Posted March 3, 2023, 4:42 p.m. by Major General Charles Tenkiller (Vice-Commander, Colonial Customs and Defense Agency) (James Sinclair)
Posted by Lieutenant Commander Sharah Fayth (Chief Star Fleet Medical Officer) in Plaza Exchange - Skipping Class
Posted by Major General Charles Tenkiller (Vice-Commander, Colonial Customs and Defense Agency) in Plaza Exchange - Skipping Class
Posted by Lieutenant Commander Sharah Fayth (Chief Star Fleet Medical Officer) in Plaza Exchange - Skipping Class
Posted by… suppressed (25) by the Post Ghost! 👻
It was a quarter to one when Tenkiller arrived at the Plaza Exchange, Oed’s own bazaar and mecca for deals… both legitimate and otherwise. The vendors were out and there was music and the stomach of street food and everything was vibrant colors.Tenkiller leaned up against the wall of a nearby storefront. He was no longer in uniform; now he was dressed in blue jeans, brown boots, a Western-style red and white checked shirt… and a cowboy hat pulled low over his eyes to shield them from the bright Oed sun.
Tenkiller
Ilena was a good friend. A small request and half an hour after Charles left, Ilena called the house saying Sharah was needed at the hospital. In her office she had changed into jeans and sandles, with a sleevless deep red button down. She used a single clip to pull her Medusa like curls out of her face and tucked her combadge into her pocket.
10 minutes to 1 Sharah was moving her way through the entrance to the Plaza Exchange. If the PE was vibrant on the senses it was no less so on the telepathic senses. She was listening for the one presence in the crowd she wanted to find, and avoiding others. She felt him immediately, spotting him through the crowd took a bit longer. The four gods help her, he was wearing that hat. ‘Charles, it should be illegal for you to look that good.’
Sharah
His keen eyes spied her before she saw him, and he stood just right so the hat would have its full effect. He smiled as she approached and gave her a flirtatious wink. “Hey there, sexy. Come here often?” he asked when she was about ten feet away. He pushed off rhe wall, met her halfway, and touched the brim of his hat with a nod at her. “Why Miss Sharah… you look simply beautiful. Hope whatever guy is lucky enough to be meetin’ ya appreciates how lucky his is.” and he smiled and kissed her, right there on the sidewalk.
Tenkiller
Sexy? He had to be talking about himself. Sharah smiled at him and the pink in her cheeks had nothing to do with the sun. “No, just once, but today I had an invitation I did not want to ignore.” Her stomach flipped and flopped as he walked toward her and she felt way too hot for the temperature today. Could people tell how crazy and giddy she was about him? Did she even care? “I am pretty sure he knows how lucky we both are and that I am totally crazy about him.” His kisses were like water needed to live. She kissed him back and didn’t even care about the notice they were getting. She was with Charles so it didn’t matter.
Sharah
“Oh, he knows.” he said with a grin after they were done border-line making out on the sidewalk. “And he is crazy about you, too.” He took her hand and said “C’mon. Let’s get a drink.” He laced his fingers into hers and they walked slowly down the sidewalk away from the noise and display of the Exchange until they came to a narrow, pedestrian-only street. Turning down the right side, Charles led her to a place that certainly stood out.
The outside looked like a beach bungalow. Inside, chaise lounges set against a holographic backdrop of beach, ocean, waves, and sun turned the inside of the building into the very essence of the name of the establishment:
A Day At The Beach.
Charles asked for seating for two away from everything, and the host nodded. They led the couple to the back area where the scene shifted into a secluded cove covered by swaying palm trees. Charles gestured to a lounge chair and then leaned back in the chair next to her. “This place is great. And… since you don’t drink, they have the largest selection of real fruit juices on Oed.” and he grinned.
Tenkiller
Sharah leaned back in the chair and looked at him, “Thank you.” No he didn’t do it to seek thanks, he did it because he cared. Sharah thanked him because his action mattered to her and she wanted him to know that. She looked up at the holographic scene, “This is very cool. You know all the best places.” She grabbed a menu off the table and began to read. “We would have to come here every week for 3 years to try all this.” She read through them, “Hmmm a Minty Tickle made with Soft Mangosteen juice and mint or a Forest Starlight made with Daydream Berry and Dromiard?”
Sharah
Charles snorted. “Minty Tickle? Sounds like something V would do to you.” and he laughed. He looked at his menu and said “What about the Silence Is Golden? Goldrode berry, arctic rose, and lemonade?” He looked at all the drinks and then said “Oh, here we go. Spicy tomato, Bitter Jackdaw fruit, and Deltan hot pepper. Thats gonna be epic.” and he closed his menu.
Tenkiller
Sharah laughed, “It does! I don’t know if I should tell her that though.” The menu was perused a moment longer. “I will try your spicy tomato. I have a feeling I will regret it. And....Silence is Golden. Lemonade sounds safe enough. Oh it comes as a slush. I’m getting that.” When the waiter came that’s what she ordered.
Sharah
After ordering, Charles looked at her and said “So how are doing, my love? I imagine the whole mess was aot to handle. You ok?” He reached out and took her hand in his, and then he smiled. “I have everything to say, you handled it a hell of a lot better than I did.” and he chuckled.
Tenkiller
Sharah breathed deeply and shook her head, even as he squeezed his hand. “I don’t think I am. I can’t stand to be in the same area as Eela. My empathy and telepathy are overwhelming, but it allows me to not only know what people feel but to understand why they feel it and why they react the way they do. It has…made me very unjudgemental. She has a right to be angry, it is even understandable that she focused that anger and fear on the nearest people. It was a given it would happen, but…I’m angry.” Sharah stared off into the middle distance. “There is a lot of anger about this going around as it spreads. And the spread has nothing to do with the media vid. People who were involved and those that need to be in the know. A small amount but it’s like....A light house in the storm. It’s hard to ignore. I know that is affecting how I feel. And Eela’s anger and resentment and fear is too. It’s easier with so many minds between me and her now, but I am still angry at her, which isn’t fair to Eela. Yavia knew though. It’s why she sent me to my room.”
“I’m not…well, I haven’t been. You and Yavia know that. I feel better, but I am not well yet. I don’t really know if that is a true possibility. There is no break. And then add the rampant fear about the Vren and I feel pretty raw.”
Sharah
Charles nodded in understanding and said “I’m really sorry, Sharah. I wish there was something… anything… I could do to help.” He squeezed her hand and said “You know I am so in love with you, right? You amaze me everyday, and the fact you are with me just… it blows my mind. But part of that is trying to share each others burdens. And I would do anything to try and share yours.”
Tenkiller
Sharah looked over at him, “I know you would, but I am so glad you can’t. I would not wish this on anyone. That’s why I’m so afraid to have kids. Not that I don’t want them, but I can’t risk passing this on.” She waved at her head with her free hand. She leaned over and kissed his hand. “You do help. You and Yavia. You two kind of…hold me together when I can’t control it, when it gets away from me. I noticed it after that first weekend. I’m not sure what changed or how. At home it’s tangible, but even here next to you, I can feel it. Home has become a sanctuary that I never thought I would have.”
“I’m glad, hun. Really. Because V and I love having you there. You make it… whole.” he said with a smile.
“It blows all our minds we’re together, really. I try not to think about the how or the why too much. That leads to me needing to be distracted, and as much fun as that can be, I would rather you not have to drag me out of that dark place again.” Sharah looked at him in the chair next to her and just smiled. “I love you so much, Charles, and I am thankful every day for you.” It was becoming easier to let herself make that connection with him and Yavia. To allow herself to make that connection, to let her heart connect and share how she felt, how he made her feel and how she felt about him, “How are you?”
Sharah
Charles blew out a breath and stared at the ceiling a moment. “Well… it sounds kinda s#!tty when I say it out loud, but Eela really hurt my feelings and pissed me off. Now, I get she truly needs to be focused inwards to deal with that bulls#!t; but when she let inta me? Man… that really felt uncalled for. I mean, if Hyrushi had a crazy ex that did somethin’, we’d do exactky the same thing. Except I get the feeling Hyrushi would probably handle that himself, so… bad analogy, but you get the point.” and he sighed. “It would be so much better for everyone if she had pressed charges. Made it public from jump and let the court deal with it. I mean, I totally get why she didn’t. But ideally? She’d have given a lotta people some hope who could use it, I’m sure.”
Tenkiller
“It is not $hi++y. It is how you feel and that is not wrong. I understand she is scared and frustrated and angry, but what she said was incorrect and uncalled for.” Sharah smirked, “I imagine the Governor would have rather nasty surprises for someone, but if it came down to it, you and your agents would respond accordingly. Exactly the same as you did yesterday.” Sharah turned to fully face him. “The video sucks, but that is not on you or the agents. Your priority was her safety and you did that flawlessly, don’t let her mental state make you doubt yourself. It would be good if she could use this to help others, but she will have to decide if she can do that.” She took his hand in both of hers, “Speaking personally and professionally I hope that you always handle these types of situations exactly the same.”
Sharah
Charles looked at her for a long time in silence. The thought came unbidden into his mind at the exact same moment as he spoke the words. “I’m gonna marry you someday.” and he kissed her.
Tenkiller
There was no warning, no subtle jumps of thought, just his intense focus and the absolute stillness and depths that were Charles, then…he was going to marry her. Electricity raced over her and set off swarms of butterflies in her stomach. There was no chance for any dark thoughts of self doubt to form. He meant them, and it was impossible to doubt when Charles got a thought in his head. Especially when he kissed her like that. “All you have to do is ask.” Oh that admission scared her, but in a wonderful way.
Sharah
He grinned and said “Oh, I know.” Their drinks arrived and he leaned back into his chair and pulled his hat down over his eyes, the holographic sun on his face, and he took a sip and closed his eyes and sighed…
“Oh, that’s just awful.” he said softly.
Charles
Oh there was that annoying likableness she loved! Of course he knew. She took her drink and sat back. Sharah was not going to stare at him in that hat. She was not. That didn’t mean she wasn’t going to sneak peeks at him constantly.
She laughed, “Oh no. Get something else.” Her’s came with a thick straw for the crushed ice. It was very tart lemonade, and it occurred her mouth. She didn’t get the rest till she got the crushed ice though. It was very sweet and then blend was amazing. “Oh this is good. I’ll even share. Here.” She held the glass out to him.
Sharah
He grinned and said “Only if you try mine.” and he took her false and swapped his into her hand with the defines of a close magic magician. He took a sip and said “Yep… that’s pretty good.” and he looked at her, waiting.
Tenkiller
“Okay. I told you I would,” she took the glass and grinned as he tried hers. She gave his flass a long stare. She wasn’t sure she wouldn’t regret this. “This is like the Wild Fork all over again. This is a beach themed place. I want oysters.” Sharah winked at him and took a cautious sip of his Spicy Tomato. Oh it definitely had a bit of acidity.
Sharah
He laughed and said “Sorry, hun. Juice and drink bar. No food. But after we leave, we’ll go get whatever you want to eat.” He looked at her and smiled. “Even oysters.” and he kissed he recheck before handing her drink back.
Tenkiller
Sharah flushed at the memory and kissed him before taking her drink back and handing him his. “Hmmm oysters could get us in trouble. Maybe desert.” She sipped the concoction and then used a spoon to scoop the ice. She was quiet for awhile enjoying her drink. She reached over and took his hand again. “I’m glad we are doing this. I like being out just us for a bit.”
Sharah
He smiled at her and said “I agree. We should do a just us date more often.” He looked at her for a minute and then said “Are you happy, Sharah? With the way things are turning out for you? Does it make you happy?”
Tenkiller
Her smile was like the sun, the feeling that passed from her to him through their hands even more so. “I am.” No thought needed. “For the first time…ever, I feel like I am where I am supposed to be. With you and Yavia, the hospital, Oed. Which is not anything close to the type of place I thought I would feel like that. It is all very unexpected.” She leaned toward him, tugging him closer, and kissed him. “Yeah, it does make me happy.” She peered at him under the rim of his hat. “How do you feel about how everything is working for you?”
Sharah
He chuckled and then put on a mock-thoughtful expression. “Well let’s see… I got a good job I like. Got a great place to live. Made some solid friends.” and then he glanced at her and grinned. “And I have the two most beautiful women even to love and adore… and one of ‘em happens to be sittin’ right here in front’a me. So I gotta say I doin’ alright, all things considered.” He absent-mindedly took a drink and made a face. “Nope. Still awful.” and he laughed.
Tenkiller
Sharah laughed softly and snagged his cup, “Then stop drinking it. Here.” She handed him her glass, “We can share.” She stared up at the fake sun through the palm leaves. “So there is something I haven’t told you. I wouldn’t be surprised if you know though. I haven’t said anything because I know the others will make a big deal out of it. And honestly, mentally, I don’t want to deal with that.” All the extra attention and attention. Plus Sharah wasn’t sure she had earned it. “I got promoted to Lt Cmdr.”
Sharah
He shrugged and said “Automated security permissions request from Star Fleet a while back. Yeah, I knew. But I figured you’d tell me or us when you were ready.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Congratulations. Its well deserved.” he whispered.
Tenkiller
Sharah smiled but it wasn’t quite happy. “I don’t know that it is.” She squeezed his hand to stop any protest or denial. “I know I have done good work here. But I don’t feel like I have earned that rank. I know McBride and Dasca feel I earned recognition for my efforts, what I have managed to do. But it was politically motivated. There has been a lot wrong with how Star Fleet has handled Oed, and sending people who weren’t willing or experienced enough is a big one. A Lt Cmdr, implying so much more than just a Lt looked better to the colony as a whole. Even if they don’t like us. That they have high ranking officers to fill the need here.”
“Every promotion I have received was either politically or emotionally driven, except my promotion to ensign. Yes I have done good work, in some cases amazing work and others I simply did my job. Lt jg I got because the CO wanted a commissioned officer and not an enlisted one for the DH position, even though I was ill qualified and had no experience. I got it because it appeased the civilian scientists. They liked me. It kept the peace. Cpt Rende could have just given me a citation, but she was retiring and figured she could so she did. She wanted to thumb her nose at the inquiry board and so I got my Lt pip a month before I arrived on Oed. Also she her grandchildren are my God children. More than that Markus was like a son to her. Her earned that promotion and she wanted to ease any mutterings about our rank differences. And now I have another promotion in less than a year for political reasons. People know Dasca is my patient, that we are friends. I have done d@mn good work, but I feel like it’s lost in the crap being flung around.”
Sharah
Charles smiled at her and leaned back, but kept his hand on hers.
“Hun, I was in Star Fleet longer than you have been. So if you’ll allow me to speak as an experienced officer to a less-but-not-inexperienced one… almost every single promotion in the fleet is political in some form or fashion. I served on ships, stations, planet-side, teaching… and the one constant between all of them is that people get promoted because somewhere along the line its expedient to do it.” He looked at her and a strong wave of respect, admiration, and conviction emanated from him. “You getting promoted… regardless of the core motivations or whatnot… is a great thing. And I’m not talking about you. I’m talking about the people below you. They are so lucky that they have you to work for. One, you are brilliant. Two, you are a fantastic doctor. Three, you do amazing work. Four, and most important, is you actually give a s#it about your people! Do you know of how absolutely uncommon that is in Star Fleet? How rare a thing it is to have a commander that actually genuinely cares about their crew? Oh yeah, almost all Command officers talk a big game about ‘the crew is what makes me good.’ and such. But 90% of the time its just talk. They give a damn just enough to get their people to perform. You? You are the kind of officer who will know the name of every member of your teams, every major life event, every need or want… and you’ll do anything to try and support them. That* is why Dasca promoted you. Because she is the same way.” He chuckled and squeezed her hand. “Whether or not you think you deserve it is irrelevant. What matters is what you do with it now that you have it.”
Tenkiller
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