Long Distance Relationships are Hard
Posted on Tue Dec 26th, 2023 @ 7:28pm by Ensign Connor Turner & 1st Lieutenant Marjani Smith
Edited on on Tue Dec 26th, 2023 @ 9:15pm
0 words; about a 1 minute read
Mission:
Episode 15 - The Evil That Lies Beneath
Location: Connor's Quarters - Deck 3 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD001 2000 hrs
It was a long day in ops. However, it was fulfilling. Connor worked with the computer core most of the day and there was nothing more pleasing than working with a computer. After all, it understood him much better than people.
The work, however, went much more slowly than normal. The Vulcan, Ensign T'Ket said something about Connor's new girlfriend that bothered him, that Marjani had a reputation for being passionate. Certainly Marjani was not a trollop, was she? Marjani had mentioned past individuals but nothing for awhile, as he recalled it, and no boyfriends.
Did that mean...? No, it couldn't, he decided. Marjani would have told him, wouldn't she? Well, it certainly would not hurt to give his girlfriend a ring, would it?
With baited breath, Connor asked his computer to dial Marjani.
Marjani had fallen asleep in her ship, after having taken Grand Proxy Brek to his new destination. The sound of an incoming message woke her up, and she gazed around wiping the sleep from her eyes. Her eyes landed upon the indicator letting her know there was a message for her. Stifling a yawn, Marjani opened it up and saw Connor.
"Morning." she quipped, even though it was nighttime where Marjani was. "How are you doing? How are things on the Pioneer?" She attempted to smooth down her hair which was a bit disheveled.
"Time differences are no fun," Connor observed. "And well, I'm alright. I'm much better, now that I'm seeing you. I'm still stuck in ops...." He let his voice trail off, thinking more about T'Ket.
"I am glad to see you as well," she replied kissing her hand and blowing it towards Connor. She had a bright smile then it slipped away as Marjani noticed that there might be something bothering him. "Any idea how much longer you'll be there? Will you get to go back sooner than you are?"
"Three and a half weeks by my count," Connor confirmed, catching Marjani's blown kiss and placing it on his lips. "I don't really know whether I can go back sooner, but I hope so." He shuddered slightly. "The Ops Chief.... I don't know how to describe her but I'm quite sure she has no clue what she is doing."
"Well, maybe the chief engineer will take compassion on you and let you have a reprieve. All you can do is just ask, right?" She propped her chin in her hand and just gazed at Connor. "Have you had anything to eat yet? I'm starving and I am going to grab some food, I'm kinda camping out for the moment until my next assignment comes about. I was told to stay within the vicinity for the time being."
"Eat?" Connor thought about it. He had been so engrossed in his work and his worries that he had forgotten about it. He blushed lightly. "No, I forgot about that." He shrugged helplessly. "Work was weird. I could replicate something so we could eat together separately, if you know what I mean. It is a shame that you were not allowed to stay longer. I had hopes...."
"It would have been lovely, however I needed to take one of the diplomats to a meeting, especially since I was sort of in debt to him. Don't worry, he's just a friend. He was the Grand Proxy on Poseidon Station." Marjani moved over to get herself a meal. "Also, I got what you meant, it can be sort of romantic, you and me having dinner together, even though we're separated."
The moment that Marjani said that he was just a friend, Connor's demeanor visibly tightened before he forced himself to relax. He headed to the replicator and made himself dinner: roasted chicken with mashed potatoes. He then returned to the holoscreen, content to be in Marjani's presence, but saying nothing.
Marjani's food was some soup, along with a roll with butter. She did see an odd expression on Connor's face. "Connor, what's wrong?" There was something going on and she wanted to find out what that was.
"Ops is mad, Marjani. I don't like it there. Well, I like the work. Lots of computers, but I met a Vulcan named T'Ket and I was telling him how I modified your ship. Do you know what he said?" He gulped hard, his eyes getting large, before he looked down and cut into his chicken.
Marjani had taken a few mouthfuls of her soup then broke open her roll and buttered it. "What did he say? It seems to be that it is bothering you. Just be upfront and tell me," Marjani replied consolingly.
"He said that you had a reputation for being passionate," he replied uncomfortably. "I took it to mean that you have a reputation for being a trollop. But that's not true." His last statement was stated almost like a question, begging the answer that it was not.
Marjani paused taking a bite of her roll, and tilted her head for a moment, as she contemplated Connor's reaction and his words. Then she answered after deliberately taking a bite of her roll before answering.
"Are Vulcans known to tell a lie, Connor? The ones that I have been around do not and have not lied. It doesn't seem to be in their nature. I do find it fascinating that he could be gossiping or, he is just warning you about the reputation that a few of those who pilot ships have. We play hard, we work hard, and we love hard. I am passionate, but does that make me a trollop? Perhaps in some people's eyes and interpretation yes. Do I cheat on someone that I am involved with? No. Haven't I spoken to you about my being a flirt? Yes." She then popped in another piece of her roll.
Connor paused to think for several moments. His eyes stared out into space as his thoughts went inward and he ran his internal calculations. After thinking about it for several moments. "This is true. You did tell me that you are a flirt. He just implied more. Maybe he is not fully Vulcan. I did not ask."
He shook his head shamefully. "I'm sorry, Marjani. I don't know why I let it bother me. Perhaps it bothered me because I do not have you here." He sighed pleasantly. "What I would not give to just hold you right now...."
"I can remember what it was like to be held by you, wrapped in your arms." She sipped a bit of her soup, then she commented, "Connor, you are someone who wishes to defend my honor if someone is speaking ill of the one you care about deeply. I've not hidden the fact from you that I have been promiscuous before we met, but I wasn't always seeking to bed everyone that I met either."
Shyly, Connor craned his neck towards Marjani, "Well, those days are over and we're together. That's all that matters. I'm still the luckiest Brit in the universe." He puckered his lips and blew a kiss across the connection. "So, how have you been handling our first day or two apart, depending on how time looks at it?"
"I do miss you Connor, I truly do. As for how I am handling being away from you? I cuddle up to my pillow and think of the time I've had with you." She gave him a gentle and fond smile. She caught his kiss and placing her fingers against her lips.
"If I had been thinking, I would have given you something of mine to keep with you while we are apart." Reminiscently, he smiled at the thought. He then chuckled lightly. "I do have trouble thinking when you're around, though." Connor smiled broadly before eating some more of his meal.
Marjani gave out a laugh, with a huge smile. "We didn't think of it, but when we see each other again, we can exchange something that will keep us company, sound good?" She had finished her roll and had eaten a bit more of her soup. "You know something, this meal is tasting rather good, and probably is because I am having a meal with you."
Connor's return beaming smile was instant. "Any time with you makes everything better. Remember, I braved the outdoors and an ocean with you," he told her with a small chuckle. "And I can hardly wait until we can next be together. I know we've only been apart a day or so but, do you have any idea when we're scheduled to be in the same neighborhood?"
"Sadly, I do not know when that will happen, and I am glad you were willing to brave the outdoors and the ocean. It was wonderful. You certainly did rather well. And don't forget you flew my ship and we saw space butterflies." Marjani added.
"I think I see or at least feel butterflies whenever I see you," Connor informed Marjani. "And whenever you fly your ship, you'll have to think of me. After all, I put a lot of myself and my own special modifications into that."
"Yes, you did put a lot of yourself into updating my ship. Maybe that is why I fell asleep here, feeling at home, and then you called me to wake me up. Hence, the good morning." Marjani beamed.
"Well, that's definitely something to keep me happy. I know you're safe in that ship." He sighed nostalgically and then said, "We're fairly new together. Tell me something about you that I don't know yet."
"I am an only child, but I have quite a few relatives including cousins who have been like siblings to me. I have a cousin Jimmie who is a marine fighter pilot. My Aunt Pearl runs a cafe' I helped out in the back when I was younger. I also was in my Grandpa Joe and Uncle Henri Smith's Flying Circus." Marjani smiled at the memories.
"Do they like antiques as much as you? Is that how you became so interested in them?"
"I suppose that is part of it. It had always fascinated me, and amazed at the fact that those machines were able to get into the sky. And flying them oh... just I don't quite know how to explain it, except it is a thrill to be had. Flying in a historical piece of machinery. And the history that was the forerunner of being able to explore space." Marjani leaning back into her seat as she basked in those memories.
"So, you'll be taking me up in one of those, I suppose?" Connor privately thought he would have to make certain all the mechanics were sound before going up in an ancient artifact.
Marjani moved to look at Connor once more. "Only if you wish. It isn't something that I am going to force you into. However, I can bring up the holoprogram, when we are finally able to see each other again, and I can let you try it out?"
Connor visibly brightened. A holoprogram?! Now that was exciting. "I still owe you some holotime," he replied with a smirk. "That will definitely be fun." He paused for a moment and asked, "So, where would you be taking me in this antique?"
"I am not certain where I would be taking you, not as of yet. It will probably come to me when we see each other again. Tell me something that I don't know about you. We've shared a bit about each other, but there probably is more that I do not know in truth." Marjani turning the question back towards Connor.
Connor thought about Marjani's comment and scratched his head. "My life is certainly a lot less colorful than yours," he told Marjani. "Let me think, I'm sure that you knew that I was not much of an athletic person. Two left feet, I have. I tried football. I do love watching it, but I'm rubbish at playing."
He thought harder, fairly certain that he told these things to Marjani before. "Did I tell you that I had a bird for a pet?"
"I think you did, maybe? Why don't you tell me about him or her?" Marjani trying to recall if he had spoken of his pet bird.
"He was a cockatiel. His name was Turing. He was quite attached to me and had a rather unique sense of humor. When I read, he would sit on my collar and nuzzle under my chin. He was a sweet bird. He even talked. Not much, but it was sweet."
"Turing, your cockatiel was named after... let me think a famous scientist I do believe. A code breaker?" Marjani's brow knitting together as she worked to bring that to her mind. Her Grandfather had spoken of him from time to time.
"Yes, but he was a mathematician and scientist, as well. He was persecuted because he was homosexual. Sad story, actually, but so were so many of the 20th century.... All the world wars and such."
"Those were very troubled times," Marjani remarked somewhat pensively. "So many things having had happened, that were horrible."
Connor readily agreed. "Statistically speaking, it also was the time of the most growth. In less than 70 years those people went from horse and buggies to space flight. Quite the engineering feat," he replied proudly.
"That is very true, all sorts of aircraft having been made, new textiles things of that nature. Being able to talk to others from a long distance such as we are being able to do right now," Marjani told Connor, her pensive expression disappearing. "The age of marvels and wonders." Her soup was now done, as well as her drink. Marjani gave a smile of happiness her belly was full, and she was talking with Connor.
"That it was," Connor replied, still eating. Either he was a slow eater or just failed to do so at a regular pace whenever he was with Marjani. "So, do you have any idea when that new assignment will be, or what it will be?"
"I don't know when it will be, and probably it will be another delivery of another diplomat to another meeting. It is something I used to do before I went into escorting cargo ships." Marjani replied. "It's part of my work."
"Seems like a waste of your talents and your ship," Connor replied bluntly. "But at least they would be safe with you. No doubt about that."
"It is something I like doing, it helps others. Question though how would that be a waste of my talents? I feel it is good for me and my ship." Marjani looking quizzically at Connor.
Now I put my foot in it. "I just meant that with all your flying skills, you could do anything that you wanted. If this is what you enjoy, I think it is great." His tone became more self deprecating, "I know what I do is not the most exciting thing in the world for most."
"It is exciting for you, and nothing wrong with that, Connor. Hmmnnn I think I want something chocolate. Yes, a dessert," she commented programming a slice of chocolate cake with ice cream. She took forkful of it, "Oh this is good."
"Dessert after your breakfast?" Connor asked bewildered and then started laughing. They were truly a study in opposites. She lived in the moment and Connor pre-thought everything. The engineer marveled at their balance. "You're something else!" he told her happily, yet incredulously.
"Well technically I had soup for breakfast so why not have dessert. Dessert is good for any time of the day." Emphasizing her point, she put another forkful in her mouth, the chocolate cake having some ice cream with it as well.
"You're something else," Connor told Marjani, laughing harder. "You turn my world upside down and I don't seem to mind it. Truly something else."
"It is something else you find that is exciting as well. I would say in some aspect you like just a little bit of the thrill finding out new things and the people you are around. Possibly?" Marjani giving him a teasing flutter of the eyelashes and a cheeky smile.
Connor snickered. "What I do know is that I rather fancy you."
Marjani had a huge smile and laughed along with him. "Aye that you do." There was a sound which caused her smile to fade away. "Oh well looks like our time is up for now. I've got an assignment, escort duty. Looks like Pappy is needing me and my squad. Must be something big." Marjani kissed her fingertips and sent a kiss towards Connor. "Stay safe Connor."
"You too, Marji! And be good to that ship, eh?" Connor blew a kiss in Marjani's direction and then made certain she saw him capture his kiss before cutting the connection.
Marjani smiled and said, "I'll do my best to keep the scratches off my ship. Oh, and Connor, don't forget the picture we took of us together." She gave him another smile as she watched Connor catch her kiss as she did his. When the screen went black she pulled out the image that had been taken of them while on Poseidon Station. It was something she kept with her on her trips. "Be safe Connor." she whispered.
Connor just caught Marjani's last comment about the holo they took together. He had forgotten about it. He wondered why. However, he certainly was about to make certain the situation was remedied. On his nightstand, he placed the holo of the two of them facing his bed. It was not yet time for bed, but he took enough time to lay down and observe it, imagining the two of them together in his bed. He heaved a blissful sigh and wondered what to do with the rest of his day before he headed to sleep.
A Joint Post By
First Lieutenant Marjani Smith
Pilot
Ensign Connor Turner
Computer Systems Specialist, USS Pioneer
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