Making Friends

Posted on Fri Sep 3rd, 2021 @ 10:19am by Lieutenant JG Alana Balfour [Whavi] & Lieutenant JG Jason Danvers [Taylor]

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Shuttle Bay
Timeline: Past
2439 words - 4.9 OF Standard Post Measure

Jason stood in the shuttle bay waiting for the next shuttle to arrive carrying the newest crew members. He had his welcoming speech memorized with all the right tone inflections and pauses sure to make the newbies feel welcome. He remembered when Miraj had first selected him for the task. He was most adamant in not wanting it, feeling he had better things to do. But now he liked it, felt like it was his own personal badge of honor and he wouldn't give it up for anything as he was the first officer the newbies saw and it was up to him to make a good impression.

He checked the chronometer on the wall. *Shuttle should be coming in any minute* He thought as he took up his position and waited.

Alana pulled on the collar of her gold starfleet uniform. After weeks of not wearing one it was hard to find comfort in the material. Or perhaps she was just nervous. No. That couldn’t be true. Or was it? Sighing she looked around at the other occupants in the shuttle. No one she really knew, a few she had a class or two with at the academy but aside from the Andorian chatter box that sat next to no one familiar. Most of her classmates had immediately accepted their assignments. Alana took a much needed vacation after graduation. What was the rush anyway? It’s not like the universe wouldn’t be ready for exploration tomorrow.

[[Attention: The shuttle will be boarding the Elysium in two minutes. Please prepare for boarding.]]

The announcement over the speakers only adding to her growing anxiety, not that she would admit it. Alana looked to the Andorian male and smiled. What was he even talking about? She nodded like she had been paying attention but quickly found herself gazing out the window at the Elysium. Awestruck.

On the Elysium Jason heard the same announcement. Two minutes before the shuttle landed. He straightened his tunic and brushed invisible dust from his uniform, ready to go to attention once the shuttle landed and it's passengers disembarked.

He wondered what this class of newbies would look like. He hoped they all didn't stand around with their mouths open, looking like fish out of water when they saw the majesty of the Elysium up close.

[[ Attention: One minute to shuttle arrival.]]

That was his cue, as he took up his position and waited,

The landing was so subtle that Alana wasn’t sure they even had. The next few seconds were a blur. She followed suit as those around her began unbuckling their harnesses and standing. To try to calm her nervous she spun the ring around her index finger. The thin non exquisite gold band felt looser today, Alana summed it up to the change in temperature.

She followed as the passengers began trickling out of the shuttle. As she sat near the end she was one of the last to leave. Her nerves starting rising higher with each step towards the exit she took. Frustrated with her reaction to being aboard a new vessel she sighed and tucked her hair behind her ear. Taking a deep breath she took her first step off the shuttle, her bright green eyes almost immediately finding those of the male waiting to greet them.

Jason stood at attention as the new transfers left the shuttle, he waited until they were all out his eyes sweeping over the group before settling on an Ensign in gold with bright green eyes. He was momentarily startled ans he lost his train of thought. Taking a deep breath, he forced his eyes back to the group. "Welcome to the USS Elysium. Best ship, best crew in the fleet. You have a lot to live up to but you wouldn't be here if you couldn't handle the pressure. Make, your crewmates proud, make your department heads proud. Make the Captain and XO proud but mostly make yourself proud because you are the best of the best. The Quartermaster has your cabin assignments. Learn the ship. Check your schedules, you will have at least a couple of free days before your shifts start. Again welcome the Elysium."

Alana’s breath caught in her throat and she almost stumbled her way off the shuttle. Luckily he looked away first because she was sure she would of ran into someone or something had he not.

She stood near the back of those assembled, listened to him speak but something kept bringing her attention back to the shuttle. She had that awful feeling like she was forgetting something. But what? Her luggage was already delivered, the small bag she had was in her hand. She tried to shake of the feeling and pay attention.

The crowd was moving about now, talking among themselves, some already on their way out of the shuttle bay but Alana lingered.

Jason moved to the security officer. "Something wrong? You look distracted. Like a little lost lamb." He said not unkindly, "Is there something I can help you with? Did you leave something on the shuttle? By the way, I'm Jason Danvers." He was taken by the vividness of her green eyes. He bet he could spend a week in those eyes. They took his breath away. He had to concentrate when he spoke to her.

“Wow, I’m impressed. Three questions in one breath.” Alana teased as she dodged all of them. She didn’t know what she was, but lost wasn’t it. She knew she should introduce herself, thank him for offering his assistance but this seemed more fun. And Alana liked fun.

Jason smiled, *Oh a quick wit, with a killer smile.* He thought. "I'm just getting started, sometimes I can do five of six questions though they have to be sort questions." He grinned. The pressed forward, "Can I get your name please?" He added for good measure.

Someones persistent Alana thought, her smile widened. "Balfour." Her last name was all she would give him. She wasn't a fool, she knew the plethora of personal information just her last name would give him access to if he searched for her. But maybe she wanted him to. "A one man welcoming committee huh?"

"Balfour." Jason repeated . "Ah here you are. Ensign Alana Balfour security officer. It's a pleasure to meet you Ensign Alana Balfour and I apologize for the one man welcoming committee. I can assure you if I had prior knowledge, an entire marching band would have been here to greet you. But alas you have to settle for just me."

Alana pouted, her bottom lip sticking out. "And here I was so looking forward to hearing the trumpets." She laughed then, surprising herself. Shifting her bag from one hand to the other she asked, "Your speech was enjoyable. Encouraging and to the point. I liked it." She said with an air of nonchalance.

"Next time, I will have trumpets. I promise. I'm glad you found my speech enjoyable and that you liked it." He smiled at her laugh, it was light and airy, full of good humor. "I think we should move out of the shuttle bay. The ground crew is giving us the evil eye." He teased.

"I hope you know i'm going to hold you to that promise Danvers. I really like trumpets." Alana started for the exit of the shuttle bay taking a few steps before using her peripheral to see if he was following.

*Oh we're going with last names hey? Well okay then.* Jason thought. "Listen Balfour, I don't make promises I can't keep." He replied as he followed after her at a normal pace, not prancing after her like a love sick puppy.

Alana wore satisfied grin knowing he wasn't far behind. Maybe he was just headed in the same direction she thought not trying to get her hopes up, he was after all responsible for making sure the newbies saw their way out of the shuttle bay. The entrance leading to the corridor came all too soon and she wished she had slowed her steps sooner. Nervous again she rubbed her thumb against her index finger and paused, her face scrunching in fear as she looked down to her hand. "Oh no." Her voice was low as it dawned on her that her ring was missing.

Before she could explain Alana did a 180 and ran back towards the shuttle.

"Whoa! What the heck?" Jason exclaimed as Alana turned and rocketed back towards the shuttle. "Balfour! What are you doing?" As he ran back to her and easily caught up to her. "Why are you running back to the shuttle? What did you forget?"

"I didn't forget anything!" She exclaimed as she reentered the shuttle. She was on her knees crawling and patting the floor by the time Jason entered. "Dammit where did it go?!" She muttered to herself peaking under a seat.

He stood there looking at her, on her knees when he reached down and placed her hands on her waist and pulled her up to face him. "Slow down. Okay, you didn't forget anything what did you lose?"

Alana was too frazzled to react to his touch. Something she was sure to think about later. She could have maneuvered out of his grasp, she had been trained to do so but her attention was on the missing ring. Her emerald eyes never left the floor of the shuttle., frantically searching. "It's a ring. Small, thin, gold." The ring itself was worthless, but the sentimental value was worth more then anything in her life.

"A small, thin gold ring." Jason repeated. "Okay, I'll find it. Where were you seated? And when you got up you came straight this way to the exit correct?" He asked wanting all the information he could get before he started looking.

Heart beating faster knowing there was a possibility she wouldn't be reunited with the ring Alana tried to focus enough to answer his questions. Finally she brought her gaze up to him, his optimism was surely helping as she took a deep breath. Biting her bottom lip harder then she intended she realized she couldn't recall where her and the Andorian had been seated. "Umm... I think I sat there." She pointed towards the back of the shuttle. "No wait, I think I was more towards the middle, I had a good view of the Elysium when we were in orbit."

"Okay." He answered as he walked back to where Alana said she had been seated. Once there, he dropped to his hands and knees and began searching the seats, between the seats and the deck plates as he moved methodically forward. He was getting good and dirty when on one sweep under the seats he felt something. It was wedged under the seat brace but after wiggling it around and some skinned knuckles he was able to produce a small, thin gold ring. "I believe this is your ring Balfour."

Alana didn't think twice as she knelt down before him with her hand extended. "You really found it?!" The two looked silly, both on their knees on the floor of the shuttle but she didn't care, the relief she felt was too great. To her the extent Jason had gone to to assist her couldn't be repaid with a simple thank you. She felt indebted, but in a good way. She was beaming with delight as she waited for him to give her the ring.

"I found it and I'll send you a bill for my ring finding services." Jason replied simply as he handed Alana the ring, "Please don't lose it again." He teased. "I'm glad I could be of service to you. I can see it means a great deal to you."

She chocked on a laugh as she accepted the ring and slide it back onto her index finger. Almost instantly she felt at ease. "It does, it was my grandmothers." She spoke simply, she looked up from her hand. "Thank you." A long moment passed before she added, "I think I hear victory trumpets." She smiled.

He cupped his hand to his ear and smiled, "You know I think your right." He grinned at her. "I'm glad I found it for you and put you at ease. No one should have that kind of anxiety."

Alana rose first and extended her hand, not that he would need it to get up, but just because she wanted to. "First day manic panic meltdown avoided. I'm forever indebted kind sir. A knight in shinning red."

Jason gripped her hand softly as he got up. You are welcome my dear lady. I was and am glad to help you." He smiled at her, "Never thought of myself as a knight in shiny armor but just a nice guy."

Shrugging she said, "Same thing." With a small chuckle she turned to exit the shuttle. "You coming? Or do you enjoy those evil eyed glares the ground crew are giving?" With a smile she exited the shuttle and continued on to the entrance leading out of the shuttle bay. Her thumb rubbing against the cold metal of the ring on her finger.

"Ah, okay." Jason replied "And yes I'm coming. I don't like getting the evil eye from anyone especially the ground crew. " He followed her out of the shuttle bay. :Is there anything else I can help you with Ensign Balfour?"

"Call me Lana." It wasn't often she allowed someone to address her by the nickname but she kind of wanted him to. "And no, I think i'm all set from here."
She wanted to ask when she would see him again, certainly if they were both stationed on the same ship they were bound to run into each other sometimes, right?

"Lana." He repeated, "I like that. I'm Jason. i think I already mentioned that." What was it about this woman he found so interesting? He didn't know but he liked it. "Okay, if you are sure. I'll leave you do it. The Quartermaster will have your cabin assignment."

Chuckling she nodded, "Yes, you did. Enjoy the rest of your shift Jason." She gave him a warm smile, her green eyes holding his stare for a moment before she continued down the corridor to explore the ship.

Jason watched as Lana walked away from him, her hips swaying nicely as she walked. "Wow. Oh wow." He muttered to himself. he had to see her again. But he didn't want to rush it or come on too strong.



END