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“What’s on today’s agenda?” newly promoted Lieutenant (junior grade) Gary Mitchell asked his friend.
“The same as every other junior officer visiting the Starbase on this planet for leave or official business. Find a way to accidently run into Captain Pike and so impress him with our stunning eloquence and sheer brilliance he immediately assigns us to his bridge or actually any posting on Enterprise, even in the galley.” James T. Kirk responded. He then added with a grin and his fingers air quoting the last word in his sentence, “And find some companionship.”
Gary snorted, “Unlikely.”
“The first or the second?” Jim asked with a raised eyebrow.
“The first. You already have three hailing frequencies in your pocket and it’s not even lunchtime.”
Jim rubbed his chin, “They did appear interested, almost eager. But … I don’t know …. we shall see.”
Gary pointed to the open market. “This way, I want to buy a birthday present for my sister. Me, I’d also like to meet Enterprise’s XO. She’s a beauty. If Wonder Woman were to incarnate in our physical plane, she would be Commander Una Chin-Riley.”
Rolling his eyes Jim said, “You and your comic vids.”
“Don’t mock. For centuries comics have been and still are complex stories and images cleverly depicting the pathos of our existence as well as the nobility of spirit and the triumph of good over evil. And they’ve become popular with other species,” Gary pointed out, as he always did when they discussed his devotion to this artform.
“Average, everyday beings who just happen to also possess a supernatural talent?” Jim asked skeptically.
“Of course. Most people do if they look deeply enough,” Gary countered.
“Well argued. I concede. What are you looking for? Jewelry? Books?”
“I’ll know when I see it.”
Several stalls down from that dynamic duo, Aalin held up a black dress. “Una, you would look stunning in this. And it’s a vintage Chanel. Those are rare.”
Una considered. “I’m not sure it’s for me. You should definitely get it though. Wear it and surprise Chris with an intimate candlelit dinner.”
“I’m not tall enough. It’s made for someone with legs that go up to the sky.” Aalin chuckled, “Besides, the only time Chris might notice what I have on is if I am sitting on a horse.”
“We did warn you,” Una replied with a grin and a knowing look.
“That you did,” Aalin agreed with her friend. Her eyes were constantly watching Una, scanning for discomfort or distress.
The Commander glanced around the busy area, “I know I suggested shopping, but it’s rapidly losing appeal.”
“Not a problem. How about a quiet café? We can sip wine and people watch,” Aalin suggested.
“Phil and Chris asked you to babysit me, didn’t they?” Una turned to face her companion and asked with narrowed eyes and hands rigidly planted on her hips. She grumbled under her breath, “As if ordering me to relax will make it so.” In a louder voice she added, “They cluck about like two mother hens.”
Aalin grimaced at the picture of two chickens strutting about a barnyard clucking and flapping their tiny wings superimposed with the faces of Enterprise’s storied Captain and its CMO. “Oh, thanks, that’s an image I’m never going to get out of my head,” she remarked before continuing softly, “We almost lost you. They, I, all of us want to fuss over you a little. And besides, how often do we get a girl’s day off? For months our conversations have revolved around the ship, its crew, and our mission.”
In addition to staggering intellect and physical strength, Una is gifted with preternatural hearing. Unintentionally eavesdropping on a conversation between two strangers, she cocked her head in their direction and held up a hand to silence Aalin’s next question.
“… you usually go for the petite, delicate-looking types,” Gary was explaining to Jim, “and I am all for rescue sex, but I … well … my fantasy is Enterprise’s XO subdues our captors, frees me and, back-to-back, protecting each other, we fight our way out, maybe with swords, vanquishing our enemies. Then there’s lots of illegal in eight systems hot sex on a tropical beach.”
“That’s disturbingly vivid,” Jim teased.
“Obviously, he has never made out on a beach, otherwise he would know it ends with sand in places sand was never meant to be,” Una muttered to herself.
“What?” Aalin queried, distracted. “Did you say you want to go to the beach?”
Una shook her head and headed to the exit on her right. “Let’s go find that café.”
“Okay, I’ll be right behind you after I put this dress back.”
While Gary purchased the bracelet made of Vulcan crystals he picked out for his sister, Jim scanned the crowd and zeroed in on a woman in civies wearing a sleeveless dress hugging all the right places. Ah. Yes. Her, he thought and punched his friend’s arm. “Come on.”
Jim held out his hand to Aalin. “I’m Lieutenant Kirk, but you can call me Jim. This is my friend Lieutenant Mitchell. We’re from the U.S.S. Farragut.”
“With Captain Garrovick?” she said with a smile.
“Yes ma’am,” Gary answered.
Aalin extended her hand to Jim’s outstretched one. “I’m …”
“Your name is unimportant. To me you are Aurora, goddess of the dawn, sister of the sun and moon. Complete with all the possibilities a new day brings,” Jim cooed.
Gary rolled his eyes thinking, Seriously, how does he come up with this stuff? But then it often works so who am I to judge? After all, he wasn’t on his own last night.
Jim lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it lightly. “Will you be here long?”
“A couple of days.” Aalin responded, quickly slipping her hand out of his.
“Lucky me,” Jim said. “Spend the day with me. I’ll be your tour guide.”
“Thanks for the offer, but I am here with a friend. Enjoy your shore leave.” She turned to go.
“At least give me a chance to convince you to … explore all the sights with me. I’ll give you a very personal tour …” Jim started.
By this point, Una had returned looking for Aalin. “Did you decide to buy the dress after all?”
Gary cleared his throat in order to get Jim’s attention. Jim ignored it. Trying to warn of the superior officer’s presence Gary said, louder than necessary, “Commander, sir.”
Sizing up the situation, Una, who was amused, thought to herself. “Shall I save him or give him enough rope to hang himself? Deciding on benevolence she interjected, “My friend has a strict rule about hooking up with Starfleet officers. She doesn’t.”
Confident he could change that, Jim threw caution to the wind and said seductively, “I know all the right spots, all the best places.” Stepping closer to Aalin, he flashed the charming smile which often melted even the most adamant resistance and added softly, “And I promise you’ll enjoy it.”
Aalin’s cheeks reddened slightly, and she stepped back. “I’m sorry, there has been a misunderstanding …”
Both lieutenants snapped to attention before she had a chance to finish. “Sir,” they said in unison.
“Captain,” Una greeted her commanding officer, almost curbing her grin.
Pike nodded to Gary. “Number One,” he acknowledged his first officer. As he crooked his arm and Aalin looped hers through it, Chris turned his attention to the other junior officer and said pleasantly, “Lieutenant.”
After Pike and Aalin left, Kirk turned to Una, “You said she didn’t date Starfleet officers.”
Amused again, this time by seeing the once overconfident officer squirm Una replied, “She made one exception.” Now that was relaxing, she thought before turning and nailing Gary with a piercing gaze, “I believe we were headed to the beach after a harrowing escape.”
Gary couldn’t decide whether to be mortified or consider himself extraordinarily lucky. Grinning, he waved to Jim as he trailed behind Una’s long strides.