A nice picnic on a picturesque planet

Posted on Thursday 27 October 2022 @ 20:04 by

Mission: Revelations
Location: Ba’ku
Timeline: MD 03
2404 words - 4.8 OF Standard Post Measure

On:

Walking along the edge of a lake, Jack was enjoying a little bit of time away from the ship for a change. Normally in this situation he would be found working away in the ships superstructure all around the clock as, in his mind, he didn’t have anything better to do and getting the ship back to working order as fast as possible was always better then any delay. However on this day, Jack had an excellent excuse to take a break, an excuse in the form of a beautiful dark haired, mocha skinned marine. To say Jack felt nervous was a bit of an understatement, but he wasn’t going to let his worries disrupt his enjoyment.

Turning to his picnic companion, Jack gave her a smile, “have you ever seen anything so beautiful?”

"I am so amazed! And indeed it is very beautiful." Pearl giving an answering smile. She was holding her flip flops in one hand just enjoying the feel of the cool earth beneath her feet. Pearl shyly reached out her free hand towards him, wanting to experience just walking along holding hands. This so far has been a trip of firsts for her. First shore leave and a first camping trip for fun instead of a necessity.

Seeing Pearl hold her hand out towards him out of the corner of his eye, Jack decided to jump in feet first. Taking hold of her hand, he brought it up to his lips and gave the back of her hand a gentle kiss, “I’m sure the plants are putting on their best show today, if for anything but to compete with the vision of beauty walking beside me”

She wasn't used to this, Pearl wasn't certain how to respond, she then spoke softly, "Thank you" her cheeks turning red. " I am, flattered by someone as good looking as you, finding me beautiful. I don't find myself ugly and I feel I clean up nice, but you say such nice things and I am feeling... pretty in your presence." she finished off awkwardly.

Giving a loud laugh, Jack looked down at her, "well I'm glad I can make you feel better in some way. So where do you want to have this little picnic of ours? here by the lake or should we take a walk into the mountains? From what I've heard they are quite stunning"

"I wouldn't mind going to the mountains, I do like the scent of pine trees." Pearl answered with a smile. "Definitely yes. However I'm going to change to some shoes that are more fitting to walk up a mountain path." taking a seat on a nearby log and changing her foot wear. She had her runners in a rucksack she was wearing over her shoulders. "Always best to be prepared." she grinned.

“That’s why I still use my service boots from the Corp. they’re sturdy and reliable and once worn in they’re comfy”

"Well I was sort of packing light and left my boots back in my room. I should have thought of that. Oh well, I could say I was just slightly distracted." giving a wry smile, then a light playful nudge with her shoulder to Jack's shoulder. " The runners should suffice."

Jack gave Pearl a smile, "only slightly distracted? maybe I need to work just that little bit harder to be more distracting. Perhaps if I took off certain articles of clothing?"

Her jaw dropped open, her cheeks turning red, "Well... just the thought of that oh yes majorly distracting. Um you taking off your shirt. Oh my! Its getting a bit warm right now." Pearl waving her free hand well trying to fan herself and almost slapping herself in her face with the flip flops in hand. "whoops! I need to watch out on that."

“Maybe I should start with something a little smaller” Jack said as he stopped for a moment, knelt down and took off one of his boots. Standing back up straight, he held up the boot, “how’s that? Pretty hot right”

Pearl giggled, Jack's antics was making her relax. "Well it is starting to get warm around here." Since they had paused, Pearl went and sat down on a near by rock to change out shoes, putting her flip flops into her rucksack. Tying on her more sturdy shoes Pearl looked at Jack. "Maybe we can get things just a little bit hotter later on? When we make camp? How do you feel about fish cooked over an open fire?"

“Sounds like a plan. Though I’ll admit I don’t know what kinds of fish we will find here” Jack said as he knelt back down and tied on his boot again, “but what’s a camping trip without a little mystery.”

"Well I did look up what there was to eat down here. Can't be too careful ya know? The mystery though will you be able to stand my cooking." giving a light laugh. "I'm not a chef by any means but I can cook fish, and eggs over a campfire. And um cook biscuits but that is all that I know." Pearl offered.

Jack smiled, “well that’s better then half the MRE’s I’ve had. I could swear most of them were out of date, which for replicated items must be an achievement and a half” he said as he stepped closer to her and placed a hand on her arm, “I’m sure whatever you manage to cook will be fine. We’re here to relax remember”

Pearl nodded, "Okay, that sounds great." she paused as she caught sight of a market "Hey lets go there and see what they have. I've got currency and we'll need some eggs and flour for the biscuits." she exclaimed. "When was the last time you've been to an open air market?"

“This would be the first, unless you count the Promenade on a Starbase as an open air market” Jack said, as he reached into a small pocket on his belt and pulled out two slips of latinum, “well I’m not sure if they’ll take it but this is all I have on me” he said offering the slips to Pearl.

"That is close to one, but being under the open sky and catching the scent of yummies in the air, it is a different experience. " She looked at the latinum." I think they will take that," accepting only one of them. "Keep hold of one of them." giving a smile. "Lets do some haggling shall we? Its all part of the game that traders like to do."

“You want me to try and barter with one strip of latinum? I think I’d have better luck selling my clothes” Jack said, putting the slip back into his pocket and wrapping an arm around Pearl’s waist, “what do you think, should I start with my boots or my shirt?”

Pearl laughed and then stole a kiss from Jack. "Oh don't worry I've got it covered but if you really want to barter your shirt or your boots I could do that as well." giving a wink. "Would make things just way too hot for these lovely towns folk. "

“What? You don’t think these lovely people could handle the sight of an absolute unit like myself” Jack said, pausing for a moment to give Pearl a full body flex before instantly regretting it as several of his muscles complained about being used for the first time in ages by cramping up. Quickly releasing his pose, Jack gave his arms a bit of a rub, “oww, right not doing that again without warming up”

Quickly moving back to Pearl’s side, Jack gave her a boyish smile, “So, wanna see who can get to the market faster?”

Pearl was definitely taking in his flexing skills, and was about to answer Jack when a ping on her PaDD caught her by surprise. She looked at it and got a dumbfounded expression. "Wait, what is happening here?" She went to find a log to sit upon, as she read over what was on the PaDD. "Lance Corporal Pearl Bijoux this is to inform you that you are hereby being transferred to the security department of the USS Merlin. You will no longer be a Lance Corporal but a Petty Officer Second Class. It had been discovered you had passed the required testing for that area. Congratulations, and humble apologies for this misplaced paper work. Please report into Lieutenant Gregor Morgan forthwith."

Pearl could only stare at the PaDD "Jack? Am I seeing things? I don't get it. I took that years ago. They hadn't wanted me, so I went into the marines..."

Looking at the PADD, Jack gave a shrug, “maybe they changed their minds. I gave up trying to guess what the brass are thinking long ago” he said before wrapping his arms around her and giving her a kiss on her cheek, “congratulations Petty Officer Bijoux”

That did it, for some unexplicable reason, Pearl just started crying, holding onto Jack tightly. "I am sorry if I am making your shirt all wet" she blubbered against his chest. "I feel, I feel, like I have lost something. All I've truly known is the life of a marine. Now.. I am part of the Federation? I feel kinda lost, Jack. What do I do now?"

Keeping Pearl close to him, Jack simply stood there and let her lean on him. To tell the truth, he had an idea of what she was feeling, even though his transfer away from the corp was by choice and not by orders. After a moment, he lent down and gave the top of her head a gentle kiss, "it's all going to be alright. Trust me, if I can make the transition, I am sure you'll be able to as well. With a little guidance from your friendly boy toy"

Her sniffles stopped as Pearl looked up in surprise into his eyes. "Wait, what? Boy Toy? Jack? Do you want to be one? A boy toy?" she was a bit at a loss for how to answer that one. "Maybe boyfriend?" oh gosh, she just said that, her cheeks going red.

For the first time in a while, Jack chose to measure out his words carefully. While he did like Pearl and definitely was attracted to her, he didn’t want to throw another spanner into the works for her right now. In the past few minutes her life had gone from recovering to crashing with this sudden transfer to Security and right now, Jack understood what she was feeling, at least in a small way. His transfer to Engineering was by his own choice, but the change in lifestyle was quite a wake up call for him, so he could only imagine what Pearl was feeling right now. Allowing the warm smile to drop from his face, Jack looked down at Pearl, “believe me, I would like nothing more right now, but I don’t want to be the straw that breaks your back, not after all of the excellent progress you made with yourself. You’re going to need time to process things and to get used to your new role in Starfleet and the last thing I want to do is add to that emotional baggage” he said before leaning down and giving her forehead a kiss, “why don’t we just have this moment to ourselves and worry about labels later”

"OKay, just one thing Jack, don't disappear on me. Maybe we can go on some dates later on, that is, if you want. Or If you want to just be friends okay I can deal." Pearl deciding to put that out there. "You are right, just need one step at a time and I'm going to just have fun with you, going camping, fishing and sleeping out under the stars. Just live in this moment." Pearl definitely calming down now. Jack was really helping her out, and he didn't shove her away. She smiled softly.

"So back to your other question, want to see who will get to the market the fastest?" Looking back up into Jack's eyes. Then she darted away towards the market place with a laugh.

==An Hour Later==

Pearl was munching on a piece of jerky having a bit of a smile, she managed to score some nice deals in her bargaining, she and Jack had some good supplies for their camping trip. It had been a really hard and fun haggling game both parties were satisfied when it came to the end of it.

"So think we're outfitted enough for our fun? And now off to find a camping spot, build a fire and just relax"

“I’d be surprised if they let us back into the market with that silver tongue of yours” Jack answered as he walked beside her. Although every fiber of his being was telling him to, he did his best to keep from sweeping Pearl back into his arms. Maybe a good nights sleep under the stars would help his mind clear a little, “try and relax would ya” he said to himself under his breath.

Pearl wriggled her toes in her new moccasins, "These feel sublime." she crooned, "That tradesman does fine handiwork."

She did a slight dance, just reveling in the feel, then Pearl went back to Jack's side. "I also got a map to where we could camp out for a couple of days. Hey there is the trail marker." the dark haired woman pointed. "I am very excited, maybe too excited but hey despite the first surprise change in my career, I am here with you. And it is a great day!"

Jack nodded, “it is a great day” he said before giving a sigh, “well you’ve got the map, so how about you take the lead and show me where these wonderful camping spots are”

"Okay I'll lead you on." giving bit of wink, and trying too make a joke. Pearl reached out and took one of Jack's hands. "Okay let's go." She couldn't help herself she just wanted to hold his hand.

END

PO2C Pearl Bijoux
Security
USS Merlin

CPO Johnathan ‘Jack’ MacGyver
Operations Specialist
USS Merlin