Time to stretch

Posted on 22 Oct 2017 @ 4:52pm by Ensign Mimi & Petty Officer 3rd Class John Hollenday

3,173 words; about a 16 minute read

Mission: Episode 15 - Emanation
Location: Ryn
Timeline: Md 50 evening

ON:

Now at the end of her days work on the survey Mimi walked back into the temporary camp they had built, she checked the equipment she had taken back in and got a package of food from the supplies. "I will be at the top of the hill if anyone needs me." She called out, not even knowing if there was anyone within earshot to acknowledge her.

John was making sure the power was flowing well and that the force fields were in tip top shape. The survey parties had indicated that there were some petty dangerous animals in the area. Thankfully they were far enough away from the ocean. That black haired brainiac had showed him a recording of some sort of tentacled sea creature snatching one of the big cattle like things. Those things themselves were big, easily over his head at shoulder height and well over 1000 kilos, yet that sea creature had just lifted it off like it was straw in the wind.

He heard Mimi say something and frowned. Oh he was quite happy that she was back, and they had started to share a bit more on the shuttle and since but right now heading out alone was not a good idea. He grabbed a phaser rifle and a PaDD and headed off in the direction she had taken.

With her food in hand she set off for a hill she had found during an earlier survey, it was not too far from the camp and as she had found it had an amazing view of the rolling plains. On the way up she remembered that she hadn't done much in the way of excericise today so switching to standing on her toes she started to run up the hill; it wasn't very steep but it was high and by the time she reached the top she was panting a little.

Planting her feet back down she hopped up onto the large rock at the summit of the hill where she sat dangling her feet over the edge.

"Well that is impressive, but best you should have one of these!" John called out and slapped at the rifle. "You see any of the vids of this place yet?"

Mimi's ears twiched and turned in the direction of the voice closely followed by her head. "John, what are you doing up here." She asked.

"Come to make sure nothing snatches you up. I know you just came over from the main world but the commander says we should be in pairs outside the force field. Here," he handed her the PaDD. "Take a look at some the local fauna around here. Personally I think the Federation got taken in whatever bargain was made."

Mimi took the Padd, the local flora and fauna was pretty bare. "Anything trying to snatch me up would have a very hard time, I have not met any animal I can not outrun, my species are extremely fast."

"I have no doubt about that!" John said. "Still orders are orders but if'n it gets me some time to sit with a pretty little lady watching that big ol' planet float above then sign me up anytime. Still not used to it quite yet," he jerked a hand toward the main planet that rather dominated the sky all the time. "So tell me, what did you do on Akkadia?"

"Mostly exploring." Mimi replied. "It is an interesting planet and the people there are very unusual." She didn't mention the real reason she had stayed on Akkadia for a while when almost everyone else had came to Ryn.

"Ah, well, now you are here and get a new place to explore. Me, they just have me making sure it all works. An Engineer's task is never done." John got a bit of hint that she did not want to say more about her trip on Akkadia at least not yet. So he changed the subject around. "So....." he looked around pointedly and then said, "Mimi, tell me what does it mean? And Nekomi sound like a nice people. I wouldn't mind knowing a bit more about you."

"Darkness and the light." Mimi replied with a slight chuckle.

"Pardon? I am not sure what you are referring to." John had his attention caught by a heard of those weird six legged cattle but they seemed intent to be moving along not paying them any attention.

"You asked what it meant." Mimi explained. "It is not quite accurate though. My name and my twin sister Tali's names are very close to the Nekomi words for 'dark' and 'light'."

"Ah, I see. Got a sister, hope no vengeful brothers. I mean, some folks take really poorly to having their sister talking to ugly ass strangers like me."

"You are not ugly John." Mimi told him. "I think my sister would have liked you too. And no I do not have any brothers."

"Ah well thanks for saying, but no tail, no pert ears, plain as day. However, no brothers to come beat me up is good." He chuckled but then got serious.
"Iff'n I may, you said last of your kind or some such. Is that true? Would be a shame."

"I am the only alive Nekomi known to the federation, we had a colony about 5 light years away from the federation border at Ceti Alpha." She started to explain. "Eight years ago some Klingons came, they wanted the dilithium from our mine there."

Her usual smile slowly left her face as it did every time she told this story. "They would not trade for it so we would not sell it to them, so the started killing everyone."

John's face got hard. "No honour," he said that flatly. "I have known some and they can be a hard people, but some really respect that ideal of honour and others well they may say it but they do not have it. So you said a colony?
Then there is a homeworld with perhaps the rest of your kind?"

"The homeworld is out there somewhere, I just do not know where, I have a few breadcrumbs to work with but that is all. I was the only one found alive by a starfleet ship and after a few hours it left the colony leaving me with just the clothes I had on my back and a backpack with a few things in."

John took a chance and leaned over and put an arm around Mimi and pulled her close. "I am sorry darlin'. Hope you can find your people again one day but remember there are friends here that care. I count myself among them."

Mimi let John pull her to him "Thank you John." She leaned into him and rest her head against his shoulder.

John did not say a word but just held her. It was nice, her fur was oh so soft and the body beneath the hand oh so taut. He could see himself doing this quite often but he pushed that out of his mind. Right now she just needed to know she was not alone.

They stayed that way for a bit but he finally said, "This place is goin' to goin' into planet shadow in a bit. Should be headed back, but tell you what, just for fun, let's just race it shall we. You're goin' to show ol' flat foot up, but I could use the stretch myself."

"A race?" Mimi asked a little surprised. "A race downhill is not the best idea." The hill wasn't too steep but going down it was still potentially dangerous. "The chance of falling down is high."

"Ma'am I have taken more than my fair share of falls. Now, if you are not game...." he did not finish but turned and started off. He would not call it much of a run, picking his way over the ground but he would give it his best try. "Catch me if'n you can." He did not bother to turn his head to watch his step.

Mimi chuckled slightly watching him go down the hill, she gave him a few seconds head start then set off in pursuit darting down off the rock to catch up.

John tried to go a bit faster as he heard her take off. She was light on her feet for if he had not been paying attention he would never have heard the soft sounds on the vegetation.

It did not take long for Mimi to catch up, as she reached him she slowed down to his pace. "I thought I should go a little easy on you." She told him, she had kept her legs planted like Johns rather than running on her toes, it slowed her down a little but not much.

"You are just bein' kind to an out of shape engineer missy," he replied and slowed just a bit now that the 'race' was over. "I think I am goin' to have to work out a lot more to even keep up with you." He winked. A little flight of fantasy in his head, but he pushed that away. He hardly knew her that well and she was a superior officer. No, a bit of fantasy was alright but this was someone he really wanted to get to know well not just have a bit of quick fun with.

They reached level ground and he walked along then pointed, "What the heck is that?" As she turned he took off again as fast as he could. This was level ground though he had no doubts about how fast she could really go.

Mimi turned expecting to see one of the large creatures the Akkadians had seeded on the planet, but none had come near the base camp recently and there were none in sight, she turned back to John and realised that he had tricked her. Shaking her legs a little she switched to standing on her toes and ran after him.

The distraction gave John a little head start. He had no illusions as to who would win this race. He would do his best.

In only a few seconds Mimi accelerated quickly, easily covering the distance between herself and John, as she passed him she slowed down again, staying fast enough that she'd win but slow enough that she wouldn't win by too much.

"Well darl'in I was a hopin' to get a bit more but you're dang fast. Wew! Let's stop a minute." John took a seat on the ground and patted. "We are not too far away and have a few minutes yet. Before I have to be all petty officer like let's just forget rank for a bit."

"I did say so long as it is not in front of the others you can." Mimi said, her stomach made a few unusual noises as she sat down beside John.

"You hungry darlin'? If so we can head on back and I can rustle you somethin' up."

Mimi suddenly remembered about the food pack she'd taken with her, she'd left it on the rock when she took the tricorder off of John. "Some food would be good."

"Well then," John said getting up and offering a hand, "Food for the body then."

"Yes." Mimi said taking Johns hand to stand up. "I probably should not have ran like that on an empty stomach."

John simply nodded. She was someone he would like to get to know much deeper but being boorish would not be the way to ladies heart. Mama had always told him being a gentleman will win far more than being an ass. Still an idea formed. "Well I do apologize for that. I am not all that tired, I can carry you always if you let me."

Mimi laughed. "The look on everyone elses faces would be an interesting sight John but I will not need carrying."

"Well as you wish," he said and pulled her too her feet. He pulled just a bit more than needed so he could put a steadying arm around her for a second and inhale her exotic perfume. Exotic to him at least. He let her go and then made a motion with his arms, "Shall we?"

The smallest hint of a purr left Mimi as John held her close. "Lets." She said and after he released her she began walking again towards the camp her tail held high though the last few inches quivered a little.

John loved the sound she made but did not say a word about that. He chattered on about this and that. "Well ma'am," he said as they got in sight of the camp. "All too soon back but as I recall I interrupted your snack and then had you running. Let me go rustle something up....but first..." he cast an eye at the camp. He then spoke very quietly, "Mmi, if I might, could I invite you to a picnic out there tomorrow?"

"Are you asking me out on a date?" Mimi said boldly but also nervously, she wasn't 100% certain she had interpreted Johns feelings for her and hers for him correctly.

"That I am," John said. "I know fraternizing between officer and enlisted is frowned upon, and I won't be hurt if you say no, but I have to say the day just does not seem to start right without you about for me. I mean...well...I mean I like you just being around you...not well.....I am gettin' myself into a hole here."

Mimi looked at John, she thought about what herself and K'umua had talked out at the Irsemia house, she had gotten to know John a little more since she'd come to Ryn and now here he was asking her out. "I accept." She eventually said. "But I will warn you I have strange tastes."

"Really? Well some think chitlin's and grits are pretty odd as well. Think we be right about on the same page there. Well how about two hours before planet fall?"

"That will be okay, I will try not to be late." Mimi said not that she knew what grits and chitlin were but with names like that they didn't sound very nice.

"Then I will see you tomorrow....ma'am and from the look on your face will bring something else. They are an acquired taste but I bet you will like hush puppies. One thing I learned from mama how to make well."

"I am more interested in the food you had in mind for right now." Mimi said after her stomach growled again.

"Well from that run and the sounds of it, I better get something going now. Now you....ma'am," he remembered they were at the camp, "you just go relax and I will get something to satisfy that rumbly tumbly I hear."

Heading inside Mimi sat by the pile of stacked storage crates that served as a table for their small group.

John headed out to see what he could find. He just did not want to make a complete replicated meal. He got an idea and got to work. It took a little bit of time but he came back with two plates and nodded to her.

"Sorry, but I wanted to make something a little more personal. Here you go, chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes with gravy, biscuits, some hush puppies, some greens. Good ol' southern cookin'".

"This does look and smell very nice John, thank you. But I can not digest a lot of this." Mimi said, she smiled at him though, the attempt effot was not lost on her.

"Oh sorry, I guess I should have asked. Well ma'am tell me what you can have and I will go fetch faster than a gator protecting her nest."

"It is ok." Mimi said with another smile "This steak will be very nice and I can eat a little of the rest, my body is designed for meat more than anything else."

"Well then if you need something I will get you something else. That gives an clue for tomorrow though what to bring." John took his plate and cut his steak in half and put it on hers and then fetched a hush puppy or two off.

"What is it the Frenchies say, Bon Appetite so some such."

"Something like that." Mimi said, taking her cutlery she cut a chunk out of the steak and took a bite. "Not bad."

"Well good, so tell me ensign, what kind of meat appeals to you? Red, white, fish, or it just all depends? Like it a bit soft or something chewy?"

"Any meat really, cooked very rare, though I do like fish." Mimi replied.

"Just plain or with a little spice to it? Also how about eggs? Sorry if I am being too inquisitive but just trying to get to know what you like." John replied between bites of mash taters and gravy.

"I can eat other things like, just small amounts and I do not have a good taste for sweet things." She explained.

"Well then, that leaves the box of chocolates out," he joked and grinned. "Well I think I have something in mind that just might please the palette for tomorrow and bet you have never had.

"And I guess you will make me wait until tomorrow to find out what your.... surprise dish is?" Mimi said with a slight chuckle.

"Indeed I shall ma'am. A surprise for a surprisingly lovely lady and I do not care who hears that or not."

"I do not think they would mind you saying that too much." Mimi said, she wasnt too sure about that though but a few compliments here and there shouldn't be too bad.

"Indeed," John replied. He then went on and talked a bit about growing up on a farm in Georgia. How he had gotten wanderlust and not having had the background not being able to go on to the Academy but enlisting in the Fleet.
He asked her a bit more about herself but it was sad to him that she had hardly known much about her people or much about her past or siblings.

"Well it's gettin' late and while I could jaw along all night long, best get some sleep. You go on ma'am, I will clean up but the hours can't pass fast enough until tomorrow. Now go on with you now!" He made shooing motions with his hands.

Mimi laughed. "Thank you for the meal, I will see you tomorrow John."

"Good night ma'am," He made that motion like tipping a hat again. Then he got to work whistling while he cleaned up. "John you be on best behaviour tomorrow, she is a pretty thing and don't you go scarin' her off now." He talked to himself.

OFF

PO3 John Hollenday
Engineer
Ryn Expedition
[NPC Allyndra illm Warraquim]

Ensign Mimi
Operations
Ryn Expedition

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