Mind if I crash here?

Posted on Sat Dec 29th, 2018 @ 7:49am by Lieutenant Danica Kovitz

Mission: Season 2: Episode 3: Determination is not always a good thing
Location: Anya Neeze’s Quarters
Timeline: en route
2450 words - 4.9 OF Standard Post Measure

Danica found the crew quarters she’d been searching for after only a brief search. She was getting better at this. She was pretty much the only officer she’d seen in a while. She wondered what that said about crew relations. However, before she got too distracted, she focused and rang the door chime. This was a friend of Estelle’s, so she’d probably lead with that in her intro.

"Come in!" Anya called from the sofa. She was comfortable in shorts and a crop top, reading "Garth of Izar", a novelisation of the famous exploits of a Starfleet Captain more than a century ago, as an actual paper book. She looked up from the pages as the doors opened. "Good afternoon."

Dani was still a little on the tipsy side, though she’d gotten fairly close to normal behavior by now. She’d donned a recently replicated colorfully striped sundress and sandals, which she’d simply slipped on over her bikini. Estelle’s recommendation of a temporary roommate had been a high priority in her mind. She didn’t want to waste time. Upon entry, she spotted the woman on the couch and waved. The other girl was casually dressed, but she somehow looked more put together than Dani. “Hey. Anya, right? Your friend Estelle sent me here. I, um, I’m a new transfer to the ship. I’m waiting on my official quarters but they need me out of my temp quarters early. I actually was wondering if you minded me borrowing Liorga’s bunk for a few days?”

"If Liorga doesn't mind, neither do I", Anya said, closed the book and placed it back on the shelf behind the sofa. She stood to properly welcome the slightly shorter woman by extending her hand to her. "She's certainly not using it much these days. Maybe sending you here is the doctor's way of making sure it stays that way? Either way, do come in, make yourself at home."

“Thank you,” Dani said, taking the woman’s hand. “I wouldn’t put it past the good doctor. But I appreciate it. I don’t have a lot to move in, honestly. A few replicated outfits, a book I’ve been loaned, and an old combadge. I apparently travel light these days. So you’ll barely notice me here.” She chuckled. “Or at least, you’ll barely notice my stuff. I like to think my presence is notable in a good way.”

"Depends", Anya started. "You've got me at a disadvantage, and I don't like being at a disadvantage. So, Anya Neeze. My name, not an order." There was mischief in the brunette's eyes.

Dani stood a bit confused for a second, her slightly alcohol fueled mind lagging behind slightly. Finally she caught up and barely contained a giggle. “Oh, so sorry. I’m not totally with it at the moment. I’m Danica Kovitz. New Assistant Science Chief aboard Elysium. And it’s a pleasure to meet you, Anya.”

"An officer bunking in enlisted quarters?" Anya wondered. "Compensation for Liorga bunking in officer quarters, I see." Usually, the quartermaster would have put Danica in with Estelle, Anya figured, but this suited her just as well. "Well, you'll find this place simple but immaculate. Do you need anything to help you settle in?"

“Not really,” the blonde said. She looked around the quarters. They were indeed nearly immaculate. The only major landmark was the Petty Officer herself, and Dani was trying not to stare. “I have about a box full of stuff so far. I actually still need to replicate some more clothes, but I’ll make sure to avoid a clutter. By the way, do you mind showing me the bedroom? I don’t think they ever described the bed layout situation.”

Anya pointed to behind a room divider. "That's Liorga's bed behind there. I'd wear a hair net to bed, just in case." Anya grinned. "She'll know they're yours when she comes back to check." She pointed in the other direction. "I sleep behind the other divider. But you need not worry, I sleep quietly."

“Good to know,” Dani said with a nod. She supposed her hairs would stick out if the hairless Deltan decided to come back. Especially the red ones. “I think I’m a pretty quiet sleeper too, but it’s been a while since I’ve had a roommate to check with. So let me know if I’m snoring or something.”

"I'll wake you if you've got a bad dream or something", Anya offered. Of course, since she was told the name of her stayover, she connected the dots to the story about the woman in the escape pod, which everyone on the ship was familiar with by that point.

“Yeah...that could be a possibility. Sorry in advance for that.” Dani hadn’t really thought about that. Her nights had been fairly tumultuous, but she hadn’t worried about noises she made due to her dreams. “Any other rules I should know? Bathroom etiquette or anything? I want to be as little an impact on your normal system as I can.”

"Well, I've been told I had CDO", Anya said. "Which is like OCD, only with the letters in alphabetical order as they're damn well supposed to be!" She grinned. "I try to control it. I just like everything to be in its proper place at all times. So whatever you do, just put everything back the way it was and I'll be happy." Not that there was a lot to misplace, all the decorative items were fixed in place for that very reason. "Fact is, I know of my condition and I try to work on it."

Danica laughed at her joke about the letters. At least, she thought it was a joke. “Between the limited number of items in here and the limited number of possessions I have, it shouldn’t be an issue. I’ll just make sure not to leave my clothes in a pile on the ground.”

"I might incinerate them", Anya joked. She went to the replicator and returned with two glasses of apple cider. Handing one to Danica, she said. "In lieu of something prepared, take this as a welcoming gift and toast?"

“That’s a bad idea, unless you want a naked roommate pretty quickly. I only have about 3 outfits at this point,” Dani teased. She took the cider. “Given that you’ve taken in a random girl who just showed up asking for a room, I think this is plenty preparation.”

"So, you're tying to tempt me, hm?" Anya grinned. "Considering one of my hobbies is skinny-dipping, I can't say I'd mind." Anya had always been comfortable with or without clothes, at least around other women. She didn't like it around men, they tended to stare. She toasted with Dani and took a sip.

“Is that so?” Dani said arching an eyebrow, more than a little intrigued at the idea. “Where exactly do you partake in that habit on a ship like this?”

"Well, on ship, it's on the holodeck", Anya said. "It can be set to private, after all." She grinned. "We went tanking, group of us. Programme was brought aboard by Ensign Norris, the damage control team leader of my room mate. But there were so many malfunctions and we were so bloody cold after spending time out in the winter, we all decided to go for a bath instead. Might start a tradition. Think of it as a statement, like the Betazoids do. We're all adults, and there's no need to hide." She understood that in previous centuries, those actions could have had negative social repercussions, but fortunately they were beyond those now.

“Well, if you want to do such a thing again, let me know. I think that could be a pretty fun experience. I’ve never gone before, honestly.” Dani took a drink from her cider, settling down on the couch. “I’m not sure I’d know what to wear... before hand, of course.”

Anya laughed. "Your current outfit is perfect, actually." She sat down next to Dani. "But I wouldn't worry about it. The entire idea is not to have to worry about being fashionable. Well, and overcoming any bashfulness you might feel, to boost your self-confidence. Some of us have to much, others could use some."

Dani looked over her dress. It was a pretty good look on her too. And its slight translucence added a flirty edge to it. She was rather proud of her choice. “I feel like I would need a boost. I’m pretty comfortable with my body. I feel pretty comfortable in a bikini like the one under this too. But that last step feels a little daunting. And a little exciting too...”

Anya smiled at her. "I see that you understand. Good." She drank some of her cider. "I won't pretend to understand what officer life is like, but for many of us enlisted, we really do get the day to ourselves once our shift is over, outside of emergencies. Many of us get fairly creative coming up with novel ways to keep ourselves entertained. It's a big help having holoemitters on the entire ship now, with some aspects of entertainment."

“Officer life can be a little nonstop sometimes, especially in even the vaguest hint of crisis. You’re officially on duty during your shift, but you’re sorta on call when off shift. You’d think the sciences aren’t as pivotal as tactical, but honestly sometimes it’s worse. They wait for a hostile target, but we actually have to scan for it.” Danica lounged a little into the chair. “Not that it doesn’t have its perks. Once my room situation is sorted out, I won’t have a roommate. But I’m intrigued by this holoemitter story. What kind of antics do you get up to?”

"Having the right roommate is actually nice", Anya said. "Now that Liorga spends most of her time with Estelle, it gets a little lonely in here. I've been tinkering. Not that my mechanical skills are all that great, but I've had some help." She pointed to a Constitution Refit model hanging on the wall next to the door. "That one actually flies, with full special effects. No weapons, though."

“No kidding!” Dani gave her an excited smile before running over to it. She eyed the details up close, examining her work. It was some fine craftsmanship. “It’s gorgeous! And it’s functional too? Color me impressed.”

"Computer, create holographic overlay for my roommate here, colour her green." As the computer complied and Dani suddenly looked like she might have turned Orion, Anya said. "I've always thought the colour of impressed would be green, close to envy and all that."

Dani was initially startled, probably due in small part to her slightly elevated blood alcohol content. But after a moment, she admired herself, striking a dramatic pose. “What do you think? Would I make a convincing Orion? I’ve always wanted to do a little undercover work.” She hadn’t actually, but it seemed as good a thing as anything to say.

"I don't know, how well can you dance?" Anya wondered, rolling with the theme. "We've got one Orion aboard and she's an amazing dancer. I've seen her perform in the lounge. Shame she usually dresses in something baggy and ugly."

“I tend to stick to the lighter or tighter side of clothing. As for my dancing, I’m pretty decent...for a human,” Dani said, adopting a variety of mock poses, her best impression of an Orion dancer. It wasn’t a terrible facsimile, but it lacked the seasoned grace of a true Orion dancer, so she peppered in a few more Terran moves. Danica had plenty of dance experience from leisure, but she hadn’t given it anywhere near the attention a professional would.

"Looks great", Anya said, enjoying the show. "But it might need a bit more practice." She emptied her glass, then placed it back in the replicator before she retrieved the remote for the Connie. Pushing a few buttons, the ship went through the light and sound effects of powering up its engines and station-keeping lights, then slowly hovered out of its mounting and circled the room, impulse engine glowing.

“Oh I’m sure it could use plenty more than practice,” Dani replied, settling back down and picking up her drink, still quite green. “Your ship certainly is impressive though. Any plans to simulate the weapons?”

"Well, takes a lot of programming. I can't just put in miniature phasers, as that would go against the combat drone ban, even if they're only set to stun. So I'll have to use the holoemitters, but then I might as well simulate the entire ship, as it would only work inside anyway. So I'm not sure how to do that yet", Anya said. "Maybe one day."

“Yeah I see the issue there,” Danica said, wrinkling her face up in thought. There weren’t a lot of ideas that worked. “You could maybe equip it with a small portable holoemitter. That way it could create its own images. But that’s about the best idea I have.” She drained her drink, setting it down with a satisfying clink.

"The smallest mobile emitter I can get is several times the size of the ship, though", Anya said. The only one small enough to work was the 29th century artefact which Voyager had brought back, and there was no way Anya or anyone else outside a select few development lab scientists would even get to see that one in person. "But it matters not. I love it the way it is. Going to make a D7 next, with Romulan under-wing markings."

“Agreed. She’s gorgeous the way she is. And I think a D7 dancing partner would go well with her.” The blonde yawned noticeably. “Ugh. I’m sorry. I’m pretty exhausted, and I’ve got alpha shift tomorrow. I might need to call for a pause on the festivities until tomorrow.”

"Yeah, sure", Anya agreed. "I don't want to keep you awake." Anya preferred waking up a few hours ahead of her shift anyway. "Let me slip in the bathroom real quick, got my sonic toothbrush in there. Then you can have it." With that, she was off.

“Sounds good. I need to grab my clothes from my quarters first anyway.” Dani said, she headed for the door before pausing. “Oh I should probably go back to my usual self. Computer, end holographic overlay.”