Posted by Captain Marceau Renault (Commanding Officer) in Memory: End of First Year Training Mission

Posted by Lieutenant Helena Laursen (Helm/Nagivation Officer) in Memory: End of First Year Training Mission

Posted by Captain Marceau Renault (Commanding Officer) in Memory: End of First Year Training Mission
Posted by… suppressed (12) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
Kenson passed him back his pack when he sat. Helena met his gaze when he came in, silently wondering if he was okay. He’d tell her later if he wanted, but he wasn’t the kind to ‘kiss and tell.’ But she’d be around if he needed to talk. She had no idea how he was going to manage to see her before they left. They had to muster at 0800 and then their equipment checked and on the transports by 1000.

Helena

Marceau gave her a slight nod, a silent I’m okay, not wanting to tip off the rest of the squad that he was upset. How did he plan to see her again? He had known what he was signing up for when he said it. He’d have to get up early and see her on his way to meet up with the squad. It would likely leave him tired for the day.

When they were done packing and heading out for the night Marceau opted to leave with Helena. He told her about the fight as if she hadn’t heard, not all the details but the gist of what happened. He sighed softly, “I don’t know what to do about her. She gets… upset every time going away gets brought up.”

~ Marceau

Helena shouldered her pack and made her way up the stairs with Marceau to his room. His roommate was still out. Of course a lot of them were already bunking in different rooms preparing for tomorrow. Helena wasn’t sure what to say. “I don’t know Marceau. She and her family have lived in San Francisco her whole life. Star Fleet, the military, isn’t new to her. I think she doesn’t understand what it means though. She acts like it’s some fairy tale with a shinning white knight. But she’s forgotten that all those knights in those stories had to be pages and squires first, and trained day and night to earn the title.”

Marceau nodded, and then shook his head. He hadn’t mentioned this to Helena before. “She… She brings up my fear of flying. She asks me how I will do all these things, go away, if I am so scared of planes.” He gripped his bag tightly in his fists. “I’m really anxious over tomorrow’s flight.”

Helena squeezed his hand. “So I’ve seen the flight plans. It’s a large commercial jet we’re taking. You’ve done those, and I’ll sit with you, okay? You’re brave Marceau.” She stopped him before he said anything. “No, you really are. Bravery is doing what has to be done especially when you’re scared. Just like our flight from Boston. The flight will be fine, we’ll do it together.”

She wouldn’t let him argue. Marceau squeezed her hand back and nodded. His palms were sweaty thinking about the flight.

She sighed and sat down when they got to his room. “Lucy is sweet and smart and I’ve heard the things that she wants to do with her degree. She seems to make you happy. I adore her for being worried about you.” She grinned a little. She didn’t want to alienate Marceau by insulting Lucy. “But…what is she going to do when we get sent to Luna or Titan?” It would be even worse when they graduated. If Marceau and Lucy lasted that long. “Are you going to go see her tonight? It’s not too late, you could still get back in time for sleep. I’ll come by and make sure you’re awake and leave on time for muster?”

Helena

Marceau shook his head. “Luna, Titan, or somewhere farther away. I think she will always be upset when I have to go.” He smiled a little, “I like when she misses me.” Just not when she got upset with him because she was going to miss him. He looked at Helena and nodded. “I planned to go in the morning, but you’re right. Tonight is better.” He smiled again, a stressed and nervous smile, and said, “Merci beaucoup, Helena.”

~ Marceau

Helena grinned micheviously and batted her eyes at him in a fair approximation of Lucy. “Oh Marcy who wouldn’t miss you?” Except Helena sounded a lot more sincere. Then more seriously, “Of course you do. We all like to know there is someone who cares about us, and Lucy would be an idiot to not care about you.” She looked around, “Any last minute items to add?”

Marceau smiled and then shook his head. “No, I have everything. I don’t need to add unnecessary weight to my bag.”

“Good, now go. Spend some time with Lucy. Reassure her everything is fine and you will see her soon. Two months isn’t that long. But Marceau please make sure to get back in time for some sleep. I’ll be here at 0700, okay?”

Helena

“I will be back in time, I promise,” he said, and then he left and took public transit to Lucy’s house. She lived in down town San Francisco in a little loft apartment her parents paid for while she was in school. He knocked on the door, and within a few moments, Lucy answered and let him in. She was still wearing her sun dress.

Marceau went in with the intention of doing exactly what Helena had said. Reassure her and let her know he would be fine and back before long. But it quickly turned into another fight. Marceau hugged her as he entered and gave her a quick kiss. “See? I said I would see you before I had to go.” Lucy giggled and hugged him, kissing him back. She had already said they’d talk about it when he was back. She really didn’t mean to stress him out before he left.

“Like you promised,” she giggled, pulling him over to the little brightly colored sofa in the living room. She plopped down, her legs hanging over the sofa’s arm rest, and pulled Marceau down with her, so he was laying next-to-basically-on her on the sofa.

For twenty minutes they stayed there together, hugging, kissing, saying their goodbyes, planning all the things they’d do when he got back. Then, “We could… Just stay here, like this.” Lucy wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him in close, so he was pressed up against her. “Aaalllll day.”

Marceau let out a little sigh. How many times would they go through this? Apparently it was the wrong thing to do, because suddenly there was the Great wall of China between them in body language. No longer pressed close to her Marceau felt like he was rolling off the edge of the little sofa. “Marceau…” said Lucy, in a frustrated, tired tone.

“We talked about this. And then we talked about it again. I won’t change my mind, Lucille. I have to go.” Marceau stood from the sofa. He wished it wasn’t like this, he’d wanted a nice evening before he left. Not this. “I have to go to bed. Muster is at 0800 tomorrow morning.” Marceau sighed, bent down, and kissed her on the cheek. “I hate to leave things like this… But it is like you said. We’ll talk about it when I am back.”

Lucy stood and gave him a hug and another kiss, a quick peck. It wasn’t a long, warm hug, but a quick one. “Be safe, Marcy. Call me as soon as you can, okaaaay?” She said, in that cute girly tone. Marceau smiled, “Of course I will, Lucy.” Then he headed out the door and hopped on the next bus to the academy feeling worse than before.

The whole night had turned into a giant headache and it didn’t help his anxiety surrounding tomorrow. He was feeling tired, yet restless, and more awake than he should be. He headed back into his dorm, locked the door, turned the lights off, and tried to sleep.

It was not long before he was up and pacing his room, his mind racing, both about Lucy and what happened between them and what was coming tomorrow. Maybe he’d see if Helena was still awake, and he’d talk to her until he was tired again. He decided that was a good plan and went searching for her.

~ Marceau

Helena was asleep, but not deeply. Nerves and excitement over the next day was making it hard to sleep. Most likely for everyone. She heard a knock at her door and sat up startled, afraid she had over slept, but no it wasn’t even 2300 yet. She got up and answered the door. Her roommate had stayed with her squad mate. Helena blinked, “Marceau? What’s wrong?” He looked agitated. She grabbed her coat, it was chilly as the temp dropped. “Come on, let’s walk and talk.”

“I just wanted a nice relaxing night, and to say bye to her.” He sighed. When she was ready he walked with her outside.

Outside she looked at him. “Tell me about it.”

Helena

Outside Marceau told her all about his visit wil Lucy, leaving out the kissing and hugging, and how it went from a nice visit directly into another fight. He sighed when he was done explaining, “I think she’ll get over it when I’m back but I’m not sure… Maybe I should do something for her.”

~ Marceau

Helena nodded, quietly thinking. Marceau didn’t have a lot of money, though he was doing better there than when he first arrived, and Helena knew he was very careful with his money. She also felt it would be a very bad idea to let Lucy think she could be upset and get a ‘present’, to spend money on her. She didn’t think Lucy was a materialistic person, but she also hadn’t thought Lucy would try to cause a scene in front of the entire squad either. “When we get back, why don’t you pack a lunch and take her to Golden Gate Park. Take her to the Conservatory of Flowers. They are working to preserve plant species that were decimated during the last 200 years. And there are always lectures being offered about conservation and gardening and things like that. Spend the whole day there with her.”

Marceau rarely bought Lucy anything, her family had a lot of money and she could typically buy whatever it was she might want. So unless Marceau thought of something creative, it was better to do something like Helena suggested. He nodded, he would take Lucy there when he got back.

She stuffed her hands into the pockets of her coat. “I think it might be a nice tradition to start for the two of you. To spend a day like that when you get back from being gone. But…” Helena sighed, “Marceau, your…relationship is none of my business, but I think you and Lucy need to sit down and have a long, honest, detailed talk. You two aren’t going to be very happy if she’s always upset with you and you are always heart broken and sad because you fight when you have to leave.”

Helena

Marseau sighed again and nodded. “I did talk to her about this. I don’t know where she got the idea I wouldn’t have to go.” He shrugged and shook his head, “I will have to have a more serious talk with her when we get back… After I take her to the gardens.”

~ Marceau

Helena looked over at him. She was half teasing and half serious. “And when you talked was it between kisses, and curled up on the couch in the dark with a movie?” Marceau had skipped the part about his fight with Lucy earlier was while they were cuddled and snuggled and kissing, but Helena knew how things went. That may have been part of her and Morgan’s problem. Too much physical attraction and not enough paying attention. “Don’t wait too long to talk to her though. A serious conversation, somewhere and some time when neither of you are distracted by anything else. You two deserve to be happy, I want this to work out for you.” Helena was a little more practical. They were still young, 18, and the likelihood that this would last was low, but she did want Marceau to be happy.

Marceau turned red, a sure sign that answer was yes. Before they fought again tonight, Lucy had seemed very interested in more than kissing. Of course they had ended up fighting instead. “I will talk to her. Seriously! No cuddling this time!” He smiled at Helena. “Thank you.”

As they walked two figures, lost in their own conversation approached from the other direction. “Hey isn’t that Flinza (their 3rd engineer) and Billy?” As they got closer it was. Billy waved, “Can’t sleep either? I don’t know if I’m nervous or excited, but either way I got tired of tossing and turning. Ran in to Flinza.”

Flinza shrugged, “I keep thinking I forgot something. After repacking for the 6th time I figured I better find something else to do.”

“I wonder if anyone else is still up?” Helena then squeezed Marceau’s arm, her eyes lighting up. “Billy you have poker chips right?” he nodded, “Let’s all go back to the basement in Marceau’s dorm. See if anyone else is up. We’ll play some chip poker for awhile. Start a pre-mission tradition for the squad.” If they weren’t going to sleep it seemed like a good idea.

20 minutes later they were all gathered back in the basement lounge, cards in hand, chips in front of all of them. Alvida had brought a bottle that looked like champagne and laughed, “Naw the instructors would have our hides if they knew we were drinking the night before a mission. Sparkling grape juice. A little fake fancy to celebrate making it this far.”

Helena

Marceau was all for the poker idea and was excited when everyone showed up to play. When Alvida pulled out a bottle that looked like alcohol Marceau seemed to tense up, but relaxed when she said it was sparkling grape juice. He smiled, “Alors, c’est une bonne idée.” (Then it is a good idea.)

~ Marceau

Gerard leaned over and whispered to quietly to Helena, “He said, ‘Good idea’.” Alvida snorted, “No, Marceau said, ‘Then it is a good idea.’ If you’re going to translate Gerard do it right.” There were snickers and Helena’s face turned color very slightly. While she appreciated Gerard’s effort it was annoying she was the only one who needed the translation. Well maybe not, she didn’t think everyone in the squad knew French, but to the last one of them, they all did better in languages than she did. She also wasn’t sure how she felt about Gerard’s attention. He was sweet, good looking, and polite. After Morgan though, Helena wasn’t sure she wanted to get involved with someone she was going to be working so closely with. Especially so soon after the squad was formed. They were all going to be together until graduation. If things ended badly or very well, it affected the rest of the squad. The grape juice didn’t last long, they toasted themselves in a moment of seriousness and then got down to playing serious poker.

It was immediately obvious who the good players were, and after a few rounds, that Marceau had a poker face that could bluff a Vulcan. Also that Helena could bluff, but when she was in a good mood and goofing off with them, she didn’t care and lost horribly every time. Billy didn’t know anything about playing cards, and Kenson thought he knew how to count cards. Jones was watching them all and seemed to be the only one who knew when Marceau might be bluffing, but he wasn’t sure and wasn’t telling.

Marceau was enjoying himself. He’d played poker a lot as a kid, and he’d learned to bluff and keep a straight face a long time ago. He had a stack of chips to show for his efforts.

“Hey,” Flinza piped up, “How long are we going to play? We should get some sleep, right?”

“Light weight.” “Buzz kill.” “It’s tradition now, we all have to stay up all night before a mission!” “I don’t know if I can, I like my sleep!” “Go lay on the couch, that way you are here and it counts.” But little by little people fell asleep where they were, or left to go back to their rooms. “Someone has to promise to stay awake so we aren’t late. They can sleep on the transport and the rest of us will make sure they okay.”

Unbeknownst to the cadets, they were being checked up on by the instructors. They exchanged a knowing grin and then slipped back out of the building.

At about 0400 Helena looked at Marceau. She was exhausted, but if she fell asleep that left Marceau the only one up, and he still looked upset over Lucy. She didn’t want to do that to him. But being exhausted made Helena act kind of stupid. She grabbed the deck of cards and Marceau’s arm. “Shhh come on, let them sleep.” She dragged him back up towards his room. His roommate had not returned. In her exhausted state she thought this would be funny and knew it would embarrass Marceau, but it might get his mind off Lucy. “Alright, I forgot the chips guess we’ll use clothes.” And started dealing after setting the alarm to go off incase they fell asleep too.

Helena

Everyone else had fallen asleep and it was only him and Helena. Until she started dragging him up to his room. “Helena, what are you doing?” He whispered, chuckling quietly. She had snatched the deck of cards but left the chips, something Marceau only noticed when she said We’ll use our clothes. Marceau’s face turned bright red. “What?! Where did that idea come from?”

And yet, several minutes later, they were playing, and whoever lost a hand, lost a layer. Marceau’s mind was definitely not on Lucy and he was laughing and having a good time. By the time the alarm went off he was pretty tired but they hadn’t fallen asleep. “It’s time to go get everyone up.” Marceau said, standing from the table and redressing. He gave Helena a look, “You dress too.”

Helena laughed, it hadn’t been to risque. She thought Marceau might have been cheating to let her win instead, taking pity on her. But it had kept them awake. “I’m going to the other building, wake everyone up who went back to their rooms. Mess hall in 45?”

Marceau nodded as he rushed out the door.

Then he went down to the basement and woke the others in their squad who were still down there. “If we want to be on time we need to get moving.” He said, throwing a pillow at one of them on the word ‘moving.’ “Cold showers. Everybody gets a cold shower, it’ll wake you up. Take someone with you so you can keep each other awake and figure out who still needs to show up.” Marceau said as he got everyone in the basement awake.

~ Marceau

Emilio yelled, “Hey! I was getting up. Why did I get the pillow?” Akela was instantly awake, like she’d had 12 hours and bright eyed and annoying. She was chased all the way up the stairs by her room mate, Alvida, “You are too excited to see the sun come up!” They all got moving though, following Marceau’s orders. Cold showers all the way around, and then breakfast.

“Moving too slowly!” Said Marceau. Once they were all up he went and took his own cold shower and, in about half an hour was ready and headed to the mess hall.

Helena made it to the other building and started banging on doors, “Wake up, we gotta get moving.” Some of the other squads weren’t too happy, but she was determined their squad would present. “Showers, it’s that last one for awhile. 45 minutes, mess hall with your gear.” Then she jogged back to the other building and her own room. She hated cold showers, but it did the job. She wasn’t the first one to the mess, but not the last. She set her pack down at the table they had claimed and headed for the line. Gerard passed her and handed her a cup. “Coffee, not sure how you take it, but you’ll need it since you stayed up all night.” He had one for Marceau too, and gave it to him when he arrived.

Helena

Marceau arrived shortly after Helena, accepted the coffee with a tired but happy, “Ah, un café. Merci.” (Ah, a coffee, thank you). And then he chugged the coffee. He looked at Helena, “I hope you aren’t as tired as I am.”

~ Marceau

Helena looked over at him and sighed, “I say this, more coffee is needed and it’s a good thing I am not flying.”

Chatter was quiet while everyone filed in and ate. Some eating a little, others a lot. “I hate rations, I’m filling up now.” “No thanks, too much food will make me sleepy.” “Who needs more coffee?” “Everyone should have at least a glass of water. Good habit to stay hydrated.”

The other squads started appearing. Most seemed more refreshed, but they didn’t speak or joke or interact as much. By the time they showed up for muster, they were early, but another squad beat them there. They were second though. Which meant that they were the second group to get checked and board the plane. They earned extra points for the creative way they had obtained extra equipment.

Helena