Posted by Mar. Captain Eleanor “Iron Lady” Carnegie (Recon Squadron CO/Pilot) in Just Another Day at the Office

Posted by Major Malcolm “Astro” Dawkins (CAG) in Just Another Day at the Office

Posted by Mar. Captain Eleanor “Iron Lady” Carnegie (Recon Squadron CO/Pilot) in Just Another Day at the Office
Posted by… suppressed (6) by the Post Ghost! 👻
<snip>
As the hangar doors closed behind them, Eleanor’s fingers welcomed Malcolm’s. Playing their relationship down in public had become rather tiresome, but both knew it was for the better. So it came as a surprise to Eleanor when Malcolm pushed her against the bulkhead on a rather passionate kiss. Not that she was complaining. Deepening the intimate gesture, Eleanor leaned into the kiss, her arms pulling him closer as he pressed her against the wall.

When the kiss broke, smiling like an idiot but with more than a little hunger behind his gaze… Malcolm said softly. “I’ve waited for that all damn day!” He was slightly breathless and blushed as they continued their journey, stepping into a TurboLift. His fingers tight with hers, he ordered the lift to the Observation Lounge and off they shot.

A drunk smile settled in Eleanor’s face. Looking at Malcolm through the corner of her eye, she didn’t say a word back. Instead, when her fingers laced with his again, she squeezed his hand in a more aggressive fashion, letting him know that she desired him in the same way he did her. Her face was a slightly darker shade of pink than usual.

In about a minute, the lift opened to the corridor outside the O-Lounge doors. Walking in, Siren waved from a table by the starboard windows as the Attendant asked for his reservation. “Captains Dawkins & Carnegie… the rest of our party I believe are already here.” He nodded to the table just as Tracer joined Siren. “Of course Captains…” The older Attendant smiled. “… welcome to the O-Lounge.” Malcolm then led Ellie to the table.

Malcolm

As Malcolm spoke to the attendant, an officer waved at them from a far away table. With smooth dark skin, the woman was drop dead gorgeous and as she tried to get their attention, Eleanor found herself looking down at her own body and wrinkled flight suit feeling suddenly quite self conscious. She was sure the woman would look good in the oldest of rags without adding anything else. Carnegie assumed she was Siren. As she looked, or rather stared, at the woman, a man joined her at the table. There was nothing particularly remarkable about him, except the fact that his build was slightly bulkier than what Eleanor would expect of a fighter pilot. For a moment, she allowed herself to admire the man’s physique, as her thoughts wondered places she didn’t mean for them to go. As she realized the more carnal nature of her thoughts, guilt washed over her and her cheeks blushed brighter. Her fingers held harder onto Malcolm’s almost apologetically.

Malcolm felt the tightening of Ellie’s grip but didn’t know why she did… other than nerves. He glided his thumb across the back of Ellie’s hand to comfort her and maybe ease her a bit. Mal loved touching her soft skin, if even for a moment.

Insecurity filled her conscious in the overwhelming way that only insecurity can, and Eleanor held onto Malcolm’s hand as they walked. With her free hand she took her glasses from her chest pocket and put them on, only to realize that if she already looked boring next to dazzling fighter pilot, she would look even worse with the old spectacles perched on her nose. Slowly, Eleanor took them off and put them back in her pocket. At least without the glasses, she wouldn’t have to admire the full color beauty of the woman the whole time.

Eleanor

The two First Lieutenants, still sporting flightsuits, stood and faced the approaching couple as they neared the table with bright smiles. It was the male pilot who spoke first, extended a hand to Malcolm. “Hey ya Boss… good shift?” Malcolm took the hand with a smile and nodded. “Not too bad. Just getting the kinks worked out. How’d your birds do this afternoon?” The junior sighed and then smiled. “Jinx is still pissed at you for sticking her in the back up and running with us till her bird is back in order. I suggest you steer clear of Ash for a few days.” Malcolm laughed. “Fair enough, thanks for the warning.”

Then Malcolm turned to Ellie and smiled. “Ellie… this is Lieutenants Nicole “Siren” Harper and Peyton “Tracer” McKenna.” Turning his gaze to the junior pilots, he continued the introductions. “Nikki… Mac… this is Eleanor “Iron Lady” Carnegie.” The look on Dawkins face was unmistakable proud and he glowed as he turned back to face Ellie..

Dawkins/McKenna

Eleanor shot Malcolm a nervous smile before waving shyly at Siren and Tracer.

Tracer gave a Eleanor a warm smile as bright, sky blue eyes flashed a welcome of their own. Unlike Siren, who was clearly in her mid-20’s, Tracer appeared to be in his later 20’s… as old as if not older than Mal himself. Several of the patches on his uniform were obviously from his time in Mobile Infantry while the pull his biceps, shoulders and chest made on the snug fabric of his flight suit made it clear that the man had come, originally, from something other than Flight School.

“Oh isn’t she adorable, Astro! Why didn’t you introduced her to us before?” Nicole’s accent was distinctively British. London, Eleanor thought as the woman spoke. Raising from the table, Siren took one of Eleanor’s hands and pulled her gently yet energetically towards her into a small hug. “Nice to meet you, Sweetheart! Come on, sit by my side. Us girls need to stick together!”

Malcolm laughed as he watched Nikki’s reaction. “I hardly had time to convince her I wasn’t a loser fighter jock, much less have time to broadcast the gem I found!” He shot Ellie a wink as Tracer gave him a firm swat to the back. “Hate to agree with Siren, Astro… but I too can’t believe how you kept a pretty little thing like her under wraps.” Peyton suddenly blushed slightly and quickly recovered to Ellie with an aside. “No offense Miss.”

Eleanor smiled nervously, slightly thrown aback by the welcome, but sat on the chair Nicole had tapped and laughed nervously. Her eyes fell on Tracer again and she smiled shyly as his eyes met hers. The last chair was directly across from her, and Eleanor really wanted Malcolm to sit there now.

Walking around to the chair across from Ellie, Malcolm settled into the chair and gently sat a foot between Ellie’s. Tracer found Eleanor’s glance, giving both a smile and ever so slightly raised eyebrow. He had just returned a playfully flirty glance when Malcolm cleared his throat. “You gonna join us or spend the night trying to flirt while standing?” As Malcolm chuckled, the rather powerful looking man blushed slightly and settled in the chair beside him. “Knock it off Astro… not all of us in MI are that bad!” In response, both Siren and Malcolm snorted softly with Malcolm adding in a “Riiiight”

“It’s nice to finally meet you too.” Carnegie said slightly leaning forward so that she could face both the pilots better. “Mal talks about yinz a lot.”

Nikki laughed and looked at Malcolm. “Oh does he now? And is what Mal says good or bad?” Her eyes gleamed. “You don’t need to answer that, Luv.” She tapped Eleanor gently in the arm but her gaze kept on Malcolm. “The important thing here is that he didn’t tell us he had gotten himself a girlfriend, you stud.” She smiled. “And a hot one too!” Siren turned to Eleanor and winked, before turning to Malcolm again. “I’m glad you told me before I met her on a corridor and tried to chat her up, cause that would have been embarrassing!”

With a chuckle, Malcolm nodded to Ellie. “See Ellie… you had nothin’ ta’ worry ‘bout comin’ here ta’night. I, on the other hand, have ta’ keep these two jokers in line so one or both don’t try & drag you off to bed!” It was at this point Tracer nervously cleared his throat and took a drink.

Nikki looked at Eleanor from head to toe. “Well… you know I wouldn’t be opposed to that Astro…” She winked at Malcolm.

Eleanor looked at Malcolm. Her cheeks bright red. All her brain could think of was that the beautiful girl by her side had thought she was worthy of her attention. Too bad Carnegie was not interested in a relationship with the fair sex, although her fascination by the woman was like something she had never experienced. For a moment she wondered what Malcolm saw in her when he worked with someone like Siren. The call sign was definitely fitting.

Carnegie/Harper

“Don’t go a blushin’ and a lightin’ up like that Ellie…” Malcolm smiled widely and then shifted a playfully suspicious look to Siren. “… that just tells Nikki whether or not she got in your head. Damn uncompromisin’ flirt!” Dawkins laughed as he slid a hand onto Ellie’s knee under the table.

Dawkins/McKenna

Eleanor smiled without knowing what to say. She blushed slightly as she felt Malcolm’s fingers on her knee.

“Anyway.” Nicole finally said. “Now that we made an ass out of ourselves and embarrassed Astro’s girl, we should maybe order some drinks? After all that’s what we’re here for, no?” She looked at both men across from her. Then turning to Eleanor she said in an apologetical tone. “We’re not always like this. We just like to give Dawkins a hard time. Although I meant what I said, girl. If you ever want to have some fun you know where to find me.” She winked.

Tracer nearly sprayed his ice water all over Siren as her line to Eleanor caught him mid-sip. The Marine rolled his eyes as he saw a look in Siren’s that had lost him more than a few dates. Peyton had to admit, if only to himself, that Siren’s smoldering gaze could get her any man or woman she wanted.

Eleanor glanced at Malcolm before turning to Siren again. “Drinks sound nice!” She said in a slightly too eager tone. Siren laughed.

Signaling the waiter, Nicole turned to the group. “What are you guys going to drink? Everyone knows my preference.” Turning to Eleanor again, she spoke seriously and with the practice of someone who had uttered the same sentence many times. “I like my women like I like my gin. Bitter and always available.” She winked.

Eleanor/Harper

It was Malcolm’s turn to roll his eyes and with a smirk added. “You know Nikki, she’s goin’ home with me… right?” Tracer laughed out loud and motioned one hand toward Siren. “And ya know, tryin’ to bed the CO’s girl will like find you cleaning photon torps with a toothbrush, Lieutenant.” He winked.

A playful smirk curled Nikki’s lips. “Hey… you should know by now that I’d do anything for a fun night.” winked back at Tracer.

“Bourbon on the rocks for me” Malcolm said with a smile, squeezing Ellie’s knee a bit more forcefully… though his eyes roamed the small group. “How bout you, Ellie?” He finally asked, returning his gaze to hers with a wide grin.

Eleanor’s breathing grew slightly heavier as she felt Malcolm’s squeeze on her knee. Her mind went back to what might or might not happen when they left the bar that evening. She bit her lip almost imperceptibly.

“Oh… you know my drink of choice…” Eleanor said to Malcolm. “Vodka neat.”

Tracer shrugged and eyed Siren for just a moment. “Fourth time this week we went for drinks girl, and you seriously think I’m gonna shake things up?” He winked. “Gentleman Jack, chilled, in a frosted glass.”

Dawkins/McKenna

Nodding, Siren ordered the drinks as the waiter came along. When he went away, the Marine turned to Eleanor once more. “So, what’s it like to be a Recon pilot? You know… we’re all fighter jocks around here…” She gestured at Malcolm and Tracer with a smile. “I wouldn’t feel comfortable flying the big birds… especially with the lack of weaponry! You guys must be fearless!”

Eleanor laughed. Her eyes glanced at Malcolm. “I am far from fearless. Reckless? Yes. Fearless? Not so much.” She shook her head slightly before continuing. “It’s quite nice most of the time. You actually have space in the cockpit, for one.” She said with a smug but playful smile. Then, more seriously she continued. “You just get used to it, I guess. I mean… the Ranger is no Tempie by any means, but… it’s home.” She smiled. “Besides, the Rangers are just kitted bombers, really. I can have my Crew Chief refit my bird for Tactical missions in just three hours… I mean… my Sensor Ops guy… Badger… he would have to be replaced.” She looked at Malcolm for a moment. “Not that he shouldn’t already…” And then continued. “But I’m just the pilot. All they have to do is tell me where to go, and I’ll do it! Although I’m really not trained for Tactical missions. They would probably be better off with a different pilot anyway.”

At that moment, the waiter brought back the drinks, and Eleanor took the opportunity to take a sip of hers.

Carnegie/Harper

Malcolm laughed with a rather proud smile. “Hell… Ellie is just being modest. If I didn’t say anything, I bet she’d never even mention that she’s a qualified Fighter Pilot!” Dawkins pointed with the hand above the table at Ellie. “God! You two shoulda seen it! I popped up right behind her and in a blink, this lunatic pulls a TVR in her Ranger and I’m staring down the barrels of her Weapons System. Never seen anything like it in my life! A textbox Tactical Vector Reversal in craft damn near twice the size of my fighter.” He beamed a brilliant smile across at Ellie. “My girl’s got skills!” He winked and gave her knee another squeeze.

Eleanor blushed brightly. “Stop that. Not more than you guys have.” She smiled.

Both Carnegie and Harper opened her mouth to speak. The first to keep her protest, the latter to utter her own surprise. But McKenna jumped the gun before either of them could.

Looking like one could have knocked him from his chair with a feather, Tracer’s eyes flashed to Malcolm then to Ellie. “Now wait a damn minute?!? You mean to tell me you pulled a full TVR in a goddamn Big Bird?!” The pilot looked dumbstruck. “That’s incredible! Please…” He turned back to Malcolm. “… please tell me your video systems were running!? I wanna see it!”

With the slightest of smiles, Malcolm nodded. “Oh… I got that whole thing on video! Wasn’t expecting THAT!” He grinned once more at Ellie. “But I got it!”

“Fantastic!” Boomed Tracer, getting the momentary attention of a near-by couple.

Dawkins/McKenna

“You better share that we both of us, Dawkins, cause I wanna see it too, and you damn well know it.” Tired of waiting for both men to finish their short dialogue, Siren’s voice rose above Tracer’s, earning her an annoyed stare from the couple Peyton had startled.

Malcolm laughed as he patted Ellie’s knee under the table, smiling a wicked smile first to Ellie then the group. “Oh, I have it… in full color with telemetry data to boot!”

All the while, Eleanor’s face was becoming redder by the minute. She didn’t think about the ship’s video systems. In fact, she didn’t think her maneuver was anything spectacular. Every pilot she knew, knew how to do a TVR. She was no less than them.

“So…” Siren looked at Eleanor. “Is that true? You’re a qualified fighter pilot? How come you’re flying Recon? No one I know that ever flew a Tempie would go back to fly anything else… I mean… I take it you have flown one?”

Eleanor nodded, starting to feel like she had been repeating the story to everyone who happened to be in front of her. “Starfleet won’t let me. I’m colorblind. Recon, on the other hand, thinks I’m the greatest thing since replicated bread!” She shrugged. “Every time I tried to submit a new Combat Deployment Waiver, HQ reminded me how grateful I should be that they allowed me near their birds, let alone being able to fly one. So… I keep my hours. Or at least try to.” There was a half smile on her lips. “I’m counting on Captain Dawkins here to lend me his Tempie every once in a while so I can keep them logged.” She motioned to Malcolm with her chin.

The slyest of grins crossed Malcolm’s lips and with a wink, he quipped. “I think we can work something out.” His playfully raised eyebrow told Ellie everything she needed to know about what he meant. The Marine knew he was gonna get his ass kicked later for harassing the auburn-haired firecracker across from him… but oh God was it worth it. If there was one thing about Ellie that was a (slight) frustration was the fact the poor girl sold herself short on her piloting skills and if Malcolm could do anything to break her outta the funk she was in, he sure as hell was gonna try!

“I’ll bet Astro can ‘work’ something out!” Tracer laughed out loud, once more startling the couple at the nearby table, who in frustration finally got up and left. As they walked by, it sounded as though the female in the couple (both Fleet) was quietly lecturing her boyfriend for being a coward and not standing up to those drunk ass jarheads. The second the word “jarheads” left her lips, the male grabbed her by the arm and quickly escorted her out of the lounge.

“I can lend you mine too.” Siren’s tone was suggestive as a smirk settled on her lips. Eleanor took a deep breath. She gave Nikki a forced smile that Carnegie hoped seemed real.

“Anyway. The TVR was not a big deal… It’s no different than what you guys would do. Only in my ship, it got me the contents of my Sensor Ops officer’s stomach inside a paper bag and complaints from my Flight Engineer about the artificial gravity generator.” Carnegie shrugged once again. “I’ve been told I fly recklessly, and I’ve been reminded in several occasions that I’m not flying a fighter.” She shook her head. Her mind travelled to the heated conversation she had had with her previous Squadron CO. If it wasn’t for the way I fly my bird none of us would have even returned! If it wasn’t for the way you fly your bird, Carnegie, you wouldn’t have been in this situation to begin with.

Carnegie sighed. “What about you guys? What’s your superpower?” The sarcasm evident in her tone.

Carnegie/Harper

“Well…” Malcolm chuckled. “My ‘superpower’ is pitching… which is pretty lame for a superpower, but it is what it is!” Dawkins ran a hand over his hair as Tracer joined his laughter. “I would say…” Tracer began. “… my superpower is luck, cause otherwise, I’d have had my ass shot out from under me more times than I care to count. Not a great one, but it gets me home.”

Dawkins/Tracer

Eleanor smiled softly at Peyton’s words. Her eyes roaming his muscular shoulders for a moment.

“As for me…” Siren looked at Eleanor rather suggestively. “I can show you my superpower when we leave here tonight.” There was a wink, and a light lip bite, and Eleanor’s eyes grew the size of tennis balls.

Malcolm raised an eyebrow at Siren, wondering who at the table had more interest in Ellie… him or Nicole. Not that he wouldn’t mind the show but he had a sneaking suspicion he wouldn’t be invited.

“I… I…” It was clear that Carnegie didn’t know what to say. “I’m fine, thanks.” She managed to muster in such a lower tone that it went unnoticed by the group. However, the glare she shot at Malcolm would not be missed by the Marine fighter pilot. Carnegie took a large swig of her Vodka, almost emptying her glass in one go. If she kept drinking like that though, she might actually find out what Nikki’s ’superpower’ was by the end of the night.

Carnegie/Harper

Even though, for a brief moment, Dawkins looked as though he… might… laugh, the look Ellie shot him stifled it and for the first time since they sat down, the Marine spoke up. “Come on now Nikki… not very nice of you trying to run off or run off with my girl. I’d almost think you didn’t like me… or maybe you do and just trying to make it difficult for me later tonight!”

There was a snicker from Tracer that was immediately met with a harsh side glance from Astro as the Marine patted Ellie’s knee under the table and sighed. It was an apologetic look Malcolm gave Ellie.

Dawkins/Tracer

“All right, all right. I’ll stop.” Nicole shot Eleanor a friendly smile. “But if you ever decide Astro here is not good enough for you, the offer still stands.” The expression in the woman’s face left Carnegie wondering whether she meant it or not. “Now…” For the first time of the night, Siren’s tone was serious. Almost accusatory. “… you know I would never try to take her away from you, Dawkins. You know better than that.”

With a smirk, Malcolm laughed. “Riiiight… I remember how you had that girl on 42 eating out of your hand. But, I’ll be nice and not bring up any other details of said night!” He winked as he took a sip of his drink and Tracer, turning a bit red, downed his drink and waved for the waiter to bring another.

As the two pilots spoke, Eleanor finished her vodka and signaled the waiter for another one. Malcolm would start to see a pattern. The same pattern from the night in which they had met.

The waiter came half way across the room before seeing Tracer, returning to the bar and then back with both drinks. He looked suspiciously at the party, clear from his pin that he was an Enlisted Fleet Steward.

“Well, it wouldn’t be the first time I came out of a bar with a date.” Eleanor smiled. “I mean… it was kind of how we met.” The joy and admiration for the fighter pilot sitting across from her was visible in her eyes. The words, however, were not really uttered at Malcolm, but rather at the other two pilots on the table.

Carnegie/Harper

Tracer was mid-way through his second drink when he nearly choked. “You’re kidding!?” Tracer exclaimed, looking first at Ellie then Malcolm. “I don’t think you’ve ever even taken a girl from a bar out to dinner…” He was clearly surprised. “… much less date!”

Nicole didn’t say anything. Instead she laid back on her seat and sipped on her own drink. “Well Tracer… They grow up fast, don’t they?” She said with a half amused, half proud smile on her face.

Malcolm smiled proudly, his hand reaching across the table to Ellie’s hand. “Let’s just say I know I’m lucky. Not the most conventional way to start…” He looked lovingly to Ellie. “… but I sure as hell don’t regret it!”

Dawkins/Tracer

Eleanor smiled and her cheeks turned pink. Her fingers intertwined with Malcolm’s. “Ah, stop it, Mal. I’m not that spectacular.”

“Oh, come on you two!” Siren suddenly said. “Stop rubbing your perfect relationship on other people’s faces!” She smiled. “Some of us less fortunate ones…” She motioned to her and then to Tracer. “… would like to have a quiet drink and forget that no one wants us.” She said playfully as she took another sip from her glass.

Carnegie/Harper

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