Pleasant surprise in the bunk

Posted on 09 Sep 2017 @ 11:51am by Petty Officer 3rd Class John Hollenday & Ensign Mimi

2,427 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: Episode 15 - Emanation
Location: Danube Shadow on way to Akkadia
Timeline: MD 40 2200

ON:

John was at the end of this stint on the journey to some forsaken place that everyone else seemed to be quite exited though about the place.

"Well the engines all seem to purring along even we are doing near max, good work John, but dang if I ain't ready for a bit of sleep." He stretched and got up from the console seat and headed toward the back. As he went he wondered who the bunk mate would be. Due to shortage of room, they would be somewhat hot bunking on the way to their destination.

John tended to travel light so he had just dropped duffle bag and not thought more about things. He knew which bunk he had been assigned and made his way there.

A form was curled up and he could not quite make out other then slim form under the light blanket. He reached down and gently touched what was the shoulder and said quietly, "Sorry but time to switch out."

Mimi's ears twitched to life when she felt someone touching her shoulder, rolling over she opened her eyes and found herself looking into the brown eyes of PO Hollenday. "Already?"

"Indeed, but for you ma'am take your time. I would not want you to feel rushed in the least. I think I will go get some coffee while a lady has time to wake and rise. Could I bring you something ma'am?" John smiled and though he briefly let his eyes roam looked discreetly away even though no one slept in the nude on this little shuttle. It was just the polite thing to do.

"Some tea would be nice, thank you." Mimi replied, she sat up in the bed and stretched a little.

"My pleasure," John said keeping his head and eyes elsewhere. "Any particular kind? Sugar, cream?"

"No." Mimi said shaking her head, "Just tea thank you."

"Indeed ma'am," John turned his head slightly, "You did not specify if there is particular kind you want. I am not much of tea drinker, so I am afraid English Breakfast is about the extent of my knowledge." He gave her smile and wink.

"Oh sorry, I do not like getting woken up." She rubbed her eyes a little "That will be fine thank you John." She said finally remembering his name.

John only chuckled a little and made that nod and headed off. A replicator would make coffee and tea in just a few moments so he puttered about giving what he was already thinkin' as a furry little darlin'. Still she was an officer and he best keep his thoughts to himself. He waited until about ten minutes had passed and got the drinks and headed back.

"Here you go ma'am. Hope it is about right. I never figure if I have the replicator make it too hot or too cold." He handed her the cup of tea and then took a seat on the decking, blowing and then sipping on his coffee.
He quirked an eyebrow to see if she liked her tea or not.

"Thank you." Mimi said taking the cup, she sat on the edge of the bunk dangling her bare legs off the edge and took a sip. "That is fine."

"So while we are just sittin' here mind tellin' me a bit about yourself? Figure pass a bit of time and just might be nice since we are packed tighter than ten hens with a single roost."

"Ok." Mimi said, it made sense, they were all going to be close together for the next few days and John was one of the handful she didn't know. "I am a Nekomi, a species from far away, like caitians but a little more human."

John chuckled again, "Well that tells me what you are but not who you are little lady. Appearances on the outside, are just skin deep, what I want to know is the person that occupies said skin."

"A young woman trying to find her way in a brand new world." Mimi said quoting a line from a poetry book her foster mother had given her.
tag

John nodded, "Well, that is a start. Alright, let me give it a go. Born and raised down toward Valdusta Georgia, if'n you know where that is on Earth. Always been good with my hands but not so much with my head. Oh, don't get me wrong now, I ain't stupid but just not the smarts some people have. Give me somethin' to put my hands to and I am happy as a dead pig in the sunshine."

Mimi cocked her head to the side. "A.... dead pig in the sunshine?" she'd never heard that one before.

"I suspect not, just means give me something to do with my hands and I am oblivious to everything else around me. So now your turn." John nodded toward her.

"I was born on a Nekomi colony, 8 years ago klingons came and killed everyone." Mimi began. "A starfleet ship found me and here I am, serving in a group full of aliens i had never seen before."

John nodded, "I am sorry to hear about your loss but my mother, bless her heart, told me that an alien was only someone with a bit different skin that you had not had a chance to get to know yet. Like I said, I am not the most educated man, but I have kind of figured out that most of us share the same goals. Some security, some family, some friends to be around, and for most something to leave to the next generation that might be better then what we knew." He shrugged, "Well isn't that a hoot, me gettin' all philosophical an all. Y'all can just laugh in my face, it makes no mind." He then nodded his chin toward her cup. "That warm enough, fresh enough or do you need it warmed or refreshed?"

Mimi took another sip. "It is fine, thank you. Finding my family is my goal." She told him. "There is a small chance they survived or someone else that did knows what happened to them."

"I see, but let me hazard that you haven't a clue completely where they might be. Tough not to have anyone. Universe is big and bad enough and more so without someone or ones to share it with." John got pensive for a moment and then brightened up. "Well, where are my manners missy. I get you tea and plumb forgot to think that you are probably starving as well. Can I get you something? Startin' the day without good food is like sweet tea without the sugar."

"Thank you but I can handle that myself." Mimi replied, giving her legs a little stretch she climbed off the bunk.

John watched for a moment before turning his head away. She was definitely a pretty thing but it was impolite to just stare as well. "As you wish, ma'am."

Stepping over to the replicator Mimi activated it and placed a order. "A hot bacon sandwhich." with a small whirringsound it produced her meal and she went back to sitting on the edge of her bunk.

"Well," John said, "I do declare that sounds mighty good, mind if I get one and join you?" He got up and ordered the same and then returned taking a seat on the floor.

"I do not mind." Mimi replied as she tucked into her sandwhich.

John took a bite and then a sip of coffee and then asked, "So if you don't mind me askin' what brings you way out this way? From what I understand these Akkadians are not the friendliest folks in the universe."

"The only one I have met, Allyndra is nice. Me and her are oddities and we have to stick together." Mimi told him. "She is interested in my species I am interested in hers, so she invited me to come visit her planet."

"Well then my apologies, I just heard stories and one cannot believe everything that one hears. Sometimes from where I am from, we get painted as being backwards and biased. There are some, I have to admit, but mom raised me not to judge a book by its cover." He smiled and waved his cup in her direction, "and see, if I had not learned all that I would never have met such a....well you can write me up if you wish ma'am but I am going say it anyway, such a sweet and beautiful lady."

Mimi smiled her tail flicked slowly from side to side. "Thank you." She looked at John, he was tall, taller than even the tallest Nekomi she knew and well built.

John winked, "You keep flicking that tail you are going to get me all hot and bothered. Some folks find 'em odd, but not me."

Mimi cocked her head to the side a little partially in slight confusion partially to cover the little bit of rosiness that came to her cheeks. "You do not find people with tails and fur odd."

"Not in the least, personally I find them exotic. I dated a little Caitian for a bit back when, but I will tell you right now, she had nothing on you." He winked again and then looked into his cup. "Well here I am just a goin' on. Thankfully no brigs on these craft."

"And no airlock to throw you out of." Mimi said with a smile. "I am only joking."

"Well actually there is but lucky me, right now it is all blocked by equipment." John made sort of nod and movement of his hand as though to go to a none existent hat. "So if I can be so bold, might I ask if there is someone in your life right now?"

She blushed a little more. "That is very bold. But no there is not, I have not found myself attracted to anyone." She told him. Until now possibly

"Ah well, that is good, I mean, not being alone but I don't have to worry about someone coming after me after sharing a bunk with you." John chuckled, "Even if it is not at the same time."

Mimi laughed, this was her first experience of 'hot bunking' and she at least somewhat expected to be sharing with Allyndra with her being the only other female onboard.

"I know a bit odd, but I don't think that civilian scientist...." John thought a moment. "Helena Wells is concerned much unless it is something science related. She strikes me as typical nerd, laser focus on some phenomenon while the entire galaxy is collapsing around her. Get my drift....ma'am." He defaulted back to a bit more respect figuring he had pushed things and did not want to come off as being without some manners. Mama would slap his mouth for being rude to a lady.

"I think the term is tunnel vision." Mimi said, the sudden change of subject threw her a little. "If you have a job to do you focus on just that job."

"You are correct. Thus our current predicament. She just did not give a thought about who got what assigned to them. I do have to say though ma'am, it is not an unpleasant one. Hopefully get to..." John almost said, 'acquainted' but thought that might come off sounding rude. He liked the pretty little ensign and did not want to sound rude and crude. "talk you some more. Maybe over a real breakfast or dinner?" he ventured.

"I would like that John." Mimi replied with a smile. "Now if you will excuse me I must get dressed."

"Yes, ma'am," John got up off the floor and then reached a hand down to help her up. "I am going to set an alarm to get me up a bit early so we can have a bite of dinner and talk some more. Um...." he hesitated just a moment. "If'n I can, might you allow me to call you Mimi, it's such a pretty name. I mean just when we are in informal setting that is."

"I do not mind if you do, just not in front of the others." She told him then quickly added. "I do not have a surname like you Humans or Bajorans. So it is just Mimi."

"Well then, dinner it is," John said and then leaned forward again to say quietly, "Just Mimi," in one cute furry ear. "Now ma'am," he got more formal and stood. "Best you get on to your shift and me get some shut eye."

Mimi took her uniform off the edge of the bed and cleared her throat, although it came out more as a purr then a cough the message should have been clear enough.

"Ah right, now where are my manners," he said. "Tell you what I think I will go get some more coffee real slow like." He again made that motion as though tipping a non existent hat and headed off toward the back to the replicator. He puttered around when he got there but he made sure he did not peek. Oh she was a pretty thing from what he had seen, but gettin' on her bad side, was not the way to be makin' friends in his mind.

Quickly slipping out of her nightie Mimi put on her uniform pushing her tail through the specially designed hole for it. After pulling on her shoes she stood and ran her fingers through her fur. "All done, have a good night John."

John waited until he heard Mimi say something and then turned slowly. Well the uniform was tight enough to enhance things in all the right ways but he quickly nodded. "Thank you ma'am." he said. "Going to get some shut eye but I will tell you, nothing like the pleasant dream of gettin' to know you a bit ma'am. Dinner tonight still on?"

"Sure." Mimi replied. With a flick of her tail she turned and headed out of the bedroom area towards the cockpit.

"Then you be havin' a pleasant day ma'am and I will get us some dinner before it is your turn." John rolled into the bunk, taking a good whiff of the pillow and then was soon out but not before setting an alarm to give him some time to get some dinner.

OFF?

--
PO3 John Hollenday
Engineer Mate
Shadow

Ensign Mimi
Operations
Runabout Shadow

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