The Beach; After the Storms (Part 2)

Posted on 09 Jan 2013 @ 5:04pm by Captain Jonathan Holliday & Lieutenant Commander Pola Ni Dhuinn M.D. & Chief Warrant Officer 4 Cyrus Kiwosk & Command Master Chief Markum Quinn & Chief Warrant Officer 2 Arthur Willis & Warrant Officer Evan Kell & Senior Chief Petty Officer Anthony Davis

3,282 words; about a 16 minute read

Mission: Episode 02 - Resupply
Location: Vega Colony, Puam Digh
Timeline: MD9 1030

[ON]

It seemed that the adrenalin was certainly flowing amonst Holliday's crew. Usually of course, had they been aboard ship, the young lady would have earned herself a time on report for shouting at a superior officer in that way. However on shore leave, anything goes. John had to think for a second - remembering back to his survival training at the Academy and how these so-called s'mores had been a firm favourite of his fellow cadets. At first he had found them a little repugnant with very little nutritional value, but that had certainly changed by the time he came to graduation.

"I'm...partial to the occasional s'more, yes Petty Officer Darwisch." He replied with his usual firm voice. He wasn't used to giving out personal information, but something so minor could hardly be considered classified.

Willis had about enough of the squeaky-voice woman named Tiffany. He gave a look to Quinn and mouthed, "Doesn't it ever stop?"

Tiffany twirled on Willis. "Oh, like you're someone so special that we all have to listen to you all the time. Mr. OOOOH I Can't Handle How Much I Drink And Now Everyone Has to Hear About It! You know, maybe if you would just learn to be able to say no once in a while you wouldn't be waking up so miserable all the time!"

Kell arched his eyebrows at Willis.

"But no, you go off and drink to much and then the rest of us are annoyed by how much you go on and on and on and on about it! Well, in case you hadn't noticed Mr. Chatterbox, we're standing on a beautiful beach in front of a jewel blue ocean with the promise of a great warm sun overhead so maybe you should just get over yourself and let the rest of us get about enjoying such wonderfulness instead of listening to your misery all day long!" Tiffany stood akimbo, her hips cocked to the left as she glared at Willis. "Now, I'm just going to force a word in edgewise to wish the COB a good day and then Kell and I are going to go set up for a great day, without listening to all of your whining! Come on Kell!" She grabbed his arm and started moving away.

Kell followed along, throwing a wave back in Holliday's and Pola's direction.

Having taken Cyrus' hand in hers, Pola was still extremely confused as to what precisely was going on. Hooking her sunglasses into the v-neck of her beech dress, she looked around at the gathered people, smiling at the man who had just greeted them, not certain she could quite place him. "Hope we aren't gate crashing. I figured our dear XO needed to get his head out of his papers, and get some fresh air."

Quinn gave a wave to Pola, "Hey, Doc. Nice to see ya joining us...and for bringing, Mister I-must-work-all-the-time-in-my-office, with you. He needs to get out in the sun more often."

"Just as long as I avoid needing a stay in the medical bay afterwards Mr Quinn, that's all I ask." John replied, chuckling at the CoB and his usual honest opinions.

Seeing Quinn, Pola smiled brightly. "Chief...how's the arm holding up? And I had the same idea which is why I chased down our dear old Commander. We've seen so little of her this shore leave, we need to get him out and about." Feeling Jonathan's eyes burrowing into her back, she knew well that he knew she was only jesting.

"The arm is doing really well, thanks. It took a few cases of beer, but I can finally hold one without crushing it." Quinn looked at Holliday, "Hey, XO. Nice to see you out and about with the cool crowd."

"I'm nothing if not flexible Mr Quinn. Someone has to keep an eye on the crew, last thing I need is the captain coming down on my like a ton of bricks."

"Yes, sir...." Quinn smiled. "Not that Willis and I would ever do anything....questionable"

"Of course not gentlemen. Non-com's are the epitomy of well behaved I'm sure."

John replied with another smirk. The behaviour of his ex-chief engineer and his colleagues whilst outside of the confines of duty were virtually legendary amongst both the crew of Galileo and Starfleet as a whole. Wherever they went, lewdness usually followed.

Cyrus leaned in and gave Pola a quick peck on the cheek. "Trust me, you saved me a large amount of headache. Apparently I dated a cat and my muscles are pigs? I don't know." He looked her up and down. "Though I will say that you look fantastic in a bathing suit." He chuckled and rolled his shoulder. "It's much better thanks to you."

Smiling at the kiss, Pola tightened her hand in his as she slightly blushed. "Your muscles are pigs? Hum...Well I must say that I always had other imagines whenever I've seen them and I don't think pigs entered into that equation."

Kiwosk raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "Oh really? And I wonder what exactly you were were thinking about..." He squeezed her hand and smiled. "I have half a mind to throw that Tiffany, Tabby whatever she is in the ocean. Always wondered if cat's like to swim..."

After their talk the other night, Pola wasn't as shy to being more open with Cyrus as she laughed and tugged his hand to bring him in closer, moving up to whisper in his ear, "If you behave, maybe you can see how well I sleep in the swimsuit under this?"

Cyrus coughed in surprise and blinked as if slapped, before grinning ear to ear like a fool. "I think this just might be the best day ever..." He breathed back into her own ear, before giving her a quick kiss on the neck.

"Hey, Chief!" Davis said, jogging over to the small group containing Kiwosk. "This a great day or what? Or," dropping to a sub voce whisper, he glanced around, "hadn't you heard?"

Cyrus's demeanor changed from relax to security in an instant. Removing his hand from Pola for a brief moment he turned to Davis. "Heard what? Don't tell me Parker has a duty roster for us all already...We're on shore leave!"

Davis only then realized he'd been intruding on a private moment with Cyrus and the doctor. But, what he'd heard was just too good for them. "Well, yeah, I believe he was. Which conveniently had him on reduced hours but it gets better. He got a call. I'm not certain," he said leaning in and still whispering, "But I believe he's on the way out. Maybe they'll let Rhodes have the slot and we won't have to deal with crap anymore?"

Cyrus agreed with Davis, but it he wasn't it would do no one any good to start spreading rumors and the like. "Let's not jump to conclusions, alright?" He told the Petty Officer. " Whether he got a call or whether he hurt his ankle again, he's still our Chief until stated otherwise. Let's not say anything that could get us in trouble."

"Got it, Chief, but man, to maybe finally have someone know what they're doing for a change sure would be nice. But, I'm off to enjoy myself before I get recalled to duty. Maybe work on my tan," Davis smiled. "Doctor," he said before wandering down the beach.

Standing to the side, Pola had been listening to the conversation, frowning as she heard the topic. She hadn't been made aware of a shakeup in the senior staff with their CSTO being changed again. Making a note to look into it further herself, she smiled at the security officers hail before moving back up beside Cyrus. "Everything ok?"

He shrugged, unsure of what was happening. "This is news to me Pola, and I don't think that it's good." He sighed. "Parker got here a little after I did, for him to be leaving already is..." He searched for a word before turning his eyes on her. "Disconcerting." He shrugged again and wrapped one muscled arm around the doctor and smiled. "But I'm not high enough to worry about any of that anyways, if there's a new guy there's a new guy. So be it."

Leaning in against Cyrus' side, Pola still looked at him with a concerned look in her eyes. Moving her hand, she linked her fingers with his hand pressed against her side, squeezing the fingers lightly.

He looked around noticing that most everyone else had left their immediate vicinity. "We should probably get back to the party beach...thing, before people starting thinking we snuck off like high schoolers." He chuckled.

Holding him back for a moment more, Pola tilted her head back slightly, as she looked up at Cyrus. "Are you sure you're ok?"

Cyrus looked at Pola and nodded. "I'm fine love, but it worries me about what Davis said." He admitted. "Parker and I didn't always see eye to eye, but I respected the man. I just hope that whatever is going on gets resolved." He smiled. "Now lets go before I decide to throw you in the water!" He grinned evilly.

Quinn eyed Cyrus and Pola. "Hey! You two miscreants over there. Either get a room or grab a beer and get your asses over here! We have people to offend!"

"I'm coming, I'm coming! You sure are impatient for an old man" He called back laughing.

Quinn smiled back. "You should be so lucky to live as long as I have."

"No one can live that long, you old coot!" jested Willis, as he removed his shirt. "You're older than the Prophets of Bajor!" Willis then removed his shorts and ran for the surf. "NCO's and women first!"

Unable to help it, Pola patted Quinn's arm with a smile, "You'll keep living as long as you have aslong as you always have me around to fix numbed hands and the EMH to give you a prosthetic arm."

Quinn held onto Polas hand for a brief moment and showed a rare moment of sincerity in his eyes. He only responded with a nod and a hard swallow. He knew that Pola was the reason he was put back together.

Realising the emotion she had caused in Quinn, Pola squeezed his hand in return before leaning down and giving him a small hug. "We got you this far, we aren't ready to let you go yet old man."

Looking at Cyrus with a glint in her eye, Pola pulled her dress over her head, allowing her hat to also fall away. "Last one there has to buy the drinks tonight?" Setting off at a run, she left Cyrus and Quinn behind as she tried to catch up with Willis.

Cyrus watched Willis take off streaking, but had to close his jaw when the dress flew over Pola's head. Gazing hungrily he realized suddenly that if he didn't hurry he would be buying drinks...again.

"Willis you see what you did?! " He laughed, before taking off into a sprint for the water.

Quinn laughed as he opened another beer, shaking his head. "That damn kid is naked more than he is clothed."

Upon reaching the shore, Willis did a forward flip and landed into the refreshing surf. Laughing at Pola and Cyrus trailing after him, the SCPO began laughing hysterically while splashing like a school kid. "C'mon Cyrus! Quinn moves faster than you!"

"Can it Willis! Or I'll find another crab for you to get acquainted with!"

Having been watching from afar, the XO eventually gave in and let out a laugh as he watched his officers acting like overgrown children at the water's edge. Unlike them however, he was far from ready to leap into the surf and instead settled into a sitting position across from Quinn and the various items of clothing and personal effects left strewn by his crew before their rapid departure.

"Non-coms and lieutenants rushing into the sea....that's going to make an interesting log entry."

Quinn reached into a cooler filled with half-melted ice and tossed a cold beer to Holliday. "Think fast XO!" exclaimed the CoB as he tossed the frosty beverage. "It's not going to be them running into the sea that will be the interesting part. It'll be the nudity that will make the Skipper envious she wasn't with the party crowd."

Quinn leaned back a bit and then looked over to the XO. "You may want to forget to make today's First Officer Log, and just stick with the Personal Log instead."

As the bottle shot across the air, Holliday reached out his palm and grabbed it firmly, twisting off the cap with his other hand and listening to the satisfying hiss that followed. The idea of the Captain being jealous was enough to make him laugh, but he quickly regained his composure.

"I'm sure such arrangements can be made Mr Quinn. After all, I'd have to put myself on report for drinking on duty otherwise. As long as the Captain doesn't see half her crew in nothing but their birthday suits, I think log entries can be....forgotten."

The XO replied with a wry smile as he took a deep gulp from the bottle, savouring the opportunity to do something a little unexpected with his time off.

Pola had to prevent herself from letting out a scream as she reached the water's edge, the coldness sent shivers through her body as it stuggled to readjust, her navy blue bathing suit quickly becoming wet. As she turn, she suddenly found herself being drowned by a wave of water. Coughing and spluttering, she turned to see who the culprit was, finding Willis laughing hard. "You know I could have your head for that as your superior..."

Willis laughed so hard he swallowed a gulp of water from a passing wave. "Yeah....I....ugg....." After coughing for a moment he recomposed himself. Then sent another sorte of splashes at Pola. "I can't hear you, Doctor!"

Quinn yelled down to the small group in the water. "Hey, Junior! Be sure the fish don't go for your worm!"

Grinning at Quinn's remark, Pola smiled innocently at Willis. "That could be interesting to put back together, might let the EMH at you for that one."

Willis stood still, speechless for perhaps his very first time...ever.

Looking around, Pola spotted where Cyrus has finally caught up to them, splashing water in his direction as she moved further into the surf. "So...drinks on you tonight?"

"I'm pretty sure that Willis cheated...sooooo he loses by default." Cyrus said laughing, before diving under the waves, letting the warm surf wash over him. He burst up and splashed back.

Watching Cyrus carefully, Pola moved over to Willis, the look on her face a little more serious. "Willis...you know Markum better than the rest of us...how is he holding up? With the new arm and everything?"

Willis shrugged some, "It's hard to say. Now, he seems okay. A few days ago though, he took a real shot to the balls. He had to come to terms that he could not do the finer skills needed for engineering on a starship. He just couldn't manipulate the very fine and precise manipulations that he once could. Quinn was known among other engineers for having uncanny dexterity with his fingers. He could calibrate a micro fusion junction in the matter antimatter chamber without the use of a spanner, just a screwdriver. You can't teach that, and his arm won't replicate that."

Willis rubbed his temples for a second, then continued. "Then Tarish ran out on him, back to Betazed. So to be honest, ever since he moved over to the CoB position, and resigned his warrant, he has been a bit better..and he likes the arm."

"New arm?" Cyrus asked. "Can't say I even noticed."

Willis nodded to Cyrus. "Yeah, it's a hell of a tool, and he has a strong grip on that thing too."

Not being in a position to expand on something, given she was technically Markum's Doctor, Pola kicked at the surf as she thought over what Willis had said. "I might talk to him at some point. Make sure he's ok. I've only ever seen the guy in a sickbay so mightn't be any harm in seeing him out of one."

Cyrus stayed out of the further comments regarding Quinn. Markum seemed to be a decent old timer, but Cyrus knew well what injuries could do to a person. Instead he dunked himself under the water to wet his hair again.

Willis smiled, "He's a grumpy old coot, but he is in surprisingly good spirits...plus, he just found out two days ago that he is unbeatable in arm wrestling with his new prosthesis."

Smiling at that comment, Pola realised that she didn't know Markum well enough to judge his character but it seemed that the man was making the best out of his new situation. Looking over and seeing Cyrus playing in the water, she winked at Willis and nodded silently in her boyfriend's direction before starting to splash him.

Willis gave a grin and then unleashed a barrage of splashes towards Cyrus, laughing the entire time.

Cyrus grinned back. "I see how this is....FINE THEN" He roared and dove underneath. Moving his muscled body like an underwater rocket he shot towards Willis, setting his feet on the sand and shooting up in an attempt to pick him up and throw him.

Willis looked around for Cyrus..."Where the hell did he...gooooooooo!!!!" yelped as he was flung into the air, giving all looking a full moon of his own

Realizing that Willis was naked surprised the Cief Warrant, but he couldn't withhold his laughter as Willis shot up in the air like an arrow. Turning on his other opponent, he grinned. "Well doctor, seems like it's just you and me..."

Taking a number of steps backwards, Pola held her hands up as if to ward Cyrus off. "Don't you dare..."

With an evil laugh he dove underneath the water and surged forward.

Letting out a small scream, Pola made a dash for shore. The current of the water tried to pull her back as she ran, praying she managed to get out of Cyrus' reach before she ended up with the same fate as Willis had.

He broke the water and laughed, running his hands through his dripping hair. "You win this time Doctor! There will always be next time!" Laughing he turned back, scanning the horizon for Willis. "Quinn...Do you see your partner in crime? I didn't launch him into orbit did I? I still only see the one moon...."

Quinn was wiping the beer that shot from his nose as he watched Willis go airborne. "Dammit. I'm not sure, Cyrus! I think he is circling Uranus
though."

Cyrus laughed loudly and splashed the water for effect before making for shore. "Well he's bound to turn up eventually, I didn't throw him that far...."

[OFF]

Commander Jonathan Holliday
Executive Officer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant Pola Ni Dhuinn
Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo

CWO Kiwosk
Security / Tactical
USS Galileo

Warrant Officer Evan Kell
Intelligence Officer, SFI
USS Galileo

PO2 Tiffany Darwisch
Ops crewmember
USS Galileo

Master Chief Petty Officer Markum Quinn
Chief of the Boat
USS Galileo

Senior Chief Petty Officer Arthur Willis
Computer Systems Specialist
USS Galileo

Senior Chief Petty Officer Anthony Davis
Security/Tactical Officer
USS Galileo

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