Ego Potest Non Cogitare De Titulum

Posted on Sat Dec 9, 2017 @ 9:12pm by Fleet Captain Rhea Kennit

2,689 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Dīvide et Impera ~ Chapter One: Sending Out An S.O.S
Location: USS Victory, Captain's Quarters
Timeline: When-evaaah..

Captain's Quarters

The only illumination came from lit candles about the main room, their soft warm glow and scent filling the room with a peaceful, calming aura that did nothing to help quell the current brooding of it's sole occupant who was standing at the viewport. The rich, pleasant scent of real, freshly brewed coffee added it's own unique blend to the room, a large mug gently steaming held in the Captain's hand as she stared silently out at the passing stars. Fortunately, the civilian ship was not visible from her vantage point..

Alec stood outside Rhea's quarters. His hand hovering over the door chime. He held a PaDD in the other. She had pretty much kept to her herself since going to Sickbay to see check on their 'guest' and then speaking to Anderson and Owens in her Ready Room. Normally he would just walk in but this wasn't normal. Ever since they had encountered that damn pirate, Rhea had kept to herself. He could imagine what she was thinking as well as feeling upon seeing a man you thought was dead. Taking a deep breath he pressed the chime to gain admittance and ready to help Rhea in any way he could.

Hearing the door chime, after a moment Rhea said "Enter". Responding to her voice command, the computer system unlocked and opened the door, revealing the dim candle-lit interior as the doorway remained open awaiting the sensor trigger indicating he'd entered so that the door could then close.

Alec took a step inside and the door closed behind him. He took in the candle lit interior. He blinked once, twice to let his eyes adjust to the dim light. He caught the scent of coffee as well as? He took a deep breath, "Vanilla?" He questioned as his eyes shifted their attention to her awaiting her reply.

"First candles I grabbed." she answered, still gazing out at the passing stars. "The regular lights were too bright."

He nodded, quiet for moment as he walked coming up behind her, his arms going around her waist as his head came alongside hers to whisper her in her ear. " I wanted to check on you. See how you were doing. I'm here for you,anything you need, you know that right?"

She leaned back into his arms, tucking her hands with his. "I'm fine. Annoyed. Disgusted. Mostly annoyed.."

He squeezed her hands softly at her comment. He had learned when to keep quiet and let Rhea 'get it off her chest'. He sensed now was such a time. So he kept quiet and just continued to hold her.

"Never ceases to amaze me.. the resilience of a cockroach.." she said after a drink from her mug.

He chuckled softly and kissed her neck. "A cockroach? Not the first image that pops into my mind. I was going more for a snake. In either case we'll put an end to him and his plans."

"No.. no Razom wasn't the snake. The snake lost his head. So to speak. No... Razom was the cockroach. Crawled off through who the hell knows what crack in the wall and didn't die like he was supposed to.." she answered morosely.

"Ah. I stand corrected. Then it's time we rectify that situation and put an end to his miserable existence once and for all." He answered with firm conviction.

She almost laughed. "If only it was as easy as you make it sound. Eight weeks in some Orion hell-hole just to get near them. Really hoped that bomb got them both.." she added very softly.

"Never said it was going to be easy Rhea." He countered. "And since the bomb didn't we'll just have to make sure that when we get the chance to finish this we're thorough enough to do so."

"Roaches are damn hard to kill.." was all she said. "Not impossible. Just.. damn hard."

"Then......" He turned her so she was facing him. "We're going to have to make sure we do the job right this time so he can't come back."

“This time?” She echoed. “If the job had been focused on him then, he wouldn’t be here. He was a target of opportunity, one which managed to survive. I am more concerned about why he’s here than why he’s alive. The presence of an Orion criminal organization here could prove quite problematic.”

"Problematic? Rhea did you forget who you're talking to? I' know and I've seen what your capable of. So if there is an Orion criminal element here then we deal with it and remove it.....systematically." He replied resolutely.

“The problem with cockroaches...” she told him as she wrapped her arms around his torso and leaned into the warmth of his tall frame. “Is that for every one you see, there’s a thousand more you don’t.”

His arms tightened around her waist holding her close as she spoke. "That's true." He admitted, "However I prefer the pragmatic approach. Deal with the cockroach you see and worry about the others if they become a problem."

Rhea shook her head just a bit, “If.” She echoed. “Nah Love.. it’s not an ‘if’..it’s going to happen.”

Alec continued to hold her in his grip, he chose his words carefully, "Then we must make we're up to the job and we exterminate them all."

She opted to let it go, for now. Until she had more information there wasn’t much else to discuss on that score anyway. Instead, she said “I don’t suppose you managed to sneak some chocolate past the Doctor’s network of spies for me did you?”

A smirk came to his face, "Really Rhea? You wound me. You aren't talking to am amateur you know." He walked over where he had laid the PaDD down. Tapping on the screen, it popped open to reveal a box of chocolates. "Just for you. Enjoy." He said as he handed her the box.

Popping a piece of chocolate in her mouth, she thoroughly enjoyed the treat and then, said “You I’d have quite a number of talents..”

A huge smile split his face,"Why, thank you ma'am. Nice of you to notice. I have to admit you have outstanding taste as well as being an excellent judge of character."

Picking up a second piece of chocolate, she lifted it toward him and held it for him to take. Slipping the treat past his lips, she fed him the bit of chocolate and then answered “I am the Captain after all.. being able to judge an officer for his or her merits is part of my job..”

He nodded then chewed and swallowed the chocolate, another smile coming to his face. "And a excellent judge you are if I do say so myself. Not that I'm bias by any means."

“Thank you for this..” she told him. “It’s been a shit of a day and the Doc’s latest rampage about what I eat or don’t eat is a drag..”

"You are welcome." He returned, "I am only too happy to brighten your day anyway I can be it big or small. As for the CMO, what she doesn't know won't hurt her."

Rhea laughed at that, “Yeah except somehow she seems to know just about everything..”

"Can't argue with that." Alec admitted albeit a bit reluctantly. "Have you checked to see if your quarters are bugged?" He questioned half seriously.

She blinked and stared at him- an expression of rising outrage on her face.

"Whoa! Easy Rhea, I'm not saying they are." He offered quickly, " I was joking. You don't think they are do you?" Wondering if he had inadvertently stumbled on the CMO's uncanny ability to know everything.

“You brought it up..” she answered. “You tell me!”

Alec bristled at Rhea's tone but wasn't going to back down. "That's right I did. I meant it as a joke since she seems to know everything almost before it happens. If not your quarters maybe your uniform or........." his voice trailed off. "You remember what she did to you with a drink? Don't you?"

That didn’t help. Her expression darkened more.

"Okay, I can tell by your expression you do remember. All I'm saying is that in the area of her patients health, Dr.Anderson goes above and beyond the call of duty. She’s zealous in that regard. You have to admit that's true."

“She wouldn’t dare.” Kennit growled. “I’d kill her..”

"Are you sure she wouldn't dare?" Alec questioned quietly. "She could always claim it was for your own good, given your um dislike of
Sickbay." He continued diplomatically knowing full well Rhea knew what he was tip toeing around.

In response, she let out a snort and said “I have cause..”

Alec moved his hands to her shoulders, "You're tense. Forget I mentioned it.I didn't mean to upset you. Let me give you a shoulder rub. That always relaxes you."

She hummed at him, but leaned back a little and said “Your hands are warm..”

He chuckled at her comment and began to massage her shoulders,his fingers working.plying her bunched muscles. "I'm multitasking right now." He joked as he leaned forward and kissed her neck. All while his hands continued their job of relieving the tenseness in her shoulders. How's that feel?"

“Feel better without this top in the way.” Rhea answered, deftly pulling the undershirt she wore off so that the material was out of the way. In the soft natural candlelight, here and there on her skin faint pale shadows crossed her skin, faint residual scars left from a career of doing what had to be done.

"Beautiful." Alec whispered as he once again resumed his massaging of Rhea's shoulders. He felt her soft, creamy skin beneath his fingers as he worked the knots out of here muscles, he again kissed her neck, drinking her in. He smiled in satisfaction as the muscles began to relax under his gentle massaging. "Your muscles were really knotted up Rhea but they’re beginning to relax, you should be able to feel a difference."

A smile on her face and in her voice, she answered “I’m feeling something..”

Alec continued to massage her shoulders, "Well thank goodness, I'd hate to think I was losing my touch." He bantered playfully.

Rhea leaned back into his body, reaching one hand back to brush her fingers along his neck. “You’re definitely not loosing your touch..”

He shivered at her touch, he never got tired of being and spending time with Rhea. Each moment was special. "Music to my ears." he quipped, "Don't stop." He teased.

Relaxed back against his chest, she tucked his arms around her and replied “And if I just want to sit here like this...and have you hold me for a while...”

"Then that is exactly what I'll do for as long as you want. We'll sit here together,not talking enjoying the silence and each other."

She curled up closer to him, reaching over and pulling a throw blanket over the pair of them. “It sounds silly..” Rhea said. “I just need someone to hold me..”

Alec chuckled at Rhea's comment as she threw a blanket over them. "I don't think it's silly at all. I think it's sweet and nice and it's a service I'm glad to provide."

“Sweet and nice are two words not usually associated with me..” she commented as she curled up close against him with her head on his shoulder.

"I associate those words with you but I know you. Others don't know you Rhea or haven't tried to know you. Plus as the Captain you have a certain intimation factor." As he held her close under the blanket.

“Intimidation factor..” she echoed with a chuckle. “Is that a polite way of saying ‘scares the shit out of’?”

Alec answered with a chuckle of his own. "See? That's why you’re the Captain, you know exactly what I'm talking about and yes I was being polite."

“Oh I’m Captain because they can’t manage to kill me..I know far too much for my own good..and I scare the brass too.”

Alec sighed, "I didn't say or infer that Rhea. I was talking about the crew and yes, I've seen how the brass acts around you."

She shrugged, “Its not a bad thing. I can get away with more...” she told him. “Like you.. for example. There are perks to having a reputation like mine..”

Alec looked at her innocently, "Like me what Rhea? And I've seen some of your perks. Everyone especially the brass give you a wide berth.You don't have to worry about them looking over your shoulder and breathing down your neck."

Kissing his neck with a feather light brush of her lips, she said “The only person breathing down my neck is you, one of those perks I mentioned.. where I get to engage in wicked behaviors behind closed door ..”

"Ahhh." he said, serving as both a reaction to her kisses as well as a comment on her statement. "But Rhea it's such a nice neck to breathe down on." He quipped.

Shifting to straddle his lap. She draped her arms around his neck and asked “is that so? What else about me do you like?”

Alec moved his hands to position one on each of Rhea's hips. "Yes, it's so. Like you don't know." He sighed dramatically at her question. "Really Rhea?" He questioned with a shake of his head, "Well, since you asked. In addition to your lovely kissable neck. I love you from the top of your head to the soles of your feet and everything in between. The emphasis on love and not like." His eyes locked on hers as he said the last. "Now I'll gladly list specifics if your vanity requires it. However I love you Rhea Katrjn Kennit,the total package, completely and unequivocally ." He leaned forward and kissed her, "I really love your lips.They are extremely kissable and your eyes, I could spend a week lost in your eyes." He added as he was unwittingly listing what he loved about her. "Your grace and poise." He kissed her again. "Your sense of self,you know who are and what you want and don't let anyone stand in your way." Another kiss on her oh so kissable lips. 'Should I continue? I do have a list."

Returning his kiss, with a nod she answered “By all means..”

"Your wish is my command." As he looked deep into her eyes. "Lets see, lips, check, eyes check. Your cute little nose." To highlight his point, he kissed it. "Your dazzling smile when you decide to smile. It lights up the room. Your smart and not afraid to show it." His hands caressed her upper thighs, "Your killer legs simply magnificent." He paused in his listing of Rhea's charms and just looked at her, drinking her in and relishing every moment.

“Know what I like?” Rhea asked in a soft voice. Running her hand over his muscled upper arm and shoulder, she said “I am fascinated by how strong you are, by how your muscles feel under your skin..”

Alec was silent as Rhea spoke, when she finished he smiled at her. "Why Rhea, I never knew. Here I thought the reasons were my killer smile and sparkling intellect."

Shaking her head, she said “naaah... I’m a creature of instinct..”

He chuckled at her comment, "Well, I like your instincts. I like them very much."

She just sort of purred, then said “mmm.. those instincts are telling me you should carry me off to bed..”

In one fluid motion he was on his feet bring Rhea up with him. "Your wish or in this case your instincts are my command." He quipped as he scooped her into his arms, holding her close to chest. "Next stop the Magic Kingdom" As he turned to head down the hall.


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