commander Gravel Mardusk (Chief of Security) (James Sinclair)

Posted by Lieutenant Auleraine Brison (Engineering Officer) in Replacing the Console in Security

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Gravel Mardusk (Chief of Security) in Replacing the Console in Security

Posted by Lieutenant Auleraine Brison (Engineering Officer) in Replacing the Console in Security
((This is the shift right after Lera meets the Security Chief))

Lera had purposely waited till half into second shift before shouldering the tool bag and the console insert. As she bit her lip and headed to Security, she once more chided herself for her action that morning. It had been a bad night and she’d taken it out on everyone. Bad nights didn’t happen often, and she hated that this had been her first impression.

Sighing once more, she stepped into the department space and looked around. “I’m here to fix the Chief’s desk,” she said to the first one to look up at her.

Lt Auleraine Brison
Engineer

The Petty Officer on duty said “One moment, Lieutenant. Do you have a work order, Ma’am?” The question was standard, even if it was in the system.

Security

She pulled the PaDD from her pouch. “Mmhhmmm…” she handed it to him.

Lera
Eng

He reviewed and nodded and tapped the comms. =^= Chief, Engineering is here to fix your desk. =^= and an all too familiar voice responded =^= Send ‘em in. =^= He looked at Lera and said “Go on in, Ma’am. Chief is expecting you.” and he went back to the task before him.

Security

Her heart sank. He was here.

She nodded to the man and headed to the office. When she stepped in, Lera nodded with a smile. He wasn’t so imposing sitting down, and she was expecting it. “Promised you it’d be fixed today, Chief.” She said by way of explanation. The console in her hand to show him. “But I can come back later, if you need.”

Lera
Eng

Mardusk looked up and a shadow passed over his face. “No, no… it’s fine, Lieutenant. I’ll get out of your way.” and he picked the PaDD he had been reading and stood and walked to the door without a look in her direction.

“Let Petty Officer B’rtun know when you’re done. Thank you for seeing to it, Lieutenant.” he said as he tried to sidestep her, giving her plenty of space, and heading to the door.

Mardusk, CoS

She stepped aside to let him pass. “Sorry… don’t mean to run you out. If the desk isn’t compromised, this’ll be quick.” She bit her lip and moved to the other side of the desk.

Setting her tools and replacement down, she grabbed a tool from the pouch and began to remove the top. By the second fastener, she was absently humming an Orion victory tune. It was slightly off key, though. Not so much wrong, as it was a harmony.

Lera
Eng

Mardusk left and was gone for a few minutes. Then the door slid open silently and Mardusk walked in, head buried in a report from FedSec to all Ship Security Leads. He didn’t think about it, he knew she was there after all, and he needed the optical disk sitting on the side of his desk. So he walked up to get the disk and bumped the desk with his foot accidentally.

Mardusk, CoS

Her humming went off key and she called out. “Hey… under here!” Thinking it was one of the guards from out in the office. “Almost done removing this. Shouldn’t be much longer.” She went back to humming as the tool spun up once more to remove the last fastener.

Lera
Eng

The low rumble of the voice seemed… off. “Oh. Yeah, crap. Sorry. No worries. I’m leaving.” and the thud of hurried footsteps started their way to the door.

Mardusk, CoS

“Wait… don’t…” She slid out from under the desk and stood up. She was flushed from the sudden shift in body position and blinked a moment to pass the headrush. A slight giggle escaping. “Sorry, saw stars a moment.” I’m about done… you don’t have to go.” She lifted the console off, her arms bulging somewhat under her tunic top giving rise to the question of just how much muscle was under the loose seeming garment. It wasn’t that it was too big, merely that it wasn’t as tight as most women, and some men, wore it.

Lera
Eng

Mardusk stopped just shy of the door and turned slightly. “I don’t want to intrude, Lieutenant… or distract. I’ll just… get out your way.”

He watched as the outline of her biceps became apparent, and he made a mental note to try and avoid her in the gym.

Mardusk, CoS

She frowned. “Chief, have I done something wrong?” She laughed slightly and shook her head as she moved the new console onto the desk top and tried to get it to settle. “I mean.... besides… this morning.” She frowned and shifted it once more. It wasn’t seating cause of the constant abuse the table had taken. Lifting it to try again, she growled under her breath. It was heavy and just wouldn’t settle. No matter how she tried, one corner didn’t want to drop.

Lera
Eng

Mardusk looked back at her and his head tilted to the side slightly. “Not at all, Lieutenant. And I’d like to thank you for speaking with Koll.” and he paused and finally turned full around and he leaned back against the wall, looking a big green structural support. “Why do you ask?” he said flatly.

Mardusk, CoS

She lifted the console out, frustrated it wasn’t behaving, and set it on the ground. Shrugging, she grabbed a pair of vice grips and tried to pull out the dent in the corner closest to her left hip. “I don’t know… because you don’t seem to want to be near me. Most folks want to oversee and engineer’s every move.” She tugged once really hard and the grips slipped back making her laugh. “Stupid desk…” she looked up and blushed. “Sorry…” She set the pliers down and tried once more with the console. But this time it was evident it was starting to wear not just on her nerves, but the muscles as well.

Lera
Eng

Mardusk didn’t move, his face expressionless and his voice even. “No, Lieutenant. I just thought that, with both our introduction and your current history, it may be better for you to not have such an… ‘in your face’ kind of reminder.”

Mardusk, CoS

The console dropped into place and she whispered, “Yes!” and started to replace the top fasteners. “I’m sorry I made such a harsh first impression, Chief. It wasn’t my intention.” Then she realized what he was referring to and looked at him with a bit of a furrowed brow and a cock of her head. “I am doing just fine, Sir. I promise. I am aware you were not one of my captors. And while I won’t lie and say your sheer size isn’t.... well… intimidating. But I also know if I thought so very little of your size it was completely no matter at all, I might need more counseling than once a week. Don’t you think?” She looked down to finish the last of the top screws and instantly went underneath to put in the bottom ones

Lera
Eng

Mardusk watched her speak and then duck down under the desk. He contemplated calling her out on ‘being fine’, but he was no shrink. Instead, he shrugged and said “Ok, Lieutenant. If you say so, I have no reason to think otherwise.” and he paused while she worked, waiting to speak to her face to face.

Mardusk, CoS

She hummed a moment once more then stopped. “There…” she said as she moved out from under the desk and keyed over the console from her knees to see if it worked. “All set.” She nodded as it powered up once more.
Stanind up, she glanced at him. “I’m fine… I promise.” She laughed like it was a ridiculous thing to say but the smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.

She knelt down to put her tools in the pouch.

Lera
Eng

Mardusk looked at her, and he frowned on the inside. As she put her tools away, he moved to the other side of the desk and stood. “And again… if you say so. Although it’s been my experience that the more people insist they are ‘fine’, the more the opposite is true.” and he took a small but slow step back. “But that is none of my business.” and he glanced at the console. “Well done. I appreciate the quick response, Lieutenant. I’ll try to keep this one functional for at least a month… no promises, though.” It was his turn to smile, but not have it reach all the way.

Mardusk, CoS

She swallowed. Her eyes looking at him a moment. How many times had she been told that. The lady doth protest too much Even the shrinks had told her stop saying it if it wasn’t true.
But it was… wasn’t it? She wasn’t running, screaming, avoiding the man. So what was the problem? Her mind knew what it was… she just refused to listen. She smiled and nodded, picking up the tool pouch and the broken console. “No problem, Chief. And gimme at least a day lead time next time.” She smiled and nodded, moving towards the door. “Lemme know if she gives you any trouble.” She paused in the doorway a moment to see if he had anything else to say.

Lera
Eng

He watched her move away, not moving but tracking her with a turn of his head. “Will do, Lieutenant. And as far as trouble, doesn’t she always…” and he turned away and began to walk around the desk and take a seat, the now familiar groan coming from the chair as he did so.

Mardusk, CoS


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