Loose Lips (Part 2 of 2)

Posted on 01 Jun 2017 @ 3:29pm by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Nesh Saalm
Edited on on 01 Jun 2017 @ 3:30pm

2,801 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: Episode 15 - Emanation
Location: Earth - San Francisco, Jiilav's Coffee & Slugs
Timeline: MD 05, 1302 hrs

[CONTINUED]

After breaking off the three remaining wings and eating them, Lirha now stuck half of the wing slug's body into her mouth and bit down. The crunchy outer breading gave way to the warm and gooey inside, and her tongue was soon coated in slug juice. It was pure bliss. The only thing that interrupted it, however, was Nesh's nagging. "You're right, I didn't," she mumbled in between chews. "And I won't because it's none of your business."

"It totally is," Nesh's rebuttal was short, if lacking in eloquence, "I totally need to know what seems to be your most serious hook up since Siren. What if they're an a-hole? What if they're an idiot? No one else is going to keep an eye on you're well being. You're an admiral, people expect you to look after yourself."

Lirha stuffed the rest of the wing slug into her mouth and happily chewed away undisturbed for several long moments. When she was done and wiped her lips with her napkin, she turned her green eyes to Nesh. "Oh. So this is your way of looking after me?" she replied with a heavy dose of sarcasm.

Nesh sucked the dip of a slug wing, "Well, I can't be worse than you. Here's a list of things I've never done to you. Got your ship destroyed, Shipwrecked on an ice cube; left you barricaded in a room to avoid horny Klingons; nearly got lost in the Mirror Universe, blown up again by Klingons during an exercise; Let you think I was dead. Threatened you with your mother. Need I go on?"

"That's not fair," Lirha protested with a furrow of her brow, her tone turning serious. "You already know how I feel about all of that...don't hold that over my head now, while I'm being investigated."

Nesh pulled the wings of her slug, and put its body between her teeth, squeezing until the crisped skin went pop, and squirted the creamy goo from inside over her tongue. Heavenly. "They're not going to do anything. There was like what? A zillion birds of prey waiting for us. All cloaked. And no one would have expected you to surrender to a geriatric Klingon in an ancient freighter. You did tell SFHQ you were going into the nebula, didn't you? You followed all the protocols for responding to a distress call. You had to. Its what? Directive seven? Eight? You've got nothing to worry about."

There was some unexpected comfort in Nesh's simplistic view of events -- one that Lirha wished she shared. Humans had a saying that ignorance was often bliss, and the older Orion suddenly wished she didn't know the intricacies of Federation law and Starfleet protocol as well as she did. Maybe then she could ease the prevailing stress that seemed to hang over her like a dark cloud wherever she went in San Francisco.

"I did my best," she quietly replied. "...We all did."

"Exactly. Nesh started on the wings of her slug. "It may have turned into an Andorian Cluster-" she broke off, "a disaster. But no one could have predicted that. You followed the stupid rules. They won't fault you for that. And even if they do. Screw 'em. Quit. You're young, ish. We can go travelling, say bollocks to the lots of them. She grabbed another slug. "So cheer up. And tell me who it is!"

Lirha took another wing slug from the tray and began to munch on it. "I don't want to leave Starfleet...I enjoy it. Most of the Humans are tolerable and I like exploring," she tried to explain while deliberately ignoring Nesh's repeated question about her personal life.

"You don't need Starfleet to explore. Look at every other power in the know galaxy. We could... get a ship or something. Go where we want. And humans may be tolerable, but Andorians are testy, Vulcans are dead inside, Betazoids are creepy, Tellerites are too hairy, Trill are weird, Bolians are are too damn peppy. There's more to the Federation than the humans. And most of it is boring." Nesh looked at her sister. She wasn't sure how to make her understand that there was more to life than Starfleet, there was this whole huge galaxy begging to be explored, and you didn't need anybody's say so to do it. "So don't stress okay. If exploring's what you want do, Starfleet can't stop you. The only difference is they offer a horrible uniform, and being trapped on a ship for five years with people you despise. And they stick their noses in your bedroom."

There was some truth in what her little sister had just said. But then again, Starfleet was all Lirha'd known for her entire adult life. And despite the rigid structure, it afforded opportunities that no privateer could ever hope to obtain. "It wouldn't be the same," she started to explain. "Starfleet has the latest technology and the best, smartest people. Their entire mission directive is devoted to the exploration of space. As much as Humans sometimes annoy us...they're natural-born explorers and they're very good at it. They are like our people once were, before the corruption set in."

Nesh took another steamed bun, and pulled at the white dough. She gave a sigh. "Even though you have to hide who you're sleeping with? Even from your own sister? You can't be happy, having to ignore someone who obviously floats your boat. Unless they're just a fling, then ignore away." She gave Lirha a knowing look. "But I've known you long enough. You don't do one night stands. You fall in love at the drop of a hat."

Suppressing an annoyed huff, Lirha stuffed the rest of her wing slug into her mouth then grabbed one of the steamed buns Nesh had ordered. She broke off a small piece which she also put into her mouth in order to let the two flavors and textures mix. "..m...appi, ...ut..up," she replied with stuffed cheeks.

"You know you just made even less sense than usual, right" Nesh smirked. "That's a personal best for you."

Three-quarters of a steamed bun suddenly squished against Nesh's face. Lirha had thrown the rest of her roll with enough force to make it stick against her sister's nose, and she let out a half-snort/laugh when she saw the result of her casual toss.

Nesh looked at her sister with mock outrage. "Oh, that's how it is?" She grabbed a slug, swiped it through the dip and pitched it at her sister. It hit her on the collarbone and slithered down into her cleavage. "Take that!"

The spice was luckily not very creamy or wet, but the granules of powder made their way down the front of her shirt in irritating fashion. Lirha quickly snatched the appetizer from her bosom and chucked it back at her sister, this time aiming at her ear.

Nesh ducked, and the unfortunate Hors D'Ouvre went sailing past to land at the feet of their handsome waiter who was coming to check on them. "Mistresses, is the food not satisfactory? " He raised a querying eyebrow at Lirah and Nesh.

Nesh coughed, tried to get her giggles under control. "No, no. Everything's fine." She kicked her sister under the table. "Isn't it, Lirha?"

"Yes, the food is delicious," Lirha replied to the young man with a polite smile, looking up at him. She then casually waved her hand to explain, "It seems my sister has taken an interest in you...and rather than speak to you with candor like a real Orion woman would," her eyes mischievously narrowed at Nesh, "she decided to make a mess in order to get your attention."

Nesh aimed another blow at her sister's defenceless ankle. "Lying cow, " she hissed, then turned to the waiter, her cheeks flushed slighty darker. "She started it, Nesh pointed out. "She's trying to distract me from telling me who her new bed warmer is! I was happy to wait till dessert."

"And would you like some... dessert?" He asked, holding Nesh's eyes.

Nesh's mouth went suddenly dry. He was very buff. Firm, and defined, and probably had a lot of stamina. Hell yes she wanted some of that. Anyone who didn't needed their head examined. "Dessert sounds...very tempting. I'll definitely have some. Please."

"Actually," Lirha interjected with the poise and confidence of a Starfleet commanding officer, "She has already stuffed herself on your steamed buns. What she means to say is that she would like to see you again sometime soon. In a more...casual setting. Perhaps when you aren't working, yes?" It wasn't really a question, but rather an order that the older Orion expected both of the adolescents to follow.

Tammuz bowed to Lirha. "Of course, Mistress. It would be a pleasure. My shift ends at four." He turned to Nesh. "Where should I meet you?"

"Two-thirty Henry Street." Nesh said fast. It was a small quiet apartment not far from the Castro. Technically she was house sitting for a friend who was currently off world, but it still counted. Four o'clock wasn't far off. Just enough time to whizz back, shower and clean up, and change the sheets. She could do it.

"I'll see you then. In the mean time, can I get either of you any actual dessert?" Tammuz smiled.

Lirha shook her head but not in reference to another meal course. "I'm afraid Nesh won't be able to join you today...or anytime this week," the older Saalm interjected. Had her little sister even told the man her name? "She -- like I -- have other responsibilities," she vaguely explained with a soft wave of her hand. Said responsibilities happened to be the orders given from Starfleet to not only avoid contact with other Starfleet personnel, but also report to administrative functions at the headquarters until the investigation process had concluded. And the fact that Nesh's Academy withdrawal notice hadn't yet been processed meant that she was still technically subject to Starfleet law and jurisdiction.

"Actually today will be just fine," Nesh said quickly, glaring at her sister. "I don't have any plans and my time is my own. " It wasnt her fault SFHQ couldn't get their act together.

Narrowing her eyes and presenting the younger Saalm with a scolding stare, Lirha adamantly shook her head to deny that arrangement. "You are under investigation by Starfleet Command, the same as I am," she began to explain to her sister. "If you do not do as they order, they will enact criminal charges upon you... For once in your life, have some common sense!" she all but yelled.

"Screw them!" Nesh spat. "They've had a month, more than, to get this sorted out. They even try it, I'll sue them for wrongful arrest and false imprisonment. I am a free woman now. I'm happy to stay and answer their questions, help explain what happened, but if you think I'm going to acknowledge any kangaroo court shit they try and pull, you and them can kiss my arse. They can't stop me seeing my family, or my friends, or tell me what to do any more. And neither can you!"

Tammuz took a step backwards. It was never wise to get between arguing customers. "I'll come back in a minute." He then backed away entirely.

It had been hard for Lirha to watch her sister grow up on Earth in her adolescent years. She'd been surrounded by a very vibrant culture and had often times used her free-spirited mindset to get herself into trouble. Eventually it'd gotten so bad that Aila -- their mother -- had almost begged Lirha to take Nesh under her wing and give her some guidance, for the alternative would probably have been a juvenile rehabilitation facility. And Lirha, like the older sister she was, had somehow managed to convince Nesh to enter the Academy and try to focus herself. She'd done well for her first few months as a scientist's mate despite the occasional transgression, and Lirha'd finally assumed her sister was finally turning the corner. But now this. Open defiance for Federation law, the law of the world on which she lived, in a public setting complete with obscenities. What had happened?

"Nesh," Lirha began in a slow and calculating manner that was devoid of any form of amusement, "You may be a grown woman in the eyes of the law, but sometimes your behavior is still that of a child. If you don't follow my instructions, or Starfleet's, you will find yourself in a huge sector of trouble very soon. Don't make this harder than it has to be. Please."

Nesh looked at her sister. For as long as she could remember other people had been defining her life, telling her what she could and couldnt do. And that had worked out so well! She'd just lost almost half a year to the frozen dung heaps of Celes III and Kreanus. She'd been ignored, neglected and then practically imprisoned to avoid a worse fate and the cow was worried about Federation law? She never would understand. She had got what she wanted her entire life. How was Nesh supposed to go her r own way if she just meekly bowed to what other people wanted. She was through with being everyone's doormat. "Then I'll burn that bridge should I get to it. But I'm not taking this anymore. Starfleet can't possibly bring me any more trouble and hurt than it already has."

"Starfleet won't. They'll just turn you over to civil authorities," Lirha easily answered. She plucked another wing slug from the tray and began to bite into the crispy breading. "And then you'll blame the municipalities, and then Earth, and then whoever else you feel has done you wrong without realizing that part of being an adult is following the rules. Just do what you've been told to. It's only two weeks."

"I haven't broken any civil laws. Or any laws at all." Nesh rolled her eyes. Lirha could be so melodramatic. "I'm a civilian now. They have no authority over me. And neither do you. Stop bleeting like broken record and get over it. You're just mad that I quit."

That was about enough for the older sister. She dropped what remained of her wing slug on her plate and stood up while brushing the crumbs from her lap and wiping her chest clean of any remaining spice particles. Some people needed to learn their lessons the hard way, she supposed, and if Nesh wouldn't listen to what she was saying, then there was no point in talking to her any further.

"Enough of this, Nesh. I'm going home. Do whatever you want to do, I don't care anymore. And don't call me when you find yourself in trouble again." Lirha tossed a gold-pressed latinum strip on the table before turning to walk away.

"Fine!" Nesh snapped back. Talking to Lirha was always a waste of time, so self righteous and unable to see anything beyond bloody Starfleet, as if they were the only thing in the universe, and she'd suck up whatever it threw at her just for crumbs from their table. Why should she bother trying to help LIrha when she was so stubbornly committed to martydom. "Go home and be lonely and pious whilst you're forbidden to see whoever it is your screwing! I hope your batteries go flat. Just remember I reminded you there was another way when you're groveling for your job like the spineless cow you are!"

The strip of latinum was more than enough to cover the bill, and leave a tip. She called the waiter over, glaring at Lirha's retreating form. "I'll have Death by Chocolate, please." She looked up at him. "We're still on for this afternoon?"

Tammuz nodded, "Sure. Nothing better than angry sex."

Nesh grinned. That was probably true. "Good." She glowered out at her sister, almost vanished inside the crowds. "One of us should be having fun."

[OFF]

--

RADM Lirha Saalm
Commanding Officer

Nesh Saalm
Civilian

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