A Little Chivalry Never Hurt Anyone

Posted on Sun Dec 17th, 2017 @ 10:22pm by Lieutenant Temperance Zachary

Mission: https://wellington.pegasusfleet.site/index.php/sim/missions/id/4
Location: Somewhere in the ship
Timeline: Current

The Wellington was proving to be much bigger than Temperance had expected. She knew a Sovereign class was not a small ship, but with a crew of around 800, almost all of whom were new and unfamiliar faces, her brain was on overdrive trying to remember names, faces, locations... she could already feel the dull ache at her temples for a headache coming on.

Focusing on the PADD in her hand, Temp rounded the corner, trying to locate her quarters, completely oblivious to anything else around her when she collided with something rather solid, causing her to stumble backward before landing squarely on her bottom. She looked up, offering an embarrassed smile. "That's what I get for not paying attention to where I'm going," she said sheepishly. "Good thing I have plenty of padding for a soft landing!"

Roberto had been heading to his quarters and, if he were honest with himself, not paying much attention to his surroundings. He had been thinking about the battle they had gone through a few days prior and about the sim he had just finished. He had not done particularly well - especially in his fighter target practice. His percentage of hits was below 50 percent and that was not good. "Ice Queen is gonna have my ass over this..." he muttered half aloud. Suddenly he was almost blindsided by something - or rather someONE crashing into him. "Perdono..." he said, then realizing that he had spoken in Italian, quickly repeated in Federation Standard. "Pardon me. I wasn't watching where I was..." He broke off as he looked down and saw whom he had collided with. It was a woman. A very...attractive...woman at that. "Are you okay?" he asked as he extended his hand to help her.

Temp took his hand and clambered to her feet. "I'm so sorry," colour still stained her cheeks as she looked up at him, which, given that she stood at a mere 4'6", was quite a ways too look... it also explained why she literally bounced off him, given that his entire body seemed to be a rather large solid mass. "Lieutenant Temperance Zachary, I'm new here." She laughed slightly, nervously. "I was too busy looking at this," she held up the PADD in her hand. "Are you ok? I didn't hurt you did I?"

"No, did I hurt you?" he asked, attempting to look her over while being as unobtrusive as possible. Petite but curvy in all the right places from what he could tell, she had black hair and the most captivating blue eyes he had seen in many a stardate. "Lieutenant Roberto del Palo, Wellington starfighter group, at your service..." he said, giving her his best smile. "So what were you studying on that PADD that had your rapt attention, if I might ask?"

She turned the PADD toward him. "Directions," she said with a laugh. "I'm afraid the biggest ship I have ever served on was a Nova class, I feel a little bit like a guppy swimming in the ocean." She thumbed the PADD to close the schematics she had up. "I'm Lieutenant Temperance Zachary, just reassigned from the Caltabiano."

"I've only been aboard a short time myself," del Palo said. "But the ship I came from makes this ship look like a runabout. I was assigned to the USS Pathfinder. She was an Ascension-class with a crew of 5,000. But I am familiar with the Sovereign class so perhaps I can help. What are you trying to find?"

She shrugged and smiled, "Nothing important, just my quarters. I think they're down here somewhere. I swear these location signs keep changing just to taunt me!"

Roberto glanced at the PADD she held and nodded. "I believe you're right. According to the numbers I'm seeing, I believe they're just down the corridor a short distance. Do you need help finding them? Or maybe an escort to your door? There are some aboard ship that you might need protection from and I'd be glad to offer my services if you'd like..." he said with a grin.

Temp raised one eyebrow slightly, she knew he was totally trying to play her, she had come across plenty of 'fly boys' like him when she was at the academy, though for some reason she had hoped they would grow out of it by the time they actually got out here in the real world. "Are you sure that the 'some' I might need protection from aboard this ship doesn't in fact include yourself?" she queried lightly. "But, of course, I wouldn't want to dent your sense of bravado or chivalry so of course you may walk me to my quarters."

"Me?" Roberto asked, his expression an image of feigned surprise. "Surely just because I see a beautiful woman you don't think I'm like some of these other shipboard lotharios around here? Why, I'm as innocent as a newborn baby." He said it with what he hoped was a disarming smile, knowing that it was a lie, and what's more, figuring that she too knew the truth. Still, he couldn't be blamed for trying. "I just want to make sure you get to your quarters safely." 'Yeah, and make sure I know just exactly where your quarters are...' he thought to himself as they turned and started down the corridor.

Temperance smiled slightly. Somehow the term innocence just did not ring true with this man, however he was very very good at turning on the charm and something told her that she would have to make sure she tread very carefully around him. They walked for a moment in silence before Temp spoke again. "So, tell me, when you're not protecting innocent women from those with less than honourable intentions, what do you do for fun? From what I've seen the Wellington looks very well equipped..."

Stallion thought for a moment. "Well, I like to race classic sports cars and I like to fly old airplanes. I also like to act out American old west novels on the holodeck. In fact, I'll bet you'd look gorgeous as a saloon girl in the old west." He smiled as he tried to picture her in the dress of a dancehall girl. "So what do you like to do?"

"I quite enjoy the art of hand to hand combat," Temp replied easily, "And I still enjoy dancing. Other than that, good food and good books probably accounts for most of my spare time. American old west novels? You mean like cowboys and gun slingers?" she asked. "I can see how that would suit you..."

"That's exactly what I mean. Sometimes I wonder if I were born 500 years too late. I mean, I can see myself as a gunslinger like Billy the Kid or Doc Holliday - or maybe even a lawman like Marshal Matt Dillon or Bat Masterson - roaming the streets of Dodge City or Yuma or Tombstone. Maybe you should come experience one of these holo-novels with me."

Temperance smiled. "I don't know that it's exactly my thing, but sure, why not? Just don't ask me to sling a gun, for your own safety."

"Now, as for you and hand to hand combat - do you mean like martial arts? Or swords and cutlasses like the pirates of ancient Earth?"

"Mostly hand to hand combat, but I can also hold my own with a sword, I can swing a pretty mean epee, foil or sabre if I set my mind to it. My father taught me how to wield a sword when I was a child, then my Uncle decided to keep teaching me after I went to live with him. He taught my hand to hand combat as well. I think he figured that I needed some way to defend myself," she laughed softly.

"In that case, remind me to never make you angry - especially if you're holding a sword at the time," he said with a grin. "And in the western program, I'd never figure you for a gunfighter. I'd see you as a dance hall girl." He thought to ask why she was living with her uncle but decided against it as she might see that a bit too personal. "It appears that we have found your quarters," he said, indicating a door just ahead. "And you are here safe and sound so my mission is accomplished."

"So we have," Temp replied, finding herself feeling a little disappointed, she had actually been truly enjoying the conversation. "Well, I guess, thank you for helping me find my quarters and making sure I got here safely, your chivalry has been appreciated," she said with a smile.

"You're quite welcome. Always glad to help a damsel in distress," he answered, his smile echoing hers. He turned to go, then quickly turned back to her. "One more question, if I may?" He knew it was spur-of-the-moment and they had only just met, but as the old saying went 'A faint heart never won the fair maiden'. "Would you have dinner with me tonight?"

She smiled, suddenly feeling a little shy. "I think I would like that very much, thank you," she replied.

"Then it's a date..." he answered quickly. "Why don't I pick you up here about twenty hundred?"

"Sounds great, I'll see you then." She stepped backward, letting the doors of her quarters close between them. The Wellington could prove to be an interesting assignment after all.


OFF:

Lieutenant Roberto "Stallion" del Palo
Fighter Pilot Flight Leader
USS Wellington

Lieutenant Temperance Zachary
Chief Strategic Operations Officer
USS Wellington