Catching up with a friend

Posted on Tuesday 11 October 2016 @ 12:36 by Captain Melody Jones & Commander Cale Llewellyn DSci

Mission: Old, New Ship
Location: Melody Jones' quarters
Timeline: MD8
2428 words - 4.9 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

Melody was laid back on her sofa after her duty shift had ended, she had to return straight to her quarters.

She had kicked off her work boots, taken Nibbles out of her habitat and flopped onto the sofa. The small hedgehog was currently sitting on Melody's stomach. She looked down at the small furry face "So? How's your day going? Any plans for tea?"

Cale had just been wandering around the ship before realizing that he hadn't seen Melody yet. Tapping his new combadge, he said, "Llewellyn to Jones. Do you have any plans for tonight?"

Melody looked down at her spiky friend "Do we have any plans? No?" She then tapped her comm badge "Nothing I couldn't heartlessly cancel" she said with a chuckle. "You do realize you'll have to come here as when I'm off duty if I leave my quarters the alarms sound and the guys with the phaser rifles turn up.
Just give me 15 minutes to have shower and get changed."

"OK done. Have I missed something? I've got a new recipe I want to try out, Feeling adventurous?

"Sounds interesting. Don't worry i'll fill you in on the details. I'll see you in 15 minutes."

Melody dragged herself off the sofa, placing Nibbles back in her habitat. She quickly walked into the bedroom while removing her uniform spoke to the computer "Computer, activate the sonic shower." Ten minutes later she emerged back into the bedroom and picked out some casual clothes to wear. Walking back into the living area, Melody went back over to the habitat and picked Nibbles up again "There we are, i suppose you want something to eat too?" Then raising her voice slightly "Computer hedgehog supplement number 2."

She placed Nibbles and the bowl of food down in the middle of the room. "Ok little spud, you can stay out of a while but i've got a friend coming over so you might have to go back in your little house ok?" The hedged was totally focused on the bowl. Melody shook her head "Sorry, food first. Conversation second" she said with a wry smile.

Cale walked up to the door, rang the door chime and waited to be bidden to enter.

Melody shouted out "Come!" The door opened and Melody smiled "Hi Cale, please come in, can i get you something to drink?"

"A pink lemonade would be greatly appreciated. Now tell me why you're on lock down."

Melody walked over to the replicator "One pink lemonade and....." she paused "Make that two. it sounds nice" As it worked she turned back to Cale and gestured to the sofa "Take a seat, it's rather a long story."

The replicator finished and Melody picked up the two glasses and started heading back to the sofa. "I thought the Captain would have filled you in by now. What I'm about to tell you cannot be repeated for reasons that will become clear. It started this morning just after my flight protocol lecture. I found Save'ena.... That's Lieutenant Tillatix having some kind of panic attack. Major Johnson was there as well. I wanted to help her but the Major insisted a keep back." She paused as she sat, placing one of the drinks in front of Cale and taking a sip of hers as she sat down.

She continued "We went back to her quarters where Wolf's questioning somehow pushed Save'ena into some kind of conditioned response. I cant really explain it...... It was like she stopped being Save'ena and became someone else and to snap her out of it............... I slapped her! Twice!" Melody added with a shocked look on her own face. Looking back now, she was shocked at herself. She looked At Cale "I slapped her" she repeated with mild disbelief "Really hard. The look she gave me.......... Somethin inside me just.............." her voice trailed off, a shiver running though her as she recalled the look on Saveena's face. Blank, no recognition, nothing!

"Now that is quite a story, Mel," Cale could feel regret flow off her in waves. "You do realize that you risk a general court martial for striking a fellow officer, don't you?" Cale tried not to look at this from an XO point of view but it was hard to do. Then Cale felt something else, something he couldn't quantify.

Melody dropped her face into her hands. "I know..... I had to do something.........". She lifted her head again and flopped backwards onto the sofa. She looked Cale straight in the eyes "You know my mother was assimilated right in front of me, and all I could do was lay there and watch. I was only 18 months old but thanks to the Borg I can remember everything. When they had finished with her she looked at me before they led her away, and it was like she didn't even acknowledge I was there" Melody's voice started to crack and tears formed in the corner of her eyes as she went on "She looked right through me and I lost her. Save'ena gave me the same look this morning, like she didn't know who I was......... And I had to do somthing to get her back....... Anything...... Apparently Wolf said that had he not beamed me straight to the brig after that second slap, she could have killed me."
Melody wiped the tears from her face "Once again I acted without thinking it through......"

"I understand how you feel. There have been many times in my life that I have wanted to haul off the smack someone," Cale said with a heavy sigh. He moved to Melody's side and took her hands in his. Cale then smiled at his friend. Feeling her pain hurt him but did not get one of his famous headaches this time. He cradled her in his arms and held her absorbing her pain. "Mel, I had no idea. I wish there was something I could do..."

"Just being here is helping Cale, Thank you. But I do remember I was promised something adventurous to eat." She managed a smile. Melody let out a sigh "So now I'm confined to quarters when I'm not on duty for a week and I've got to see Major Johnson twice a week for counseling and the Captain........ Well, you don't have to be empathic to know what the Captain thinks!"

"Yes you're right. OK let me at your replicator an I'll get dinner for us both. Have you ever eaten any Cajun food?" Cale asked a he began programming the replicator.

"Mmmmmmm, Sounds good. So how have you been Cale? Are the Vulcan mental disciplines helping?" A rustling from the habitat in the corner of the room drew Melody's attention. "Look's like someone want to say hello. You haven't met Nibbles have you?" She bent over and picked up the small hedgehog. "When you've finished with the replicator I better make this little ones dinner too."

"I've been well thank you and yes they are helping quite a bit. No I haven't met Nibbles yet. And who is this little ball of fur?" Cale's voice sounded like he was playing with a baby. He even started to giggle when Melody handed Nibbles to him. Something neither of them had heard in quite some time.

"This is Nibbles, she's an African pygmy hedgehog. Don't worry, she won't bite and she loves meeting new people."

Nibbles had been sniffing Cale's hand, now snuggled down and started to get comfy. Melody shook her head "See! She does that a lot. If you give her some food, she'll be your friend for life. And speaking of food..........." She raised an eyebrow.

"Just about ready," Cale said with a smile. "Oh! Did I tell you? I'm just about done with my dissertation."

Melody was setting two places a the table. "No you didn't. What's it about?" When she had finished she came back and retrieved Nibbles "Come on little one, I'll set you up with some tea in your habitat and then we can have ours."

"It's about 'Locating quantum singularities in subspace using coherent dekyon beams'. I have always been thrilled by temporal phenomena. I know pretty dry stuff but I am a scientist first and foremost," Cale said enthusiastically while moving dinner to the table Melody had set out for them. "Dinner is served. Red beans and rice with andoulli sausage, cheddar biscuits and sweet tea."

Melody smiled "I hope this tastes as good as it smells. Just give me a moment". She walked over to the replicator and addressed the computer "Hedgehog supplement 5."

Taking the bowl from the replicator, she then placed it in the habitats and came back over to the table. "I hope you don't end up digging too deep into substance" she said as she sat down "I hope you remember that tale form the Enterprise D when Commander LaForge modified the sensors and members of the crew ended up being abducted by beings that lived in a subspace domain. Not sure I want any of that thank you."

She dug into the beans and rice. "Mmmmmmm. This is really nice."

'My work didn't require me to dig too deep into subspace; just deep enough to detect them in their natural state," Cale reassured her. "And you're right. This is good, very good in fact."

Melody sighed "A week confined to quarters when not on duty and I've had to come up with a cover story to tell Save'ena as Wolf doesn't want to trigger another episode so as far as she's concerned I'm taking part in some classified training. I can't even see her alone without either Wolf or security present. I do hope Wolf or Caroline can do something for her."

Melody shook her head "I've messed up but it was for Save'ena. I Couldn't loose her......." Melody's thoughts turned to Save'ena once again as she got a far away look in her eyes.

Cale felt the emotions flow off Melody in waves. He almost got caught up in them but was able to separate himself from them. He looked over to Mel, went to her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

Melody reached up and placed her hand on Cale's. She looked up at him "Hey, thanks for the meal and for listening to my troubles."

"Anytime, Mel. You've always been gracious to me. We're friends and that's what friends are for," Cale said with a big smile.

"Would you like a nightcap before you go" Melody said rising from her seat and walking over to the cupboard in the corner of the room "I'm sure I still have a bottle of Aldeberan whisky here."

"Yes please, after the day I've had, a little buzz is just what the doctor ordered."

"Ah, here we are" Melody said as she produced a bottle and two glasses. Placing the glasses on the table she poured two large glasses of the green liquid. She then sat back down on the couch. "Well, hopefully things can't get any worse. I hope Wolf or Caroline can do something for Save'ena, and I hope I can make Wolf see that I can be alone with Save'ena...... I mean see Save'ena without an escort" she took a long draft of her whisky.

"I'm sure you and she will be good friends again soon," Cale said with a big smile.

"Yeah.......... friends............" Melody added with a sigh, then tossed the rest of her drink down. She placed her glass down and went over to the hedgehog habitat "What about you little one, you'll always be here for me wont you?" she picked up Nibbles and started rubbing her belly "Do you have any pets Cale?"

"Pets? Not here on the ship, why?" Cale asked in return.

Nibbles had just totally chilled out on Melody's hand as she rubbed her belly. "Just wondered, do you get any empathic readings of Nibbles here?"

"i get feelings of contentment from her. But the 'emotions' are more 'animal' to coin a phrase," Cale said.

Melody smiled and was about to respond when the door chime sounded. She raised an eyebrow "I am popular tonight" then raising her voice "Come!"

The door opened revealing Ensign Justin Li holding a PADD. He stepped in "Sorry to bother you Lieutenant Jones, it just I have this weeks department review and oh.......... Excuse me Commander" He said bringing himself to attention upon seeing the First officer.

"As you were, Ensign Li," Cale said softly while casting a glance over to the young officer.

He relaxed slightly "Thank you Sir. As I was saying I have this weeks department review for you Lieutenant." gesturing to the PADD he was carrying.

Melody stood holding Nibbles carefully in one hand while reaching out for the PADD with the other "Thank you ensign, is there anything special this week?"

The young man shrugged his shoulders "I'm afraid not" he replied "Just the usual this week, If you'll excuse me I'm due on the bridge."

Melody smiled "Of course, carry on and thank you."

Justin inclined his head "Sir" then turning towards Cale "Commander" before turning and walking back into the corridor.

Melody placed the PADD on her desk before sitting back down "No rest for the wicked I suppose" she said with a wry smile.

"Rest? What is this? That word has no meaning for this entity," Cale said laughing. "He's cute."

Melody shrugged her shoulders "I Suppose" she mused "He's not my type. Don't get me wrong he a brilliant mathematician but a bit too......." She frowned as she thought for the right word "Scientific for my tastes. His reports are always top notch though."

"We can't all be everything to everybody, Mel. But he is my type," Cale said with a somewhat predatory glance in the Mr. Li's direction.

Melody arched an eyebrow but decided not to comment. She picked up her glass and drained it "Would you like another?" She asked Cale as she uncorked as she uncorked the bottle.

"Why not? Please," Cale responded with a smile.
Melody topped up Cale's glass and then her own "Well, I hope you have better luck than I've had on that front" she added with a sigh and taking a long sip of her drink.

"Me too, Mel. Me too," Cale smiled.

OFF

Lieutenant Commander Cale Llewellyn, DSci(pending)
Executive Officer
USS Merlin NCC 84401

Lieutenant Melody Jones
Second Officer / Chief flight control officer
USS Merlin

Ensign Justin Li
Flight Controller
USS Merlin