Turning of the Tide

Posted on 22 Jan 2015 @ 5:17am by Lieutenant Commander Dea Mialin & Commander Luke Wyatt

2,737 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: Episode 07 - Sojourn
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 2, Room 2613 Dea's Quarters
Timeline: MD-14 - 1900Hrs

Luke strolled down the corridor in his casual attire he had planned his and Commander Mialin's 'get to know each other' diner party for a time neither of them didn't have any duties. He made sure of that. Walking up to the dead end of corridors represented by her quarters door he pressed the chime and waited outside.

Dea spent a lot of time in uniform so it was nice to have a reason to dress in something more causal. Hearing the door chime she answered, "Enter." Glancing up to see Wyatt standing on the other side once the door opened.

As the door opened he glanced a smile towards her, he wasn't accustomed to seeing other people quarters so he was happy she accepted his invitation for their meal tonight. "Evening Mialin" Luke finally said.

"Good evening to you too," Dea greeted him. It was nice to have a change in pace for the evening. "This will be a nice change of pace."

He nodded as Dea stood at the threshold of the door "It will indeed. I must say that this is the first time I have ever gone to lunch for a way of training but I am excited to see how it goes" He stood still teetering at the door. She looked a lot different from when she wore her uniform more approachable and relaxed., exactly the desired effect.

"So what do you have in mind this evening?" Dea have followed the advice to dress casually for the evening. Luke looked different when he wasn't in uniform as well.
They had discussed her desire to get more training and his parameters for that but she didn't really know anything more than that.

"I was thinking of having something to eat in one of my favourite places and though Holotime is scarce I managed to acquire an hour." He replied observing her carefully, "And then maybe a walk where we can talk about one another I'm using this opportunity to - in a way train myself to"

Dea smiled, "Well then that sounds like a good plan to me. Any change of scenery is good. I've spent a bit too much time looking at the walls of my quarters lately."

Luke knew all to well how that felt "Well then, if you're ready commander" He motioned with his right arm down the corridor and towards the turbo lift. "Ladies first." He stood out of the way to allow her passage he smiled as he did so.

"I'm ready," Dea commented as she exited her quarters. This would be a new experience for her as well. One way or another she looked forward to seeing how this all turned out.

Nodding with a smile as he fell into position next to her he observed her from the corner of his eye. She was dressed in grey pants and a purple top something Luke could see himself wearing on one of his lounge days though perhaps minus the purple top and replaced with a black one. Regardless she gave it a somewhat elegant look where as Luke just looked like A Marine slob As Abbey would say.

She was also wearing a slight bit of make-up which brought out the colours in her face especially her eyes, and finally her hair was in a bun with a purposely placed fraction of hair that trailed down the side of her face. Cute Was possibly the way to describe Dea. "How are you holding up?" He asked in regards to their previous mission.

"Its been a rough couple of days but I'm recovering slowly on the physical side," Dea commented as she directed her attention towards Luke. "The rest will just take time though I can't say if any of it will ever make sense totally. How are you doing?"

Luke breathed out heavily "The same as you I guess, thought I didn't have my head scrambled but the whole thing with Abbey it's just a bit much to handle" He admitted "Time is the cure for all pain" He said quoting something he had heard once. "You do realise that no training in the world could have prepared us for what happened down there right?"

Dea nodded, "Oh yes I'm well aware what we encountered down there couldn't have been prevented by all the training in the world. Its more we were pretty much faced with a no win situation. Yet what overloaded my head is just as bad."

Stopping for a moment he looked up to face her "I think it's wrong what they did... In a way putting all that on you like that and then forcing us to see their history, if they had killed you whilst I was leading up security I would have wanted to bring that entire cave down on top of them" He began walking again "I would have done it for anyone of course" he added.

Letting out a bit of frustration as they continued to walk, "I don't agree with it any more than you do. However we also know that if we'd tried to run that would have been bad news. You'll find though that I won't put those under me into a situation I'm not willing to take on myself and allowing it to happen to Holliday or Blake was not an option. While it wasn't a pleasant experience there was really no way out but through."

"You're a wise person Dea Mailin" He said with a smile as they came up to the turbo lift at the end of the corridor "Seeing you passed out on the floor on that ground covered in dust and blood reminded me a lot of what I used to see during the war even during the year long Klingon conflict over deep space nine" Luke didn't speak much about his time during the Dominion war but felt for this exercise to work he would have to give a little to get a little. "I do wonder why they picked you, not that I'm jealous or that I would want it to be anyone but maybe they knew you'd pull through" The thought allowed Luke some peace.

As she entered the turbolift Dea turned to face Luke. "I wonder the same thing and I don't have answers for that. While I knew there was only one choice I could make I didn't want to die. Down there I was terrified. Yet I've gotten good at hiding it out of necessity." She paused, "I was originally trained to hit my target from the confines of a cockpit. But if things ever went wrong our goal was to survive until we could be extracted." It wasn't common for Dea to comment on her assignments as a fighter pilot. "Then I ended up on Galileo where I'm not a combat pilot but we've seen more combat then I ever expected for a science ship."

"I can agree to that, I sometimes wonder if this ship has a death wish and we're just all along for the ride." He thought for a moment as he gave the command of where they were going. "The Borg and this, and that's just in the short time I've been here!" He stated. "I'd like to think I'm quiet a skilled pilot" He said striking something of familiar ground.

Dea nodded as a smile appeared. "Oh?" his statement caught her by pleasant surprise. "I'd be interested to find out more about that at some point." She enjoyed flying and it was fun to talk with other pilots. Yet Dea also knew that didn't happen to be the full point of this exercise.

Luke nodded as if to finalise a plan "That sounds like something I would be interested in doing, I don't fly so much as the rank and job tittle suggest but when I was a Marine - Have you ever heard of HALO Jumping?"

"HALO jumping," Dea smiled "Yes I'm familiar with it." Interested to hear where he was going with that comment. Her attention never let Luke as he spoke.

"I used to do quiet a bit of it during my time in the Marines" He paused as the turbo lift stopped and the door opened. Gesturing for her to move ahead he continued "During my time off and into combat but I must say there's nothing better perhaps even flying a Peregrine fighter" He winked.

Dea exited the turbolift with a nod, "Yes they are unique birds. Piloting a starship is interesting but there's something that can't be duplicated in getting behind the controls of a fighter."

Luke laughed at the thought that he currently occupied "Do you think I could get ten minutes behind the wheel of the Galileo?" He joked knowing he'd probably destroy it in less.

"I'm sure I can arrange something one way or another," Dea smiled, "However I know for a fact several people take keeping this ship in one piece seriously."

"Well, there's nothing a little bit of latinum cant persuade" He teased walking down the corridor now alongside her "I hope you like Italian" he said finally the door coming into view.

A smile formed as she heard him mention Italian food, "Thats the one thing about a job that take you all over you get to try lot of interesting cuisine. Italian just so happens to be one of my favorite Terran food choices."

"Well, as it would appear I am not only the best and most amazing security officer I am also a mind reader" He teased opening the door of the holodeck . Inside was a balcony filled with tables and chairs and waiters buzzed between them serving food and pouring drinks. The view over looked on of many Italy's country sides with rolling hills and grape orchard scattered as far as the eye could see.

Dea looked around at the setting impressed, "Italy is one place I haven't visited in person." Entering the holodeck Dea nodded, "You've thought of everything it appears."

"You should go there when we're back in the sol system, its truly beautiful" He followed in behind her as a waiter waved for their attention and took them to a table at the very edge of the balcony "I couldn't quiet decide what exactly to do so I decided to pick a place I had been before with Abbey and well, this is the finishing project"

"The setting is perfect," Dea commented, "And yes Italy is on my list to visit at some point. Seems like there's never enough time to see everything or it gets delayed for various reasons but enjoying what life has to offer is important."

Luke nodded as they came to their seat, Luke pulling out her seat first "I am glad you like it so" He said smiling and waving his hand in front of the seat "Well maybe next shore leave you can find some time to visit!"

"Thank you. I'll keep that in mind," Dea replied as she took a seat taking a moment to look out at the scenery before directing her gaze back to Luke, "So what do you recommend here?"

Luke took his seat after Dea and looked over the menu "Well I am a massive fan of the Carbonara here but I've also heard that the Chicken Milano is rather something to be desired." He thumbed through the pages.

Taking a moment to look at the menu herself Dea considered Luke's suggestions as well. "Hmm a lot of things on here sound good."

"Close your eyes and then just place your finger down on the menu, that's what I usually do when I cant choose" He said doing just that and smiled "See Mmm Lasagne a plain and simple dish yet so beautifully refined."

Dea figured it couldn't hurt to try that approach. Closing here eyes she opened them a short time later, "Chicken Parmigiana it is."

Luke nodded as he brought the attention of the waiter to their table. "One Carbonara and a Chicken Parmigiana please" He asked then quicjly eyeing the drinks "And a glass of water please" Turning to Dea, "Drinks?" He asked.

"Water for me as well please," Dea added to her order. At the moment that sounded like the most refreshing option. Watching the waiter depart she turned back to Luke. "So now to enjoy while we sit and wait."

He nodded "Indeed! You're not finding this uncomfortable are you? I'm really just trying to help get to know one another in a none work enviroment and this could seem like I'm attempting to woo you" he admited nervously.

Dea knew what she had requested of Luke and what he'd asked in return. "No you're fine. This is not uncomfortable. You were very right when you said we need to get to know each other better for this to work. Normally we see each other on the bridge or in an away team environment but both are still work."

"Exactly, I just... I swear people get the wrong impression when two people spend time together and its not like I haven't kept myself to myself" He said sighing almost trying to convince himself then her.

At that Dea couldn't help but laugh, "Oh believe me I understand this is not the first I'd had to explain that. As I said before I appreciate your time and effort to assist me. Its safe to say just because I think I've trained for something doesn't really mean a thing when you get out here and it all hits the fan."

He nodded just as the server returned with their food and placed them on the table in front of them the Italian aromas wafting into the air and surrounding his senses. "This smells great" he said allowed as the server asked if there was anything else before returning to his other tables.

Taking a look at the food placed before her Dea smiled, "It smells amazing. Something tells me it tastes the same." She took a bite enjoying her first taste of a wonderful meal. "So now you see the other reason for my request. I need to be able to talk to someone who understands things from a combat perspective."

Using the napkin provided on the table he wiped away some escapee sauce from the corner of his mouth and smiled "There's plenty of those around here, even Commander Blake and she's a trained shrink" He pointed out but understood what she meant.

Dea nodded, "As I said before its not just that. So thank you." Taking a bite of her meal. One way or another she hoped this would be beneficial.

He smiled at that a glossy glow emanating from his cheeks. Lifting up his glass he spoke "To a new friendship, to new experiences and to those who are not here to share them with us" Luke bowed his head respectfully to their recently passed and to those long forgotten and honoured tradition in his family.

Raising her own glass in a toast, "To new friendship, new adventures and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice so we can be here today." Dea wouldn't easily forget what they'd been through or what made their job possible.


Sometime later...

Luke stood up from his seat and quick moved over to Dea's offering his hand to help her up. "Thankyou for doing this with me" he said smiling.

Taking Luke's hand she stood up from her chair. Dea turned to face her dinner companion, "Thank you for suggesting it. I had a pleasant evening as well. Its safe to say I needed something like this."

Luke nodded and smiled "I think there's a few people that need to just relax and take an afternoon off away from the antics of this ship if I have at least made one person fell so then I to am relaxed and happy" He smiled "Well back to it then I guess!"

"Yes I can safely say you accomplished that goal. Its been a fun evening," Dea commented with a smile. "And you're right its time to get back to duty." She knew the break had done both of them good.

[OFF]

Lt. JG Luke Wyatt
Chief of Security
USS Galileo

Lt Cmdr Dea Mialin
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Galileo

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