Levels 2.5

Posted on 01 Dec 2012 @ 5:58pm by Lieutenant JG Donovan Muldaur & Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm

3,288 words; about a 16 minute read

Mission: Episode 02 - Resupply
Location: USS Galileo, Deck 2 - Dr. Panne's Quarters
Timeline: MD08, 2225 hours

[ON]

Back in Maenad's quarters on the Galileo, Maenad, Donovan, and a piano rematerialised in the open space of her living area. Immediately, Maenad turned to check if the piano had arrived along with them. Bok was a nice enough guy, but he was also a Ferengi and you could never be too careful with a Ferengi.

"Nice place," Don said, slowly looking around the room. "Futurist art; very nice."

"It's suprematist, actually," Maenad corrected absentmindedly. "But they're related."

It was an honest mistake, and mistakes were rare for him. He cursed himself. He had to be perfect. He showed no signs of internal struggle, however, and he continued browsing her room. Along the windowsills hiding among the plants were funny-looking feathered birds and hand-painted animal figures. The figures were quite small, a few of them could fit in a palm without touching each other, but some were a bit larger. He picked up a zebra, finding that it was made of porcelain. "You like animals?" he asked. There was no mention of animal-loving in any of her files, or even that she had a collection of little figurines.

Maenad was on the other side of the piano, looking it over for scratches and imperfections. Finding none, she stood up and looked at Don over the top of the piano. "Of course I do," she said agreeably. She saw that he was holding one her zebras, her favourite.

"Zebras in particular?"

"They're my favourite," she said flatly, still watching him.

He thought that her eyes looked sad, maybe she looked sad. She was, after all, quite pathetic, he had always thought. He set the zebra back down on the sill and turned around. "You really are an enigma," he lied. He thought she was quite easy to read, in fact, despite her bizarre swings in mood and words.

Maenad was starting to feel ridiculous, which was also starting to infuriate her. Who did this guy think he was, coming into her home, on her ship, judging her interests. The last thing she wanted to do was talk about animals, she was a grown woman. "Are you going to help me with this, or not?" she practically snapped.

Don frowned. He hadn't predicted that one. He moved away from the window and leaned against the piano. "Where's it going?"

Maenad nodded to her wooden writing desk beside the bookshelf. "Let's move this under the windows, and put the piano beside the shelf."

Instantly, after a sharp nod, Don grabbed the end of the desk and dragged it exactly where Maenad had indicated. She didn't need to help, which both shocked and amazed her. He was much stronger than he looked, she observed. He then took the chair and tucked it beneath the desktop, returned to the piano and indicated for her to push her side. It had no wheels, but wouldn't be a problem if only she prevented it from tipping. Don found a firm grip on the left side and slid it in beside the bookshelf while Maenad made sure it kept balance. He then did the same with the right side, and set the bench in front of the keys.

"Thank you," she smiled. "Let me take your coat," he turned around and allowed her to remove it. She hung it on the coatrack that stood by her door along with her own as he carefully watched her.

"Thank you," he replied with a slight smile.

"Have a seat at the table," she ran her hand over the kitchen table as she walked into the little kitchen toward the replicator. "What would you like for dinner?"

Donovan took a seat at the table, loosening his collar a little. "What are you having?"

"Curry chicken with rice and broccoli," she said back to him.

"That sounds delicious," Don replied.

Maenad sighed. She decided that whatever chance Don had had with her, he had somehow blown it. She replicated the plates and carried them to the table, but before she sat down she retrieved a bottle of red wine from her cabinet and two glasses. She removed the cork and poured them each a glass.

"So, Mister..." she trailed off, realising that she had not yet been given his last name.

"Benson," he replied. It was actually Muldaur, but he would never reveal that.

"Mister Benson," she began to smile, "What is your musical background, then?" She cut off a piece of chicken and put it in her mouth.

--

Across the hall in her quarters, Lirha was officially bored. She hadn't done much for the evening, instead preferring to stay in her room and watch a series of holovids on her large bedroom LCARS screen. After finishing a quite entertaining Earth trilogy called 'Lord of the Rings', she decided she needed a break and her mind began to wander as she pondered her options. A night in the holodeck might be nice for a change, but she wanted some company. Real company, not just a series of photonic projections.

Rolling over on her bed and twirling a dark lock of hair between her fingers, the captain's thoughts eventually settled on Galileo's new science chief. To be honest, it wasn't the first time Lirha had thought about Maenad in the recent days. Ever since the fair-skinned Human had spent the night with her, she had struggled, unsuccessfully, to push the memory from her head. Why do they always have to be members of my crew? she grumbled to herself, realizing that she had become quite attracted to the woman. Not simply physical attraction, which was often the case for Lirha, but she found Maenad to also be emotionally stimulating. Perhaps it was because she was smart; a scientist with a Ph.D. and a fondness for the arts. Someone who she could probably learn a lot from in the coming months.

Lirha let out a frustrated sigh and sat up on the corner of her bed. With a deep breath and a clench of her jaw, she finally made the firm decision to go visit Maenad. Perhaps the science officer was bored and wanted some company as well. "Computer, locate Lieutenant Panne." she said.

"Lieutenant Panne is currently in her quarters." replied the ship's computer's soft female voice.

The captain smiled and quickly began the process of collecting herself into a more presentable state. After a brief sonic shower, Lirha returned to her closet and looked through her collection of dresses. If she was going to surprise Maenad with a visit, she at least wanted to look her best. Several minutes of indecisiveness finally ended after which Lirha decided on a black low-cut dress with gold-trim around the edges. Squeezing herself into the tight form-fitting material, she quickly checked herself in the mirror. She slipped several pieces of gold jewelry into her ears and around her neck, then brushed her hair down so it fell neatly along the sides of her cheeks and down to the tops of her shoulders. Satisfied with her appearance, she took a final trip into the kitchen to retrieve her favorite bottle of Saurian brandy, then proceed out the door and down the hallway.

She stopped in front of Maenad's quarters and felt a apprehensive twinge in her stomach. Lirha was both excited and terrified of how this idea might play out, but she knew she needed to address her feelings sooner rather than later. Taking a deep breath, she tapped the door's keypad to signal her presence, and patiently waited.

--

"Clarinet," Don replied.

Maenad gave him a sarcastic look, like she didn't believe him. "I thought you were a pianist," she said with a disbelieving grin.

"And the flute," he continued as he prodded his rice with his fork. "I do play the piano, of course, but it is not my... forte," he shovelled some the prodded rice into his mouth. "You still have yet to play me something," he said with a hint of challenge in his voice.

Maenad was cutting some more chicken when she looked up from her plate with eyes only. "We're eating dinner," she said. If he were trying to be funny, she thought that he was very unfunny. She unbuttoned the cuffs of her white blouse and rolled up her sleeves. "I will play you something after," she took a sip of her wine. "Not the Russian Dance," she pointedly added.

The chime to her door sounded before Don could protest, making her frown. The chime to her door never sounded, unless it was Kiri. Or Liyar. But what would they want at this hour? It would be unlike Kiri to disturb her this late, even if she had said she was always welcome. Wondering who it could be, she stood from the table. "Excuse me," she said, and headed toward the door under Don's suspicious eyes.

He had already improvised twice that evening, and now Don was getting concerned. Perhaps he was in too deep; he had hidden a small device, barely the size of a pip, in the stem of one of Maenad's plants. It recorded both audio and visual, and was focused on the computer terminal against the opposite wall. It would automatically activate itself every time Maenad used the terminal, relaying all that it saw and heard directly to a transmitter that Don had back at the SFI field centre in Vega City. He hadn't planned on staying very late, and now that there was a potential guest arriving, he didn't know how things would unfold. His worry didn't show, and he appeared as pleasant as ever, enjoying his dinner.

Maenad pressed the button to open her door and the sultry captain appeared with a bottle of brandy in hand. Maenad didn't smile at first, but was rather disappointed. And surprised, to say the least. She wasn't annoyed that Lirha had called, but she was upset that her evening had arranged itself in such a way that might make her visit awkward. The captain, too, had obviously taken great care of her appearance. Maenad's blouse was bland by comparison and her skirt and leggings were conservative next to Lirha. She smiled her red lips briefly, reservedly, before she finally spoke. Only a few seconds had passed. "Hello, captain," she said, the slight flush in her cheeks was subdued by her lightly powdered face. "Please, come in," she bit her bottom lip. "There is somebody I would like you to meet."

Lirha smiled at first as she saw Maenad, but it quickly faded when she realized that the science officer apparently already had company. So much for her plans to spend some time alone with Maenad, she sadly thought. "I'm sorry...I didn't mean to interrupt..." she replied after a short moment, glancing up into the tall woman's green eyes and giving her an apologetic look. Not wanting to be rude, she slowly stepped into the room and took a look around, noticing an array of plants and small animal figures sprinkled on the window sills. A very pristine-looking piano sat next to the bookshelf, and finally Lirha's gaze settled on a blond-haired man sitting at the dinner table. Assuming that he was probably Maenad's date for the evening, a small lump formed in the back of the captain's throat but she did her best to keep her composure and not wilt. "Hello." she said to him politely, feeling her heart begin to beat rapidly at the awkwardness of the situation.

"Don, this is Captain Lirha Saalm," Maenad said as she returned from the doorway. Unbeknownst to her, Don knew exactly who she was. He wasn't supposed to meet the captain under any circumstances whatsoever. He played it cool, he had to. What confused him most was that Maenad had apparently befriended the captain, which was the last thing he could have anticipated. Her file rejected authority; how the hell could she be friends with her? Don's mind raced. To miss a detail as big as this, he began to wonder whether her entire file was botched. "Captain Saalm, this is Don." Maenad presented him with a single outstretched arm, forcing him from his analysation.

"Charmed," Don smiled. He stood and took the captain's hand, trying to find an out. He had only half-finished his meal, he couldn't just up and leave like this - especially considering he had bothered her about playing something on her new piano.

"Captain, please join us," she took the brandy from her and set it on the counter a few steps away. She quickly moved back to the table and pulled a third chair out from the table for her to sit down. "You like curry chicken, I hope," she said as she made her way toward the replicator.

"I...um, of course." Lirha replied with a small nod then cautiously sat down, still feeling a bit flustered by the scene in front of her. She hadn't been planning on eating again, nor had she meant to barge in on Maenad and her...guest. She suddenly felt overdressed, and consciously tugged the front of her dress up to hide some of her cleavage. "I apologize for intruding at such a late hour," she began to explain, "I was bored and didn't realize that you had company already."

Maenad returned to the table with Lirha's food and set it down in front of her, then grabbed an empty wineglass from the wine cabinet and filled it. Her face insistent. "No," she dismissed the captain's concerns, sitting down. "No intrusion." She spooned a large helping of rice and broccoli into her mouth. "Don, here," she swallowed, "is an arborist."

That was it, Don had finally figured out a legitimate escape that he knew Captain Saalm could not fight. "I am, yes," he smiled, finishing his rice. "However, I feel I should be going. It's no offence intended, captain, however I should leave before I fall victim to your pheromones."

"What?" Maenad practically shrieked across the table. What a thing to say!

He held up his hands in defence. "No, please, understand Maenad," and he looked to the captain for understanding. "I know first-hand that I have an extremely low tolerance for Orion pheromones. The last time I spent just thirty minutes with an Orion woman left me incredibly embarrassed and feeling quite humiliated." The entire story was a fabrication, but he was a skilled liar. He hoped that the captain bought it and would come to his defence. He knew about Maenad's scorn, and the last thing he needed was to find himself in her crosshairs. His entire mission would likely be compromised were that to happen.

Lirha blinked and sat motionless for a long moment, unsure of how to respond to the man's blunt objection to her pheromones. Twice now she had spent time with Maenad, and both times the issue of her body's natural tendencies had been brought up. And now, she felt as if she was getting in the way. Lirha had thick skin and generally was not over-sensitive, but now felt outright uncomfortable and slightly embarrassed. Looking down at her food, she folded her hands in her lap and let out a mental sigh. "It's fine, Maenad." she began quietly, then looked at the blue-eyed man sitting across from them. "I don't want you to feel uncomfortable in my presence, especially if you feel that you will be influenced." she said to him, then stood from the chair and looked back at Maenad. "Perhaps I should come back another time. I'm sorry for intruding."

Maenad was now absolutely livid. Her eyebrows were raised slightly, her cheeks high, and her lips pursed and somewhat distended from her clenched teeth. Her bright eyes matted over as her thoughts became clearer. It was time for Don to leave, she agreed. Forever. "Absolutely not," her voice was cold . "You stay right there," Lirha might have been the captain, but she was the one giving the orders now, and she felt not a bit out of place. She looked at Lirha like a teacher disciplining her children, then looked back down the table. "Yes, Don, I think leaving would be the best idea you've had all day."

Don was now furious too, but at himself. He took a risk and it had backfired. That was part of going undercover, but it was a mistake he rarely made. When he returned to base, he would make sure that Starfleet Intelligence would receive a thorough lambasting. He could not recall the last time he was this angry. Still acting his part, however, Don looked sad and affected.

"Don't touch that," Maenad scolded him as he reached for his wine. She looked at the doorway, daring him to speak. "You know where your coat is. The transporter room is five doors down to the right, you can see yourself out. And don't think I won't make sure you haven't left."

He stood up without a word, took his coat, and left. Maenad looked to Lirha, who was sitting there beside her looking like... she did not know what. "I am sorry you had to see that," she said. A slow smile spread across her lips. "I would like you to stay," her voice had softened and the brightness in her eyes had returned. She was still as genuine as she had been with Don, but now it was affection instead of concentrated anger.

Lirha looked up at the tall woman and gave her a tiny forced smile in return, after which she slowly sat back down. "I suppose it is my fault...I came by unannounced and did not realize that you had company." she said, suddenly feeling very self-conscious.

Maenad let out a long and audible sigh, looking like she were about to break down into tears. She didn't though, and instead began to laugh. "No, that was all me," she shook her head, then looked down at her plate, having lost her appetite. "You actually did me a favour by coming," she thought aloud, staring across the room at her new piano. "I realised I didn't like him about a half hour ago." She drank her entire glass of wine like it were juice. "But I do like your dress," she looked at Lirha. Not having her chest, a part of her wished that she could pull off a look like that if she ever wanted to.

Fluttering her eyes at the compliment as Maenad looked her over, Lirha blushed slightly and her cheeks turned a darker green color. "Thank you. I wasn't sure if you would like it, but it's my favorite." she replied, flashing the science chief a slightly bigger smile as she began to feel a bit more at ease. "Was he your...date?" she tentatively asked.

"Well," she collected her plate and Lirha's on one arm, then stood up and got Don's. She left Lirha's wine and Don's still untouched glass. "I think so, maybe..." she said as she put the dishes in the replicator to be recycled. Maenad returned to the table, but didn't sit down. Instead she nodded to the living area. "It's more comfortable over here," she indicated to the couch and living room chairs. Maenad sunk into one of the chairs and crossed her legs as she stretched an arm to turn on a lamp.

To Be Continued...

[OFF]

--

CAPT Lirha Saalm
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant (JG) Maenad Panne
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo

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