Boys will be boys

Posted on 22 Oct 2013 @ 1:18pm by Commander Luke Wyatt & Lieutenant Aria Rice
Edited on on 22 Oct 2013 @ 7:47pm

2,331 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: Episode 04 - Exodus
Location: USS Galileo: Shuttlebay
Timeline: MD05 - 2250

[ON]

Luke had spent his time getting to know the ship. Its strengths, it weakness' but mostly to find places that were quiet, a place where he could sit and ponder about the events of late. Right now he was laying on top of one of the shuttles, the lights mostly off and with his green top under his head for support he found it rather relaxing. He had been thinking a lot about his daughter Abbey and wondering how she was faring, how he would go back to her after all this was over Luke was at war with his own emotions all he knew was the core and starfleet. '"She always said that you couldn't ever settle down that the Marines was your one and only life' He remembered the words as if they were etched into his brain, Abbey had meant what she said and Luke agreed.

But he couldn't help the fact he had the urge to commit to the Galileo, he liked the crew and despite everything they seemed in good form though slightly bated and bruised but then again the thought of moving on from all this death and destruction and finding the right woman that not only he liked that Abbey could like too was certainly appealing.

In the short few days he had been aboard he had just met about everyone there was to meet he even was getting used to answering to the security personnel thought he would never admit it to anyone. The only thing he didn't think about was the Borg, he needed something drastic to think about but what more was more drastic than being towed to an unknown planet by a Borg Cube anyone else would call him insane before now.

Aria had gone to the shuttlebay to get some peace and quiet. Sometimes, that was all you could do. She looked around, taking in the quiet. And it was quiet. She looked at the shuttles by chance and tilted her head, frowning. "Wyatt?" she asked, unsure if it was him for a moment. More because she had only met him briefly.

Luke lifted his body up onto his elbow before looking around, he recognised the voice but he could not remember where from. "Yes, and you?" He asked down to the shadow beneath him. "Oh... Lieutenant Rice, right?" he could now see the security assistant.

"Yep," Aria nodded as she looked at him. She did feel for him, a lot. "Don't be so formal, Gunny...most just call me Rice."

"Rice huh? Like the food" He sat himself up fully and pivoted on the shuttle so her sat with his legs over the side "How about I be different? What's your first name?" He flashed a cheesy grin.

"Aria," she said and smiled suddenly, chuckling softly, albeit tiredly. "But Rice works with officers around, Gunny."

Luke looked around to confirm they were the only two in the room. Holding out his arms and swinging them slowly around the room gesturing for her to take a look "Well Aria, as you can see there doesn't seem to be anyone but you and me around."

"I am an officer," she said before laughing, leaning against the shuttle. "Don't worry too much when it is just us, Gunny. I am used to Marines...usually, they're rough and flirty, but the biggest bunch of teddy bears I have ever encountered..."

Laughing allowed he could only but imagine how a flirty rough teddy bear would look like, "I am not sure if I should take that as an insult or a compliment." Luke patted the shuttle "We did not get to talk much the last time we met would you mind taking a seat upon my chariot?" He joked.

Aria considered it for a moment before getting up, sitting beside him. She looked around, just taking in the view. "At least this place got some clean up done, right?"

Luke nodded "Yes, your crew deserves merit despite recent events they remain motivated and hopeful. I have seen lesser things drive men crazy" He said speaking of experience, "And you fair Aria? How are you dealing with things?" He lay back down onto his shirt, his legs still dangling over the edge of the shuttle.

"I'm not sleeping, I am drinking coffee like it is going out of fashion and generally trying not to have a nervous breakdown," she said flatly before laughing, winking as she looked at him. "Hey, I'm fine. Look at a girl like me...land on my feet."

Lukes belly rumbled as laughter escaped his lungs "A girl like you huh? And what would a girl like you be doing at this timely hour wondering around in the dark? I would usually say looking for trouble but since we are in enough I cant imagine what it would be" Luke propped himself up once more onto his elbows the position was slightly uncomfortable but wanted to get a better look at Aria.

"I like walking. And my quarters were trashed so I am trying to avoid tidying it. I'll add it to my 'if we survive this shit' list," Aria said and looked at him, searching his face for a moment. "Jesus, I am glad you are lying down, you're so tall it hurts my neck looking at you when we're standing."

"Do not blame me for your vertically challenge-ment" He joked. Luke hadn't before taken much note to what she was wearing but compared to his black issued trouser, grey top and ruffled hair she was well dressed. From the feet up she was wearing high heeled boots, tight bottoms and top. Her face was unnecessarily supported by the aid of make-up though he had guessed it was more to do with the outfit than to make her any more pretty. Around her waist she had what he could only guess was a funny looking belt which in an odd but interesting way suited her and finally she wore finger loose gloves for which he couldn't figure out the purpose. Her jet black hair was loose and partially covered up a tattoo. "What is that?" He asked pointing to her back careful not extend his arm to much in fear of grazing her shoulder.

She frowned, turning her head before touching her back. "Oh...a tattoo..." she said and pushed her hair out of the way. With the cut of the top, the top part of the tattoo was on show. "Japanese cherry blossoms. It's...well, for me, it symbolises mortality. It's a reminder."

Luke studied the tattoo and smiled "Its nice" He turned lifting his top above his shoulder showing her his "A gaudium patris A Fathers Joy and above that the name of my daughter Abbey" He allowed her a moment to look before pulling his shirt back down. "You had a very unique character, I Like it" He admitted trying not to put meaning behind it. "Do you have anyone? Back home or you know?" He questioned.

"Depends what you mean with having someone," Aria said and smiled gently. A man with a child. A Marine with a child, in an impossible situation somewhere abroad. She frowned, looking away. "My mother, on Luna. Just that, really."

"Then you have someone to fight for?" He could tell the turn in conversation he wondered if the mention of his daughter was a cause of such a turn "Aria... I didn't mean to turn our conversation sour" He sat up briskly brushing shoulders with Aria.

She looked at him, taking a breath. "My Dad was a Marine. And he got himself killed. I suppose...I sort of had a brief flash of what her life would be if she lost you. And hey, I fight for myself, you know...it works too."

"I am deeply saddened for your loss but atleast he left something behind in the form of yourself, though now is not my time and not even the Borg will come between me and my little girl" abbey was far from little but Luke had never seen her anything but. "I don't imagine you'd be able to batter a fish" he gave a lighthearted nudge trying to lighten the mood away from death and despair.

She chuckled as she watched him, arching an eyebrow. "Actually, my fish and chips are legendary where I am from," she said teasingly, shaking her head. "You'll be fine, Gunny."

"Is that so huh?" Luke sat up and carefully slipped down the shuttle and onto the floor "come on then, I'll try not to hurt you, at least not intentionally" he teased smiling with his hand out beckoning her forward.

She sighed as she moved, jumping down knowing he'd catch her...or hoping anyway.

The thought of letting her drop had clouded his mind for a small fraction of a second but instead he caught aria hugging his muscular arms around her waist in a bear hug easily lifting her small petite body. Though with the height difference her head was not much above his own.

She laughed as she grabbed him, holding his eyes. "Steady, Marine!" she shook her head, the smile genuine.

"I'm nothing but" he replied Smiling back exchanging what only he could describe as intimate eye contact. lowering her safely to the floor he had planned on duelling her but now being so close his body did not respond to commands as if someone else was in control. "Urm..." Was all his muffled brain could come up with. With everything happening around them, fighting the Borg, being held hostage and almost killed not only once but twice Luke couldn't but wonder how this girl who he had only really just met compelled him to do nothing but gaze into her eyes.

Aria looked at him before swallowing. She finally slapped his arm. "At least you didn't drop me," she said and broke the eye contact, her heart racing. "Plus side, right? And hopefully, we get to fight side by side at some point."

Somewhat dispappointed he began to control the racing in his chest, he wondered if the burning in his cheeks was visible. The thought only made it worst. "And it will be a fierce fight that even the Borg themselves will tremble at the sight off" he hesitated but gave in and pat Aria on the shoulder firmly. The way he would any fellow Marine or Comrade in arms "but until such a time I set my eyes and thoughts to better days whilst I lay upon a half battered Shuttle and alone"

"Dude...that is way too deep for me..." Aria grinned and slapped his arm, taking a breath. "Righty ho, I am heading back to whatever resembles the Security office."

"Will you stop slapping me!" He countered. He had felt welcomed on the ship but no one had really made him comfortable like she did, maybe it was how she didn't really care for the man he was, this brutish Marine who is just another pawn on the field and a mouth to fill. "Hey, Urm... Aria." He smiled awkwardly scratching the back of his neck. "Could we urm, you know sometime just chill or something, its cool if ya don't it just hard trying to speak to people around her without either scaring them or pissing them off" he only added the last bit so he didn't just seem needy or stupidly wanting.

She met his eyes before smiling at that. "Hey, I am all about the hanging out. It's what I am good at. We should hit a bar when all of this is done, you know. I feel like draining a bar..." she winked, her eyes warm. "Be warned, I drink like a man your size. Or...I think I do and then I act all stupid...and wake up feeling like a wet dog moved into my mouth and had puppies..."

Luke enjoyed the way she could make him feel warm just by that stare she done, he wondered if she had perfected it or if it was natural. "A wet dog moved into your mouth and had puppies huh? I would pay to see that, and the same to see you drink me under the table! The thought alone it preposterous!" He retuned the wink but added his smile that screamed out 'trouble-maker'. Luke hadn't really looked into someone's eyes so much in a while, the thoughts stirring in his mind were driving him somewhat silly. He wondered if staying aboard the USS Galileo would be that bad if... Luke mentally shook the thought but the smile tugging at his lips and the pinky patches on his cheeks gave an idea to what he was thinking.

"Hey, you haven't been drinking with me yet, so we will see..." she chuckled and gave him an easy salute. "See you later, Gunny! Don't break heads while you're here, and no matter what, don't piss the Orion off..."

Luke payed back the salute but not particularly sure why, "I look forward to it Aria and by the way I have a thing with going against so the flow so You wont hear Rice come out of these lips" He pretended to zip and lock his mouth. He didn't reply to her warning as far as he was aware he hadn't seen an Orion.

"I'll have to kick your ass then..." she said and laughed before walking off, smiling to herself.

"I Hardly doubt that!" He shouted as she walked off, turning around with a smile plastered on his face he hoist himself back up to his perch and lay back down. He quickly found himself falling into a slumber with the thought of Something new and oddly refreshing on his mind. Aria.

OFF:

Gunnery Sergeant Luke Wyatt
Marine Liason
USS Galileo

&

Lt. Aria Rice
Assistant Chief of Security
USS Galileo

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