snip

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Arrival at First Event in the Games
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Stepping out of the transporter put Vanessa and Calvin at the first event. All they knew was that it was a showcase of skills Starfleet officers. Everyone knew that officers tended to be intelligent and physically fit however there was a difference in seeing it and knowing it. The location was breathtaking: Yosemite National Park. Towering mountain peaks surrounded the ancient caldera with lush forests all long the floor. El Capitan rose like a monolith of stone and dominated the vista.

“Are we camping,” Vanessa asked looking around at the masses of people who had gathered to witness the event. Most were in uniform but a few were in civilian attire. “God I hope we are not camping. I am more of a hotel vacationer than chase your dinner down wit a spear and roast it over a fire kinda girl.”

Vanessa Slade CNS

“I am not sure they brought us all the way out here to sleep under the stars. I mean what fun would that be?” Calvin had learned the art long ago of sleeping anywhere at any time from his years in the corp. That did not mean however he got a restful sleep.

Calvin CO

“Well why the hell would they have us here,” she rolled her eyes slightly. “The public expects us to be outdoorsy.” Her tone was vaguely condescending. The public had no idea what Starfleet actually did. “They tend to be either extremely patriotic or rabid wombats depending on what the news feeds tell them.”

Vanessa Slade CNS

“Rabid Wombats? Is that your professional opinion?” The voice was familiar to at least one of the Genesis team. Along with Calvin and Vanessa, two other teams had been shanghaied in this PR stunt by Starfleet command: Rinker and Bordeaux of the USS Atlantis and Diana Spencer and Henry Jones of the USS Indiana. “I don’t even know that’s even a thing.”

The voice was very familiar and not expected. There were a few times Vanessa was speechless but even without words spilling from her lips, her facial expressions produced the subtitles for the thoughts mulling around in her head. Her eyes widened as she looked at her former mentor showing shock but the smile spreading over her face indicated it was a pleasant shock. It had been years but not enough years that their interactions had faded into foggy memories.

Rinker had been Slade’s mentor in the early stages of clinicals of counseling. She still seemed to have a way with words and a penchant for getting herself tied up in situations that were out of her control.

“Lieutenant Vanessa Slade, as I live and breathe, I haven’t seen you since Betazed.”

“Commander Heathcliff Rinker,” she nodded chuckling, “It has been a minute hasn’t it.” She paused a minute taking in the familiar face. “Oh and yes that comment. It is my professional opinion and yes it is a thing. Besides rabid wombat sounds so much nicer than bat snot crazy.” Closing the space between them, Vanessa pulled him into an embrace. It had been a long time since she had encountered an old friend and probably the first time Calvin witnessed her overzealous greeting. It was not uncommon to hug someone, even if you were an officer; however, she was greeting Rinker as if he was a long-lost member of her family versus a colleague.

“‘In a minute,’ is that what you kids are saying.’” Vanessa was hardly a child being in her thirties, although Rinker was likely in his fifties, it was progressively harder to tell as people were living longer. He rubbed his beard that was splashed with grey as to emphasize the age difference.

“Gotta keep up with the lingo and you are not that old Heathcliff we both know that.” Her tone was softer and almost flirty but very subdued. Depending on your mental state the comment and tone could be taken as inside knowledge or a general statement. “It is so good to see you again.”

Calvin watched the greeting which seemed to be something more akin to greeting a relative. His counselor had a very hands-on approach to therapy, but it seemed that extended to greetings.

He glanced at Calvin. “Is this your Captain?”

“Yes,” she let Rinker go and took a step back. “This is the poor schmuck that drew my jacket to fill the open counseling spot on the Genesis.”

He extended a hand, “Heathcliff Rinker, Captain Bordeaux.” He introduced him and his partner.

Heathcliff Rinker guest spot CPO

Vanessa Slade CNS

“Calvin Marius,” he returned the greeting. “Is she always like this?”

“Impulsive and effervescent? Yes,” Rinker replied as if giving a diagnosis. “To the point of being annoying.”

Calvin Marius CO

“Shut up,” Vanessa rolled her eyes and waved off the comment like a bad smell. “You adore me. We both know that.”

The air suddenly erupted into voices as a man began to speak to the crowds. “Welcome welcome everyone to the first event of this competition. We are your hosts. I am John Smith and this is my co host Gail Abernathy-McKadden-Feinberger. We are so excited to be here with you over the next week.” His tone dripped with sarcasm and matched the forced smile of his co-host. John and Gail were well know OMAP announcers who tended to deliver all commentary with large doses of sarcasm and criticism in whatever event they were MCing. The larger the mess-up or catastrophe the more likely you were to be splattered all over their Ric Rok reels for the universe to marvel at your misfortune.

“Before we start I know I would love to extend a warm and hearty thank you to Admiral Perkins for allowing us the honor of being with you for these games. “Now all three teams need to board the hover sleds which will take you to the top of El Capitan.” The MC’s chucked with a large expression of glee.”

“Well I know why we are here,” Kelly let out a disgusted sigh and glared at the MC’s. “This apparently is going to be a vendetta thing and not because of that bar fight on Black Rock Station.” Looking directly at Heathcliff she re-stated her statement with more confidence. “See, I told you that fight was not the reason we got dragged into this.”

Moving towards the hover sleds, Kelly continued the conversation. “A couple of weeks back we had a first contact situation with a murdery group of aliens. They tried to take over the ship. We killed them all. Perkins led a court-martial against the senior staff but we were acquitted of the charges. I think this is his way to get back at us for not being guests at the penal colony in New Zealand.”

Vanessa Slade CNS, Kelly Bordeaux CO

Bump