After the Shalti Incident

Posted on Wed Feb 27th, 2019 @ 11:29pm by Ensign Felicie Rivero & 1st Lieutenant Patrick O'Shea

Mission: Shore Leave
Location: Various

ON:

Patrick changed into his civies and headed for the lounge. He needed a good stiff drink after that mess. A mess wasn't quite the word but it suficed in this case. Entering the lounge he saw a number of people there and looked for a familiar face.

Felicie had been enjoying some down time with friends when they had basically all decided to abandon her. Sure, she had been invited to 'tag along' with them, but really, who wants to be the tag along?

With a smile and some vaguely reassuring words she had waved them off before heading back to the bar, ordering herself another drink and heading back to the table they had been sitting at, sitting in the seat furthermost to the wall and staring out the view port next to her contemplating.

Patrick saw the young woman, who he recognized as part of the Wellington crew, and decided to see ifshe would like some company. As he drew closer to her he saw how pretty she looked. "Excuse me, but I couldn't help but wonder why you are drinking alone", he said. "Would you care for some company? Maybe a penny for your thoughts?", Patrick asked the woman sitting there.

Felicie looked up, glancing him over before laughing. "Oh darlin, a penny couldn't even begin to coming close to paying for my thoughts, but by all means, it's a free universe, feel free to take a seat." Felicie replied with a vague smile.

"Thank you, by the way my name is Patrick O'Shea. I am 1st Lieutenant Marine Corps, and you are?", he said sitting down across from her.

"Felicie, Felicie Rivero, Engineering," she said with a polite smile, holding out her hand. "Marines huh? Interesting... I wouldn't have picked it..."

"Well Ms. Rivero," he said shaking her hand while sitting facing her. "It is a pleasure to meet a fellow crewman. Engineering eh.... Nice place to work I take it.....", he added.

"Well, we keep you all alive and floating, so I'm sure what you're really meaning to say is 'thank you for all your hard work and consistent effort'," Felicie replied with a grin. "I know that a good, upstanding young marine such as yourself wouldn't dare upset fellow officers by demeaning their efforts at their positions."

"Oh no Ms. Rivero, as a matter of fact, engineering works miracles on this ship. I am proud to meet one of her engineers. Can I buy you another drink or would you rather go for a walk....perhaps thru the Scottish highlands?", he said.

Glancing at her almost empty glass in front of her, Felicie shrugged slightly. "Sure, why not. It's not like I'm so busy sitting here," she said with a laugh. "Lead the way."

Patrick stood and pulled the chair from behind Rivero as she got up. "Right this way to the holodeck. I have the best Scottish highlands program around. I brought that with me from home you know", he said as they walked towards the holodeck.

"Is that so?" Felicie asked as they walked. "I spent a few breaks from the Academy in Scotland with a friend, lovely countryside, but a bit too dreary for me. I'm definitely more a warm and tropical type girl."

"Well I can fix that to a nice summers day if you wish", Patrick said. He wanted this to be a special walk, so he was willing to compromise.

"The first time we went over, I think we were there for 12 days, and we saw maybe five or six hours of sunshine? Not consecutively, I mean in total, across all twelve days!" Felicie laughed and shook her head. "Though there is something to be said for rain, just not all day every day!"

"I can fix that too if you wish", he said as they arrived at the holodeck doors. Smilling he keyed in the changes, "Computer run program Patrick 4501 and apply program changes", he said.

"Program changed, you may enter when ready", said the computer.

"Well, after you pretty lady", he said as the doors opened. It was a beautiful medow, green and lush grass with several varities of flowers in full bloom. The air was warm and the birds chirpping made for a wonderful scene. You could hear the sound of a babling stream in the background."I hope you approve", he added.

Felicie smiled as she looked around. "I am pretty sure I've actually been here," she said brightly. "It's gorgeous, it really is. So, want to show me around?" She asked, linking her arm with his.

"Sure, and please call me Patrick, ok?", he said as he started to walk along the path by the stream. "May I call you Felicie? It's so formal and we are off duty you know", he said as they came up on a small water wheel mill. Oh look, I haven't seen one in so many years. Have you ever seen one work?", he said.

Felicie smiled. "I actually have, they're quite incredible. You know from an engineering perspective it's so hard to fathom that such primitive creatures could come up with such simple, yet incredibly complex designs!"

"Yes they are engineered well for all the complexities they have. It seems such a simple thing as a wheel and a large grinding stone to mill grain. Before they thought about water power it was the power of burros and small horses to do the work of the grinding stone", Patrick said. Do you want to go in and take a look?", he asked Felicie.

"Sure, sounds like it could be fun," she replied with a laugh. "So is this somewhere near home for you?" she asked with genuine curiosity. "Or just a program you liked?"

"No this is actually about 2 miles from my home. I used to come here to just get away from the confusion of life. The running water and the grinding of the great stone made good for calming my rattled nerves at the end of a crazy day in the corps. I would lay over here....", points to a large tree near the mill wheel. "I would close my eyes and the sound would relax my mind", he finished saying. "Come let's go inside", he said taking her by the hand gently.

Allowing herself to be lead into the mill, Felicie looked around curiously. "I think if I had something like this near my house I would have pulled it apart to see how it worked," she said with a laugh. "Or most likely modified it to make it 'better' than it was."

"It has a nostalgic meaning for me. Back home, when I was 10, my grandfather brought me to this mill and told me stories of when he was a boy. The stories were the best I had ever heard. War stories were the best and some made me laugh cause they were so funny", Patrick said chuckling.

"Sounds... cute?" Felicie replied, not entirely sure how else to describe it. "My family weren't really close like that, everyone was always busy. There weren't really any stories or anything being told. But my neighbor was awesome. He was an engineer and he tinkered with engines. I was best friends with his son from basically as soon as we were born so I spent a lot of time there, helping. I loved the old combustion engines the best."

"Oh....interesting....maybe......well when we have some time to kill I can show you a project that I started. If you loved old combustion engines, this just make you drool, pardon the expression", Patrick said.

"Really?" Felicie replied, her curiosity piqued. "What kind of project? You've got me really intrigued!"

"Well I have taken the combustion engine one step further. I have converted the fuel to use jet fuel. I know it sounds dangerous but I think I got the kinks out", Patrick said.

There was a moment of hesitation before Felicie spoke again. "I'm sure you've taken all the inner workings into account," she said softly. "But forgive me if I ask to see the schematics of the project first? Sorry, in my experience anyone who tries to tinker usually ends up needing a medical officer, or worse."

"Sure Felicie, the schematics in my quarters, come and we can look at them", Patrick said. "Unless you would like to look at them in the lounge?", he added.

Felicie laughed softly. "Is your quarters supposed to be scary?" she asked pointedly. She cast a glance over his form. "I mean, you're cute and all, but you're not scary and to be honest, I could put you on your ass in half a heartbeat if I tried."

Smiling, "Wishful thinking there Felicie. Marines don't take things for granted. However you are a woman, and unless I feel threatened, I most likely would allow you to do so", he answered chuckling.

Felicie raised an eyebrow at the way he had managed to avoid answering her question. “I see, she said quietly as she walked toward the mill wheel leaving him behind.

'Damn it Patrick you fool', he said to himself. Taking off after her, "Felicie wait! There is nothing scary about my quarters. Its just a mess at the moment", he said.

"If you think a mess is a big deal..." she shook her head slightly. I'm one of the unlucky ones that has a bunkmate and I swear she must be part sloth. Honestly, I can do fourteen hours in engineering when she's on an RDO and come back to find nothing but a mountain of laundry, dirty dishes everywhere, and even more mess than there was when I left in the morning. She never cleans anything, at all, ever. Just between you and me, I've actually started recycling her crap when she's sleeping," Felicie finished with a wicked little laugh.

"Oh you are wicked woman", he said laughing. "I don't have a bunk mate but back in the barracks, there were a few guys, boy I can tell you, talk about mess. You had to clean with industrial antibacterial liquids. I swear the guys were true pigs", Patrick stated.

"Three weeks after we left New Earth last time I started noticing a smell in our quarters. I mean, it was bad to start with and it got worse every day. I kept looking and I couldn't find anything. In the end I found a container of what looked like it may have once upon a time been klingon food from the Starbase in one of her drawers. It was so bad, I wanted to be sick. I asked for reassignment to different quarters and I was told it would have to wait and serve more time first before I can be considered for individual quarters." Felicie shook her head. "She's been talking about asking to be reassigned back to Earth, I'm really hoping she goes! I'd rather share quarters with a Taarg than her!"

"That is so gross! Damn Felicie, did you get the smell out?", Patrick asked. "Com'on I'll show you the blue prints and the small model in my quarter's", he added, turning for the arch.

"Sure, why not. But I warn you, I have a very mean right hook and I'm not afraid of the brig," she said with a wink as she walked out of the arch ahead of him.

As he watched her walk ahead of him, 'She is blunt, but pleasant, direct to the point, and has a very dominant control streak, but a fistey lass', he thought, following her out. "My quarters are on deck 11", Patrick said, heading for the lift.

Slowing until she fell into step beside him, Felicie shrugged slightly. "So what is this little project of yours?" She asked, hoping for more information.

"Well I had an idea about making an ordinary engine being adapted to use jet fuel instead of gasoline", he said. "I know it sounds midevil but I did do a small engine model and got it to work", he said as they stopped infront of his quarters. "Well...here we are", he said blushing slightly.

"Look, you don't have to invite me in," Felicie countered quickly. "Seriously, I don't mind. We can just call it a night. It's been a long day and all," she said, picking up on his unease.

"No, no, its not that....its just you are the first....woman to see my quarters. Anyhow...", he started as the door whooshed open revealing his meager quarters. Typical marine in its furnishings yet in one corner there was a tarp over an object on a table. "Come on in", he said walking ahead of her.

Following him across to the table and waited for him to reveal his 'surprise'.

Pulling the tarp off, an engine that could have come from a 1999 Mustang car sat there glistening in the light of his quarters.

Once he had done the grand unveiling, a feint smile quirked the corners of her mouth. "Okay, walk me through it," she said lightly.

"Well....see normally gasoline would be its power catalyst. Pistons, spark plugs, and the like. Of course you have to have a certain type of motor oil to keep the friction down but, I thought what if we could use jet fuel instead of gasoline. Change the motor oil to the same grade that the jets used and switch it using a smaller amount of fuel so's not to burn out the engine components?", he said. "It is only a small prototype but it does work. However it can't be used for extended periods before it begins to overheat and seizes. That is where I am at this point", he added, sighing.

Felicie raised an eyebrow slightly. "What kind of jet fuel are you talking here? Jet A-1? Jet B? 100LL?" Clearly she was surprised at the very nature of his project, and incredibly intrigued.

"Right now A-1. I haven't been able to get the heat thing licked. Hey......you wanna help me work on it? Kinda like a outside project?", Patrick asked her. He wasn't sure if Felicie would accept or not but since she was an engineer and also liked combustion engines maybe they could work together in their off hours.

"Sure.. just... promise me, no more A-1 when I'm not around, okay?" she said with a laugh. "The fire suppression systems in your quarters aren't up to the task of dealing with a jet fuel explosion and I have a friend in medical who doesn't need to be trying to identify your body."

"Great jelly beans, wow that's the best news I've had in a longtime. Thanks Felicie", he said and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. "Friends?", he added.

Taken aback by his sudden display of affection a look of shock crossed Felicie's face. "Uh, yeah, sure, look I've got to go, I need to go get some stuff done before I can get to bed and I still don't have my last report in to Lieutenant Cordale. He's kind of grouchy if I don't pull my weight," she explained quickly. "Night Patrick, and thanks for the walk." Without waiting for a reply she turned on her heel and walked out of his quarters quickly without looking back.



=/\=

Ensign Felicie Rivero
Engineering NPC
USS Wellington

1st Lt. Patrick O'Shea
Marine Executive Officer
USS Wellington