Surprise Tour For Hayley

Posted on Sunday 20 December 2020 @ 12:00 by Lieutenant Commander Hayley Godding

Mission: Homeward
Location: Earth
Timeline: MD 4 Morning
2009 words - 4 OF Standard Post Measure

Mathias had a surprise he wanted to spring on Hayley, something he was certain his friend would like. He tapped on his communicator sending a message to Hayley.

=/\= "Godding, hopefully I am not disturbing you in anything. I'd like to meet with you in about an hour. Will you be available? And where are you staying?"=/\=

Laying on the sun-chair on the balcony of her suite, she heard the chirp of her communicator and tapped it, hearing the message from Mathias. She chuckled and opened the channel.

=/\= "McPhee, this is a pleasant surprise. I'm doing what most people do on R&R and relaxing, so I'm sure I can make myself free in an hour. I'm at the Golden Gate Hotel over on Pine and Vincent. Room 808." =/\=

=/\="Great, I will be there, wear something comfortable to walk around in. Mathias out"=/\= he then ended the call.

-----------------

An hour later, Mathias showed up at Hayley's room and knocked at the door, when the door was opened, he said, "Hi, may I come in?" definitely filled with energy and there was a mysterious look in his eyes.

Wearing a pair of jeans and a white top, since she didn't know exactly what they were going to be doing, so dressed for most eventualities. "Come on in, Mathias." Hayley said, gesturing for him to come into the room. She noted the mannerisms he was displaying and smirked. "Well, you look energised and as if you're up to something..." She said to him.

Mathias gave Hayley a bit of a roguish smile. "Yes, I've got something planned, but I don't think you trust me enough to go blindfolded. However, I've got a transport waiting for us to take us on a tour. I know we can just use the transporter but... a flyby would be oh so much better." he chuckled.

She chuckled. "Well, I did put myself at your mercy today, so I'll roll with whatever it is you have planned." She said. "Come on, we're burning daylight. Let's go do what you want to do, but fair warning, if this is some ploy to get me to strip down, I will tell Fay..." She grinned cheekily.

Mathias laughed. "Well you are rather attractive and have more going for you, than just your beauty, I can see why Sansa fell for you." he gave her bit of a look waggling his eyebrows up and down in a comedic way. "I'd fall for you too if I didn't know what or who you liked. And if I didn't have an interest in someone myself."

"Right, now off to our adventure." Mathias crooking his arm towards her. "Off to the transport its waiting for us in front of the hotel."

Outside like he said, there was a transport with someone waiting for them to arrive. When they approach, the door is opened, for them to get in. Once they were inside, the transport took to the air heading southward down the coastline. When they got to a certain point, Mathias leaned in a whispered to the pilot. Who nodded.

Below them there was the ocean a dark blue, shimmering in the sunlight, the pilot maneuvered towards where there were a couple of tall ships bobbing up and down with the motion of the waves. One of them Hayley would recognize from Master and Commander; Far side of the World."

"We've got a tour of several historical ships, and also a little bit of a sail on the HMS Surprise, used in the movie." Mathias said with a grin.

"Wow..." Hayley said, her voice virtually silent as she looked out the window to the scene below. "Would you look at that... the real thing! Aubrey's actual Surprise in the flesh?! No way! How'd you pull this one off?"

"It wasn't difficult, I just checked to see if there was room for the tour and they had room. I did this the day after we arrived. I just wanted to do this, for you. Also I've got something to give to you as well." pulling his rucksack on his lap and opened it up. He pulled out a wrapped item, the size of an 11x8 piece of paper. There would be felt a wooden frame beneath the wrapping paper.

"Open it." he said with a smile, "I hope you like it."

Inside the wrapping paper was a color drawing of her in her uniform on the deck of the Tall Ship in her holoprogram with an eye of detail and capturing the glint of excitement and enjoyment in her eyes. The frame was skillfully handcrafted wood. A small brass placard said, "Captain Hayley Godding"

"Ready to land sir." the transport pilot said, claiming Mathias's attention.

"All right, thank you." said Mathias.

The transport settled down gently, and the door opened for them to disembark. "Thank you very much" Mathias said with a smile.

"Not a problem." the pilot said.

Hayley was still admiring the gift, appreciating it's true value as something that had been hand-made. "Oh Mathias, I absolutely love it!" She said. "I can understand now why Fay is so taken with you... another time and place... I'd be falling for you hard right now." She gave him an appreciative pat on the shoulder. "You're a very interesting man, Mathias McPhee, that's for certain."

She moved down the access ramp and out into the small field they'd landed in, next to the dockyard where several Tall Ships were tied up alongside. A genuine thrill of excitement coursed through her body as she looked over at them. "You can play on the holodeck as much as you like, but it's never as exciting as the real deal..."

Mathias grinned at her comment, remarking, "I've been told I'm interesting on many occasions." giving a nod. "Not many really would want to be on a tall ship, and I'm glad that you and I can share this as friends." taking in a deep breath of the scent of the ocean. "Captain, the ship awaits our arrival." walking alongside her towards the prized ship, the HMS Surprise.

He also had another mysterious glint in his eyes when they approached the gangplank which would lead onto the ship. He stopped and bowed gracefully gesturing towards the ship for her to be first to go aboard. "After you, Captain Godding" giving a nod towards the Boatswain who lifted up the boatswains pipe and gave the whistle to acknowledge the Lieutenant Commander coming on board. Mathias followed soon after her. Godding was saluted by those there.

The Captain arrived, giving her a nod. "Mister McPhee told me that this was an auspicious occasion. You had a raise in your rank to Lieutenant Commander. Congratulations! And on this special occasion, how would you like to be captain of this vessel for this tour. Once you explore the ship to your hearts content. Do you think you are capable of it?" looking at Hayley.

Mathias raised his eyebrows at this offer, he hadn't asked for this to happen it was just a tour around the harbor and out to sea just a short way then back to the dock. He looked at Hayley, wondering if she would be wanting to do so.

It proved nigh on impossible to suppress the grin she had on her face as she reflected on the offer. "It would be my utmost privilege to skipper this fine barky out." She responded, thrilled at the prospect.

The tour was pretty much as she would have expected, although knowing that what she saw and touched wasn't just hard light but rather the real deal, that the smells were real not artificially generated. The trip through the gun-deck was surreal, as they had to bend over to walk beneath the low deck-beams. The visit to the captain's day cabin was a real treat, set up as it was as it had been in the movie. The tour finished up on the quarterdeck where she noted that the crew were assembled at their duty stations ready for departure.

"Ship is ready for sea, Captain." The ships usual captain, who had now taken on the guise of the First Lieutenant, reported.

Hayley, now dressed in a jacket with gold epaulettes on each shoulder and a bicorne hat, stood impassively on the quarterdeck, looking slightly out of sorts in jeans and sneakers, but still feeling part of the ship none the less.

"Very good Mister Graham, cast off if you please." Hayley responded, already in the role of the Captain of yore.

"Aye." Graham replied, then turned to the Boatswain. "Hands to cast off."

The Boatswain nodded and blew a tune on his bosun's whistle, causing hands to move to throwing off the huge ropes that tied the ship to the shore, whilst others raced aloft to unfurl the topsails to take her out into the bay. As if by magic, white canvas appeared at the top of the masts without hesitation, and the ship began to move herself gracefully through the water away from the shore.

"Set your course nor-east by east by north." Hayley said, having quickly consulted the charts aft in the cubby near the helm.

"Aye Cap'n, nor-east by east by north." The Quartermaster replied, noting the course on the slate by the wheel, before checking the binicle. "Glass is steady at 39."

"Once we're clear of the breakers, I'll have the course'lls set and the topgallants reefed, if you please Mister Graham." Hayley offered.

Graham looked at Hayley with an appreciative glance, clearly appreciating how well she knew her stuff. "Aye Cap'n." He replied, glad he hadn't needed to offer any corrections so far.

"Also, I'd be indebted to you sir if you could see that Mister McPhee here is shown to his duties as Captain of the Main Top." She smirked, looking at Mathias with an evil glint in her eye.

"Aye Captain." the 'First Lieutenant' replied with an answering gleam in his eyes.

Mathias just stared at Hayley for a moment, then grinned, "Aye Captain Godding, as you wish." touching his forehead in proper salute.

The cruise went off smoothly as they sailed out into the bay area, performed evolutions out on the water and even had a mock-run with the guns - firing blanks of course - but it was still an outstandingly entertaining experience. Hayley was absolutely exhausted as the 'First Lieutenant' now took command again to warp the vessel back into the harbour and back alongside.

Mathias had the time of his life, loving where his perch was, loving the view he had. He also admired the way Hayley commanded the ship. When he climbed down and gazed about, he smiled.

She moved up next to Mathias and gave him a friendly peck on the cheek. "Thanks Mathias, that's the best day out I've had in a long time, and I really needed it after our last mission and its fallout..."

Mathias chuckled, and did a quick one armed embrace and then released her. "Well, that part will be over soon enough." his smile faltering just slightly, a somewhat troubled expression crossing his face. He shook his head, and straightened his shoulders. "I had a great time, Hayley and glad I was able to give you a boost. "

Hayley noted the momentary change in expression, but decided that he clearly didn't want to talk about it right here and now. Why ruin the mood, right? However, he was now a friend, and a friend supported another friend in their time of need. "I appreciate it, Mathias." She said. "If there's anything you ever need from me, feel free to come and talk - anytime." She said, putting a reassuring hand on his arm. "I mean that."

"I am very grateful to you for that offer. And I probably will come talk to you. Well on the anytime, I'll just send a message just in case you are... occupied" Mathias giving a teasing smile. "Okay, looks like our chariot awaits."