Kismet and other fortuitous events

Posted on 27 Jan 2016 @ 5:38am by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Captain Emma Lindstrom

2,155 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Episode 10 - Symposium
Location: Risa - Suraya Bay Resort, Beach Bar
Timeline: MD 50 - 1130 local

[ON]

The weather was particularly nice on this early morning. Which, considering the nature of Lirha's Risian resort that was located right on the beach in the equatorial region, was saying a lot. It was hot but not humid; sunny but not overbearing; and the sea breeze was in full effect to cast a cooling wind across the shores and into the nearby hotels and restaurants.

Lirha had been awake since 0600 per her usual duty shift routine, and she never could quite break out of the cycle even when she was on shore leave. However, it was vacation time for her, and so she'd managed to lazily go through her morning routine of showering, eating breakfast, and going for a jog. Now, she found herself without anything left on her schedule, and as the other occupants of her resort were now waking up and exploring the area, she decided to leave her room to wander around and enjoy herself.

It wasn't the first time she'd been to Risa nor would it be the last. Being from a family of traders, she'd visited the world off and on throughout her childhood and early teenage years. But ever since she'd joined Starfleet, the opportunity to visit the coveted planet were now few and far between, and she intended to take advantage of it as much as she could for the brief time she was here.

Clad in a gold-trimmed black bikini that left little to the imagination, she pulled her hair back in a high ponytail and ventured out of her quarters towards the nearest bar. A fresh morning cocktail felt appropriate given the circumstances, and there was no shortage of available bars and restaurants from which to acquire one.

Her first stop wasn't too far away, and she was excited to see more than a handful of vacationers now occupying the outdoor cocktail tables at the closest bar. She made her way towards the bartender and acquired one of her favorite morning beverages, a Stardrifter, then looked for a place to sit down and enjoy the view of the beach while people-watching.

Strangely, every table was already occupied by at least one person, and so she spent the better part of two minutes wandering around to find a suitable companion with which to converse and share a seat. Bolians, Deltans, Benzites, Andorians, Yridians...it was such a diverse crowd, but it was filled with people whom she really didn't wanted to speak to at the moment.

Finally, her gaze settled on a Human with shoulder-length dark hair who seemed to be by herself near one of the corners. Her fair skin reflected the noon-time sun and something about her aura seemed relaxed and serene.

"Hello," said Saalm as she approached from behind, hoping not to startle the woman. "May I join you and share your table?

Slightly startled at the sound of a most beautiful voice, Emma almost dropped the starfleet regulation PADD she was holding. Smiling and laughing a bit to herself, she craned her neck slightly to the side and waved the stranger closer. “Please! Have a seat. I was starting to get bored with my reading anyways.” It was always interesting to meet new people, especially those who had the courage to sit with a stranger.

Closing the device, she set it gently on the table before her. Taking note of her interlocutor’s lovely shade of green as she made her way around the table, Emma found the refit report she had been reading vanished from her thoughts as she took in the sight of the other woman. A familiar feeling roused from within her, making her shift in her chair. Letting her eyes gaze softly on the woman’s curves, she noted how the black and gold really enhanced the visuals.

Lirha caught sight of the familiar shape of a Starfleet PADD when she rounded the corner of the table and began to sit. It didn't surprise her that another officer or enlisted person might be present at Risa, and she curiously wondered what branch of the fleet the woman worked in. "You are in Starfleet?" she asked while she pulled out a chair and delicately sat down before looking up. "Me as well," she added, then smiled and looked up at her tablemate.

It was rare in life that Lirha was startled, but now was such a time and she couldn't help but stare into the woman's familiar light gray eyes and facial features. She never forgot a face nor a name -- a necessary skill taught to any aspiring trader. "I...oh...." she stammered slightly, doing a double-take.

"...Lieutenant Lindstrom...?" Could it really be? Eleven years later and she was about to have a drink with her old Academy instructor? Lirha looked at her more closely with scrutiny, and if it wasn't indeed the lieutenant, it must have been a doppelganger of some type. The resemblance was perfect.

Raising her eyebrows in surprise, the older woman chuckled and smiled. Just a tad quicker than the lovely Orion before her, she regained just enough composure to speak. “Cadet Saalm . . . I heard you made Admiral.” Taking the right to look the woman over, she couldn’t help but show a measure of respect at the accomplishment. “And before your 30th birthday. Pretty impressive.”

Not giving her superior the chance to respond, she leaned in on the table in a secretive manner, and whispered to her. “So, will you still look this good in 13 years? Because if you do, I am totally going to call foul.” Her eyes sparkled with amusement, as she gave the Orion a most seductive half smile.

Lirha blushed and the skin on her cheeks flushed a deep green color while she looked back at Emma. "I..." She wasn't sure how to respond, and now felt a bit flustered. The compliment and body language of the lieutenant seemed like an invitation...a very inviting one. But Lirha also was still comprehending meeting her again for the first time in so long.

"For you, of course," she finally grinned back, fluttering her lashes at her in return. "Are you...here at Risa for a long time?" she wondered.

“ A few weeks. First vacation I have a chance to enjoy since taking the big chair.” Waving at the waitress, she pointed at her tiny umbrella clad drink. The attractive Risan nodded with a beautiful smile and disappeared behind a counter. “They have great smoothies, you should try one.” Turning her attention back to Lirha, Emma couldn’t help but wonder at her counterparts latest experience. The fleet had been abuzz with the news of their disappearance. But as things of this nature often are, all reports on the incident where now classified.

Leaning back, she stared at her interlocutor with a soft smile. “How about you? Quick drop, or a long stay?” She tried very hard not to make it too apparent she was hoping for the later. Years had passed, but this particular woman had made a very distinct impression on her. “I take it your previous mission was was the kind to scream out for some R&R.”

Lirha was relieved to hear that Emma would be on Risa for a while. The idea of spending time with her was exciting and sent ripples of anxiety through her.

"I am here for a long stay as well," she answered, almost beaming in reply. "Galileo has had a difficult time recently and the entire crew has been granted an extended shore leave."

She sighed contently and stared warmly into Lindstrom's eyes. "I cannot believe you are here and we are sitting together...after so many years."

“Kismet perhaps.” A twinkle flared for a moment as various thoughts entered her mind, not all of them kosher. “Been here often?”

"Here...Risa?" Lirha wondered out loud. "Perhaps over a hundred times," she answered, chuckling to herself in her head. She was raised aboard a trade vessel, after all, and the popular tourist hub was conveniently located near the middle of most major routes between the Alpha and Beta Quadrants. Over the course of ten years, she'd probably stopped by the planet at least once a month with her family to offload and pickup goods.

"Recently, however, no," she added. "Starfleet likes to keep me busy." It wasn't exactly the whole truth -- she'd had a few chances to visit during shore leaves over the past couple years -- but instead she'd recently found herself more attracted to spending time on her homeworld of Rigel VII. That, however, was a much more complicated explanation.

Nodding sagely, the older woman gave her counterpart a warm smile. Her attention was diverted momentarily by the woman bringing her a smoothie. Glancing back at Lirha, she gave a small smirk. "Here's your chance to ask for one." Taking the smoothie she took a sip, waiting on her partners response.

"Yes, please," Lirha nodded up with a smile toward the waitress who had just brought a delicious-looking drink to the table. Her focus then turned back towards Lindstrom. There was so much to catch up on and the Orion wasn't quite sure where to begin.

"You mentioned you have command of a starship?" she inquired with curious, raised eyebrows. "Which vessel?"

"The Mirage. Tough little Steamrunner." Looking at the beautiful woman sitting across her, she couldn't help but wonder if perhaps this time... "How does a science ship get thrown at the forefront of a task force anyways? I thought they only took cruisers for that kind of job." While she was genuinely curious, she just wanted to hear the Orion talk some more.

"I suppose my crew has made a name for themselves over the past months...first the Project Sienna disaster and then the Lyshan incident seem to come to mind," Saalm mused with a shake of her head and a somewhat embarrassed fidgeting of her hands. "I would guess Starfleet trusts my crew to at least some degree?"

Suddenly, what she had pegged as an offhand question to keep the conversation going, turned out to be anything but. "I ... I heard about those." That was, an understatement to say the least. She had more than simply 'heard' of the Orion's adventures. "So yes ... Starfleet obviously does. And for a good reason if I am to believe all the things I have 'heard'." She gave a smile she wanted reassuring, and leaned in over the table, her hand making it's way across the table, present for the woman if she wanted it.

Lirha returned the smile and was suddenly aware of Lindstrom's closer proximity. She looked down towards the slender open hand that had been offered, and instinctively reached out and placed her own green one inside of it. An intimate spark suddenly rippled through her, causing her heart to beat faster while memories of their Academy encounter resurfaced...along with many long lost feelings that were quickly returning.

She was also having a bit of trouble controlling said feelings and found that she couldn't stop staring into the captain's eyes.

"Do you...," Lirha began to ask, rarely a person who was easily flustered but now apparently suffering from the syndrome a bit, "I mean, are you...seeing anyone? Do you have a family? Aboard Mirage?" she wondered. The question was burning in her head and she didn't know any other better way to ask than to blurt it out.

“Nothing of the sort no. I hum...” As she gazed into the Orion’s eyes, Emma felt something change inside her. Something she had forgotten was there. Staring at the other woman, she found her thoughts going a hundred different ways, attempting to plot every possible outcome to this unforeseen reunion. “What … what about you?”

Lirha's thoughts snapped to Gyce, and then to Siren and the twins she was carrying in her belly. "I am single," she answered. The time off from her relationship with the Bajoran and her recent marriage annulment to the Human meant she didn't have any strings attached for the moment.

"How very ... fortuitous." Giving the other woman a crooked smile, she took a sip of her smoothie. For a long moment she stared at the other woman. "Want to go soak in the sun?" Beaming her companion a warm an inviting smile, she promptly got up, without letting go of the other woman's hand.

The Orion was led to her feet, and cast Emma a small and discrete smile. "I would like that," she replied. "I know of a small sandbar not many meters from the shore where we can relax?" she proposed.

Letting the warm feeling inside her spread, Emma nodded. "Sounds perfect. Lead the way." This could only get better.

[OFF]

--

RADM Lirha Saalm
Mission Advisor
USS Galileo

Captain Emma Lindstrom
Commanding Officer
USS Mirage
[PNPC Marika]

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