...Aren't always what they seem

Posted on 25 Apr 2013 @ 12:38am by Marine Captain Ray Fernandez (Ret.) & Lieutenant Commander Evelyn Coleman
Edited on on 25 Apr 2013 @ 1:30pm

1,886 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Episode 03 - Frontier
Location: USS Galileo - Coleman's Quarters
Timeline: Md 04 1200 HRS

ON:

Ray was stretching his legs. It was one thing with his line of work, the injuries and strain that his body had once been able to handle effortlessly was beginning to take the toll. There were treatments and surgeries that could keep him running at his peak, but in honesty he had never felt the need. He was still as fit as he was twenty years ago, still as sharp and quick, and as strong.

But life had a funny way of showing it. Some days were better than others, Sometimes it was hard to move around, other times he was taking down people left and right like he was when he was originally a Captain. He was in his late fifties, but he refused to let himself fall into the trap that some many other retirees entered, he refused to become complacent and forget how tough being in the federation tended to be.

as he walked down the halls, his boots making a dull thud against the floor he pondered at the events that had transpired, more specifically the meeting of the Command staff and himself.

He had learned early on that it's the little things about a person that tell you the most about them. what had started as simple training to keep him and his teams alive, slowly wormed it's way into an instinctive reaction. He would catch himself learning about the person without the need of a file, getting a feel for their personality without so much as looking for it. It was why he stayed alive. His analysis of situations had allowed him to stop several situations that would have utterly destroyed the Fitzgerald many times over.

As he reflected on the supper evenings past, he thought about each individual. The Captain seemed to be coping with whatever happened on their previous mission, but seemed a confident individual. Sutherland was a typical Galaxy class Captain, proud and authoritative...in many ways, she reminded him of Frank Sturmgeist, the once-captain of the Galazy Fitzgerald and the Intrepid. The Commander seemed a decent sort, tough, understanding, but a Federation man to the corps, a man who wasn't far from Ray's likness, only where Ray himself was crass, with little sense of formality, Holliday was the opposite.

The one he seemed to focus on was the El-Aurian...Lieutenant Coleman, a woman that had been in the Federation for over 200 years...and was an intelligence officer to boot. He had worked with Intelligence before, with Sector 31, but it was only a brief stint into Cardassian space shortly after the end of the Dominion War. He had never liked the secrecy that was involved when it came to the Intelligence sector of the Federation...too many secrets...too many skeletons in the very large closet.

It wasn't then that he happened upon the door of said El-Aurian, her quarters... It was interesting...almost fate driven. He knew that she had been sizing him up, studying him during the dinner conversation, and he knew that he had played it off.

"Let's dance with the devil, shall we?" He chuckled to himself.

He pressed the chime.

Evelyn sat on her couch, her eyes gazing out the window anticipating her day trip. Her mind has been battling her heart the moment Holliday approved her request, regarding the state of her home. In her mind, there is nothing but a barren wasteland, but in her heart, she hoped there were few things that had survived which she could possibly salvage. Mementos from her old life. The sound of the door chime pulled her away from her thoughts. "Come in." She called out, her eyes shifting to the door.

As the door slid open, Ray walked in, cane leading the way. Putting sufficient weight on cane so it looked like he was walking in with a limp he grinned at the 2XO. "I was walking by the neighborhood and couldn't help but see whose quarters it was. Thought I might step in and see what's what." He smiled.

Evelyn smirked, lowering her feet off the couch. "Well fortunately for you, I wasn't busy. Please have a seat." She patted the cushion next to her.

He made his way over to the couch and nodded in thanks. "Probably would have bothered you anyway." He chuckled. "I have to say, the Fitzgerald was a good group, but it's hard to find so many friendly people that can get along so well in such small quarters...your crew really has something special about them. "

"Please don't let anyone hear you say that, this crew already has an ego to them." Evelyn mused, "I have to admit, I'm surprised there hasn't been a case of cabin fever yet."

"Comes with the territory. " He agreed. " Though it would seem that there are some people that would rather get all they can from this ship before they leave." He leaned back and smiled. "You know who I'm talking about I assume." Ray couldn't help, but smile at the thought of the reporter. Jool was very beautiful, in her own way. Straight to the point and pulling no punches, Ray liked that; however, there was a hidden notion behind her inviting him to supper that didn't just involve him ...it was a feeling nothing more, nothing during their tense conversation had given him any indication other than that she was flirting with a man almost twice her age. Something that didn't happen very often.

Evelyn eyed Ray smirking at the Marine Captain. "I know what you mean. These journalists are quite the flirt aren't they? One is a joined trill who's previous host I knew and he apparently had a crush on me, and the another is a cameraman who just knows how to sweet talk."

The veteran smiled. "I wouldn't think too much of it, they're only reporters, nothing serious I'd say." Ray reached over to touch the Intel officers hand. This is going to look really bad if this doesn't work. He thought to himself.
"I'm sure that it's nothing to worry about it." The ex-marine grinned offhandedly, making the hand gesture seem like a friendly conversation.

I'm really hoping that this is working, because if not I'm going to look like a total idiot. Ray thought at the first contact. don't trust those reporters, they are looking for information whatever happened on your last shore leave. They're beeing TOO nosey

What his mouth said was. "Though I do have to say, it's nice being hit on by such a young thing, made me feel thirty again."

He hoped it didn't look like he paused too long between thoughts, but he could never be sure, he wasn't a telepath and he certainly didn't begin to understand how it worked. He had worked several times with such individuals in the war and when working for Section...he had to deliver several messages in such away that seemed inconspicuous, but he was rusty.

Evelyn looked at him as she listened she could tell there were more to the words he spoke. "Right..." she smirked and squeezed his hand. "I enjoyed being hit on as well, but then reporters are reporters... I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to gather information on the ship's previous missions." She leaned back in her chair and smiled, "They won't be able to find a thing..."


Ray simply nodded, satisfied that his message got through in some manner. He withdrew his hand and sighed. "Well speaking of getting hit on, what's a young El-Aurian like you doing in a fine ship like this? I have to say, it's nice to be around people my age. " He chuckled at his own joke.

Evelyn smirked, "Well I requested this assignment. I used to do covert missions for Starfleet Intelligence. It had been a while since I served on a starship." She relaxed, leaning back on the couch looking at him. "And don't forget, you're the youngster in this room." She teased.

"Covert missions eh?" Cyrus leaned in, placing his elbows on the table. "Good to know, and don't worry, I won't mind being the young one again." He accepted the teasing with a devilish grin and scratched the scar around his eye unconsciously.

Eve leaned closer to Ray, smiling, "Tell me, what's going through that mind of yours right now."

"Covert missions...it got me thinking." Ray replied. "I used to work for Intelligence way back when, near the end of my career to tell you the truth. 'Covert missions' was a common term. " He grinned. "Didn't run long with Intel, wasn't my kind of thing. I'm a more punch-first-ask-questions-qhile-punching kind of guy." He chuckled.

"I know you did." Eve smirked, "I heard about your Tzenkethi mission, I am very impressed."

"I'd say I'm surprised, but something tells me you've done your homework." He chuckled and shook his head. " Tzenkethi wasn't the only one. They had me running around for the better part of that year in and out of Cardassian space. Even after the war, people were still worried that our new found allies were simply opportunists. " He gave a slight sigh before adding. "And some were, but you can't fault them for it, then I could, but now...they were just individuals that wanted to stick to the only thing they knew. Tradition...it's a shame really.
"What about you miss Coleman, was the name your former Captain called you? Anatasia? Sounds like you two have some more history then originally thought." He chuckled.

"Tatiana, and like I said I wanted to try something new. See when you have a lifespan averaging a nine centuries, you tend to get bored of the little things. "

"I suppose, but it's the little things that make life worth living." He smiled. "A rose is a rose is a rose, if you've seen one, you've seen them all..." He paused to take a breathe. "But it's that rose that I see everday, unchanging that brings a smile to my face." He looked at Eve and shrugged. "If it wasn't for the little things, I guess I would have gone crazy, but then again, I'm also not two hundred and something." He answered chuckling.

Evelyn chuckled, and smiled at him, "Yeah well I can tell you in my long years... there are roses out there that don't look anything like a traditional rose. Universe is always filled with surprises."

"So I've seen." He made a nod in Coleman's direction and slowly stood up.
"I'd love to continue our chat, but I do have to find the CWO, it seems that he has some ideas he would like to run past me. " He chuckled. "It was a pleasure lieutenant commander."

"Of course Captain." Evelyn stood up also to walk the good Marine CO to the door. "it was a true joy talking to you."

" Should do it again some time. " He commented offhandedly as he let the door slide open. As he left, he couldn't help but have a smile on his face.

"Always did have a thing for older women."



OFF:

Lt. Cmdr. Evelyn Coleman
Chief Intelligence Officer/2XO
USS Galileo


Marine Captain Ray Fernandez (ret.)
Former Marine Commanding Officer of the USS Fitzgerald
TRT Instructor
Starfleet Academy, Earth

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