Life In A Box

Posted on Tue Sep 14th, 2021 @ 10:25am by Lieutenant Dylan Blake & Lieutenant Commander Chire

1,624 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Short Treks
Location: Engineering Laboratory Three
Timeline: 2430-08-31, 2255

It felt like the world was closing in on her. And so she found herself tucked into a cupboard because it was the only place she didn't feel as if prying eyes were watching her. Chire closed her eyes and took several deep breaths, as much as could be allowed in a tight space and willed herself to be calm. It was embarrassing yes, but it couldn't have been helped. She would just stop drinking out in public, that would fix it. Unless she got her own drink from a replicator.

"Chire? Where are you?" The voice of Lieutenant Blake called. He'd already looked in the obvious places for her, he'd assumed she'd seek sanctuary in her quarters - at least hers were private. As junior Dylan was forced to share and was immediately set upon by his bunk mate along with some other interested parties keen to hear his tale. He wasn't interested repeating the events that could have cost the team their lives and plunge the Federation into war - they could have read that up in the official notes later. He was more concerned but the welfare of his close friend, he knew she'd be taking this all to heart, guilt ridden her behaviour started them upon the slippery slope. He hoped he'd be able to convince her to see things differently or speak to the counsellor or Marner.

Letting out a sigh Dylan consulted the computer again having failed to find her: "Computer, what's the location of Commander Chire?"

"Lieutenant Commander Chire is located upon deck thirty eight, section nineteen, engineering laboratory three," the smooth voice of the computer repeated for the umptieth time.

"You sure?" Dylan asked lowly. "You don't need a diagnostic again to check reliability? Why would she come here? I mean sure, hardly anyone comes down here, especially this late its a good hiding place.." he trailed off having caught sight of something very familiar upon the deck - a feather!

Crouching down to retrieve it Dylan twisted the shaft between thumb and forefinger thoughtfully while his eyes roamed the lab for a potential hiding place. He cocked his head to one side having spied a sealed storage area big enough to hide a person. Crossing over his pressed his ear onto the door before a slight smile tugged at his lips.

"A-star for your abilities to hide Chire," he said softly opting to sit beside the closed door. "I've been searching for you for at least an hour."

"All you had to do was search for the only Creoli on board, would have led you right here." She answered with a slight muffled sound as the door was still closed. "I knew I wouldn't be able to hide forever. But I just wanted . . . . some time to think and to be miserable I guess. Crying over spilled milk. Isn't that the human expression?"

"Hmm, that's the one." Dylan nodded twisting the feather between his fingers again. "Did you want me to leave you to sulk or help you out of there?"

"I can't move. I have a cramp in my left leg and my wing is wedged against one corner. So I guess . . . . help me out?" Chire said with a bit of a blush to her already orange cheeks. "I shouldn't have crawled in here in the first place but it was quiet."

"Eerily quiet," Dylan remarking glancing around the deserted lab. "Like I said you picked an excellent bolt hole even is it's a tight fit, here let me open the door and we're get you out." He knelt up and tugged at the release mechanism.

Instantly he was faced with a wall of feathers when the door swung open: "Wow, you really did jam yourself inside. I'm impressed."

"As a species we are very flexible most of the time. We can still break bones but our bones are softer, pliable usually. I have broken a wing before as I'm sure I've told you. I don't care to repeat the experience." She paused. "Before I come out . . . . where are we going? Are there going to be people around?" She looked concerned about this.

Sitting back upon his heels Dylan paused slightly surprised at her question: "We don't have to go anywhere if that's what you want. We can stay in this empty lab till whenever, no one is scheduled to be here for several hours." He hesitated again: "Or we can go somewhere more comfortable if you'd prefer, its 2300 hours only a few personnel are on duty so we won't been seen."

"We can go to my quarters," Chire decided. "Will you please spend the night? I would like your company."

"Sure thing," he nodded. "We could both do with some comforting after today."

She smiled. "Somehow I thought you might blush at that suggestion. I guess you've gotten used to me." Offering her hand so she could have some assistance pulling herself out. "Dinner and then sleep."

"Considering you were screaming to the bar I was your mate there's properly no point to being coy any more," Dylan gripped her hand and upper arm to help ease Chire from her hiding hole. "I wouldn't be surprised if it ended up in the mission log too but it doesn't matter considering what happened next. I'm just relieved we're still alive."

Chire let out a low groan. "Don't remind me. It's all so embarrassing." Her colour flushed brighter, almost a red at the very thought of what she must have said and done. She only remembered some of it. Fortunately what happened after the bar was perfectly clear. Her feathers fell back in place, perhaps even smoother than they normally were.

"It will blow over," he assured her giving her hand a squeeze. "Trust me I've made plenty of mistakes and caused near disasters before now and it's soon forgotten about by the next mission. Let me give you an example: on the Finland my posting before coming here something crazy happened to power relay in the Captain's ready room this one time. I was sent to investigate but somehow managed to make it worse." He explained leading them out into the deserted corridor toward the turbo car.

"It got so hot the fish in the Captain's aquarium boiled to death," Dylan grimaced at the memory. "I've never had a dressing down like it before and still haven't since then, but despite that later that week it was like nothing had ever happened," he paused: "Except the marine life jokes lingered for quite some time afterwards among the other junior officers.

Chire looked rather shocked. "Those poor fish! Not very funny to joke about. I've actually been thinking of getting a pet. Have you ever had one?"

"Junior officers will find anything funny especially if its at the expensive of someone else," He shrugged. "You want a pet?" he asked. "Sadly I don't have any experience about keeping one, as a Starfleet family life was too hectic to have someone else to look after. What were you thinking off? Please say it's not that hideous plant that bough me out in hives?"

"That's not a pet. It's a plant. I'm not sure, perhaps something small and furry that wouldn't mind being stroked." Chire shrugged. " I haven't had a pet since before my long feathers came in. And he wasn't really mine. Rupert just came by sometimes. He was a friend but he lived independently. "

"Like a stray?" Dylan asked as they stepping into the lift.

"I suppose so. Though he was capable of taking care of himself, he chose to visit me often and we would eat meals together. I broke up the guri nuts for him to eat and I think he appreciated that. Or perhaps he was lazy," She gave Dylan a small smile. "So . . . what do you think of my idea?"

He smirked at her story: "It's entirely up to you, I'm not opposed to pets, they bring great comfort to many and have a calming influence but not all of them enjoy being copped up in your quarters all day."

"It wouldn't make you uncomfortable?" Her eyes were a bit wide, she obviously thought highly of his opinion and wanted him to be comfortable visiting her in her quarters. "Even if I chose some type of avian?"

The lift slowed to a stop and Dylan turned to her surprised by her questions: "No, it wouldn't make me feel uncomfortable," he shook his head wearily. "I'm not the jealous type if that's what you mean."

"No . . . I just wanted to make sure you liked animals I guess. Silly question really considering I have feathers." She gave a small shrug. "I'm tired, let's just go sleep."

"But you're not an animal," he reminded her. "You're a valued member of the crew no matter what you think about yourself and most importantly your very special to me." Then feeling either drunk on exhaustion or stupidity Dylan added looking over to her: "At least I've not seen any evidence of animalistic behaviour yet - for all I know the beast could come out when the passion starts."

Chire blinked at him surprised, blushed and then burst out into a fit of nervous giggles. "Well I wouldn't exactly know about that."

"Maybe one day we're find out," he replied before pausing for a faction before breaking out into a cheeky smile. "Don't worry I was teasing," he smirked. "Your face was priceless. Come on, lets go." He took her hand gently as they left the lift and headed towards her quarters.

She raised her eyebrows but decided not to comment. "I'm just tired, let's go sleep," she said taking his hand and leading him toward her quarters.

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