Hello Holly Part I
Posted on Mon Jul 3rd, 2023 @ 8:33pm by Lieutenant Commander Alyssa Maren & Ensign Connor Turner
Edited on on Mon Jul 3rd, 2023 @ 9:11pm
0 words; about a 1 minute read
Mission:
Episode 14 - The Poseidon Adventure
Location: Connor's Quarters - Deck 3 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD013 1730 hrs
It did not take a lot of effort for Connor to do a computer search and find his girlfriend Holly Moore. She had been promoted to a Junior Grade Lieutenant and was aboard the USS Sutherland and if he read her record right, was likely to get a position as the Assistant Chief Science Officer soon. From what he could read of her record, she had been doing as she had when she was with him: taking chances, and making incredible leaps of logic and discoveries.
Holly looked the same as she did when they parted. She had long, blonde hair in cascading waves that framed her face perfectly. Her blue eyes were as calm or as stormy as the sea, depending on her mood. He knew beneath that professional picture was a joyful smile that would show her perfect white teeth. Maybe he idealized her, but if he did, so did a lot of other men at the Academy. She definitely had her choice of suits.
Why she ever chose him, he never knew. She was too beautiful, too kind, and too perfect. He was just, well, him. But for whatever reason, she got him to do things, even when he would not otherwise do so. Even now, he was in space, essentially hoping to prove himself to her.
But now, he was alone and he was terribly confused. In looking up the Sutherland's travel, they had at least one shore leave a month ago. So, why had Connor not heard from her?
Without the answers, Connor instructed the computer to call Holly Moore on the Sutherland.
Holly had a busy day. Busy, but rewarding. She'd just settled on the couch in her quarters with a book and a cup of tea when her computer chimed an incoming message. She had no idea who might be contacting her, so set her tea and book on her desk and looked at the image on her screen. She stared for several seconds, then answered. "Connor?"
"Hi, Holly!" Connor replied with more enthusiasm than he might have initially felt. However, there was something about this woman that always made him more energetic, more lively. "How are you, sweetie? You're never going to believe where I am."
"Where did you end up after graduation?" she asked. She was still surprised to see him. How long had it been...a year? He looked good. She hoped he liked wherever he was.
"You forgot?" Connor asked disappointed but then launched into an explanation. "I went to Utopia Planitia. And well, I know you were always trying to get me to come to space, so I finally transferred to the USS Pioneer. We're on shoreleave now, so I thought I'd ring you up...."
"Oh, that's right." She smiled sheepishly. "I've been so busy over the past year..." She shook her head. "The Pioneer. I've heard of the ship. That's impressive. How do you like it?" She was surprised he left Utopia Planitia, but she wasn't sure she should say as much. Although she had encouraged him to get out into space and see more of the universe.
"Well, um," he paused, not knowing how to continue. "It is very different than a Starbase," he told her honestly. "The Poseidon Station has a lot more people, which is a bit daunting. My new immediate boss, she's right mad!" Connor replied, becoming more indignant. "Her name is Ensign F'rar. She's the Assistant Chief Engineer. Can you believe that she's an Assistant Chief just as an Ensign? Oh, my, Holly! She's has been all over me since I got here. I think she is part Bajoran and Cardassian. I had the unfortunate accident of bumping into her on Poseidon Station and then she dragged me to Pioneer, which I appreciated at first. Then she took me to the mess and started insulting computers. I'm sure you can imagine that did not sit well with me. Then, she kept insisting that I was flirting with her, when I most definitely was not! I told her that I had a girlfriend, namely you, and she did not believe me! Then she wanted to sit in on my medical exam and thank God the doctor shooed her away! She's been such a problem that the Engineering Chief transferred me to ops for the next month." He sighed heavily. "So, it has not been easy."
The woman sounded terrifying. "You know that's harassment and should be reported, right?" She shook her head. "And how can someone in engineering hate computers? Well, I guess she just focuses on the power, but still... I'm sorry you had to run into someone like her right off. I'm glad you're in ops for the next month. You can keep away from her and still work on computers."
Holly paused, feeling awkward. She had to tell him, but she didn't want to hurt his feelings. She still liked Connor...but not that way. "Umm, Connor...about the other... Well, it's been a year since we graduated, and I've been really fortunate to be on the Southerland. I've had a lot to do, and I really love exploring. The thing is...I don't think either one of us have time for a long-distance relationship right now. I was so busy getting settled in and finding my place in the science department that I didn't realize how much time passed. Then it was six months, and we hadn't even talked to each other. So, I figured you had moved on, too." She sighed. "I want to stay friends. You helped make the Academy better, but we both have a long way to go in our careers before we--well, I--am ready for a relationship. I'm a girl, and I'm your friend, so feel free to use me against this troglodyte of an ensign, but you really should move on, if you find anyone you'd like to spend time with." She stopped, looking anxiously at his face for his reaction.
Connor remained silent for several moment, his face blank, as he processed the information. It seemed that everyone was telling him the same thing. By the same token, Holly was not really saying that they were broken up. He scratched his head, as he continued to filter the information through his mind. "I don't think I understand, Holly. Well, or maybe I don't have a lot of clarity."
He paused again and tried to better frame what he was saying to her. "You say that you didn't realize how much time passed. I understand that. You know how I am when I get involved in my work and I know you're one of those people that goes all in, too. So, I thought you were just busy and I did not want to interrupt you." He fretted before continuing, "You said, you thought that I moved on too. That implies that you have done something that would terminate our relationship. Am I understanding correctly?" Connor could feel his heart dropping into to the pit of his stomach.
"Not...exactly." She sighed. She should have contacted him six months ago. She should have remembered that Connor needed clearly spelled-out words. "While I did get wrapped up in work and failed to notice how much time had passed, when I did, I also realized that I didn't miss you as much as I should have if we were in a long-term relationship."
She smoothed down the hair in her ponytail. "What I realized is that while I like you and I liked spending time with you, if I really cared about you, I would have missed you more than I did. I would have thought about you and I would have contacted you. The time and distance made me see that what we had wasn't real." She smoothed her ponytail over her shoulder again and sighed. "No, it was real, but it wasn't love." She met his eyes again. "Can you honestly say that you haven't found someone on that ship of yours who makes you think about kissing her? Someone--not the crazy person--but someone else you want to spend your time with?"
"No, I had not thought about anything like that," Connor replied honestly. "But a few days ago, someone kissed me," he confessed. "I did not know what to do." He panicked slightly, despite the fact that he now understood that Holly was not convinced that they should continue being a couple. "I did not kiss her back!" he professed. "And then she kissed me again, though, I think it was on the cheek. All I did was fix her ship. I mean, I did my job. She needed someone that knew computers and I was referred to her." He shook his head. "Of course, I told her I had a girlfriend, so I think the other kiss was more of a thank you, since it was not on the lips and respecting our relationship, but, well, it is confusing, Holly. She talked to me like you - explaining things and suggested our lack of contact was, well, a malfunction because we had not communicated. So, obviously, I had to fix it." He shrugged apologetically.
"You're talking about Ensign F'rar as the crazy person, right? Just checking. She's mad! I don't know how to get rid of her. I don't know, maybe I'll stay in ops. I've never seen anyone behave like that. Then again, I, well, you know...."
A Joint Post By
Ensign Connor Turner
Computer Systems Specialist, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant JG Holly Moore
Science Officer, USS Southerland
NPC by Alyssa Maren
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