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Nahla caught up with Kelrec just before he was about to enter his personal quarters which were situated adjacent to his office. She had never seen his personal space before but had a pretty good idea what it might look like, still, curiosity compelled her to step closer to him as the doors opened and he made to enter. He stopped, turned and sighed at her "Was there something else?" he enquired politely, all patience with a weak smile playing on his lips.
She almost stood on tiptoe to see past him but he stoically blocked her way, that was until another slightly out of breathe War College officer ran up to them, PADD in hand. "I need your signature on this urgently Chancellor" he said, giving a curt nod to Ake as he did so. Kelrec, momentarily distracted moved from his guard position and Nahla took full advantage, ducking into the room without a moments hesitation.
"Please Captain" Kelrec called after her, "wait in my room why not, this won't take long." He knew that wasn't true,
Damned if I'm about to sign anything off without reading it through thoroughly first. He thought to himself.
The doors closed, leaving him out in the corridor with his officer and Nahla in his personal quarters all by herself. He started reading the report as his officer stood to attention but all he could think was Please don't break anything.
Nahla stood on the spot, eyes trying to dart everywhere as once. THIS was not what she had expected. The room was all warm earth tones and natural wood. There was a large sofa, a desk, book shelves, a small dining table, and up on a mezzanine level at the back a large very comfy looking bed. She puffed out her cheeks and exhaled slowly as she took in all the little personal items scattered here and there throughout the room (not as many as she owned of course but enough to light a spark of excitement within her) OH MY GOD HE HAS STUFF! KELREC HAS STUFF! WHERE TO START, WHERE TO START.
There was a framed picture on the wall opposite her, but it wasn't very colourful, just a dark starry background with the words 'A Long time ago in a galaxy far, far away' written across it in blue letters. She had no idea what that was about so her attention moved to the book shelves.
There were so many books there and she recognised a few of them, Moby Dick, Shakespeare and a book called Why Do Horses Run that she had seen him reading the other day, but her gaze honed in on one called 'The Colour of Magic'. She pulled the book out and turned it over in her hands, and chuckled to herself to find out that it was about a strange flat Discworld carried on the back of 4 elephants, who were in turn stood on the back of a giant Turtle swimming through space. Nahla scrunched her nose up and looked back at the shelf, it seemed that Kelrec owned a whole series of these books. These were definitely NOT what she would have expected from him.
She then moved over to the desk and picked up what looked like a small music box, the top was engraved with a picture of a long space vessel that was unfamiliar to her but had the word 'Discovery' written on it. THAT looks nothing like the Discovery to me She thought cautiously opening the box which then emitted the words 'My God, it's full of stars' almost immediately in a gentle male voice. She closed it quickly.
"Hmm" said Nahla softly to herself placing it back down on the desk "You've got some weird stuff here Kelrec"
Her attention then turned to a mug that still smelt faintly of coffee, Secret coffee drinker eh she smiled to herself. The mug had a picture of what looked like a stone ring on it with 9 chevrons around its circumference. Just below it were the words 'What would Jack do?'
Nahla had no idea who Jack was or why anyone would care what he would do, but Kelrec had it on the mug so obviously he put some stock in this guys opinion.
She wondered what was in the desk drawers but knew that that would be crossing a line even for her overly curious nature. Perhaps another time.
Something shiny sat on the base of the desk lamp did catch her attention however, and she picked up the necklace and held it up in front of her as it dangled from her fingers.
Kelrec? Jewellery? She was aware that she didn't know him very well, but she just didn't peg him as the jewellery kind of guy, but there it was nevertheless, a long silver chain with a gold ring on it. She peered closer, there was writing on the ring but she didn't recognise it at all. She placed it back and wondered if it was significant or precious to him somehow. Had he been married in the past? was this an old wedding ring? She'd have to look it up in his file when she got back to her quarters later.
Discarded on the back of the desk chair was a ratty old T-Shirt with the War College emblem on the front, but on the back were the words 'You can't take the sky from me' She buried her face in it, it smelt faintly of him and as she enjoyed the softness of it against her skin she wondered if it was something he wore to bed. She gave it another sniff and then hung it back on the chair. Ah, the bed yes, must check that out.
Nahla walked up the few steps leading to the bedroom area and was secretly delighted to see that he hadn't bothered making the bed that morning, there was a pair of what looked like gym shorts discarded on top of the wrinkled sheets. Ah, Mr not so tidy after all She mused before sitting down on the edge of the bed and letting herself fall backwards, arms outstretched, it was soft and luxuriously comfy. She let out a contended sigh and rested there for a few moments before her attention was caught my something on one of the bedside cabinets that she just had to investigate.
It was a 12" model of a woman with dark curly hair inside a yellow powered mech unit, Nahla looked closer at the writing on the plaque on the stand and read softly to herself "Get away from her you bitch" She pursed her lips "Hmm, what was THAT about?" Whatever it was the woman's face looked very determined. Why did Kelrec have this stuff?
Nahla wandered back down the steps heading for that ratty T-shirt again when she was sidetracked by a small figure of a robot that was stood next to a rather beautiful potted palm plant. Picking it up she scrunched her nose at it, she had never seen a robot anything like this either in Starfleet or anywhere else for that matter. It had an antenna on it's head and bulging eyes, and for some reason was smoking a cigar. On the back were engraved the words 'Bite my shiny metal ass'
The doors to the room slid open and Commander Kelrec strode into the room just in time to see her put the figure back next to the plant and feign total innocence.
"Chancellor" she greeted him, delighting in the worried frown he was wearing.
He stood with his hands behind his back as she approached him smirking sweetly at him.
"Had a good look around?" he asked with a crooked smile and just a hint of worry.
She glanced around the room in a mocking fashion before stepping right up to him and looking up, if she had been taller their faces would be almost touching. She had to hand it to him, he didn't budge an inch.
"It's been very . . . enlightening" she toyed.
Kelrec bit his bottom lip and arched one eyebrow by way of response.
"You seem to like things with quotes on Kelrec" she laughed at him, placing both hands flat against the front of his uniform.
He looked awkward for the briefest of moments before rallying and smiling patiently at her
"Who doesn't love a good quote" he smiled pleasantly at her.
Nahla nodded in agreement enjoying the heat of him through his uniform.
"I have a favourite quote and by way of coincidence it's very relevant to me in particular"
"And that is?"
"Live long, and prosper"
"Of course it is" he chuckled "and have you?"
"Have I what?"
"Prospered"
"I'm working on it" she winked at him.
Nahla Ake in true Nahla Ake form then invited herself to stay for a drink. She was in the mood for some proper Irish Whiskey, which as it turns out by happy coincidence is exactly what Commander Kelrec keeps in his desk drawer.