Friends or Tormentors (Warning: Long and Nutty)

Posted on Sun Dec 9th, 2018 @ 2:45am by Lieutenant JG Gallia Norris

Mission: Season 2: Episode 3: Determination is not always a good thing
Location: Estelle's quarters
Timeline: en route
3289 words - 6.6 OF Standard Post Measure

With Liorga, Anje and Gallia invited to her cabin for the evening, Estelle hadn’t actually cooked anything elaborate but had instead arranged all kinds of snacks on the table in front of the sofa and the two armchairs arranged under the two oval windows. Cups were present, hot water was kept in a thermos on the table so she wouldn’t have to get up for every cup of tea, and a selection of her favourite blends was sitting on the table.

“Everything looks really nice, love.” Liorga complimented as she took in the view, “And the snacks look good, too.”

“So you don’t think I’ll embarrass myself with this setup in front of Gallia and Anje?” Estelle asked. “I was wondering whether I should get a cake, too?”

“If it’s chocolate, I’m yours.” Liorga swore, raising her right hand for effect.

“We’re still low on that since that Betazoid delegation stayed on the ship for an hour and a half”, Estelle winked.

“Damn Betazoids…” Liorga groaned, “Not enough they have perfect hair they have to eat all the damn chocolate, too.”

“I’ve been wondering how they do that”, Estelle agreed. “Mine’s always a mess every morning, and every time I come out of surgery.” She ran her hand over Liorga’s skalp. “Lucky you don’t have to worry about that.”

“I’ll happily trade you anytime.” Liorga joked, kissing Estelle softly, “But you can keep surgery. Saw enough blood during the war to last me a lifetime.”

“It’s different when you’re putting people back together, though”, Estelle said. “I do leave taking them apart to others.”

“It’s the worst thing you can imagine.” Liorga began, her mind going back to the war and that Cardassian private she’d had to kill; he couldn’t have been more than eighteen….

The door whooshing open and admitting Gallia saved Liorga from that memory, a favor she made plans to repay, “About time.” The Deltan said.

“Hey, things are different when ya ‘ave a baby.” Gallia laughed, “Ya cannae just drop everything and go places on a whim, ya know?”

“There’s no reason you can’t take her with you, though”, Estelle said. “I promise, my low level of sanity isn’t contagious.”

“Though not knowing that would present a legitimate fear.” Liorga joked, placing a hand on the small of Estelle’s back.

“Aye.” Gallia laughed, she felt very comfortable with Liorga, nearly to the level she felt with Estelle, “Doesn’t seem as though you’ve been affected so much.”

“Are you kidding?” Liorga laughed, “This woman has me ripping my hair out.”

“That would explain a few things, actually”, Estelle concluded.

The chime rang on Estelle’s door, somebody was actually waiting to be admitted, something that probably never happened around there anymore. Anje, however, was not the type to just walk into someone else’s home, she’d even had a hard time of it the first few days she was at the Embassy before her aunt had to remind her, “Anje, you live here, too.” She waited patiently outside for someone, anyone, to let her in, wondering if this had been a good idea.

“I’ll get it.” Liorga offered, walking to the door and opening it for Lt. Brett, “Honey, Lt. Brett is here. Finally.”

“I guess I’m late, huh?” Anje asked sheepishly, “Sorry.”

“It’s all good”, Estelle said. “We’re not on parade, after all.” She figured they had to do so many things according to schedule, it was refreshing to not have everything as perfectly timed for a change. “Please, come in and get comfortable… within reason.”

“Of course.” Anje nodded, now wondering if she’d done something to make Estelle uncomfortable, ~The hell did I do to her?~

Gallia nodded as the other woman entered, still unsure what to make of her, “Lieutenant.”

“Oh, Ens. Norris.” Anje replied, “Hi.”

“Would you like to sit with us, close to all the snacks? I can’t possibly eat them all by myself”, Estelle’s way of inviting them to settle for the evening. “But could we perhaps leave ranks at the door?”

“Right.” Gallia nodded, taking a seat beside the snacks.

“If you’re looking for chocolate the Betazoids were here first.” Liorga informed her, “Sorry, kid.”

“Actually, my Aunt sent some chocolates with me when I left the embassy.” Anje began, offering, “I can go get them, bring them back here, if you’d like?”

“There’s some chocolate milk”, Estelle suggested. “No, really, the whole Betazoid plotline is a joke. Anje, you have to realise, eighty per cent of what we say around here can’t be taken seriously. Especially not if it’s out of my mouth, or Liorga replying to something I say.”

“Then where are you hiding the chocolate, woman?” Liorga playfully grumbled.

“So, what are we gonna do?” Gallia asked, she was more than a little curious since nobody had told her anything specific.

“Good question.” Anje agreed, “I mean, you had me at snacks, but I am curious.”

Estelle chuckled and retrieved a selection of chocolates from the second level of the table, placing it in the only place that still had room. “Was going to save them for later, but by popular demand...”

“Yoink!” Liorga said as she grabbed a caramel filled chocolate and popped it into her mouth.

Estelle finally plopped onto the sofa next to Liorga and poked her in the side. “You’re terrible.”

“Thanks for noticing, love.” Liorga giggled, putting a chocolate into Estelle’s mouth.

“You two are so cute together.” Anje said with a smile, though the cheery interplay between the two lovers made her miss Cheline that much more.

“We do try”, Estelle grinned, with the chocolate melting in her mouth. She leaned over the table and filled everyone’s cup with hot water. “The cups change colour depending on the temperature of the water. For best brewing results, match the colour of your cup with the colour of the vessel the tea is stored in”, she informed them. Estelle did like her subtle toys.

Anje had never heard of such a thing, but with Estelle, who knew? She picked a black tea from the selection and put it in the mug, “I do enjoy hot tea.” She smiled, it was one of the very few things that had always been available wherever she went, tea was universal.

“Aye.” Gallia nodded, getting a green mug to go with the green tea she’d selected, “Not as bitter as coffee straight and packs the same punch. Great for overnights in engineerin’.”

“My dad’s an engineer.” Anje noted, “Commodore Brett.”

“Ya dinnae say!” Gallia laughed, “I took one of his workshops last year. Six hours on the history of engineerin’ in Starfleet from a man who saw most a’ it with his own eyes. I mean, he was Chief Engineer on the last Soyuz class ship in the fleet.”

“The Bozeman.” Anje nodded, “I was born there.”

“And here Gallia was about to ask whether you were born in Aberdeen”, Estelle joked.

“You were born on the Bozeman?” Liorga asked, “So, were you…”

“My mother was pregnant with me when we were lost in the expanse, yes.” Anje replied, “So, and the doctor argues this point with me, I’m really over a hundred years old. The only reason my Aunt wasn’t on the Bozeman with us was because Capt. Bateson invoked the Sullivan Rule and sent her back with Cdr. Sulu.”

“Bloody hell.” Gallia said, her voice basically a whisper, “That’s some story, Anje.”

“Kicks my origin story’s ass.” Liorga shrugged.

“I don’t even have an origin story”, Estelle said. “Though, come to think of it. I should probably make one up which is funny enough that it’s worth telling.”

“Oh, boy, here we go.” Liorga snickered, knowing Estelle was now working on just what she said.

“It’ll probably involve a duck.” Gallia laughed.

“Well,” Anje giggled, “guess we’re all ducked now.”

“Biologically speaking…” Estelle grinned. “Nah, ducking around can’t be the only thing involved. I’ll have to embellish a little. No Aberdeen, though, Gallia.”

“The City of Aberdeen just breathed a sigh of relief.” Liorga joked, popping a chocolate in Estelle’s mouth.

Estelle’s mug had cooled down to a bright red colour, which was ideal for her moba tea, which she now infused. With the chocolate in her mouth, she had a perfect excuse for not replying to the jib. “Still haven’t heard a thing from our XO. I’m perfectly sure he’s figured out who sent the duck by now.”

“Aye.” Gallia agreed, taking a chocolate for herself, “Probably plannin’ ‘is revenge right now.”

“I’d certainly expect he is.” Anje said, “I sort of hope he is. I mean, what fun would it be if he just stood there, took it, and never fired back?”

“You’re a warped woman, Anje.” Gallia laughed, “You’ll fit in just fine.”

“Well, with a pair of high-heeled boots, I think we can make it happen”, Estelle teased.

“Hilarious.” Anje rolled her eyes, she’d heard all of these before, “That one came up short of humor.”

“I will admit, my humour is often like a shotgun. Sometimes it hits, other times it doesn’t”, Estelle said. “But most importantly, I amuse myself. The rest is just a positive side-effect.” She took a sip of her tea and gave Anje the sweetest possible smile.

“Translation, this is Estelle’s world, we’re just living in it.” Liorga explained, adding, “I just happen to have the best seat for this ride.”

“That’s what she said.” Gallia retorted, causing Anje and Liorga to laugh.

Estelle laughed and hugged Liorga. “Thank you. I swear, half the time people misunderstand me if it’s not for interpretative assistance.”

Liorga leaned in and kissed Estelle deeply, “I’ll try to keep people from misunderstanding you too much, love.” She promised.

Watching Estelle and Liorga made Anje smile, ~That’s what I’m looking for right there.~

“Very much appreciated”, Estelle said. She’d started worrying that moving so quickly with Liorga might have been down to a pheromone effect but their interaction on an intellectual level matched so well what Estelle was looking for, those suspicions were silenced. Not even alien pheromones could simulate that if it wasn’t there.

“You’re so welcome.” Liorga smiled, “And I’m totally still down to trade you my hair for yours.”

“Dream on”, Estelle laughed. “Best I can do is make you a wig. Well, have someone who actually knows how to make wigs make you a wig, is what I meant to say.”

“Would you like me better that way?” Liorga asked honestly, though she didn’t expect a negative answer at all.

“No, but it’s about what you like. If you want hair, get hair”, Estelle said. “You have to like yourself the way you present yourself. Everyone else’s enjoyment of your appearance is a pleasant side-effect, no?”

“I’m not sure what the hell you just said, honey.” Liorga giggled, “But, if that was your way of telling me you like me how I am, thank you.”

“Right?” Anje interjected, “Besides, bald is beautiful.”

“Bloody right it is.” Gallia agreed, “I pulled it off anyway.”

“I guess it’s just my head that looks like an egg shell if I try”, Estelle concluded.

“An egg shell?” Anje laughed, then stopped, “Okay, only one way to know that, and that’s if you tried.”

“Oh, there’s a story there for sure.” Gallia laughed along, sipping her tea finally, “I mean, mine was just a good ol’ fashioned freak out. I can only imagine yours…”

“My room mate at the academy”, Estelle started. “I, uhm, tried a few ideas with her. I should say on her, maybe. You know, back before they were as sophisticated as ducking around. Anyway, one morning I woke up and Julia had taken all my hair, down to the last follicle… well, on my head, anyway… and used it in place of decoration for the yule-tree she put up in our cabin. My pale, pointy skalp looked like an egg. Took me three weeks to even start to grow back some of it.”

“Three weeks, you say?” Liorga mulled it over in her mind, “That’s means one thing for sure…”

“There’s pictures.” Liorga and Gallia chuckled in unison, there had to be!

“Come on, love.” Liorga prodded, “Out with it.”

“Right, you show yours, I’ll show mine.” Gallia offered.

“This I’ve got to see.” Anje chimed in, they were having fun now.

Estelle sighed. “I guess there are… somewhere.” She was way too lazy to get up, so she said, “Computer, access my picture archive. Academy days. Display the one tagged ‘egg-head’ on the wall monitor.” The computer showed a picture of Estelle in a cadet’s uniform, holding a small pan with a sword handle, also looking much younger and bald. “I’ve still got that pan. It’s Eggs-calibur.”

Liorga looked the picture over carefully and smiled, recognizing Eggs-calibur. She reached over and took her lover’s hand, “Baby, you looked beautiful.” She reassured, “Not like an egg at all.”

“I was fifteen years younger, I guess that helped”, Estelle winked. “In my defence, I’ve still got the same figure.”

“Okay, fair’s fair.” Gallia began, putting up a picture of herself a few days post shaving, “There ya have it.”

“Gallia, you looked beautiful.” Anje complimented, though Estelle’s words from earlier about being satisfied with yourself were still playing over and over in her head, she wondered if she’d ever actually been satisfied with herself, ~Probably not.~

“Thanks.” Gallia nodded, “After me mum died, I dunno, I just didnae wanna be bothered with it so I took the whole bloody thing off. From bottom of the bra strap to clean off.”

“She’d be proud of you.” Anje said with conviction, “You’ve grown into a confident, capable, beautiful woman. Any mother would be proud.” She leaned over and kissed Gallia’s forehead, something she could only accomplish while both were seated, and held the engineer close for a second, hoping the point she wanted to make got across.

“So, between the two of you, who is the crazy one?” Estelle asked. She figured that with her and Liorga, that was obvious.

“The two of us?” Anje asked, “What do you mean?” Did Estelle think she and Gallia were a couple?

“There’s only four of us here, and I’m not sharing”, Estelle teased.

“Umm, actually, Estelle, I’ve got my eye on someone.” Gallia replied, turning to Anje, “No offense or anything. Just, this is our first formal meetin’ as it were.”

“No, none taken.” Anje replied, ~Oh, God, she thinks I had Estelle bring her here to set us up.~ “Yeah, it’s not like that at all. I mean, I’ve got a girlfriend. Her name is Cheline.” ~They won’t know it’s not true…~

Giggling, Estelle asked Liorga, “Isn’t it cute how uncomfortable they get from just one simple question?”

“Like baldheaded Estelle.” Liorga giggled, though she was sure that Gallia at least was planning some kind of get back for that stunt. She laughed harder, picturing a duck with a razor in her head.

“So, who is it you’ve got your eye on?” Estelle asked.

“Obviously not me.” Anje laughed, though it was to hide her pain at the fact that nobody had her eye on her.

“Well, if you must know it’s…” Gallia began, but was cut off by Liorga.

“What the Hell is that?” Liorga laughed, it seemed Gallia’s holoprogram issues stretched into her pictures as well.

“Oh. My. God.” Gallia groaned, lowering her head as a picture of Gallia posing nearly nude on a model of the Phoenix at the Academy appeared, “Computer, turn off this display, please.”

“Hey, wait a moment, I like that one”, Estelle said. “You should have that framed and put up in your quarters.”

“I was drunk.” Gallia explained, still not making eye contact with any of them, “It was second year, some of my roomies decided that we needed to have a real rager of a party, I ended up making some bets, losing, and there’s the results. They were kind enough to let me keep my panties and I had enough hair to cover the chest area.”

Gallia’s ample bosom made Anje feel a little miniscule, another trait she’d inherited from her aunt, “It’s a beautiful picture though, Gallia.”

“Right?” Liorga interjected, “I mean, shame she doesn’t redo it now. No coverage and all that.”

“And there ya go, takin’ the piss.” Gallia sighed, if anyone was going to, it was definitely Liorga.

“Speaking as an art critic here, it’s great”, Estelle affirmed. The painting she’d hung on her wall told everyone who cared to look that Estelle was indeed a fan of nude art, and wasn’t just teasing at this point. “Computer, show image tagged ‘boldly bald’.” The display changed to a topless picture of young Estelle, both without hair and without a shirt on, posing before the backdrop of a clear blue lake in what people in the know would identify as Finland.

“Wow….” Liorga gasped, her lover was a beauty of a whole other level, but this was pure art at it’s finest, “I love it.”

“Oh, my, me too.” Anje said quickly, regretting that she’d never been that comfortable with herself.

“You look amazin’ Estelle.” Gallia praised, this was another side of her cohort prankster, very revealing.

“See? I’m not taking the piss at all”, Estelle said. “And if I was, I wouldn’t allow anyone to take pictures.”

“You’re a sick, sick woman.” Gallia laughed, if there was ever any doubt why Estelle was her best friend here, it was quickly erased.

“I do have one question though, Estelle.” Anje began, “I mean, the results were great, but what exactly did you do to set Julia off to the point where she shaved off all your pretty hair and used it as tinsel?”

“There’s the sixty four thousand credit question.” Liorga quickly agreed, she needed an answer to that one herself.

“Well, her skin wasn’t naturally green”, Estelle admitted.

That caused the other three women to laugh hard, but none harder than Anje; she’d really needed this, “Thanks for having me over, ladies, this has been illuminating.” She said happily, “Though I feel a little weird being the only one here who’s never been bald.”

“Well, we could fix that for ya.” Gallia teased.

“No, no, I’m good.” Anje replied quickly, though she now knew she’d have to be very careful to guard her hair from the Fabulous Prankster Sisters.

“Good thing this didn’t happen at the same time, huh?” Liorga joked, “The three of us with poor Anje looking like the sacrificial virgin.”

Estelle didn’t say anything in response but there was a slow smile growing on her face. She nodded as she pursed her lips.

Gallia caught that look on Estelle’s face, knowing it could only mean something was forming. I hope, she thought, that this isn’t the time she does something lands us in the brig…

Anje saw Estelle starting to give a sinister grin, knowing it wasn’t good, ~Note to self, sleep in a helmet…~