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)
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Taking a sip of her now sweet coffee, Molly relished in its warmth. Now that was coffee. Shaking her head, she said in what she hoped was a reassuring tone. “There’s nothing to be sorry about. I’m glad you shared it.” She smiled softly. The truth was, as Reed spoke, Holloway’s mind had stayed behind at the mention of the Jem’Hadar, her own train of thought lost in the memories of their recent encounter with them.

“I was nine years old when the war ended… I don’t remember any of it. I had my own problems to deal with.” Molly shrugged taking her mug to her lips for another sip. “But I know how vicious the Jem’Hadar can be.” A shadow grew on her expression, as the sound of a depressurizing shuttlecraft cabin filled her mind. The crash, the torture… How close her and Cal’s lives had been to ending…

The coffee mug slipped through Molly’s loosening fingers as her mind travelled to unwanted memories. Startled, and reacting instantly, she managed to grab hold of it, preventing it from falling to the floor and shattering in a million pieces. The dark liquid inside it sloshed around, sprinkling a few droplets here and there.

“I’m sorry. I spaced out for a moment.” Holloway gave Reed an apologetic smile. “It seems like you caused a good impression with the right people then. Which begs the question, why did they put you working cargo and not regular engineering?”

Capt. Holloway, CIO

“Easy there lady, No shame in seeing ghosts.” Stores gently reaching out to steady her hand. “Looks like you have walked threw hell too”

Smiling and holding the Captains gaze. “To answere your question, Klienholffer has me working main shift with her but I sneak down here anytime I can. I find it relaxing.” Stores devil may care grin in place,”besides some one has to show your peaple what’s what. Cargo handlers deck apes are not” relaxing and finding his cup, “show what dose a ships intelegence officer do to relax?”

Clinton “Stores” Reed, Supercargo

Molly chuckled softly before taking a sip of her coffee through slightly shaky hands. “Hell… I can assure you… Hell is tame compared to what I’ve walked through.”

“Ah, I’m glad Lieutenant Kleinhoffer has put you to work then.” Holloway smiled. “And well… I guess someone has to do cargo duty, so it might as well be someone that enjoys it.” Taking another sip, it took a few moments for Molly to answer Reed’s last question. “Not much to be honest… I mostly spend my free time in my training program, and recently I have found some time to replicate some old books I have been wanting to read. What do you, Mr. Reed, do to relax? When you’re not stuck in one of the Cargo Bays, that is.”

Capt. Holloway, CIO

“Honestly I am a tinker. I work on little problems and gifts. I certainly try to stretch the capabilities of the replicators,” Stores smile was all mischievous school boy” I have to keep busy or my demons get restless, truth be told.”

“Best bit of advice I ever got was from an old Master Cheif. He told me that I wasn’t crazy, he said you can’t see the kind of shit we do out here with out growing eyes in the back of your head.” After a momentary pause to push the sight of blood floating black in the emergency lighting and the smell of three day old suit air from his mind. “ something the Docs forget to tell you, PTSD is a natural reaction.”

“You ever need to talk, Cap come find me. I’ll scrape up somthing intended to quaff, not sip.” Lifting the caraf and nodding tord the Captain’s cup.

Clinton “Stores” Reed, Supercargo.

Molly smiled softly, before taking another sip from her cup. “Thank you, Mr. Reed, but I don’t drink.” She wasn’t sure what else to say. She related too strongly with Reed’s words but she felt that anything she could possibly say would reveal things she wasn’t sure she was ready to admit.

Holloway took another sip to buy some time without making it look like she was taking too long to speak. “I always thought I was too young to even contemplate having PTSD.” It was a stupid opinion, but one Molly believed in. “But I know what it feels like to have to keep yourself busy so your mind doesn’t wonder to places you don’t want it to be.” She paused for another moment. “Especially at night when you’re trying to sleep…”

She shook her head trying to clear her thoughts. “So, besides the coffee, what other capabiliites have you improved on the replicators? I am worthless when it comes to Engineering…”

Capt. Holloway, CIO

“ There are other drinks besides Beer on can talk over and take the requisite long swallows when the emotions run high” Stores chuckled, “Iced tea comes to mind”

.Shifting his seat, hunching over some with a wry expression, “The counselors have some weird hoodo they do that helps correct the programming in your brain, wont make it all go away but it resets things so that the lessons learned keeps you alive instead of freezing you up.” Shaking his head, “ The Doc can give you some medication for the worst of the night tearors but honestly, you get where you just roll over and go back to sleep. Eventually they just loose power over you if you get treatment.”

Molly listened, taking mental notes. She was far too familiar with counselors, and somewhat familiar with sleeping medication. She wondered if she should go back to sickbay and talk to Janvier about it, but she hadn’t really enjoyed how heavily they made her sleep, after one or two times not having been able to wake up in the morning.

“But in a lighter side, “Stores leans back with a twinkle in his blue eyes, “ Can’t say I have improved on replicators, per say but I can convince them to do some good things for me”. Reaching for his left breast pocket and pulling out a small case, “Here are some of the replicator patterns I use the most, or think I might find useful in a pinch” The case , as Stores presents it contain some number of Cardasian data rods. “Food is always popular, but between “good enugh” programming and Starfleet’s mandate for balanced, healthful nutritions food replicators can fall a little short sometimes”.

Holloway watched as the officer showed her the contents of the small case. The Cardassian data rods immediately grabbing her attention.

“Now the biggest chalanges with replicators is honestly safety and security protocols” Stores toothey grin spreads large across his face, “because with enugh energy and a big enugh buffer almost anything you can transport you can replicate”.

Eyeing the Captain, “figured a spook would have been taught a few tricks, like re calibrating one to transport or using the service and diagnostic settings to accsess the manual imputs and bypass the security protacals”

Taking a sip of his coffee, Stores watched the Capatains reaction.

Clinton “Stores” Reed, Supercargo.

Molly chuckled, but the joyfulness never really reached her eyes. “I never said I hadn’t been taught a few tricks here and there. I simply said I’m worthless with them, Mr. Reed. While I do appreciate your creativity and innovation, I will have to advise you caution when dealing with security protocols. I’m sure our Security department won’t like it, but you will like it even less if anything reaches my desk.”

“Now… if I may ask…” There was a much sterner look in Holloway’s expression. “Where did you get those?” She pointed at the Cardassian data rods. Her whole attitude had changed, almost as if she was expecting a Cardassian to jump out of one of the crates.

Capt. Holloway, CIO