Accounting

Posted on 20 Aug 2012 @ 12:18pm by Commander Scarlet Blake & Lieutenant Aria Rice & Verity Thorne

2,123 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Episode 01 - Project Sienna
Location: USS Galileo: Deck 3, Corridor
Timeline: MD 09: 17:30

ON:

Aria Rice let out a breath as she walked down the hallway, her eyes warm as she walked. Hair free, combed straight. Makeup on. Tight trousers, a pair of heels and a long tee shirt. All replicated because her stuff was in her quarters, which were off limits for now. Stupid. The temperature controls allowed her not to bother with a jacket. Commbadge on as well, a new one after she had to give hers away. She smiled as she saw Scarlet, her heart racing. She remembered her easily enough. Her talk to Kohl as well, it had reminded her more of the beautiful woman. "Hey...Scarlet!" she called out, moving faster to get to her.

Scarlet looked over to her with surprise, waving back to her as she caught her breath. She let out a soft breath, smiling when she saw who it was. It had been a while since the main attack, but she was still aching and tired. It was good to see Aria in much better shape and spirits, and she couldn't help but smile at it. "Aria, you're still in one piece!"

"Yep, still alive," she said and nodded, holding her eyes. "What about you though? And Lily?" she touched her arm, just to make sure that she was really there.

"Oh, I owe a lot of thanks to the Chaplain, he was looking after her during the trouble," she shook her head with a smile, squeezing her arm warmly. "We had some trouble with Klingons in Engineering. But we got through it."

Aria nodded as she watched her, before smiling gently. "Want to go and just...chill?" she asked with hope. She didn't want to do anything else right now. Just...talk and relax.

"I can't think of anything better," she admitted with a warm smile, almost letting out a breath of relief.

Aria chuckled and took a hold of her arm. "Of course, it has to be your quarters. Mine's currently off limits due to radiation."

"I'm sure Lily would love the company," she assured with a soft smile, leading her away. "You're looking stunning I have to say. How do you manage to look so good when the sky is falling around our ears?" she laughed softly.

"A sonic shower and a replicator," Aria admitted as she looked at her with warmth. "Think I used my allowance on this outfit. But my uniform was making me break out in hives..."

"I envy you," she admitted with a soft laugh, shaking her head as she watched her with flushed cheeks. She had to still be a mess. She'd barely had the energy to put her hair up.

Aria looked at her before nudging her. "You're naturally sexy and don't need this amount of maintenance..."

Scarlet watched her with surprise before shaking her head with a warm smile. "You're far too kind, you know. I want the water you're drinking too, you're still full of beans," she said with awe, leading her into the quarters.
"Mummy!" Lily looked up with a warm smile, running to hug her around the legs.

"See, I said she would be home soon," Verity chuckled gently, pushing himself up to his feet, brushing his knees off.

Aria smiled as she watched him before looking at Verity. She watched him for a moment, giving a small smile at remembering what Kohl had said about him. Okay. Yes. Eyes. She could see it. "Hello there," she said and waved.

Verity smiled warmly to her, offering his hand out. "I have a horrible feeling that you were another I ignored when I fell asleep on the way over. I'm Verity. And you are," he watched her with a clear grin. "Very colourful."

"That's Aria!" Lily laughed warmly, shaking her head as if to add 'silly' on the end.

"Aria, of course," Verity winked to lily with a bright smile, his eyes shining.

Aria chuckled as she took his hand, nodding as she arched an eyebrow. "I am pretty cool with the way I am, colours and all...nice to meet you awake, Verity," she said and looked at Lily. "And how is the princess?"

"Drawing," Lily smiled brightly to Aria, moving close to her leg to hold.

"I will leave you ladies to it," Verity nodded to them, smiling warmly as he watched them. "Have fun, and eat a slice of cake for me."

"Cake?" Lily perked up at the word.

Aria chuckled and moved to Lily, easily kneeling as she watched her. "Well, we might have to talk about that cake later...right now, I want a hug!"

Lily smiled warmly as she tipped her whole body forward, virtually falling into her arms as she gripped her tightly, kissing her cheek. "Pretty hair."

She smiled and kissed her cheek in return, holding her close. "Not as pretty as yours or your Mummy but that is how it should be," she said, stroking her back. "You had fun with Verity?"

Lily nodded firmly, smiling brightly to her as she half jumped up onto her tiptoes. "We told stories and did drawing and coloured!"

"Goodness, then you really do need something to eat," Scarlet chuckled softly, moving to the kitchen area. "Hm," she said with surprise, arching an eyebrow. Verity had, indeed, left them a cake.

"And baked!" Lily grinned, trying to wink at Aria, trying to copy what Verity had done, but not quite able to do it.

Aria smiled warmly as she looked at Scarlet. "Should we keep Verity as a maid? Because the dude bakes..."

"I think I have to agree," Scarlet laughed softly, shaking her head with disbelief. "I go away for a couple of hours and the place looks better than I left it," she chuckled ruefully, shaking her head. It was true. She'd fallen behind on it all. She sighed, shaking her head at herself.

Aria smiled as she stood, moving to Scarlet. She could see the look on her face. "You know, it's easier for someone to pop in and be wonderwoman than it is for someone who has to do it again and again..." she pointed out as she took a breath.

Scarlet looked to her with surprise at the words before smiling gratefully. "Are you a mindreader?" she accused playfully.

Aria shook her head, smiling gently as she shrugged. "My Mum got that look sometimes when someone showed up and did her housework."

"I know it's not exactly vodka, but would tea and cake do?" Scarlet asked softly with a small smile

"I would *love* tea and cake," Aria smiled as she nodded, looking over at Lily. "Does she drink too? I mean, tea. Or should I get her some juice or milk?"

"She always has milk when I have tea," Scarlet looked to her, shaking her head. "Sit yourself down. Let me get it. She'll probably carry on drawing."

"I'll help," Aria smiled and moved to get the milk, her eyes, warm. "This is the most calm I have felt since I put my boots on this ship."

Scarlet glanced to her with surprise, watching with concern. "How did you fare in the fight?"

"Oh, I was fine. Fired a phaser, made some officers angry..." she smiled weakly and met her eyes. "I need to learn when to stay silent. My mouth has a foot living in it on this ship, especially when someone important comes my way."

"What happened?" Scarlet asked softly, as she set out the cups, waiting for the tea to brew.

Aria moved close, keeping her voice low and soft. "This morning...well, middle of the night...we had a prisoner in sickbay. A Vorta. Doesn't remember the war ending, been in stasis for 14 years according to him. And it got tense. The Chief Medical Officer got...frighteningly tense. And I know the war is fresh for many people. Hell, it hurts me too to think about. But she was...withholding treatment. And then asked everyone except this man I have never seen before to leave. So I questioned it. And then got ordered out again with everyone. But...I asked Rhodes to...to log my..." she looked down and frowned. "To log that I questioned the order because it all gave me a bad feeling. Wasn't sure I could trust her unsupervised with him. Or he with her for that matter."

Scarlet frowned at what she heard, reaching to touch her arm as she held her eyes. "You did the right thing," she said softly. "Never ignore that little voice inside of you. It's logged. You did all you could. If you're still worried, there is the First Officer, but, well, with things as they are," she let it hang, sighing as she shook her head.

"Have it logged and hope it never comes to haunt me," Aria met her eyes before smiling weakly. "I know they were engineered. I know they caused a lot of death during the war...and I know it is so close to many. But...if one of us were taken prisoner, wouldn't...the benefit of the doubt be something we'd dream of?"

"One would hope, and to be treated well," Scarlet looked down for a long moment, frowning. Her mind went briefly to her own imprisonment before shaking it off. "They didn't ask to be made into what they were."

Aria nodded as she watched her before taking a breath. "My Dad told me that bad things happen to good people because of decisions being made by people who have no concept of morals."

"There's a lot of wisdom in those words," Scarlet gave her a half smile. "If you're still worried, speak to the First Officer. If not, well, you've done your bit. You're Security. You're responsible for the safety of everyone on this ship."

She nodded and smiled to Scarlet, letting out a breath. "And that was my two cents of the day. What about you, how did it go for you?"

"Just getting people back on their feet," Scarlet shook her head with a sigh. "It's been tiring. I worked a shift, was then pulled to emergency stations, ended up with a knife in me and had to keep on working through another shift," she gave a wry smile, shaking her head.

"A knife?" she asked, her worry clear as she gripped her hand. "Oh, darling..." she pulled her close, hugging her protectively.

Scarlet blinked with surprise, not having expected such a reaction. It was strangely nice though. Reassuring. And warming. Human. She gave her a squeeze. "It's alright. I'm just relieved there was someone to make sure Lily wasn't scared. She's tough, but I still like to know she's in good hands."

"And she was...I am more worried about her Mummy at this rate," she whispered and stroked her hair before pulling back, kissing her cheek. "Seems you get into trouble..."

Scarlet smiled at the gesture, reaching to touch her cheek fondly in return. "You must make a terrific Security Officer."

"More a lousy one," she said and winked, shaking her head. "But you aren't Security. I know it was all hands on deck, but you should have been...I don't know...protected a bit more."

"Don't worry," Scarlet shook her head with a small smile. "I gave as good as I got. I had an engineer dying on the floor, I was damned if I was going to let them past me."

Aria let out a breath before nodding, frowning. "Wow...they don't make them like you anymore, do they?"

Scarlet watched her with surprise, searching his eyes before giving a soft smile. "I'm not sure that they should," she whispered, but a playful note.

"Honey, the mould you came from? Should be mass produced..." she winked and looked over at Lily. "She is a tough one though. Takes after you."

Scarlet shook her head with a warm smile as she looked across to Lily. "It's all her. I told her that red alert sirens are for telling off the naughty ships, that's why it has to be so loud. Sometimes I wish we could tell ourselves that too," she said playfully.

"You mean that's not what a red alert is? I have been seriously tricked by the recruitment department..." Aria winked, smiling as she watched Scarlet. She liked being with her. Around her. She shifted, feeling suddenly self conscious. Butterflies, all of it.

Scarlet tilted her head at the slight change, but smiled all the same. "Come on," she said softly, motioning to the sofa. "Let's get a hot drink and some calories inside of you."

OFF:

Ensign Aria Rice
Security Officer
USS Galileo

Ensign Scarlet Blake
Counselling Officer
USS Galileo

Crewman Verity Thorne
Chaplain
USS Galileo

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