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Academy Flashback - A stroll for two

Posted May 29, 2022, 12:39 a.m. by Lieutenant Commander Ethan Nash (Chief Engineer) (David Shotton)

Posted by Lieutenant Emily Fox (Counselor) in Academy Flashback - A stroll for two

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Ethan Nash (Chief Engineer) in Academy Flashback - A stroll for two

Posted by Lieutenant Emily Fox (Counselor) in Academy Flashback - A stroll for two
Posted by… suppressed (5) by the Post Ghost! 👻

Snip

Emily gave him a quick kiss and smiled at him. “Surprise me, Speedy,” she tried out a new nickname. She wasn’t sure if she liked it yet but E-Dawg was more to torment him than a pet name.

“Speedy? No no no no no.” Nash repeated several times, now gently letting her drop back to the ground where she could adjust her skirt back into place. “Speedy can do just that and disappear, forever. You never call a guy speedy, alright, just no.”

Twirling under his arm she smacked his back side as she began to walk away and talk over her shoulder. She knew exactly what she was doing and what Nash was looking at. “Have your people meet me at hangar ten at sixteen hundred hours. Don’t be late or you will lose your ability to enjoy just how much fun it is to watch me walk away.” Biting her lip, Emily could not help but smile. She was mad about Ethan. Every second she got to spend with him was the best second of her day.

Cadet Emily Fox

Nash smiled stupidly as she walked away, and made no move to hide that he was staring at her rear end as she swayed in just the right way that a snake charmer did to make sure the snake’s full attention was on them. It took a few moments, but eventually he blinked and looked around. “Crap,” he muttered to himself. “Where and when? I wasn’t actually listening properly.” He would work it out, there weren’t that many shuttles leaving for San Diego this afternoon so it wasn’t much of a problem, Ethan only knew that he was really really looking forward to spending a weekend away with Emily, even if his friends were joining them for, something.

----------- A Few Hours Later -----------------------

“Ethan!” The weirdly accented voice of the New Zealander, Darius Morgan called out to Nash from a transport that had just stopped, the last two members of the group exiting from the doors and standing, hoisting small packs over their shoulders. “Mate I know that this is arranged on short notice, but don’t you think it’s a wee bit dodgy that your missus asked you to bring a bunch of your good looking friends along on this weekend trip? You don’t think she’s a bit loose do you?”

Grins broke out from Ros and Mason who stood waiting for Darius and Rico to join them, both of them looking at Ethan and shrugging. “Brothers got a point,” Mason said. “I don’t notice any of her friends joining this sausage party.

“Well at least I know that Rico is a safe bet here,” Ethan smiled back at them. “I mean, he started dating that Rhodes chick recently right? If he does anything to mess that up Duncan will break his legs and feed him to whatever animals he keeps in those big hangars back in England they use to dispose of bodies.” Looking at Ros, Nash continued, “Ros has a couple of women on the go, right? You started hooking up with Admiral Harris’ daughter didn’t you? Amber’s her name yeah? He messes that up and the Admiral’s gonna make sure he gets assigned a ghost ship somewhere in the middle of nowhere.”

“Where is that Redheaded demon you take to bed Nash?” Ros quickly changed the subject. He had just started dating Amber, sure, but he was still working on a way to let the other two girls he was dating down without causing drama. Darius and Mason where the two single guys in the group, and he was considering calling in a Bro Favour on them, tagging them in, and tapping out to focus on Amber.

Cadets Nash, Morgan, Black, Akirel and Vanhall

“Cadet Ros,” Hornsby’s characteristic bellow filled the space. “Would you care to elucidate further on the topic of Cadet Nash’s nocturnal habits because if I am not mistaken the Academy does not permit sleepovers? If I am wrong,” he drew the word out, “then please,” he made a sweeping motion with his arm, “explain to me how and when we became an extension of the free-loving, skippy dippy, do whatever hell you want college branch of Berkely!” The tone was laced with sarcasm and Hornsby leaned in putting a hand to his ear, cupping it to make sure he did not miss a word of Akirel’s reply.

Herman Hornsby

At the sound of Hornsby’s voice, every single Cadet present snapped to attention. What was noticeable however was the speed and rigidity that Ros achieved, was far less than that of the other Cadets. He also didn’t have the panicked, deer in headlights expression of any of the others.

In fact, Cadet Akirel Ros leaned forward slightly, just enough so that he could speak clearly into Hornsby’s hand that was cupping his ear and there could be no missing his reply.

“Sir, I would love to elucidate, Sir!” Ros replied and looked at Nash. Ethan, Rico, Mason and Darius all began shaking their heads in unison, but immediately stopped when Hornsby’s eyes snapped on them in response to their movement.

“Excellent,” Hornsby clapped his hands and rocked back on his heels. “Cadet Ros you have my attention. Please begin.”

“Sir! A sleepover indicates that there is sleeping being done. I can guarantee sir that with Cadet Nash there is no sleeping involved in his nocturnal habits, and as such, there is no waking up together. Sir, I suggest the lack of sleeping and of waking up next to another person invalidates the possibility of a sleepover taking place. In that situation, Sir, no Academy rules are being broken! There is also no free loving Sir, Cadet Nash is paying for is relationship with the Red Headed Demon with his soul and his wallet. Dinner at ‘The Ample Nacelles’ is not cheap, Sir!”

Cadet Akirel Ros

With a laser focus, Hornsby’s eyes snapped onto Nash. “Well Cadet Nash,” he turned to face him, “or do you prefer the title Cadet Casanova?” He waited until Ethan produced a response to his question.

“No Sir, uh, Nash is just fine thank you Sir.” Ethan looked at Ros with daggers that may have just been sharpened, and the response he got was a very slight smirk from Ros. Baiting the instructors was the accepted Game at the Academy. If you could get one to focus their attention on another Cadet, one of your friends, you got points. Ros was scoring here.

“According to your fellow cadet Ros, here you suffer from insomnia? Is that true?” Hornsby was getting louder and louder with each statement. “Is that why you need a snuggle buddy you refer to as,” he snapped his fingers at Ros.

The smirk disappeared from Ros’ face as he looked at Hornsby. The game wasn’t supposed to continue, extra hazing wasn’t part of it and Hornsby wasn’t playing fair. He had been here long enough that he knew of the game of course. “I’m not sure who you mean, Sir..” Ros said a lot quieter than he had just a moment ago.

“The red-headed demon,” Hornsby looked at Nash. “By any chance would this red-headed demon be someone I know?” Herman Hornsby never approved of cadets having interpersonal relationships while at the academy. In his opinion, it limited one’s potential.

“Uh,” Nash stumbled for a moment. As far as he knew, Emily wasn’t in any of Hornsby’s PT classes, but he did seem to know her somehow back on Arakis in the soup kitchen. “I do not believe so, Sir. It is a large Academy and the Psych Cadets are not often part of the PT makeup.” Nash lied, outright lied. He may get demerits but he was not going to let Emily go down with him just because Ros had a big mouth and his brain was in the head between his legs.

“Well, maybe you should not be going on this little trip. In fact I have a whole class of demerit-loving cadets needing supervision spending Saturday working them off so they can earn more. Maybe running twenty miles would help you sleep like a baby and save those credits at the,” he snapped his fingers again at Ros to fill in the blank.

“Ample Nacelles.” Ros sighed as he said it, then shook his head slightly at the other guys to show it was now beyond his control.

“The Ample Nacelles,” he repeated the name. “So Cadet Nash what should I do about this conundrum I am facing. Do I allow you to board this shuttle if you are so sleep deprived it could affect your health or do I send you back to your room and let you get a good night’s rest.”

Herman Hornsby

“Sir, Cadet Nash is important to Cadet Fox’s score for her study,” Ros interrupted, not realizing that Nash had lied to try and hide who he was seeing. “She requested Nash and the others here for a task away where she has to, um, I am not sure, Sir. I know it is important to her grade and she has limited time to carry this out, and Nash is important to her study.” Now, Ros stepped between Hornsby and Nash to try and bring Hornsby’s focus onto him.

Hornsby looked at Ros and raised an eyebrow. Secretly he liked the man however it in all the years Herman had been in the academy, he prided himself on not showing approval to anyone or a particular group of cadets. This group however held a certain spot at the bottom of Herman’s heart. Not only did they all show potential of being some of the finest officers in Starfleet’s future, they also were thick as thieves and impenetrable when they closed ranks. None of these men would take the easy promotion by stepping on someone else for a pip. That is why Hornsby was giving them a hard time. One day they would thank him.

“Sir I volunteer to Supervise the Cadet that are doing demerit duty. That way Cadet Fox’s grades will not be affected by Cadet Nash’s absence.” The tone of Ros’ voice was strained, it was clear he wanted to be on this trip, yet he was throwing himself under the bus to atone for his big mouth.

Cadet Akirel Ros

“So you are telling me Cadet Fox needs all these Darling Dandies for a project so she does not fail an assignment?” Herman waved his finger at the lot of them standing at the shuttle ramp.

“Uh, Yes.” Ros nodded. “At least that’s how I understand it, Yes?” He looked back to Ethan for confirmation.

“Yes,” a voice came out of no where. “I need this entire lot of darlin’ dandies as you put it. Gentlemen if you would please get on the shuttle so we can take off,” Emily said gesturing to the ramp. “We don’t want to be late now do we?” Emily made a shooing gesture to the men with a slight smile on her face. As Ethan walked by she grabbed his hand and gave him her bag. “Can you take this on the shuttle for me but don’t stow it? Just save me a seat next to you if you can?”

“Sure, I can do that.” Ethan said and began to smile slightly. His eyes moved to Hornsby in the background though, like a shadow looming over them and his smile stopped before it began. The others around him looked at each other a moment expecting Hornsby to bellow a halt to Emily’s suggestion, but when none came, took the opportunity to hustle onto the shuttle.

Emily waited for the men to board the shuttle before turning her back to the craft as she began to speak to Hornsby. She gestured several times and whatever she was saying made Horrible Hornsby chuckle a few times before gesturing to Emily to move out of visual range.

“Dude he is so gonna rip her a new one,” Darius said while he watched the two move to a point away from their line of sight.

==========================
On the blind side of the shuttle
==========================

“Oh my god will you promise to leave Ethan alone,” she said giving Hornsby a hug. “I really really like him and if you give him a chance, you will see he is pretty much absolutely wonderful.”

“Em one day you will be standing where I am now and no matter who walks through that door, you will never see them as absolutely wonderful. You will only see them as trying to take away your world,” Herman patted his niece on the back before letting her go. Clearing his throat he shook his hand looking at the wide smile on Emily’s face. “However out of that lot in the shuttle, you could do a lot worse. Now,” he clapped his hands together, “time for you to go and finish your thesis.”

=====================
At the ramp of the shuttle
=====================
“And I am telling you Cadet Fox this is a one time thing,” Hornsby bellowed. “Next time I smell cologne and shaving cream I am gonna run them until the strench is replaced with the smell of mud and sweat.”

“Wait, he’s actually letting us go? Just like that?” Rico watched as Emily walked around towards the shuttles door. “Dude, is your chick Hornsby’s daughter or something? If that was one of us we would be walking funny for a month and taste his boot every time we brushed our teeth!” Ros leaned forward tapping Ethan on the shoulder repeatedly to get his attention.

Emily rolled her eyes and waved a hand over her head acknowledging the threat but also ignoring it. Taking a seat next to Nash, Emily buckled the belt and smiled.

“You just have to know what to say to Hermie,” Emily laughed and winked at Ros. “You need to get a deep voice. Puff out your chest,” she pushed her shoulders back attempting to make her chest broader and just tell him, “calm down or you are going to give yourself a heart attack. Trust me it works every time.

“Hermie huh?” Darius shook his head. “No thanks. I choose life.”

Looking around the cabin, Emily turned her attention back to Nash. “So where is my bag,” she asked him biting her lip and smiling widely.

“Right here babe,” Ethan pulled the bag up from where it lay at his feet, not visible in the cramped confines of the shuttle. “Okay, I’m going to ask, what’s in the bag? Do I get a prize like that old game show?”

“No, but you get a kiss now. The prizes come later tonight,” she tilted her face up to his.

Putting it on her lap she opened it and began handing out bottles of beer to everyone.

“Bro! Your chick is awesome.” Darius half cheered, standing to take his beer and reaching over to ruffle his hand through Nash’s hair showing his approval. “When she ditches you, Emily, honey, call me!” Darius made the phone shape with his fingers and put them up to the side of his head as he sat back down to the laughs of the others.

Making a phone shape with her own fingers she returned the call. “I’m sorry the number you have reached has been taken off the market. Beeeeep,” she playfully returned the comment to Darius.

“Okay so I wasn’t sure what you all drank but we can get what you want when we reach the hotel.” Moving the bag to Ethan’s lap she left it open enough for Nash to see the lacy navy blue outfit sitting in the bottom. She could barely contain her smile as she asked the next question. “Okay so I have booked three rooms. Since we have to share maybe we should think about who we want for bed buddies,” Emily screwed off the top of her beer and took a sip.

Emily Fox

Looking in the bag, Ethan reached in and fingered the lacy smooth material and grinned. Twisting the top off the beer himself, he tossed it over his shoulder with an educated guess. That guess was proven right as Darius’ protests that he had been hit by a missile sounded to more laughter from the others. Pleased with himself, he took a sip of the beer and eyed Emily for a long, long moment.

Emily knew Nash was looking at her but she pretend not to notice as she bantered with the guys. Putting out her hand she leaned forward with the palm flat and her fist resting on it. “Okay, so I think the only fair way to do this is Rochambeau it. Who wants to play me?”

“I’m in! Ros announced and half stood, followed quickly by Darius. “It ain’t a game without a team,” came from the New Zealander. “Park your butts,” Ethan said out loud and turned to look at them, then turned back and stared at Emily with a grin.

“Three rooms,” Ethan said. “Emily and I are in Room One, and no, Ros, you can’t join in. You’re in Two with Mason, and Rico and Darius are in three. You can all fight over Duncan when he gets there but,” now he looked over his shoulder at Rico, “You know how protective he is of his sister, you probably don’t wanna go to sleep with him in the same room dude.”

As if to toy with Nash a little more, she crossed her legs so that the toe of her boot traced the calf of his leg.

Looking back to Emily, Nash reached down and picked up her calf that she had by his leg, turning her crossed leg into an unladylike knee over knee with her foot on his lap while he ran his fingers along her calf. “What else you got planned for San Diego babe? Do we get room service?”

Cadet Nash

“I don’t know darling,” she said sweetly, “however I do think if you don’t feed the red-headed demon, she might get hangry about one in the morning so room service is definitely a must.” Drawing her face into a shocked expression she opened her mouth in an ‘oh’ shape to match the oh’s and man’s being snickered out by the other men in the shuttle. “So tell me is that payback for E-Dawg or did one of your yahoo’s over there,” she nodded a gesture in the other guy’s general direction, “come up with it? Was it, Ros,” she looked almost excited to be correct. “Tell me it was Ros?”

“Yep, scored in one try,” Nash smiled. “That one was all Ros, apparently it’s something about redheads and stealing souls. Probably some ancient Bajoran mumbo jumbo that nobody really believes. I mean you only got my heart so far. How’d you hear about that anyway? You weren’t even around when he said that.”

“Oh I hear and know all,” Emily settled back in her seat shifting her position for Nash to have more access to her leg. “It’s just better he learns that now than in ten years when we have a dog and couple of kids.” Emily had no qualms about letting anyone and everyone know her plans for the future. Much like her previous statement, it was better Ethan know it now rather than having to struggle with trying to decide it on his own later.

=============
Two hours later
=============
Emily opened the door to the room and walked in. The room wasn’t perfect or magnificent but it was hers and Nash’s for the night and that was all that mattered to her. Putting her hands on her hips, she let out a deep, contented breath. “So what do you think,” she asked as Ethan carried in all the bags. The men traveled with only the essentials in a duffle bag but in true fashion, Emily packed as if they were going for a week instead of one night.

“I think,” Nash said while he put the bags off to one side and turned to face her, That you mixed up Motel with Hotel, and found the one place in San Diego that doesn’t believe in turbo lifts or luggage trolleys. What the hell did you pack in there?” Ethan frowned but at the edges of his lips was a smirk. Using his foot, he closed the door behind him. Thankfully on one wall was a replicator and the bathroom was modern enough, but the motels clearly advertised ‘Old World Atmosphere’ was clearly left over from that old world in most ways.

Letting out a laugh she crawled on the bed and stood on her knees looking at him. “Come here,” she curled a finger coyly enticing him over. “I think you deserve a tip.”

“A tip?” Ethan said and raised his eyebrows in mock surprise. “Oh you think I deserve a tip huh?” He walked to her slowly and as he did so, casually unbuttoned the top couple of buttons on his shirt with one hand, and with the other, unbuckled and pulled the belt out of his trousers. That, he casually threw on the bed beside her as he finally came to a stop in front of her only inches away. Then, he smacked her rear end hard as he pulled her closer to him. “I think I’ll take the whole damn booty, not just a tip.”

The past few months had been a whirlwind with Ethan since she met him on the desert world. They had spent a portion of every day together since their arrival back at the academy. In the time between when he left the desert world and she returned to campus had been filled with hours of endless comm calls. Where he had found the time to talk that much surprised her. They spent pretty much every meal together and off duty time. The only time they were apart was when it was time to study. Studying with them had turned out to be a very unproductive academic experience. They had tried so many different locations with none of them conducive to the pursuit of anything intellectual unless it was biology and physiology. The reserved section of the library was her favorite. Yes it was dusty and dim but the absolute silence required there added an excitement. Tonight however they had an actual bed with sheets and pillows. As thrilling as the adventures were promising to be, part of Emily was just as excited to wake up in his arms instead of having to sneak out and across campus at the end.

Emily Fox

“So that little blue lacy thing,” His face took on a thoughtful expression for a minute as he looked at her, the back of his free hand running down the side of her neck as he spoke. “That for dinner or desert?” Pausing a little, Nash smiled “I’m trying to think of ways to feed that red headed demon before she gets hangry sucks my soul out of me. Shall we do burgers and beers?”

Nash kissed her softly and then pulled his lips away enough so that he could speak again. “Before anything else though, give me your sock.” The look on his face was deadly serious. After all, there were two rooms of Academy cadets near by and there was no way that Nash was taking any risks of His and Emily’s night being interuppted.

Ethan Nash


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