More Fun in the Cargo Hold

Posted on Tue Dec 7th, 2021 @ 1:59am by Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson & Lieutenant Clara Lawson & Tristi Richardson & Lieutenant Commander Malakai Starr [Taylor] & 1st Lieutenant Joshua Young [Taylor] & Lieutenant Commander Kara Starr {Kelea-Salik} & Captain Mattias Richardson [Reece]

Mission: Darkness Rising - A Phoenix Lalor Sub Plot
Location: Black Watch II
Timeline: MD38
4516 words - 9 OF Standard Post Measure

Anna began to move crates through the cargo hold again. She then turned to Josh. "Now now, my wonderful little heavy repeater. You don't want to strain your muscles. You'd end up in Kara's medical bay and I wouldn't be able to cozy up with you tonight."

Josh chuckled, put down the crates he was moving and walked over to Anna. Then without a word, wrapped his arms around her and lifted her off her feet as he kissed her, "You better snuggle close to me every night Anna." He grinned as he kissed her again.

She kissed him. "Oh yes.. But if you get yourself injured. I'll have to somehow bribe Kara to let me sleep on top of you, and that's not very good medicine. My little hand phaser."

"Don't make me hose you two down," Mattias grunted from the far side of the cargobay, as he stacked ammunition crates.

"Kara..." Anna noted. "If Joshy ever gets injured. Can I be the medical blanket you put on him?"

Kara grinned as she looked over from amongst some crates. “Well you’d certainly be an unusual blanket!” She grinned. “But I have no doubt you’d have him up in no time.”

"Don't encourage them, little sister," Mattias growled again. "We just got the upholstery cleaned."

Kara laughed, it felt good to have some fun between more serious issues. “Matt if this is what you say about them, I dread to think what you say about Malakai and me!” She smiled a wry smile.

Anna jumped in. "C'mon Matt, what do you say about Kara and Malakai. We want to know too."

"Yes Matt, what do you say about your brother in law and Kara? Please enlighten us." Josh prompted.

Clara entered and rolled her eyes. "Oh yeah that makes sense to do that." She drawled.

"Hush Clara. I want to hear." Josh told her with a grin.

Mattias just looked at each of them in turn, utter dissapointment on his features. "I'm surrounded by children." As he turned away, though, his mouth twitched into a big grin.

"Aw, please Uncle Matt, tell what you think. and have you got any candy?" Josh teased a huge grin on his face.

"We really want candy, Matt. Heck Clara and the Information Booth wants candy too." Anna grinned widely.

Clara rolled her eyes and began to catalogue items in the hold.

Mattias finally stopped and turned, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "You really want to know? Really really?"

Clara looked up frowned and said "So gonna go get the popcorn and Lily for this"

"Really, really, really. Heck even Clara has gone to get the popcorn." Anna told him.

"Quit stalling Mattias." Josh grumbled.

Mattias grinned. "What's in it for me if I tell you?"

Josh scowled. "You know what? I'm not playing lets make a deal. I don't want to know that bad."

"I do" A young voice said from atop a stack of crates. Tristi sat there grinning. "Come one spill, learning lots here"

"I'll give you my dad's phaser rifle Matty." Anna noted. "The one with the custom scope."

Mattias chuckled softly. It felt good to laugh with his friends. His family. "While you two," he pointed at Josh and Anna, "are always going at each other like hyper rabbits. My dear, sweet, baby sister, however, has linked her heart and soul to a caveman. A honorable caveman, to be sure, but a caveman nonetheless." He smirked playfully when he finished speaking.

Kara burst out laughing. “A caveman! I can just imagine what Malakai would say about that!!” She giggled. “Besides he doesn’t make love like a caveman..” she grinned a wry grin.

Mattias grimaced and plugged his ears. "I'm not listening!!"

"Hey Joshy... why don't we give Matty some ideas how to make love like hyper rabbits." Anna grinned. "I'm betting Lily might love it."

"A most excellent idea Anna. He would certainly learn something and I know Lily would love it. You know a change of pace so to speak." He grinned wildly as he said it.

Mattias made a face as he lowered his hands. "Rest assured, Lily is being very well taken care of in that respect." His eyes connected with Clara's briefly as he spoke to the group. She would know from experience that he was telling the truth.

Anna decided to do something even more mischevious and moved towards the corridor door. "Malakai!!!! Matty has called you a caveman!!!!!" She then grabbed Josh and made a break for it before Mattias could respond.

Mattias just stood there for a few beats. He then sighed and shook his head as he got back to work. "Children," he chuckled softly.

Malakai heard Anna call his name and it sounded urgent so he headed down the corridor toward the cargo bay entering the bay he saw Kara, Mattias, Clara, Tristi. He looked the group over. "I thought I heard my name, Anna calling it but I don't see her or Josh. So what's up?"

Casting a glance over at his brother-in-law, Mattias smirked. "Just the kids being kids, as usual. I think they should be spayed and neutered. Might calm them down some." He chuckled an evil chuckle.

Malakai cast a frankly disbelieving look at Mattias and knew something was up. He wouldn't put Kara on the spot in front of the others but he would ask her later in private. "Ah. Okay." He replied after a fashion.

Kara smiled she knew Malakai would want answers later. “Erm...would one of you strong gentlemen help me out here? I need this crate moved so I can get to the one underneath. I daren’t move it myself.”

As Mattias was closer, he got to his sister first. "Sure thing." He took hold of the crate in question and hefted it up and out of the way. "That felt like it contained your barbells, Mal," he said jokingly.

Tristi called out from her perch "Mattias called Malakai a Caveman and Josh and Anna are going to go have sex to teach Mattias and Lily some new moves" The 16 year old parrotted before standing, grabbing the pipe above her head and swung down.

Malakai raised an eyebrow at Tristi's revelation. "Thank you Tristi." He told the teenager before looking at Mattias. "A caveman? That's low even for you Mattias." He said disappointment in his tone before he turned to leave the cargo bay.

“Sweetheart wait!” Kara walked across to Malakai. “Matt was only joking, right?” She looked back at Mattias giving him the ‘evil’ eye.

Malakai stopped and turned back to Kara as she called out to him but otherwise remained silent.

Mattias was speechless. Of course he was only kidding. He and Malakai traded playful insults like kids ysed to teade baseball cards. There was never anything truly hurtful about any of it. Well, maybe in the past but, now? He was married to his baby sister, and treating her right for once! Mattias had nothing but respect and britherly affection for Malakai.

Seeing Tristi move through the cargobay, Mattias almost snapped at her. But he stopped himself before even opening his mouth. It wasn't her fault, after all. So, feeling like a piece of shit, the Marine got back to work, everyone else left and the job still needed doing. Maybe from now on, he'll just keep his damn mouth shut.

Outside in the corridor, Malakai stopped. "Wait a second Kara, I want to go back and have a word with Mattias."

Kara smiled and nodded. “Just be nice, he didn’t mean it. Matt has the upmost respect for you these days, you married me and that’s changed a lot for Matt.

"I'll be nice I promise. You can even come along and see. I married you because I love you Kara. Always have and always will." Malakai replied as he curled his arm around her shoulders.

“As I will always love you” Kara smiled warmly.

Malakai entered the cargo bay, saw Mattias, moving crates. "Mattias, I want a word with you."

Tristi headed out ignoring the looks because no one paid her to keep her mouth shut after all.

Mattias stopped what he was doing, but didn't turn around. He was feeling a bit angry at the moment

"Mattias, turn around. I want to see your face when i talk to you." Malakai said evenly.

Slowly, Mattis turned. The look on his face made it clear that he was upset.

Malakai met his gaze full on and spoke evenly and calmly. "Good I want to see your face when I say this. We've gotten drunk together, spilled blood together. Saved each other's life. Seen good times and bad. We've even shed tears together. However I never thought this day would ever come. But it has and all I can say is Gotcha!!!!!" A grin on his face as he waited for trick he had pulled to sink in.

Mattias was stunned silent for several seconds. Then, he moved over to stand toe to toe with the bigger man. "Bub, " he finally said, deathly quiet. "That was not very funny. I should lay you out, right here, right now." He then gave his brother-in-law a toughguy stare.

"Depends where you are standing and from my point of view it was damn funny. As for laying me out you can try but i'd hate to break your arm with Kara here." Mal bantered back.

After a few tense beats, the corners of Mattias's mouth twitched a few times, then he laughed out loud, reaching out and hugging Malakai tightly. "Alright, ya got me. I admit it free and clear!"

Malakai returned the hug. "It was good wasn't it?" A bright smile on his face.

After breaking the embrace, Mattias punched Malakai in the shoulder. Even though it was playful, it still had a heft to it. "Course you know, payback is a bitch!"

"I will be waiting." Malakai promised.

Kara grinned as she looked between the two men in her life, she loved them both dearly.

Clara came back to the room and said "I need a fire extinguisher. Anna and Josh need to calm down!"

Lily entered "Um... you guys done in here?" She asked curiously.

Mattias looked over at Lily, his heart skipping a beat, as it did everytime she walked into a room thst he was already in. "Almost. The kids decided to run off and practice their sex ed classes."

"Ah" Lily said "Is that where the kid was going with the holocam?" she asked innocently.

This made Mattias laugh out loud. "Oh, that'll be very rich!" He paused, the smile falling a bit. "Uh, should we be worried that they might not think it's funny?"

"She is old enough to know better. Up to her if she risks it." Lily shrugged. "That said if she brings it to our room, I will kill her"

Mattias grinned a sly grin as he moved over to whisper in her ear, "What if I bring one in?" He suddenly had very dirty thoughts about the two of them.

Lily snickered "You may get punished" she whispered back and headed off to check their course.

Watching her saunter out, Mattias had a thought that it might be worth it.

Clara had found what she wanted and followed Lily out, pausing only to lightly hit Mattias on the back of the head "Quit thinking dirty thoughts" she snarked as she walked out.

"You're not the boss of me!" He called out after her, chuckling.

Malakai looked at Kara, squeezed her tightly. "I love you Kara. Lets leave Mattias and Lily to pursue their own pursuits while we go to our quarters."

Kara nodded. “I like the sound of that, I think we have some err...pursuits of our own we can be getting on with.” She grinned a wry grin.

"I can hear you two, ya know?" Mattias quipped. "Just because you're happily married, doesn't mean I want to hear about Mal pursuing you, Little Girl." He turned and gave them both a playful smirk.

"Well at least your hearing is okay. May need Lily to check out your other parts. make sure their working as well." Malakai quipped before turning to Kara, "Come on Kara, lets go work on some pursuits." He said with a grin.

Kara grinned, “Certainly sounds like fun to me” She offered Mattias a broad smile.

Mattias couldn't help but grin. "One of these days, Sasquach. I'll get ya." He chuckled as he watched two of the most dear people in his life walk out together.

That was when he realized that he was alone, in the cargobay, with the work still not done...again! Grumbling under his breath, he got back to work. The crates had to be sorted and stacked, to make room in the cargobay.

"Wait a minute Kara, Matt's in the cargo bay by himself moving crates. I'm going back to help him."

Kara nodded in agreement, “I’m sure he’ll appreciate that, I’ll come with you and finish off that crate you guys cleared for me.”

Reentering the cargo bay Malakai spoke, "Could you use some help? Get the job done quicker."

Mattias turned and grinned. "Thanks, Mal. I appreciate it. Maybe afterwards we decend on the children and fit them with solid duranium chastity belts, so they cant touch themselves or each other?" He let out an evil chuckle at the thought.

"Sure thing." Malakai replied lifting a crate. ""As far as the children, I do like the way you think... evil." He finished laughing.

“It’s so nice seeing you two getting along” Kara smiled as she dug through the crate that had been cleared for her earlier.

Mattias chuckled. "What can I say? Mal loves me and can't ever stay mad at me." He blew a playful kiss at the bigger man.

Malakai let out a groan as he continued to move crates. "Oh brother." He muttered. "I've heard everything now."

Kara couldn’t help but giggle. She loved the fun they had together.

Mattias chuckled to himself as he kept sorting and stacking the crates.

Fifteen minutes later, they had finished the job. They had even found a few supplies that had been mislabeled.

"Well," Mattias said, "Shall we go toss a bucket of ice water om the children?"

Kara grinned. “You two carry on, I’ve got the last of this crate to sort it won’t take long.”

Mattias nodded his thanks. He then turned to Malakai. "Well, Bro? Shall we sally forth and attack?

"I'm all for that/ I can't wait to see the look on their faces." Malakai replied with a grin. "Please lead on."

Mattias nodded and grinned. The two warriors then left the cargobay, in search of their prey.


*Meanwhile*

Anna and Josh continued to spar in the other cargo bay. This was their way of settling arguments as a couple. "C'mon Joshy. Stop being such a wuss. Lieutenant Vonn has the next Starfleet Olympics Wrestling Trophy in the bag. No one can keep up with him."

"Anna my little apple blossom, are you nuts? Lieutenant S'ronn will destroy him. This won't even go the distance."

She grabbed his arm and flipped him onto the deck. "Vonn is Capellan. He trained all his life for the championship. S'ronn is a pushover compared to him."

Josh looked up Anna and swept his leg under hers calling her to fall where he caught her and fell atop her, smiling down at her. "S'ronn is a Vulcan and will use Vonn's strength against him." He finished before he leaned forward and kissed her.

She flipped him over with her legs and pounded him on the deck. "Vonn is a marine, skilled in close quarters. He has more endurance, it's that simple."

Josh chuckled as he used his strength to lift Anna up and off him. "More endurance than a Vulcan? You're delusional Anna."

Anna grabbed Josh and pinned him. "Say uncle, my little photon grenade."

"My dear phaser rifle never." As he pulled her arms wide and pushed back as he rose to his feet. still holding Anna's wrists and quickly twisted her so her back was to him as he brought her arms down and pulled them across her stomach so it looked like she was hugging herself.

A voice came from the door way. "You know if you record your antics, you could sell them for a lot of credits" Tristi was leaning against the door jam.

Anna spoke. "Hey, Go away, the adults are talking."

"And ditch the holo camera kid." Josh answered with a glare.

Tristi smirked and held it up to focus on them. "What you guys never filmed porn before?" for a 16 year old she had seen a lot.

As Mattias and Malakai turned a corner, Mattias saw Tristi, with a holocamera, standing in a doorway looking inside, saying something to someone inside. "Oh, shit," he exclaimed quietly. He increased his speed and gently, but forcefully, took the camera from her when he reached her side. "Tristi!" He said, a tone of disappointment on his voice. Then he saw who she had been filming and talking to. Instantly, he stepped between the teenager and the two angry Marines. "Stand down, you two. Now!" He used his Marine captain's tone when he spoke to the wild couple, hoping they cooled their jets before shit got too much further out of hand.

Tristi rolled her eyes. "They should have taken it private." She shrugged. "A cargobay is not their quarters" She left the camera in Mattias's hands and headed off.

"Give me the Camera, Mattias." Anna demanded.

Mattias turned to Malakai and said, in a calm voice. "Mal, would you please go explain things to Tristi? I'm going to have a few words with my Marines here."

"Sure thing." Malakai answered looking at Josh and Anna and giving a slight shake of his head before he left the bay to find Tristi and have a word with her.

"Thank you." Mattias waited until Malakai was gone, then he turned back to stare at Anna and Josh. There was an air of danger about him in that moment.

He stepped inside the room andcactivated the controls to close the door and lock it. "Lock it up, both of you!" The tone of his voice made it clear, he would accept no discussion, only hard-trained obedience.

Josh kept quiet but he was clearly unhappy over this whole affair and being called to task didn't help matters.

Anna kept quiet as well. This wasn't sex, it was just flirting.

Mattias stared at the teo Marines, standing at rigid attention. "Let me make this clear to you both right now. While there is a relaxed atmosphere here among this crew, at the end of the day, you are still Marines, and you will carry yourselves thus." He took in a deep breath before continuing.

"Is what Tristi did wrong? Yes. However, she is just a kid, and is acting as one. You are not. You want to flirt and play a little grab ass with each other? That's fine. You're both adults and, as I said, the atmosphere here is relaxed. That's because we are a special unit, doing a very difficult mission."

"You want to fuck each other, I'm not going to stop you. Just be adult enough to ensure you do it in the privacy of your quarters. Do I make myself clear?"

Anna nodded at him at attention and then spoke. "She belongs with the Federation's Social Services, not us. She has no place on this mission. I hope Lily realizes what's good for her." If Mattias wanted to go the child route, she would go the adult route. That was only the best case scenario, she was ready to drop Tristi off at a Bajoran Orphanage.

Mattias looked directly at Anna as he replied. "The problem, Anna, is that she has no one but us. Once we pulled her from that hell hole, we became her family. We are the only chance that she can survive into adulthood. She is also a reminder of why we are on this mission to begin with. She represents those innocents that Cragen and Highlaw exploit and destroy. We dump her somewhere, we will only drive home the point that she is alone in the universe. Can we save everyone hurt by this underworld? No, of course not. But, we can, at the very least, save her."

"Look Captain, sir. Anna and I were sparing, nothing more and that kid came waltzing in here with her camera. Are you saying we can't spar and work out together as well?"

Turning his gaze over to Josh, Mattias's expression softened slightly. "No, I'm not saying that. All I'm saying, is to be careful around her. She has seen and experienced some awful things. Give her some leeway in regards to her teenaged antics. Lily, Malakai and I will talk to her about her behavior as well." He took a pause and then added, "Just be careful, understand?"

"We don't stop Highlaw.. We'll have more Kates and Josies. So much hatred. I wonder if we've ever met or known the woman before Cragen destroyed her?"

Mattias shook his head and shrugged as he looked at Anna. "I don't know. All that's important now, is stopping the ones in front of us and saving as many innocents as possible."

"Geez Captain. Anna and I are always careful. Yeah we flirt but we weren't having sex in the corridor. Give us some credit." Josh answered.

This made Mattias grin slightly. "At ease, both of you." He sighed and then continued. "You are both strong, highly intelligent Marines with promising futures. Josh, once we complete this mission, you're all but guaranteed to get your Gunny. Anna, same for you. Keep your head on straight, and you'll get that slot to Warrant Officer School. I'll personally sign the papers as your commanding officer. Just, be careful around the kid." He then handed the holocamera to Anna. But before he released it, he grinned and growled softly, "Next time you demand me to do anything, I'll stomp a mud puddle in your ass. Get me?"

"Captain, we hear you. We were just having fun. Nothing more. Running our mouths. We'll be careful around the kid." He looked over at Anna, 'Maybe we just need to steer clear of her or somehow minimize our time around her."

"Understood." Anna noted. 'Stupid little brat.' Anna already hated Tristi. But Josh usually had a way of making Anna stop hating things.

"Cool down Anna sweetie. She's not worth getting mad over." Josh said soothingly, rubbing his hands over Anna's shoulders gently massaging them.

Mattias grinned slightly. "We really need to get you two fixed." The corners of his eyes crinkled slightly, showing that he was just kidding. "Just behave, you crazy kids." With that, he left the compartment, closung the door behind him as he went.

"C'mon Josh.. Let's go to our room." She grabbed him and pulled him down the corridor to their room.

==

Tristi was bored which is why she was stirring things up. She found her way to the hydroponics and sat on a stool there. She knew plants so she felt ok in there.

After a few minutes, Malakai had tracked Tristi down and entered the hydroponics and found the teenager sitting on a stool. Walking over to her, Malakai spoke., "Tristi a word with you please.''

She turned very bored eyes towards him. She was so not going to listen, it was in her body language.

Malakai saw it and wasn't going to have any of it. "Lose the attitude Tristi and lose it now.'' he told the teenager.

"Or?" came the cool reply. "You are not my father so I am not going to do as you say."

Malakai bit back an angry retort and replied in a measured tone. "You are absolutely right I am not your father because if I was, I put you over my knee and giving you the spanking you deserve. However I'm trying to be your friend, we all are and what you did with the holo camera was wrong in filming Anna and Josh."

"It was not turned on." Came the reply. "I was trying to make a point. And Lily saw me with it. She didn't stop me"

"I'm glad it wasn't turned on and Lily didn't stop you because you hadn't done anything that needed to be stopped for but rest assured she would have if you had done that to her and Mattias. The point to all this is to respect others like you want to be respected."

Tristi rolled her eyes. "They don't respect others, doing such things in public places."

"I'm not talking about them Tristi, I'm talking about you. Mattias will deal with Anna and Josh. You worry about yourself and respecting others and they will respect you."

She snorted at that "Fine! Whatever" she said making a wave of her hand. "You done?"

"Just what is your problem Tristi? I'm talking to you with respect and your blowing me off. " Malakai replied evenly though it took a great deal of effort.

"No you are speaking to me like I am 5 years old. You know, when we get back to Rigel, I am leaving right?"

"Perhaps it is because you are acting like a five year old. If you want to leave when we get back to Rigel, we won't stand in your way but it is a bad idea." Malakai replied.

"That is your opinion, you guys are crazy. You think Cragen is bad, you guys pissed his people off. I am getting out alive"

"And that is your opinion Tristi. What would you have us do? Let him keep our friends as slaves along with all the other women he had. Let him continue to abuse woman get more slaves?"' Malakai asked the teenager.

"I am sure your deaths being quick will be a comfort to those you left behind" she replied. "I stayed out of his way. I know I will die on Rigel now. It is probably better than life hunted." The teen stood. "You forget, I grew up on the streets, Its probably the best that I die there"

Malakai resisted sighing instead he just said. "Amazing you are what 16? and you already know everything there is to know. Your confidence in us is heart warming." He replied sarcastically. "Living on the streets and by yourself is a bad option. You are safer with us."

"Not from where I am standing" She replied getting up off the stool.

"You have tunnel vision Tristi. You only see what you want to see and you only hear what you want to hear. There is safety in numbers. Having people to watch your back." Malakai replied firmly.

Tristi merely shrugged and headed out.