Posted by Captain Molly Holloway (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Deck 26: Cargo Bay 7 (tag Stores)

Posted by Ensign Clinton Reed (Engineer) in Deck 26: Cargo Bay 7 (tag Stores)

Posted by Captain Molly Holloway (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Deck 26: Cargo Bay 7 (tag Stores)
Posted by… suppressed (6) by the Post Ghost! 👻
It was Monday morning, and if the week was going to be anything like its first hours, then it was going to be a complete disaster.

After oversleeping, Molly had rushed to the holosuites for her morning workout, only to find out that she had forgotten to book them for the whole week. Begrudgingly, she had settled for the Security combat training facilities. Then, halfway through her session, the comms had interrupted her to tell her that she had a delivery waiting in Cargo Bay 7. Holloway sighed. She received regular care packages from both her father and her uncle, but judging by their delivery pattern so far, this was not one of them.

Already in a foul mood, Holloway climbed the one deck that separated the Security training facilities from the Cargo Bay, and walked through the doors.

For those who knew the Dresden’s Intel Chief, her current break with regular protocol was an unusual sight. Still in her workout gear, the front and back of her tank top drenched in sweat, and for once, her trademark ballerina bun was not so meticulously well made. A thin gold necklace hung around her neck – to the untrained eye, it was nothing more than a piece of jewelry, but to those familiar with Earth’s religious symbols, it would be easily identifiable as a Rosary.

Looking around Cargo Bay, it was obvious which delivery was hers. It was the only one in a garishly pink container. It had been a while since she had last received something from her sister, especially after Erin graduated from college and found herself a serious boyfriend, but the moment Molly’s eyes laid on the box, there was no doubt in her mind who it had come from.

With a quick glance, Holloway searched the room for someone wearing Operations Gold to whom she could claim the ‘package’, hopefully without chatter and with the minimum interaction possible. The morning was already bad as it was… She didn’t need more to add to it.

Capt. Holloway, CIO

Having gotten up early to oversee the resuply from the Atlanta Stores chose to take his breakfast in the hold. Growing up on a ship, one learned to cherish those moments of peace after finishing one job and before another began.

The abrupt entrance of Captain Holloway broke into Stores nostalgic thoughts of life on the Tortuga.

Still dressed in merchant marine kaki overalls, brown EVA compression suit and mag boots, Stores looked over his watch cup. “Can I help you M’am? “

Perposly lifting a carafe from the crate he was sting on and pouring a fresh cup. “You look like you need this more than me.”

Clinton “Stores” Reed, Supercargo

Glancing between the crate that was hers and the man that had just spoken, Molly sighed softly and repressed an eye-roll. To say that Holloway was childish at times was an understatement, and right now she was trying her best not to let out her inner sixteen year old.

“Thank you. I’m fine.” She replied curtly. There was a smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I was told that I had something to pick up. I suspect that’s the one.” Molly pointed to the pink crate. It had stickers all over it, representing a plethora of different symbols, but among them she could recognize the blue and yellow colors of different UCLA and Bruins related logos as well as the three Greek deltas in a row belonging to the sorority her sister had been a part of while in college. The whole thing couldn’t be more visually different than the Dresden’s Chief of Intelligence. “Do you happen to know who I need to talk to?” It was obvious that Holloway didn’t recognize who Reed was. She had heard a few things here and there, especially about how he had come on board, but she was clearly not putting two and two together. “Mr. Prescott was the one I used to talk to, but he was transferred. Moving on up, I guess… either that or he was tired of the constant piles of stuff my sister sends me.” Molly chuckled softly. “Siblings, am I right?”

Capt. Holloway, CIO

“Suit your self” Stores said with a sad smile, wile images of blood droplets dyed black buy the red emergency lighting float in a dying ship flash across his inner eye. Blinking back tears his eyes focusing on something behind the amber lenses of his wrap around goggles. Lifting the cup to his lips wile gesturing with his off hand. “Here you go, Captain just need your Jane Hancock “ with a sub vocal whisper and another jesture a PPAD materializes on the garishly decorated crate.

All the wile the older man never left his perch.

Finally slipping off his crate and “Don’t knock the siblings , I would give my right arm for an embarrassingly pink care package from mine” was that just the slightest tremble in his voice? At this point the Supercargo walked over and policed up the PPAD, and brought it back to his iratable customer. “ Would you like it delivered to your quarters?” Up close the to smooth skin of his face is obvious against the salt and pepper hair and graying beard stubble.

Clinton “Stores” Reed, Supercargo

Molly’s heart sunk. The goggles obscured part of the man’s eyes, but the slight change in his voice told her that she had screwed up. Not on purpose, but screwed up nonetheless. Worried about her sister’s safety most of her life, Holloway wondered if she hadn’t started taking her sister for granted. Her gaze fell on the pink crate and she thought about all the others that lined one of the walls of her living quarters, still unopened.

Taking the PaDD she had been given, she sighed softly. “You know what, I think I’ll take that cup that you offered me. What are you drinking?” She said eyeing the carafe. With a warm smile, she sat down next to where Reed had originally been sitting. Putting the PaDD in her lap for the moment, without signing it, she held out a hand for a handshake. “I’m sorry, I don’t think we’ve met before. Molly Holloway.”

Capt. Holloway, CIO

“Coffee M’am, bit of a project for Issac in security” taking the proferred hand. “Stores, err Clinton Reed, pleased to meet you”.

Damn fine grip thought Stores after retrieving his hand and reaching for the caraf. Poring a measure into the cup/lid better not use the replicator/ transporter shortcut again, these Starfleet types get a bit testy about it sometimes “Black I am afraid, but I can round up some cream and sugar if you like” dark memories banished for the moment, Stores steps up on the pallet and resumes his seat wile lifting the lenses and placing them on top of his head.

Clinton “Stores” Reed, Supercargo.

Molly nodded. “Forgrave? Good officer. I’m afraid I didn’t meet him under the best circumstances. I’m sure he appreciates your efforts on the coffee front, though.” There was no smile, but rather a stern expression that seemed to be the usual with Holloway. “I admire people who drink their coffee black, Mr. Reed. I usually drink it with sugar, but there’s no need for you to go to the trouble of finding some. You know what they say, if you want to try coffee, you should try it black.”

“It realy isn’t a bother, just don’t pay to close attention to how it arrives” Stores chuckles behind his wicked grin. “I’m not due my weekly ass chewing from the chief just yet.”

There was a quizzical look in Holloway’s gaze, not entirely sure as to what he had meant. But she gave it no second thought. She was determined to drink her coffee without her usual sweetener.

“I’m sorry about my comment on siblings.” Molly said after a pause. “I didn’t mean to bring you any kind of anguish… it’s easy to forget how great it is to get some sort of care package when my sister sends in several per week. In fact, this is the longest I’ve been without her sending me something. I guess her new job has been keeping her busy. Up until she graduated from college she would send me the whole of UCLA’s gift shop per week… I probably have enough Bruins t-shirts in my quarters to dress the whole crew complement of the Dresden. I can give you some if you care for them.” Holloway chuckled softly but she was only half joking. “What is your brother, or sister, like?” A warmer expression softened her features, giving the Intel Chief an air of porcelain-like fragility rather uncharacteristic for someone with her job.

Capt. Holloway, CIO

“No need to apologize, Captain. It s ancient history now.” The smile turning just a bit wistful. “One of each, acualy.” After a pause covered buy a sip of coffee. “Of corse on a famiy ship, cosines are just about the same” thinking back to his youth about the Tartuga. “ Maggie was my little sister, our cheif medical officer reminds me of her some. A kindly soul but tough as nails was our Mags.” Mrs. Reeds son smiled at the memory. Now My older brother was another sort. A bit dull and a mean sort of coward but damn if I don’t miss his sorry ass some times” draining his cup.” The old long haul families are a rare breed these days, not many servived the war” Pausing to poor another cup, Stores realizing the carafe was empty set it down, and whispered, < Forgraves brew, point five liters, carafe in situ this location> Picking up the caraf again he poors another cup. Lifting the cup and giving it a sniff, “It doesn’t get easier with time, you just get used to It.” After a sip. “ If you’ll pardon me say’n, don’t take her for granted Captain.”

Clinton “Stores” Reed, Supercargo

Was. The word hit Molly like a ton of bricks. For a moment, she looked at her own cup of Reed’s experimental brew and sniffed its contents. The aroma it carried was amazing, but she was always weary.

An eyebrow cocked slightly as the Engineer filled the carafe once again. She kept a silent note on how well he seemed to get around with the replicators and… possibly the transporters? Molly didn’t care enough about Engineering to know.

“I’m so sorry… I didn’t know…” Her words trailed off as she pondered a life without Erin. She shook her head to keep her mind from wondering too deep into the thought. “It’s funny, you know… I’ve always worried too much about her, to the point where dad had to put a stop to it. I wanted to know where she was, who she was with, what she was doing… she was everything I had left from…” Molly’s voice trailed off and she shook her head. “She pulled away, as it would be expected. But now… now the positions are inverted. I mean… We still talk every evening. It’s just the enormous volume of merchandise she thinks I would want.” A small smile formed in Molly’s lips. Black seemed to be Holloway’s color of choice when it came to clothing, and even though she was wearing workout clothes, every single item seemed to be Starfleet issued. “She says I need to remodel my wardrobe. Eh.” She shrugged. “I wear a uniform most of the time.” She said with a chuckle.

“Long haul family, huh?” Molly finally took a sip of her coffee, closing her eyes as she felt the bitter pang of the unsugared beverage. “So…” She paused for a moment. “I take it you grew up on a starship?”

Capt. Holloway, CIO

“I did, and other than five years working the shipyards at Io and six months as a longshoreman it’s all I realy know.” Looking the Intelegence officer over, “ Well with the flaming hair and pale complexion, black certainly makes for a drastic contrast, I might see why your sister might be trying to get you to tone it down.” Stores chuckled.

Taking another sip to gage the younger woman’s reaction, “being born and bred aboard ship has its advantages, but leaves me a bit uncomfortable planet side” after a pause, “That might be understating the case a bit” the truth is that open skies were one of the few things that he found truly frightening, and the thought of being called apon for a planet side away mission left his mouth dry. “How about you? Where did you and your would be fashion designer grow up?”

Clinton “Stores” Reed, Supercargo.