Posted by Commander Shedda Mal’athar (Executive Officer) in Finding Company with Yourself

Posted by Lieutenant Pretha Oberon (Security Officer / CRIT Leader) in Finding Company with Yourself

SNIP

Revna grinned, “Oh no, I won’t be putting that uniform on again.” There was a sadness about it, deep and old, and Revna didn’t try to hide it. “That was another life.” Revna contemplated her for a moment. “You know you don’t have to move on. I know it’s hard doing the distance relationship, I do. I’ve done it, I am doing it, but for the right person, you can make it work. Not just the right romantic person, but the right family, friends, colleagues. Then when you retire you know who to go on a party binge with.”

McKenzie

Pretha smiled. It was a nice thought, D’Vash and her reuniting at some point. But they had both told the other to move on and find happiness. With his good looks and charm, it wouldn’t have surprised Pretha to find out he had someone already. He had chased her so hard to catch her, she doubted she would find someone so easily this time around, either. “That’s true, I guess. Not much of a family to speak of. Parents are gone and only sibling is my brother. We don’t get along, well. He wasn’t happy I chose space as a career. He’s one who thinks I should have stayed home, got married and popped out a dozen whelps to keep the world going in the future.” She shrugged. “And I guess as far as colleagues go, I don’t make friends easily. Bit too work driven, I suppose. I have no desire for holo novel dates, or spending time on the beaches of Risa or whatever other pleasure planet we come across. I’m more the type to run combat simulations and want a planet that has something to explore that no one’s seen yet. So for now, I wander and work and,” she pointed to the PaDD half forgotten in her lap and laughed, “and work on duty rosters instead of relaxing.”

Not wanting to insult her new companion, she smiled. “But you are right. When I meet the right people, I will remember to not ignore them when we part.” She had the feeling the first of those people might be sitting before her. But again, they had just met and she had the feeling Revna would sooner roll her eyes at Pretha and call her a workaholic than befriend her and discuss men and clothes. Both subjects, she reminded herself, were not something she was good at.

Pretha
CRIT Ldr

And just like that, Pretha had a friend. Revna sat up straight and turned fully towards Pretha a huge grin on her face. “Combat simulations? How do you feel about fighter pilots simulations?”

McKenzie

Pretha laughed. “Honestly, no idea. The one time I was in one in the Academy I killed myself and the rest of the folks in the shuttle. I am cleared for shuttle piloting, finally, but never tried a fighter.” She shook her head. Something in the way Revna had perked up at the idea of combat simulations had struck a kindred cord in Pretha. Most of the women on the ship, even those in CRIT and Security, weren’t of a mind to seek out a fight unless it landed in their lap. And asking the men to spar was like asking to be petted on the head. No one had taken her seriously on the Manhattan. And those who had, had held back so badly, she had to do so as well in fear of harming them and being reprimanded. “I’m open to trying if you promise not to let your laughter leave the simulations.” She smiled once more and looked at the woman, seriously, for the first time since they started speaking.

It galled Pretha that she hadn’t noticed before. But the muscle movements, the stance, even the slight lessening of tension as they spoke, all belied a woman capable of taking care of herself in a sticky situation. More than capable, Pretha guessed, but the perk of both ears and body at her last comments. Without realizing it, Pretha had cocked her head, slightly, as if wondering just what lay beneath the surface of this woman. Something had driven her from the uniform, that much was clear. But what it was and how raw it still was, were also a cross between crystal clear and clear as mud.

Pretha
CRIT Ldr

“Oh I miss flying one. Got my certifications before I ever entered the Academy. Was in the reserves for the Earth Defense Fleet until I joined Star Fleet. Then I went into counseling and well....the idea of counselor being a fighter pilot put people off. What kind of weapons are you trained for? Other than a phaser?” Revna hadn’t had anyone to spar or face off against in a long time. She probably could have asked Mardusk, but she’d never wanted him to feel like he had to be ‘careful’ around her, so she’d never asked.

McKenzie

“That’s strange. I would think a Counselor with flight experience would be a plus. I mean, it means you really understand what they go through, right? Not just a head nodding minion who says I understand when you really don’t.” It occured to her, just then, that the woman before her was a Councelor. It explained how the simple questions pulled more from Pretha than anyone else had learned from her in her time on the ship. She hadn’t even been aware she had let that much out, till now. It didn’t bother her, so much, as amuse her. Revna was quick and keen. A kindred spirit in many ways.

“As to weapons, I can cleared for all the side and long arms in the armory as well as knowledgeable in Klingon disruptors, and several blades including the Federation KaBar. And passable with a bat’leth if I don’t have to square off against a Klingon.” She laughed. She had practiced with a bat’leth with Vash on one occasion and it had been a decent spar. Then he had simulated a Klingon warrior and Pretha hadn’t lasted two minutes. “I’m fascinated with hand to hand weapons of various cultures and want to learn as many of them as I can. I guess more from a security standpoint than anything. Know your enemy and all that.” She smiled and shrugged. It sounded corny to her when she said it and most found it strange she wanted to learn about knives when most enemies preferred energy weapons.

Pretha
CRIT