First date

Posted on Thu Apr 28th, 2022 @ 7:26am by Commander Sthilg & Lieutenant Commander Alicia Kelea-Salik

Mission: Season 5: Interlude: Darkness Abounds
2562 words - 5.1 OF Standard Post Measure

Sthilg felt good about himself as he waited outside his daughter's quarters. He felt nervous. He didn't want to mess this up. He'd worked hard at doing a holo program of his homeworld as best as he could remember. Now here he was dressed in the federations desert gear. His home world did get rather dusty.

Deanna too was feeling pretty nervous about her first official date with Sthilg. It had been a long time since she’d been on a date. She wasn’t sure exactly what to wear so she’d chosen a suitable trouser suit for an unknown terrain. She figured a dress and high heels wouldn’t be the best idea. She smiled as she opened the door greeting Sthilg.

“Hello Sthilg, I hope I haven’t kept you waiting?”

" No my dear you haven't," Sthilg said as he held out his hands to her a smile on his face. " You look lovely though may I suggest the desert gear. My homeworld was very dusty."

“Oh of course” Deanna smiled. “Please come in while I change, I won’t be long.” She motioned him inside.

The gorn nodded as he followed her inside.

Alicia was sitting on the sofa feeding N’Vea when her father stepped inside. “Hi Dad, love your clothing that desert gear suits you.”

" Hello my dear and hello my little N'Vea." The gorn said warmly as he reached into his pocket and pulled out another small starfleet teddy which he handed to his grandaughter who had turned and was cooing loudly.

“She loves it when you’re around” Alicia grinned at her daughter. “Connor is at his friend’s for a play date. Speaking of dates I hope you both have a wonderful time.”

“Thank you Sweetheart” Dana smiled as she reappeared dressed in her desert gear. “I’m all ready if you are Sthilg.”

The gorn nodded to Dana as he gave one last wave to his grandaughter before offering his arm to Dana as the two of them left the room. " You look lovely." He replied boyishly as one would have been out of practice for a hundred years.

Dana smiled warmly, she couldn’t help but blush it had been a long time since she’d last dated. “Thank you, you’re very kind. I’m looking forward to seeing your home.”

" I just hope I've done a good enough job. It's hard to remember everything correctly. Separating truth from my dreams." He said stepping into the holodeck. " Computer load program." He said as the walls vanished to be replaced with the bustling city square of his homeworlds capital. Massive tracked ore carriers trundled along the roads to and from the starport as the inhabitants went about their day. It had all the hustle and bustle one would expect of an industrial capital.

Deanna looked around, she could only imagine how hard it must have been for Sthilg to recreate this for her. “I hope recreating all this for me isn’t taking an emotional toll on you Sthilg?”

The gorn gave her a warm reply as he offered his hand for a squeeze. There was no need to start a relationship on a lie. " I had a little panic attack when I ssstarted, but everything'sss fine know."

“Ohh Sthilg! I’m so sorry.” Deanna squeezed his hand supportively. “If you want to stop at any point just do it, I’ll understand.”

" I'm okay." The lizard responded as he gently squeezed her hand in return. " I'm fine with you by my ssside. Now I think you wanted to sssee the sssightsss." The gorn said as he looked up. Streaking across the sky was a flaming ball which was obviously a chunk of a spaceship due to be smashed into the mountain. " Ah, I remember seeing thosssse. The work crew'sss really had a ssskill at landing them."

“That’s a landing?” Deanna smiled. “It looks more like it’s about to crash!”

" It isss. We broke up the ssship'sss in high orbit and crassshed them into the mountain range on the planet. We'd then break them up further and excavate any mineral ssseamsss the crasssh uncovered. " The gorn explained.

“Wow, in that case as you said they had skill at landing them” Deanna grinned. “You must really miss your homeworld, and your people.”

Stilg was quite but nooded. " Every day I misssss them. I hope my life will have made them proud."

Deanna gave Sthilg’s hand a squeeze. “I’m sure you’ve made them very proud, as I am proud to have you as part of my both mine, my daughter, and grandchildren’s lives.”

" I'm glad to be part of their livesss." Sthilg replied with a squeeze of his own. " Would you like something to eat the main market wasn't far from here." he inquired.

Deanna nodded. “I would love something but you’ll have to recommend what you’ll think I’ll like” she smiled warmly. She didn’t say it but she was enjoying Sthilg’s company more and more.

" I'm sssure we can find you something." the lizard said leading the way. A long line of market stalls were soon in front of them with goods from all over the gorn empire and the rest of know space. A warm spicy broth was bubbling in a large pot which was being sturred by a gorn female of massive size and build. " Ah the local crab ssstew." Sthilg explained as he asked for two bowls.

“I take it food created in this holodeck simulation won’t simply vanish from our stomachs when we leave here?” She looked at Sthilg curiously.

" Off coursssse. " Sthilg said as he took the bowls. " When I take the food from the hologram it replicatesss a real version."

Deanna nodded. “I’ve used holodeck plenty of times before but I never knew that!” She grinned. “I’m looking forward to trying this crab stew.”

" Oh there'sss more than the ssstew." Sthilg said as he stopped at a stall selling some fried meat dumplings and another selling some fluffy looking pastries. Extending his hand to hold them all he smiled to his date. " If I have thisss done correctly the train ssshould be leaving to my village. Would madam care for a ride with her food?" He asked with a smile.

“Would I ever!” Deanna grinned like a giddy little schoolgirl as she nodded. “You certainly know how to show a woman a good time.”

The gorn smiled. " Glad to know I've not lost that." he said as he lead her through the streets. Unlike other buildings of the city the station had some effort put into it to change it's appearance from a massive concrete box. Statues of previous kings of the hegemony lined the walls as well as an mural of their jungle homeworld. On one of the platforms lay one of the worlds trains decked out in it's passenger carrying mode. The doors slid open into the passage car which bore a striking resemblance to one of the gorns space ships. Opening a component door Sthilg carefully placed the food on the table. " My lady your feassst awaitsss." he said with a grin.

Sitting in a somewhat gigantic seat Deanna made herself comfortable, she was looking forward to eating her crab stew, dumplings and pastries. It all looked and smelt devine. She waited for Sthilg to take his seat before she politely sampled her stew. “Mmmm that ... is delicious!”

" I'm glad you like it." Sthilg said as he speared a dumpling on his claw before popping one onto his mouth. With a slight jolt the train began to slowly move. " Whisssh i could remember what sssweetsss my mother bought me on the train. Wracked my brain, but i can't think of what it could be."

“Would you like me to help you remember?” Deanna looked at Sthilg curiously. “I can help guide you to the memory if you’d like me to, though I’d need access to your mind.”

" Could you? i know sssome telepathsss have trouble reading a reptilian mind." the doctor inquired.

Deanna nodded. “That’s true, it can be difficult but it’s not impossible as I’m sure Alicia has already shown. I don’t want to cause you any discomfort though so if it hurts please tell me.” She smiled. “All I need you to do is focus on the memory you want to remember, it’ll help me to find it.”

Sthilg did so as he leaned back in his chair. He could remember why he'd been to the city his mother being chicken to collect supplies for the village. He could remember carrying the heavy load for her almost tripping on a loose paving slab. He scraped his knee so bad.

It felt like it was a dream not a memory. Off a time lost in a distant vision.

Deanna slowly entered Sthilg’s mind, being reptilian it was tricky at best but she followed the trail of thoughts Sthilg was recalling for her. She could feel the pain from his scraped knee as she emerged at his side as a ghostly guide.

<< Sthilg, can you hear and see me? >>

" Yesss I can hear you." the doctor replied as he did his best to think. It was like seeing a vision through the fog.

<< I’m here with you, keep concentrating on the memory. Show me when your mother gave you the sweets. >>

The gorn did so remembering him slumping in the seat as he tended his knee. He could remember his mother entering a small paper bag in her hand.

Deanna was focussing in on the memory. << That’s it, concentrate on the bag Sthilg ... tell me what you see >>

The gorn did so though for some reason his mothers words didn't meet his mind. He could remember the sweet sticky mess that nearly glued his mouth shut and his mothers warm look as she rubbed the top of his head. The scent of toffee and.....

" Kalanrak." He mouthed as the word finally came to him.

Deanna smiled. Withdrawing from his mind she sat resting her head in her hands as she recovered from the exertion.

" Ah, you alright." Sthilg said the sound of panic in his voice as he was at her side in seconds.

Deanna smiled as she lifted her head and looked into Sthilg’s eyes. “Ohh yes I’m fine. Just a little tired.” She gently reached out her hand touching his face. “I’m glad I could help you remember.”

Sthilg calmed down feeling his heart beat slow as he reached out with his own to touch her.

The emotion of the moment took over as Deanna leaned in to give Sthilg a kiss, she just hoped she wasn’t going too fast.

Sthilg did nothing but smile as he felt her lips on his skin. Letting her finish he gently place his head against her in the way his people kissed placing his main artery next to her ear so she could hear his heartbeat.

Deanna closed her eyes and listened to Sthilg’s heartbeat, the sound was soothing and she enjoyed the closeness they were sharing. “I’m not going too fast am I?”

" No you go asss fassst asss you like." Sthilg said as he slowly began to wrap his arms around her.

Deanna smiled. “Then maybe we could continue this... in your quarters?”

Sthilg blushed before giving her a warm smile as he gently picked her up in his arms. " If you want me to ssstop just sssay ssstop. I hope you can understand that I'm rather out of practice." he said softly.

“You’re not the only one whose out of practice” Deanna smiled. “It’s been a long time since I felt like this.”

Standing up the gorn made sure she was secure in his arms before heading for the arch. " Well, we'll have to both be careful." he said gently rubbing his head against hers.

~ Sometime later ~

Deanna lay cuddled up with Sthilg, the whole experience of making love with Sthilg had definitely been a learning one, and highly enjoyable at that.

Sthilg felt a sense of calm that he hadn't felt in a long time as he carefully brushed Deanna’s hair out of the way of her face. " I hope that was enjoyable for you asss it was for me."

Deanna smiled and nodded. “It was amazing!” She ran her fingers over his reptilian skin. “I had no idea making love with you would be like that.”

" Glad to know my injuriesss didn't hamper my abilitiesss," he replied with a chuckle. " I'm glad I could make you happy."

“You more than make me happy Imzadi” Deanna smiled. “I haven’t had anyone in my life since I lost my husband, I thought I would never find another man who would make me feel as happy as he did. That’s until now, it seems Alicia has truly found a very special man in you Sthilg. If we could stay like this forever I wouldn’t refuse.”

" I can't promissse forever, but I am your for asss long asss I draw breath." The reptilian doctor replied as he looked into her eyes with love.

Deanna’s smile and the twinkle of emotional tears said it all. “I can’t ask for anything more Sthilg, we haven’t known each other long but in this short time you have become my Imzadi, my beloved, and I will happily remain at your side for the rest of my life.”

" I love you." Sthilg replied simply as he gently wiped the tears from her face.

“I love you too Imzadi” Deanna leant in for a loving kiss.

Sthilg leaned in to let her kiss him before giving her his own peoples kiss.

“You know I’m not going to be able to hide this from Alicia” Deanna grinned. “Not that I think she’ll mind you and I being a couple.”

" I'm sssure ssshe can guesssss, but would you like me to tell her?" The gorn asked reassuringly.

“Perhaps we should tell her together?” Deanna smiled warmly.

" Yesss that would be bessst." The gorn responded.

Deanna smiled as she cuddled up enjoying being held by Sthilg. “We don’t have to rush though, I’m enjoying this.”

As if the universe could hear them Sthilg badge began beeping in the medical emergency alarm. Sthilg sighed slightly as he reached for it. " I'm sssorry Imzadi duty callsss." He said apologetically.

Deanna nodded. “It’s alright, you’re a doctor there are lives at stake. You go, would you mind if I joined you later this evening?”

Carefully letting her slide off him the doctor hurriedly dressed in his uniform and grabbed his medical bag. " I'd like that. I'll sssee you later." He said over his shoulder. Stopping at the door he did what the humans called blowing a kiss before heading for the

As the door closed behind Sthilg, Deanna lay back on the bed grinning like a the proverbial Cheshire Cat, She just had to avoid giving away their secret until Sthilg was with her to tell Alicia. Slipping out of bed she quickly showered and dressed before neatly tidying Sthilg’s bed, and headed off back to her quarters.

{OFF}