Safehouse

Posted on 10 Nov 2013 @ 4:01pm by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Petty Officer 1st Class Siren Hex Saalm
Edited on on 11 Nov 2013 @ 2:16am

2,139 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Episode 04 - Exodus
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 5, Siren Hex's Quarters
Timeline: MD 06 - 1820

[ON]

Walking down the corridor on Deck 5 with her hands clasped behind her back holding a wrapped package, Lirha stopped in front of Siren's quarters and pressed the chime. The away team she had sent the intelligence officer on earlier in the day had successfully returned to the ship several hours ago, but Lirha nevertheless wanted to check in on her girlfriend to make sure she was alright. Being inside the confines of a Borg cube had no doubt been a bit stressful, and part of her pained for having to send Siren over there instead of another crew member. But...she knew Siren well, and also knew she could handle herself under pressure which had made her an ideal choice for the away team. Patiently, she waited for her to answer the door.

Siren opened the door herself, leaning on the frame. She smiled when she saw who it was, tilting her head, her wet, dark red hair swaying to the side with it from where she'd soaked in the bath. "To what do I owe this honour?" she teased, leaning to kiss Lirha in greeting before tugging her gently inside. She pulled on a sweater over her t-shirt and trousers, already moving for the replicator in the small quarters. "What can I get you?" she watched with a smile, hoping her relief wasn't obvious at how much better Lirha was looking. She didn't want her to feel like she was fussing over her; some people would find it annoying.

Lirha's heart fluttered with her own relief when she saw Siren alive, well, and apparently relaxing after what appeared to have been a bath or shower. She smelled lovely, a mix of her usual delightful scent as well as soaps and shampoos. She happily returned the kiss and let Siren pull her inside the quarters for some privacy. "Actually...I brought us something to drink," she showed the red-head the wrapped bottle of aged single-malt Orion whiskey she had brought with her. "I was worried about you while you were on the cube. So I brought you a present," she smiled, offering the bottle and batting her dark lashes with a smile on her gold lips.

Siren laughed, unable to resist as she moved close to her so she could look at it. "I've never had it," she said with awe. "Could this be? You've found alcohol I've never had before! You truly are remarkable," she pressed a tender kiss to her jaw.

Wrapping her hands around Siren's waist, the Orion pulled her close and planted a deep kiss on her lips while stroking the small of her back. "It is from my private collection," she replied with a wink. "I will not tell you how much latinum it cost me but it was not cheap...and I feel like celebrating," she beamed. "In honor of your return from the cube."

"And your return to us," Siren said pointedly, holding her eyes as she tucked some of Lirha's hair back behind a green ear. "How are you feeling? You went back to work far too soon."

"I know, but I had to...and I feel better now." Lirha averted Siren's eyes for a moment, an admission of her own stubbornness. "I could not just lay in bed while the rescue was being attempted." She walked further into Siren's room and pulled her along by the hand to her small mattress where she sat down and tiredly leaned back against the wall. "Tell me, how was your mission? Did those in your team do a good job?"

Siren just gave a slight smile at the words, shaking her head as she moved to sit close to her, resting her hand on her thigh. "I - I'm not sure I'm the best person to ask," she finally replied. "I'm your girlfriend. It might seem...unfair to talk about people I work with to you."

"Oh, I do not mind. Sometimes it is good to hear different opinions of others." Lirha admitted it might be a bit strange to hear Siren's feeling about her team members, but since it was off the record, it was an intriguing prospect. "I promise. And I will not tell anyone," she added with a wink.

"Hm, well..." Siren thought about it, resting her head back against her arm tucked behind it. She put her head in 'work mode', the Intelligence crewman analysing what happened from a practical point of view. "Lieutenant Pendleton was very - confident and sure in his position. He took the mission very seriously. I - didn't agree with his outlook on command; he split us up so that he was by himself and the rest of us in a team of our own. It meant we were left without an officer in our group, and he was on his own on a borg cube. When I brought it up, the marine offered to stay with him, but he refused and insisted he could look after himself," she shrugged, looking across to her. "He was lucky we didn't have a security officer with us; they'd have thrown a fit at the team leader being left unprotected on an away team. Still, he was dedicated to the task at hand."

Lirha wasn't too pleased to hear of one of her senior officers running off by himself on the Borg cube, especially after apparently turning down an offer for assistance. It almost reeked of arrogance and a lack of team work, but at the same time, their team had accomplished their goals and no one had been lost. Nevertheless, she was still not entirely happy with such bravado.

Siren thought back to the rest of the team. "Then there was the marine, Wyatt. He was capable, and very eager to get things done. Like most marines, he was good at getting a job done, even if impatient at times," she chuckled at that, arching an eyebrow. "But I've never known a marine who isn't."

Although not a Marine herself, the Orion captain was a bit impatient herself at times, so she sympathized with the mindset. It was good to hear Wyatt had performed well on his first official assignment for Galileo. And to be honest, Lirha had expected as much from an experienced soldier.

"And Chalan," Siren pursed her lips in thought for a moment. "He was led by emotion. Depends on who you talk to as to whether that's a good or bad thing," she laughed softly, no ill will on her features. "He seemed to think that once we were without our officer and team leader that our conscience should dictate our actions," she arched an eyebrow and looked across to Lirha, folding her hands over her tummy. "Rather than working out who was next in line for command. Still, he was passionate and had the balls to stand up for what he believed was right. He worked hard and fast at something that wasn't his expertise and did it well."

"Perhaps that is the Bajoran in him," Lirha smirked, also pleased to hear that Bo had done a solid job on the away team. Overall, she was impressed with what Siren had told her, and she now felt a little more at ease about her decision to send her off into the depths of the Borg cube. It was comforting to know that, aside from Pendleton, Siren had been looked after by two other members of the team.

Putting her hand over Siren's and giving it a light squeeze, Lirha opened up the small bottle she had brought, uncapped the top, and took a lengthy sip before passing it to the intelligence crewman. "What was it like being aboard the cube with all those drones?" she asked, wondering if it had been as creepy an experience as it sounded.

"Like being in a haunted place," Siren shook her head with a frown, a slight shiver running up her spine. "You never could tell who was watching you. You kept expecting everything to fall apart," she admitted, taking the bottle. She took in the scent before sipping it. She smiled at the burn of the strength of it, but also smiled at the flavour, surprise on her face. "It has a strong taste of its own," she said softly with awe. "Not just alcohol. Orions certainly know how to make their drink..."

"It was aged in a wooden casket similar to Earth oak, with a mild hint of honey. It is called a muni, or liquor blend." Lirha explained, agreeing that it was a very tasty drink as well. Her thoughts turned back to the Borg cube and the eeriness Siren had just explained. "You know, you are one of only a few dozen Federation crew members to have step foot inside the cube. Un-assimilated, I mean. I am guessing you will have much to write about in your next intelligence report."

"Oh yes," Siren assured, nodding as she watched her with wide eyes. "As will my boss. It's a huge chance for any Intelligence agent. I've been guarding the tricorder I took there with my life!" she admitted with a soft laugh. "I don't know. I suppose they're so unsettling because they look so similar, and yet not quite right."

The Borg were indeed very unsettling, Lirha silently agreed. "Hard to believe there are actually people beneath all of those implants and mechanical enhancements. Well...what is left of those people, I suppose," she added solemnly before taking the bottle from Siren's hand, drinking a long sip, then giving it back to her. She pushed her dark hair back and rested her head on the woman's shoulder but not before giving her neck a soft kiss. "How has Nesh been? I fear I have caused much stress for her," she lamented while changing the subject.

Siren smiled gently at that, stroking her hair absently. "She's a strong kid. Upset, but that's understandable really, you're her big sister. She did good. You'd be proud."

"She is growing up fast. I am proud of her," the captain replied, relieved to hear Nesh had fared for the better during the ship's occupation by the Borg. Snaking an arm around Siren's waist, she hugged herself close to her. "I think our mother would be proud too. Nesh has been living on Earth almost all of her life...I want her to experience other worlds and cultures," she paused to wink at Siren, "not that I do not like Humans."

"Hm, just as well," Siren teased back, stroking up her arm. She shook her head, considering it for a long moment. "Mind you, 'humans' are diverse in themselves. I mean, I'm human, but my culture is very different to those brought up on Earth. And another human raised on a different colony will be completely diverse to the humans on mine and Earth, hm," she bit the inside of her bottom lip with thought. "I guess places matter just as much as race."

Lirha couldn't resist smiling at Siren's comment, for it was the truth. "Your species is very adaptive, it is one of your greatest strengths. You have learned to blend in with and accept other worlds and cultures with relative ease. And your diplomacy skills are impressive." She leaned her weight against Siren and flopped her onto the mattress on her back, then laid on top of her and closed her eyes. "And you make lovely romantic partners."

Siren sighed with a warm smile, stretching under her to feel her weight properly as she stroked down over the delicate curve of her back, her fingers feeling the green skin. "It's nice to see what your priorities are," she teased, but all too fondly.

Although she wasn't feeling completely well again, Lirha's romantic appetite had barely wavered and she now felt a flood of intimate emotions course through her. Without hesitating, she sat up on top of Siren and proceeded to pull off her uniform top and then her undershirt. She took the bottle of liquor from Siren's hand and placed it on the edge of the bed behind them, then unclipped her bra and slipped it off her shoulders, allowing her green breasts to be exposed to the cool air of the room.

"You are my priority and always will be," she teased back to her, settling her hips on top of the red-head's while clasping her wrists and bringing her hands up to caress the mounds on her chest.

Siren's head tipped back with warmth as she closed her eyes, laughing breathlessly as she melted to the attention. "I like that deal..."


[OFF]

--

CAPT Lirha Saalm
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo

CN Siren Hex
Intelligence
USS Galileo
[PNPC - Scarlet Blake]

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