Lunch After the Battle

Posted on Mon Nov 18, 2019 @ 2:47am by Lieutenant JG Camille Lévesque PhD

2,379 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: Nibiru
Location: Mess Hall

ON:

Present time

T'Mira had just settled her things into her quarters and had decided to have lunch before she saw Nicole for a medical. She almost shuddered at the thought.

This would be yet another encounter with the doctor and T'Mira...despite the two months break, was feeling a little anxious about it. Nicole wanted to fix everything and T'Mira didn't know if she could be fixed.

Shaking out of her thoughts she headed to the mess hall. It didn't take long. The trip was short and full of sights. This new ship was...well amazing. T'Mira was in awe of it all. She couldn't wait to see her office and the bridge.

As she arrived the doors parted and she was greeted by an almost empty mess hall. It was still being worked on so there were tarps. Her eyes took it all in and settled on Camille whom she hadn't seen in a few months. They'd worked together seamlessly on the bridge and had had lunch and then life got busy. Her thoughts turned to their lunch months ago.


Just over two months ago

Camille sat at a table in the mess hall, having grabbed a plate of assorted sushi rolls and a glass of synthehol wine from the replicator. She found a spot where she could keep her eye on the main door and waited patiently for her lunch partner to arrive. She was glad that her friend accepted her invitation. She wanted to discuss the recent battle in the nebula, but also bond with the Vulcan spy outside the confines of a holo program aiming to kill them.

T'Mira had been surprised to receive the invite. She accepted of course. There was something about Camille's calming presence that seemed to reach her. The battle had been a big one and she was glad that it was over. She had been surprised at how she'd found her groove on the bridge crew and was glad she was able to help.

Getting ready she'd chosen a simple outfit, gray pants and a grey tank top. She'd lifted her hair exposing her long deck and ears. She hoped to go to the gym after lunch. It didn't take long to find Camille. She got her tray and joined her at the table. She was happy with the choice of tables as it allowed her to sit with her back to a wall and an eye on the room, an occupational hazard.

"Good to see you, T'Mira," said Camille with a warm smile. This wasn't their first lunch; they'd eaten together after their last holodeck adventure, when T'Mira was left shaken by seeing the re-creation of Centori Prime. But it was the first time in a little while, and the first time not immediately preceded by excitement. She gestured to the Vulcan's plate. "Bon appétit."

T'Mira stared at her a moment. "Ah yes, French for good appetite, having a good meal." She gave a nod, "You as well." T'Mira studied her new friend. "That was good work on the bridge. You did well."

"Thank you," Camille said as she prepared to pick up another role with a pair of chopsticks. "I've not been in many combat situations, but after the last one I spoke with Commander Hunter and our former Strategic Operations Officer. Both gave me some good advice. Now even though I'm scared, I try to focus on the job and remember my training, and it seems to work. Still, I always welcome advice from someone who has seen more combat than me." She smiled. "I don't have your mental discipline, but any advice on how you handle the stress of battle...I'd like to hear it." She dipped a sushi roll in soy sauce and put it in her mouth.

T'Mira put down the glass she'd just sipped from. "It is a matter of logic and meditation. On Vulcan you are thought to meditate in the worst of situations. Logic tells you that you are in battle. You cannot stop the battle by wishing it away, you cannot time travel to stop it in that moment. That which surrounds you is out of your control but you are in control of yourself. Fear, it is a state of mind, if you acknowledge your fear and welcome it, it can serve as motivation to push your skills and knowledge out to the front in order to expedite your actions. If you can convince your fear that if it motivates your skills and focus then you will be fine it will naturally lay dormant during the battle." She wondered if all this made sense.

“I think I understand,” Camille replied. “How does one convince one’s fear of its value as a motivator? Normally all it does for me is scream that I’m going to fail. I’ve learned to ignore it when the moment calls for it, but to make use of it...” her words trailed away as she considered the possibility.

"Simply by appealing to the coward that is fear. Convincing yourself that action will equal an end to the stimulator that is drawing out the fear. I can give you a personal example if you wish."

Camille only nodded as she put another sushi roll in her mouth, eyes locked on her friend’s as she listened intently.

"Back when I was on assignment. There was a particular one where I admit that my fear was attempting to get the better of me. I knew that if I acted quickly the situation would be over. The fear was there but my mind and fear spurred the body into motion and the situation ended thus my fear calmed. It is something that you learn to achieve through meditation. If you wish we could begin meditation sessions and I could teach you."

“I’d like that,” Camille said. “I’m taking some leave with Nicole when we reach DQ8, but once we’re back, I’d love to take you up on your offer. Oh, you should know, I’ve saved our museum program to an isolinear chip and I’m making arrangements for it to be uploaded, as is, to the next ship’s computer. We’ll be able to continue.”


Present Time

T'Mira snapped out of her memory. It had been some time since she saw her friend. She walked over to Camille and sat down. "Hello. How was your time off?"

“T’Mira!” Camille exclaimed, reaching across the table and squeezing her friend’s hands. “I’ve missed you! My time off was wonderful, thank you. What have you been up to since I’ve been away?”

A rare smiled played on her face as she squeezed her friends hands. In truth she had missed her as well. This was the first person on the ship to reach out and she admired the woman. "I have been babysitting the diplomat." She thought a moment. "Did you say on the station or go somewhere." She didn't mean it to sound like an interrogation she was just used to asking questions.

Camille grinned at the idea of her friend the powerful Vulcan spy needing to babysit the ship’s diplomat. She hadn’t met Xander, but the idea amused her. “Nicole and I went to Earth with Cassandra and Penny. Cass got married, and the rest of us were bridesmaids. Then I introduced Nicole to my family, and I met hers on Rigel. It was a fantastic trip!” And for once, Camille had something that she couldn’t share, information about their mission on the relay station. It felt strangely good having a secret from the spy.

"It does sound fascinating. I mostly stayed here. The Ambassador had a few off station meetings that were quite active." That was putting it mildly. She hadn't understood why she was listed as his personal guard until that point. "But mostly we were here. I do not understand diplomacy. Through the entire ordeal," and it was that. "I was gaining a better appreciation for the Klingon form of diplomacy."

“Oh?” Camille said. “In what way does Klingon diplomacy differ from our way?” She knew the Klingons were generally warlike, but figured they’d have some dedicated diplomats.

"A Bet'leth, a fist, and Blood Wine, in other words they have none. All the talking was enough to upset my stomach I am uncertain as to how the diplomat handled it."

Camille laughed at her descriptions. “Talking can be good, though. Imagine how many lives are saved when we end or even prevent the wars instead of winning them.”

"I suppose that is correct, and logical, but logic seemed to fail me as I listened to the diplomat drone on about the same topic for hours. I believe the man must be an android. Although he did seem to intimidate the opposing diplomat." T'Mira shrugged. She had secretly enjoyed the time she spent with Xander and she hadn't figured out why. "May I ask a personal question?"

“Bien sûr,” Camille answered. “Of course. Any time.”

"You and the ... doctor have been an item for a while?"

Camille nodded. “A few months now. We now share quarters on the ship.”

"How did you know that you wished to pursue a relationship with her?"

Camille smiled. “How much time do you have?” she teased.

"I can clear my schedule for the rest of the day if you think it necessary." She pulled out a PADD to being doing just that.

“Relaxez, I’m joking,” Camille continued. “Keep this between us?”

She put down the PADD. T'Mira gave a not. "Of course."

“It was simultaneously fast and gradual,” Camille explained. “A few days after we met, we both went to a girls’ night of cards and drinking. I went back to her room for a nightcap, and we ended up being intimate. After that, we started spending time together, both on duty and outside of work. We kept having sex, but slowly started adding feelings to the mix. We became close. We began opening up to each other. Then one day we had the first of many serious conversations about relationships. And now, here we are.”

T'Mira listened and then gave a nod. "Fascinating. It started as casual and then began to be deeper." She tilted her head. "The feelings grew deeper but are they fading now? How do you know she feels the same?"

"They aren't fading," Camille reassured her friend. "If anything they continue to grow stronger. They change over time, but they aren't fading. As to how I know she feels the same way?" Camille shrugged. "I just do. That part is very difficult to explain. I mean, she tells me every day, but when I look into her eyes or kiss her or touch her...I just know. But may I ask you a personal question?"

"Of course." Fair was fair. T'Mira also didn't shy away from any personal questions.

"Why are you so interested in this?" Camille asked. "Or, why now?"

There was a long silence. She tilted her head to the side then then opened her mouth as of to say something then again silence. "I...was making an assessment."

Camille couldn’t help but grin. “An assessment of what?” It was unlikely that the assessment pertained to Camille, so the scientist deduced it might be an assessment of T’Mira’s — for lack of a better word — feelings.

T'Mira shifted slightly in what would appear to be an uncomfortable way. "The...last relationship I was in ended in a most illogical way. I had made the decision not to bother with things like that again," she didn't quite finalize that statement. "I wish to learn if there is a way to prevent that as I feel that I am in a very...uncomfortable predicament at the moment."

Camille’s grin softened into a warm, reassuring smile. “Do you want to talk about it? Either now, or privately later? Oh, and can you pass me a napkin, please?” She pointed to a small pile of tissues that were closer to T’Mira than to her.

T'Mira obliged and passed her the napkins. "Perhaps. I have not spoken about it..." Before she could finish Xander strolled passed. "Good morning Miss Camille. T'Mira." His gaze lingered a little longer on T'Mira. "I was going to come and see you. I wanted to thank you for your help during the negotiations. The intel you were able to supply helped me win and not to mention your quick reflexes kept the other ambassador from hitting me with a plate."

T'Mira's face turned a softer shade of green denoting a slight blush. "I was executing my duties. A thank you was not necessary."

Xander smiled. "Just the same. Thank you anyway. Ladies have a good lunch. If you will excuse me I have a dinner menu to plan."

T'Mira watched him go just a little longer then necessary.

Camille had been using the napkin to clean her glasses during the exchange, and when she put them back on her eyes followed Xander out too, but then she noticed T’Mira’s eyeline. Her smile became a grin once more, and exaggerated one at that. T’Mira’s eyes were assaulted by rows of white teeth and a glow behind Camille’s eyes. Amusement and joy.

“Okay, so for obvious reasons we won’t discuss it here right now, but you’re sharing every detail with me,” Camille said. “Because that’s something good friends do. They share details of their love lives and offer help when needed. Listen, tomorrow night Nicole has to work late in sickbay. Come to my quarters, casual dress. We’ll have some drinks and talk without prying ears. D’accords?”

T'Mira hesitated. "Alright." Just as she finished talking a call came in from one of the Intel ensigns. "Lieutenant T'Mira report to Intel brief one."

Sighing T'Mira tapped her com badge. "Acknowledged." She looked at Camille. "I should go. I will see you tomorrow then."

"Tomorrow," Camille replied with a nod. "2100 hours. Dress casual."

OFF:

 

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