Meeting of the Tribe

Posted on Sun Dec 30, 2018 @ 11:35pm by Lieutenant Nicole Anderson & Lieutenant Penelope Naroot & Lieutenant Cassandra Kennings & Lieutenant JG Camille Lévesque PhD

3,796 words; about a 19 minute read

Mission: Plaga Navis
Location: Cassandra's Quarters/Nicole's Quarters

Cassandra snapped her fingers, pillows and cushions flying into a circle in the center of her quarters. Bowls filled with food, healthy and otherwise, and she huffed, blowing a lock of royal blue hair out of her face and grabbing the deck of cards, shuffling as she set herself down on a large cushion, leaning back against another one. When her chime rang, she looked up. "Enter," she said.

Nicole walked in, taking off her uniform jacket, tossing it aside and collapsed onto a pile of cushions, leaning back and groaning. "This...was a helluva evening," she said.

"I gathered as much by your sudden request to invite yourself over for a 'girl's night,'" Cass said. "Need a lemonade?"

"No we are skipping straight to the hard stuff tonight," Nicole said. "Chocolate milk, neat, and don't skimp on the concentration."

"That bad, hm?" Cassandra said, programming the replicator then bringing the beverage over and handing it to Nicole. "Something on your mind? Or just general stress of the job?"

"I just need a night with a couple friends to clear my head," Nicole said, taking the glass. "I can't go into a tense situation distracted."

"What is it that's distracting you?" Cass said, curious.

Before Nicole could answer, the door chimed.

Camille knew it wouldn’t do to arrive early, but she was anxious to have fun with the girls! Her friends treated her to a wild night before she left for this assignment, and she missed them terribly. A stressful first couple of days called for a bit of fun with her new friends. She arrived as close to one minute past the requested arrival time as she could, dressed in a tight blue long-sleeve top and black skirt.

“Salut!” she said to her host as the door opened.

Nicole looked up in surprise. "How'd you find your way here?"

"I invited her," Cassandra said. "You said you needed to talk with your friends, I assumed you wanted to socialize with more than just myself and Penny."

The chime rang again. "Enter," Cassandra said. "Speak of the devil."

"Hiki ke hoʻomaka i ka pāʻina!" Penny cheered, jumping onto a cushion and sinking down into it getting snuggly. Between her tank top and her shorts she was every bit the boy's image of a slumber party participant and she grinned at everyone there. "Oh hey, we met on the bridge. Penny Naroot," she said, holding out a hand to Camille.

"Camille Lévesque," the science officer replied, taking Penny's hand. She looked at the group of women. "I think I might be overdressed for this. Should I go change?"

"You are under no obligation," Cassandra said. "Nicole is overdressed as well. Normally the dress code is something comfortable like pajamas but tonight was rather impromptu, so it was come as you are."

The chime sounded again and the doors opened to reveal Maggie. Nicole smiled in surprise. "C'mon in, Mags," she said. "You're in for a strong bout of prattling, so brace yourself."

Maggie walked in slowly in her off duty tee and shorts, and sat down next to Penny. "Thanks," she said. "I was kind of surprised when Doctor Sanders sent me the invitation."

"Well, that was my fault," Nicole said. "Was a bit last minute." She glanced at Penny. "Although I see someone had time to throw something comfortable on."

"I have this ready to go at a moment's notice," Penny said.

"Thomas must be so appreciative," Nicole teased.

"So what's going on tonight, mesdames?" asked Camille. "What's a normal girls' night here on Victory?"

"Typically food, alcohol, a lot of gossip," Penny said. "I've tried to incorporate a surfing challenge but they always back out."

"Because none of us want to surf in our bedclothes," Cassandra said.

Penny stuck her tongue out.

However," Cassandra continued, "tonight's meeting was called by hinek," she said, gesturing to Nicole and setting herself down on a cushion, shuffling. "So, the game is Rigellian Hold'em, aces are high, nothing's wild, and Nicole, why are we here? What's on your mind?"

Nicole made a face and took a long draught of her chocolate milk. "I don't know, perhaps I'm being ridiculous--"

"Taking bets now," Cassandra said.

Nicole cast her a withering look. "Someone made a move on me and I'm debating if it was a mistake not breaking his clavicle."

"Was it unwanted?" Maggie said.

"He's an ass. Most of the men on this ship are, so naturally I was generally repulsed," Nicole said. "But, I don't know. It's been a while since I was pursued like that, and maybe he's right and a roll in the kas-pi'fek is what I need right now."

Penny grabbed the nearest bottle and poured herself a glassful and sat back. "So, what's the conundrum? We've all had on board relationships. We all talk about them. Everyone knows what's going on with Cromwell and Faraday thanks to the rumor mill." She saw Maggie blush and reached over to pat her knee. "Sorry."

"It's not like any of us have been shy about sex," Penny added, then looked at Camille. "Well I don't know if you're cool with it but most of us find it fun." She grinned and giggled.

"I'm in favour of it!" Camille answered with a grin as she poured herself a drink from the same bottle Penny used. "Between gossip and occasionally the act itself, it was the basis of many a girls' night in my last posting." She raised her glass to her companions and took a sip. She made a face when the liquor hit her tongue, shook her head, and smiled. "What is this, anyway? C'est délicieux."

"It's from Nicole's private stock," Cassandra said, grinning as Nicole gave her a slow head turn and death stare. "I said I'd host, I didn't say I'd cater."

She dealt out five cards to everyone, leaving three on the floor face down and pulled a bowl of food next to her. "We all find it fun, Penny," she said. "But some people also find it cumbersome."

"Well, on Rigel it's a pretty casual thing between friends," Nicole said. "I know humans don't always view it that way, although they seem obsessed as much as any species. Why is that?"

"Because it affects so much of their emotional lives," Cass said. "As they tell us freshman year in psychology: sex is why they drink, sex is why they gamble, sex is why they reproduce."

"That explains why Danny's out drinking and I'm out gambling," Maggie said, arranging her cards. "Thankfully neither of us is reproducing yet."

"Is it angling towards that?" Nicole said.

Maggie blushed. "I don't know...still early to tell, right?"

Nicole grinned. "Just enjoying practicing?"

Maggie blushed harder and tossed in her ante.

"How about you, Penny?" said Camille as she threw some chips into the pile. "Who's this 'Thomas' Nicole mentioned?"

"He used to be our Ops officer before me," Penny said. "He's a genuinely good man. He definitely enjoys sex, although last time I was on leave he waited a few hours before we went back to his quarters. I think he gets tired, which isn't necessarily every human, I know, but as long as he enjoys it, it's all good. But he's definitely a good basis for my report, even though it almost killed me trying to analyze--"

"Beep, beep, Penny," Cassandra said.

Penny took a sip of her drink. "But yeah he's wonderful. I love him," she said, pride in her voice. "Have you ever been in love?"

“Pas encore,” Camille answered. “Not yet. I’ve gone on dates, and had occasional fun nights. I’ve not met the right man or woman yet, it seems.”

"That takes time," Cassandra said as betting went around. "There are false starts, setbacks and complications of course, but it's worth it in the end. They key is to put yourself out there and not fear rejection. Even if you don't find love, you may find a relationship that is fulfilling in other ways."

She dealt a card face up to the floor and bid. "I first fell in love when I was sixteen. He was older--"

"Foreshadowing," Nicole teased.

"--and it didn't end well," Cass said, ignoring her, "but it was a learning experience. Love always is."

“Well, I’m open to it happening,” Camille replied. “I suppose I’ll need to start speaking with my crewmates. Find someone with common interests. Do any of you know anyone who likes science, holodecks, and pop music, let me know!” She took another sip of her drink.

"That would be Penny," Nicole said, folding. "I'm more partial to the music we had at the festivals on Rigel. Although Earth has something close called 'big band' I think it is. It's fun to dance to."

"What about sing to?" Penny said.

"I don't sing anymore," Nicole said, draining the last of her chocolate milk.

"Oh c'mon you used to sing in Sickbay on the Castel all the time before--I know, I know, beep, beep, Penny," she said, seeing Nicole's look. "Fine then, subject change: When was the last time you had sex?"

Nicole choked on the last few drops. She looked at the others watching her. "A couple days before I left for this assignment," she said.

"That long??" Penny said, half surprised, half disbelieving while throwing down her cards in disgust.

"Yes, that long," she said, mildly embarrassed.

“Câlisse,” was all Camille could say at first. “I mean, I’ve not known you for long, but I feel comfortable saying you should solve that.”

"Which brings us back to where we began," Nicole sighed. "At least being the ship's doctor, I know what everyone on board has to work with," she gave an evil grin.

"Does knowing their anatomy give you some kind of advantage?" Penny said.

"It let me know how much Danny was exaggerating," Maggie giggled, putting a high bid in for the last round.

Camille couldn’t help but laugh at that.

“There’s a holodeck, of course,” Camille offered. “I was in there not long ago with Chief Summers. If you don’t think there’s anyone here suitable to scratch your itch, surely that’s an option?” She grinned a bit sheepishly. “My last posting was Jupiter Station. Best hologram experts in the Federation.”

Nicole, Cass and Penny exchanged glances. "That's not something I'm necessarily comfortable with," she said, simply. "Besides, if I could program a perfect man, I might not come back out of the holodeck."

"Hear hear," Maggie said, looking at Camille. "Call or raise?" she smiled and kept her cards close.

“Fair enough,” said Camille. “And I’ll call.”

As Cass flipped over the last three cards, Maggie smiled wider. "Full house! Eights over jacks," she said, lying her cards down.

"Beats my two pair," Cassandra said, putting her cards down, and settling back with a glass of wine. "For what it's worth, Nicole, I'm in the same position you are, but with even fewer options. Not a night goes by that I don't look at Richard's side of the bed and wish he was there. I may have to request a few weeks furlough after this mission."

Camille threw her cards down. “Beats mine, too.”

"Kings over fours!" Penny cried victoriously, throwing her cards down. "Good try newbie!"

She raked in the chips and held her hand out for the cards. "Loser deals."

"Good try," Cass said, handing the bulk of the cards to Maggie.

Nicole reached for her uniform top and pulled her flask out of the inside pocket. She uncapped it and down a long swallow. "Jolly good try," she said, her words slurring slightly. Chocolate was kicking in.

“So what drew you all out here to the Delta Quadrant?” asked Camille. A good opening question to help get to know her colleagues, she thought.

"Starfleet, in its infinite wisdom, decided that their best diagnostician and Head Surgeon of the medical complex on Rigel V couldn't be left at home to research and save lives, oh no. They had to send her to the other end of the sodding galaxy. And then when they realized I might take over the Quadrant, they sent a babysitter after me to keep me in line." She raised her flask to Cassandra.

"What about me?" Penny said.

"Traitors get ignored," Nicole said, refusing to look Penny's way and throwing a pretzel at her.

Penny stuck her tongue out and then blew Nicole a kiss. "I'm here because I get to be with my friends and explore more of the galaxy. Humans are weird enough as it is, but there's a lot of cool stuff in the DQ and I'm having way too much fun."

Maggie shrugged her shoulders. "I got assigned here. It's my first ship. I guess I just got..." she glanced at her CO, "...lucky."

"I asked for this assignment," said Camille. "I wanted something far, far away. Papa wanted me to stay in Québec, so naturally I'm in the Delta Quadrant!"

"Aren't you the little rebel," Nicole teased. "Be careful what you wish for. You want to get away from home, you wind up in the Andromeda Galaxy."

For a short moment, Camille's eyes went wide as she imagined the possibility. But then the fact that Nicole was teasing her caught up. Mimicking Penny, she stuck her tongue out at the doctor.

Nicole's hand shot out like a cobra and caught Camille's tongue as it flicked out. She grinned as Penny laughed herself silly. "Something Penny learned a while ago: don't stick your tongue out at me if you're anywhere within reach." She let her go and booped the girl's nose with a finger, laughing.

Camille made a face as put her tongue back in her mouth, and then laughed along with Nicole. "Lesson learned!" She finished her glass and reached for the bottle to pour some more.

After another couple rounds of cards and some light chatter, Maggie suddenly spoke up. "I'm thinking of asking Danny to move in together."

Nicole's jaw dropped. "That's.....a bit step," she said slowly, a bit extra on her words from her relaxed state.

"I know," Maggie said. "But....I love him."

"I love Cassandra," Nicole said. "I'd never live with her." She snickered as a pillow flew at her and she dodged it. "Do you think you're ready?"

"I think so," Maggie said. "You know we were together last night...and he spent the night..." she blushed hard. "So, why not take the step?"

"Maggie, one night of sex, no matter how good is not a reason to move in with someone," Cassandra said.

"Well...." Nicole began but Cassandra silenced her.

"Moving in together means a desire to start nesting. It means you two want to progress to more than just 'dating.' It means you two are going to--"

"Hump like rabbits?" Penny offered, giggling wildly.

"Thank you, Penny," Cassandra said, noting how deep Maggie was blushing now. "Do you love him? Are you willing to put up with his bad habits, his idiosyncrasies, his problems?"

"I know his habits," Maggie said, slurring and her eyes wandering a bit. "And I don't care about his sidio-incracies. Inio-synchra...sinio...his issues. He's....the sex is good though and I really...*yawn* love him." She put her head down on a pillow and groaned, rubbing her temples.

"Time of death, 0147 hours," Nicole said, checking a chronometer and clinking her flask with Camille's glass. "That girl needs practice."

“Deux questions,’ said Camille, holding up two fingers. “What’s in the flask, and I can try some?”

"Poison, so no," Nicole said, capping her flask and putting it back in her breast pocket. "In the meantime, we should probably disband and get Ensign Lightweight to her quarters."

"I'm fine," Maggie said. "Haven't fallen off the floor yet."

Nicole threw her uniform jacket on and cautiously got to her feet. "Lend a hand?" she said to Camille.

“Sure,” Camille said. She stood, a bit wobbly on her feet but well enough to walk, and got to the other side of Maggie from Nicole.

"Sometimes I wish I could understand the joy you all get from this," Penny said, looking into one of the empty bottles. "At least tomorrow morning I'll be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed."

"You may be in the extreme minority on that," Cassandra said.

Penny shrugged and upended the last of one of the bottles.

"C'mon, up you get," Nicole said as they grabbed Maggie and hauled her to her feet. "Ladies, thank you one and all for your support and advice, it's helped immensely." The two of them duck-walked Maggie out of the room and down the corridor to a turbolift. "Deck Six," Nicole said. Only a moment later, the doors opened and they stepped out, walking her to her quarters.

"You know," she said, happily, "I haven't had a night off like that in a while."

"Well I wish it had been a while longer, considering tomorrow we're going to be investigating an illness. You'd better get straight to bed."

They stopped at her quarters and Nicole pressed Maggie's thumb against the lockplate to open the doors. As they slid open, a handsome young man stood in front of them grinning. It was difficult to immediately place his department and rank, due to his complete lack of uniform. Not to mention everything else.

"And hello to you, Mister Faraday," Nicole said, grinning wickedly.

Daniel, for his part, immediately felt his smile drop, and his hands move to a more modest position.

"So glad to know you're up and about this evening," Nicole said. "Please see that she gets right to bed, will you? Good lad."

Nicole tossed Maggie into Daniel's arms and he caught her with ease. "Good night you two," Nicole said.

As the doors closed, Maggie smiled at him. "You heard her. Right to bed." She giggled and shoved him backwards onto her duvet.

Nicole looked at Camille and busted out laughing once they were alone. "Ah, I was that young once," she said wistfully and headed back to the turbolift.

Camille followed. “The night’s still young, as Maggie and her fellow just showed us. Care for a nightcap?”

"Read my mind," Nicole said as they got in the lift. "Deck five," she said. Seconds later they walked out and took a short trip to the next set of quarters. Nicole opened the doors and stepped inside, sighing and taking her uniform jacket off, tossing it over a chair. "Make yourself comfortable," she said.

Her room had all the standard furniture of a starship senior officer's quarters. She had few pieces of personal property, all of that being in in her office and apartment back in Ancient Grace. She momentarily considered asking for some of it to be sent to her. The drawings that children did, the carvings that adorned her shelves, she missed them. Her homesickness had died down somewhat over the last few months, but a twinge now and then still tugged at her when she realized it was someone's birthday, or that one of her patients should be a mother by now, and she wasn't there to deliver.

What few things she had were an ornate wooden chest, a jewelry box that looked like it had been carved from a solid piece of obsidian, a large oil painting of her former shipmates on one wall, and a closet of clothes.

She opened the box and pulled out a brass key, which she used to unlock the chest. She opened it up and pulled out a square crystal decanter. She took it over to a small serving tray on her dining table and poured a couple fingers worth into two glasses, handing one to Camille and the other for herself.

Camille looked around her new friend’s quarters, taking a moment to appreciate the art. She recognized a few faces in the painting, but not others. A reminder that this crew was a happy family even before she showed up. It made her hope that she’d be as integral a team member, and as good a friend, to these nice people as possible.

She accepted the glass from Nicole and took a sip. She smiled widely at the sweet, fruity drink. “This is wonderful!” Camille exclaimed. “You can barely taste the alcohol. What is it?”

"Brandy," Nicole said. "From the Spirit Clan on Rigel V. They do some amazing things with the local fruits." She sat down on her couch and crossed her legs, sighing a bit. "Their contributions to the yearly harvest festival are always anticipated with great....well let's just say we look forward to whatever it is."

She took another slow sip. "They grow, distil and blow the glass for the bottles all themselves. It's really remarkable to watch. I received a case of bottles as a payment from one for a particularly difficult delivery. I brought a few on board for special occasions." She stared into the glass and gave a thoughtful smile. "And a taste of home."

“Always important,” Camille replied. “I didn’t bring any drinks from home, but I’ve programmed my replicator to make Canadian icewine. Very sweet. Come by my quarters one night after dinner for a glass?”

"Oh trying to get me properly sauced, are we?" Nicole teased, taking a deep drink. "Sounds lovely."

She poured herself another snort and raised her glass. "Yi tor wuh vokaya, ak tor wuh run. Ni la' nam-tor tor i', heh eifa ik etek're k'."

“That sounds lovely,” said Camille, really feeling the drink. “What does it mean?”

"Roughly it means, 'then is a memory, soon is a myth. So here is to now, and those that we're with," she said, turning and smiling, and clinking their glasses.

“Wow,” said Camille. “A beautiful saying, from a beautiful culture, that gave us a beautiful lady.” Camille stopped a moment. Did she really just say that? This drink is stronger than I thought!

Nicole blushed, her pale skin darkening to a normal shade. "Flatterer," she said. "You know, maybe I should rethink what Major--" she stopped as she turned to address Camille and found her close. Their lips brushed and she froze as a shock went through her. Then the shock wore off and she kissed her again.

Camille returned the kiss with as much fiery passion as she could muster. She wrapped her arms around Nicole’s waist and held her close. Knowing in her head that this would likely not go anywhere long term, she jumped head first into whatever happened tonight...

 

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