Smoked Meat

Posted on Sat Feb 23, 2019 @ 9:05pm by Lieutenant JG Camille Lévesque PhD

1,129 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Plaga Navis
Location: Science Lab / Seven Forward

“Augh!” yelled Camille as she slammed her fists on her console, prompting a look from a nearby Petty Officer. “Quoi?” she said, a bit angrily, prompting the junior scientist to turn around and focus on his own work. She sighed. “Sorry, didn’t mean to snap. Why don’t you go take a break. Let me vent my frustrations into my work.” The noncom nodded and left the science lab, just as a new face in a yellow uniform approached the door.

"Sounds like you need some help. May I offer my services?" Zack looked over the console.

“Merci,” Camille said. She gestured irritably at the console. “I’m having trouble with the sensor grid. We’re close to an interesting looking nebula, and I’d like to get some scans. We’re a warship; I’m grateful for whatever little bit of work I can get. But I’m not getting a good image.” She looked at the new officer. “I’ve seen you on the bridge. We worked together during that last battle. I’m Camille, Chief Science Officer.” She extended her hand to him.

Zack took the offered hand. "Zack Logan, Operations chief. Having issues with the sensor grid, eh?" Zack sat down next to her and started doing diagnostics. "I think I see the issue. I think the console doesn't like to be hit." He smiled at her. "Sometimes they like a tender touch." Zack checked the diagnostics, and lo and behold, the sensor grid came on. "And there we go. Hmmm....still seems like the imaging program is off line."

Camille giggled. "I didn't think my touch was the problem, Zack," she said. "I was having the problem before I began hitting the console. Can you help me get the imaging program back online? We won't be in range of this nebula for long."

"Okay, let's see. The program is there, we just need to wake it up." Zack gave her a wink. "If we reroute power through the secondary systems, boost the high resolution systems, shunt the imaging program through the sensor systems, and say a little prayer," he watched the console, "the program should be back online....now." And as predicted, the imaging program was back online. "There you go."

Camille’s eyes lit up as her monitor showed the swirling gases from the nearby nebula. She smiled widely and shook his arm with both her hands. “Merci, Zack!” she exclaimed. She tapped the console and programmed the system to record as much information as the sensors could gather. “You’ve made my day. It will be a good eight hours while the sensors gather my data, so I may as well take a break. Join me for lunch?”

"I'd be happy to join you for lunch." He thought to himself, ~This might be a very interesting voyage now~. Zack stood up and waited for her to go to the turbolift...

Camille followed Zack out of the lab and toward the turbolift, which was just around the corner. "Deck Seven," she ordered. As the turbolift moved, she took off her glasses and wiped down the lenses with her sleeve, making a face as she did so. She looked back at Zack as she put her glasses back on. "Sorry about that. I lose myself sometimes when I have to focus on something."

Zack smiled at her. "When you're doing something important, it's okay to lose yourself, but remember to look up once in awhile to see what's happening around you." He looked at her. "If I may..." He reached over and took off her glasses, waited a moment, then put them back. "I was right....you're beautiful with or without the glasses."

Camille allowed him to touch her glasses, though flinched a bit when he did so., She giggled at his compliment. “Merci, Zack. That’s very sweet.” She smiled at him. The turbolift opened and Camille stepped out first, looking back to make sure he was following. She was hungry and wasn’t in the mood to eat alone. Seven Forward was just around the corner.

Zack walked along side her, eager to have lunch. And to continue their conversation.

The door to the lounge slid open and the two walked inside. There were enough open tables that Camille didn't see the need to save one, so she went straight to the replicator. She thought for a moment about what to get, then faced Zack and grinned. "I hope you're not a vegetarian, Zack. Because I'm in the mood for a hometown favourite." She turned back to the replicator. "Montreal smoked meat with mustard on rye. And an ice water."

"That actually sounds very appealing." When the orders arrived, Zack picked them up and carried them to the table.

“Merci,” Camille said to Zack. She appreciated small gestures. She took a bite of the overflowing sandwich and closed her eyes at the rush of flavour. The meat practically melted in her mouth. “This is a personal favourite. Do you like it?”

Zack looked over the sandwich that he held in his hand. "It's an...interesting flavor. Tells me something about you that you order it."

“Oh?” asked Camille. “What does it say about me?” She took a sip of her water before taking another bite.

"The meat is tasty, and spicy...which I suspect you are as well." Zack looked at her as his sipped his water.

Camille almost choked on her food when she heard what he said. She took a moment to finish her bite and take a sip of water before replying. “I’ve not heard that one before, Zack. You are forward, aren’t you?”

"Well, if being honest is being forward, then I guess I am forward." Zack smiled at her.

Camille smiled. He was handsome, and a year earlier she would’ve been more flattered, but this wasn’t the right time. “Before you say anything else,” she started to explain, “I’m working through some feelings at the moment. I’ve been seeing someone. Someone I like a lot, and while I don’t know where that’s going, I need to work through it fully before I do anything with anyone else. I hope you understand.”

"I completely understand...wrong place at the wrong time...story of my life. So....if things don't go well with this person, you know where to find me." Zack returned to his sandwich.

“Indeed I do,” said Camille. She returned to her own food. She was pretty sure she made a friend today. One who was a bit forward, or ‘honest’ as he said, but it was nice to feel a bit special. Even if she needed to work out where she stood with the doctor first.

 

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