Full Circle

Posted on 24 Mar 2015 @ 7:18pm by Commander Scarlet Blake

1,254 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 08 - NIMBUS
Location: USS Nautilus: Deck 1 - Outside Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: MD-03 - 0730

ON:

Major Gerard Evans had recognised her the moment he laid eyes on her. The tall, slender woman had made an impact on him when he had first met her, in her Marine uniform, jaw set and clearly angry about something. Now, she looked different. Still the same in a way, but more grown up. Not just the face and body, although she was as slender as he remembered her. No. It was the way she held herself. When he had heard it was Commander Scarlet Blake who was going to be in charge of the USS Nautilus for these war games...well, he had volunteered himself and his Marines for it.

Because sometimes, it was worth it to catch up with a former colleague.

He walked to the ready room and rang the chime, listening to the two Helm officers that passed by him behind his back. Ensign Mieko Argyris' voice was easy to recognise, a sultry edge to her voice that reminded him of a cat. The other, another ensign, had been newly transferred and not seen the bridge before.

It was nice nothing changed.

"Come in," Scarlet called out from where she was sat behind the desk, scrolling through information on the ship and crew she was trying to cram up on to get an idea of what she'd really be working with when the exercise began.

He entered, walking to her desk. "Major Gerard Evans reporting to the CO," he said, firmly, straightening into attention. A bit of show off was quite nice, especially seeing that this was only for the exercise.

It took a moment for the voice and words to sink into Scarlet with her reading, but as it did, she looked up to him with surprise. "Gerard?" she stood quickly, laughing warmly at the sight of the marine. She threw etiquette out of the airlock, moving quickly to hug him tightly. "Long time no see...."

Gerard smiled warmly, hugging her tightly in return. "We've both been busy, I see," he said and smiled, pulling back and touching her cheek, his eyes gentle. "You look good. Even the uniform looks decent on you. Must be the Marine wearing it." He had always liked Blake, since he had met her. And found her a formidable woman.

"Yes, not quite the colour though, hm?" she teased, touching the red collar rather than the green she had worn when serving under him. "How have you been, Gerard?" she asked, making her way back to sit down, tugging his sleeve to pull him with her.

He sat down, watching her with a small smile. "I have been well," he admitted gently. "A lot of work. A lot of Marines broken in. But it has been good...what about you? Clearly, a lot has happened since you left us."

"A hell of a lot," she admitted with a soft laugh, shaking her head. "I had my little girl, Lily. She's staying with a friend over the course of this exercise. Became a counsellor in the regular fleet, and it all sort of went from there. It's a bit of a blur to be perfectly honest," she chuckled, shaking her head, watching him with blue, curious eyes. "What about you?"

Gerard watched her with awe before shaking his head. "Just this," he said easily. "The Corps. There was a woman but..." he met her eyes and shrugged. "The Corps came first. She was not very impressed and moved on. How is Lily? You picked such a beautiful name."

She smiled softly with pride at that, unable to help it. "Here," she brought up a picture of her girl on the computer before turning it to him. "This is Lily. She lives on the ship with me normally. It's not ideal, but....well, there's no one else."

He watched the picture with awe, shaking his head. "She really looks like you," he said and looked at her, with warmth. "You must be a great mother for her. She looks very happy."

"I hope she is. I think she is," she smiled gently at that, watching the picture for a moment before shaking her head. "It'll be good to get back to her," she admitted, meeting his eyes for a moment. "Did you ever...?"

"Have kids?" he asked before shaking his head. "No, not me. Career before everything, much to my own..." Gerard paused before meeting her eyes. "Same with wedding."

"I...can understand that," Scarlet said softly as she looked down for a long moment. If things had worked out differently, it would probably have been the same for her. Career girl without a family. She wondered if she'd be in a similar position and role to Gerard now. She licked her lips, taking a long breath. "Still, you have your marines."

"I do," he said with a small smile, holding her eyes for a moment before chuckling. "And they're my family. Even if my family now consists of wet behind the ears little children..." he shook his head, his eyes dark.

Scarlet couldn't help but laugh at the words, shaking her head as she watched him fondly. "It always has, Gerard, you're just feeling it more these days. I feel the same in the Fleet."

"Is that me getting old?" he asked softly, holding her eyes with warmth as he smiled. "I think this is the feeling of me getting old."

"Well I wasn't going to say it like that..." she said lightly with a small smile that said even though she wasn't going to say it like that, it was what she was thinking. "But I'm the same, so you're not alone, we'll get old together," she chuckled, meeting his eyes. Hell, she'd missed her marine family.

"You look as young as when we first met, Blake," he said smoothly, his eyes warm as he leant closer to him. "You are a remarkable woman. I look forward to serve under you."

"You don't have to say that," Scarlet laughed lightly, leaning to him with fondness in her eyes. "You have no idea how good it is to be working with a marine again," she whispered.

Gerard reached out, touching her shoulder, squeezing it gently. "It'll be my honor, you know it will be. I will obey your every command..." he winked, smiling warmly...unable to stop it.

"Hm," she teased with a small smile, shaking her head. "The same way I obeyed your every command when you were my boss?"

"Not my every command," he breathed, his eyes shining playfully before he let out a soft breath. "I'll do my best. Perhaps...you would like to have dinner with me as well, at some point during transit?"

"Sounds great," she admitted with a firm nod, straightening back up with a soft sigh. "Make it unhealthy..."

"Promise," he said and nodded, touching her arm. "I should let you go...ma'am," he added the last with a grin, a proud smile that conveyed how happy he was to see her in a good position.

Scarlet nodded with a small smile, sitting up and setting her shoulders back. "Very good, carry on Major..." she said lightly, a slight glint in her eyes.

Evans nodded and saluted, grinning as he turned and left her. And it felt good, to know she was well, to see her and talk to her. And serve under her.


OFF:

Major Gerard Evans
Marine CO
USS Nautilus
[NPC Markos]

&

CMDR Scarlet Blake
Commanding Officer
USS Nautilus

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