Let's Be Friends

Posted on Thu May 13th, 2021 @ 6:27pm by Lieutenant JG Miraj Derani & Captain George Charles [Reece]

Mission: Season 5: Episode 2: Operation Save Humanity
Location: USS Elysium Main Shuttlebay
Timeline: MD 02 1600
1566 words - 3.1 OF Standard Post Measure

Inside the mammoth shuttlebay, George and Slarth were sitting in their Valkyrie starfighter, Valkyrie 6-7-9, and were busy getting the new packet of instrumentaion software installed. They had been at it for nearly an hour now, and the process seemed never-ending.

"Alright, Tink," George grunted, using his REO's callsign, as fighter pilots sometimes did with one another. "See if you can lock in the short range sensor bundle while I synchronize the targeting brackets for the phaser cannons."

"Got it, Demon. Hold on a sec....gralta!" She cursed in her native Ferengi tongue as the console she was working on shorted out. "This damnable screen keeps shorting out! We're gonna have to start the whole process over again!"

"Shit!" George cursed in reply. Sighing heavily, he started to climb out of his seat in the cockpit. "Maybe the issue isn't the screen. Maybe there's a short somewhere else inside the old girl. Hold on to what you've got there a sec." He stepped out of the cockit and climbed down the ladder that was attached to the port side of the starfighter.

Once his boots hit the deck, he ducked inside the open maintenance access hatch, located on the underside of the deadly machine. He began to check all the various wiring bundles and connections the snaked through the small compartment, looking for anything out of place.

Miraj was determined that the new dragon of a captain wasn't going to have any excuse to drag her over the coals, and decided she'd better check on the state of the shuttles personally. If anything was out of place, she didn't want her staff getting chewed out. And one thing was standing out like a sore thumb. A Valkyrie fighter squatting on the main deck, instead of on the secondary hangar on Deck 21. That was going to have to move, regardless of how poorly it was. With a sigh, she went over to it, hoping to find a clue on who she needed to call to come and get it. Seeing the canopy open, she called out. "Anyone there?"

Tink small head popped up at the sound of the new voice. "Oh! Ensign Miraj! Uh...hi!" The Ferengi's vouce was full of nervous energy. She was worriex about how things were about to go down.

Underneath the Valkyrie, a thud was heard, followed by a curse in a male voice. A male voice that Miraj recognized immediately.

Her heart sank a little. She'd not been avoiding the marine pilot after his weird declarations a few weeks ago, but as their paths rarely crossed she'd not seen him since. "George?" She asked.

"Hey, Miraj." George said quietly. He then carefully extricated himself from the compartment and, after clearing the underside of the wing, stood up sttaight. He was wiping some grease off of his hands, though a glint of gold suddenly sparkled from the ring finger of his left hand.

"This your valkyrie?" She asked, stating the obvious. "Is she sick?"

Glancing over his right shoulder, George grinned warmly. "Yup, 6-7-9. All mine since graduation." Turning back to face the woman he hoped could still be a friend, he replied to the second question more seriously. "Yeah. We were trying to upload some new targeting software, but, there seems to be a short." He sighed. "I think the grease monkeys might've missed something following the Quell'ish battle."

"Poor thing." Miraj rested a soothing hand on the fighter's hull. "I've got more bad news I'm afraid. No convalescing on the main deck. She has to go down to the Air group hanger. I know its crowded, but the new captain's very...captainy."

George scowled and harumphed. But, then he nodded. "Alright. You're in charge of Flight Ops, Miraj." He called over his right shoulder. "Tink! Take her downstairs. The new Chancellor up top is getting persnickety!"

"Roger that, Demon!" Slarth sent in the movement request. "You coming?"

George waved her off. "I'll be there in a few. The good Ensign and need to clear the air on something I did."

Tink nodded in acknowledgement as the computer controlled trollys attached themselves to the Valkyrie and slowly moved her towards the elevator to the lower flight deck.

As the Valkyrie moved away, Goerge looked at Miraj. But, it wasnt a look of desire, just peace. "You look good, Miraj. I'm glad you made it back from Quell'ish in one piece."

"Thanks. Glad to be back. Remind me not to go groundpounding in the future. Its not fun." She sighed "Not that up here is much fun either right now. All the officers are stressing about the new captain and the new XO."

Nodding, George said, "Yeah, us Marines are concered the Snow Beast is gonna turn her gaze on us at some point." He shook his head in disgust. "This us bullshit, Miraj, Captain Lalor is no damn traitor!"

"I don't know about any of it. But it seems unlikely. I mean, when would she have had the chance? I don't think Elysium's had much time off ever."

George shook his head. "Something isn't right. Command had really screwed the Horta if they think this travesty is gonna stand!"

Miraj shrugged. "I just fly. This sort of thing is beyond me. As long as I can fly, Elysium, or any of her jolly boats, I'll leave the complicated stuff to people who've been out of the academy longer than I have."

Sighing, George finally just nodded. "Yeah, you're right, as usual. First you were right when I went a little coco on you, and you're right now."

She looked at him sideways, not sure where this was going. "I wouldn't go that far. About being right now I mean."

George chuckled and grinned softly. "I'm sorry, Miraj, for that day, I mean. I've played it over in my head a few times, and, each tine, I seem creepier than the last. You didn't deserve that. I hope you can forgive me."

She shifted awkwardly on her feet, not sure what to say. "Its not what I'm used to," she admitted. "But apology accepted."

George nodded politely. "Thank you. And please know, while I am not expecting anything, I hope we can be friends one day." He finished wiping the grease off his hands, causing the gold band to gleam.

She saw the glint. Could that be? It couldn't possibly be. Only a few weeks ago he'd been begging to be with her for as long as she desired. "Is that a wedding ring?"

Raising his hand, he smiled a broard beaming smile. "Yes it is. I found someone, and she knew who I was, deep in my core, before I even met her." He shook his head slowly. "I know this will sound strange. But, I've been dreaming of her face since I came aboard. And the cabin that she showed my on tbe holodeck after we met? Even longer. Fate brought us together." He looked somber. "I'm sorty that I hurt you, Miraj. I hope that you will find the right person for you, someday. They're out there. I know it. Especially for someone as pure as you are. Whomever that person is, they will certainly be thee lucky one." He gave her an honestly friendly grin.

Miraj smiled, more out of self defense than anything else. He'd only been on board a few weeks, and dreaming about someone didn't sound like a sound basis for a date, let alone a wedding. "Soo, when did you two meet?"

George could feel the unease and confusion radiating from Miraj. Giving her an understanding grin, he replied. "On our way back to Earth, after Quell'ish." He shook his head happily. "We both seemed to just gravitate towards one another. She told me that she had seen my eyes in her dreams for years, always watching her, seemingly protecting her when she would have nightmares."

He sighed happily, then continued. "After our first night together, she asked me to marry her. I said yes without hesitation. I feel much calmer now, with Leilani by my sude. We are helping each other heal from our painful pasts. I can't imagine my life with anyone else, Miraj."

One night together? And he didn't think twice. What sort of psychopath asks someone to marry them after one night? What sort of lunatic says yes? "Well congratulations!" she beamed, whilst mentally planning a route to the nearest exit. At least it got his weird arse away from her. "I wish you all the best I hope you'll be very happy together." She genuinely meant that though. He'd had a shitty start in life. He should at least get a happily ever after.

Though he felt honesty in Miraj's words, he also felt some fear and even a bit of revulsion. Setting his jaw slightly, he knew then that she would never see him as a friend. Only as someone to avoid. Giving her an honest grin, he said, "Thank you, Miraj. That means a lot, truly. Take care of yourself." He then turned and walked away, feeling sadness for screwing things up with her in the first place.

"Take care." She gave him a wave, and headed back to the bridge.

***OFF***

Ensign Miraj Derani
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Elysium

&

1st Lieutenant George Charles
Senior Valkyrie Starfighter Pilot
USS Elysium
[NPC Tonelly]