Lt Alex Storm - I Have to Try
Karen Morris
(( Storm’s Quarters, Deck 4, USS Artemis ))
As soon as LtJg Bergman left, Alex retreated to her bedroom to pack a bag for herself.
Not so much packing - more opening drawers and grabbing random items. Pants, shirts, a sweater, undergarments, shoes, and something to sleep in. Quickly, she headed to the replicator in the living room.
Storm: Computer, Black dress, cross bodice, mid calf - size specs Alex Storm. The replicator whirred quietly - almost as if uttering a soft consolation to the Tactical officer. Once the dress materialized, she jogged back into her bedroom when a chime sounded. She called out from her bedroom.
Storm: Come in!
Jaran: I got here as quickly as I could without showing up stinky.
Alex shoved a pair of shoes on top of her duffel and zipped it shut.
Storm: Not being stinky is appreciated. I’ll be right out.
She looked around the room, trying to mentally tick things off her list that she knew she should take, when her eyes settled on her nightstand. Dropping her bag back on her bed, she headed for the small table and opened the drawer, drawing out a necklace with a pendant on it. She slipped it into her pocket, grabbed her bag and the PADD on her bed, and made her way into the living room where Jira was seated on one of the chairs.
But as she did, her door chimed again.
Storm: Come in, Nat.
Alex didn’t even slow down, but instead walked over to her terminal.
Storm: Just a sec, and I’ll be ready.
Over the course of thirty seconds, she scrawled out a hasty message, hit sent and turned around sideways in her chair. She laid one of her arms across the chairback.
Cole: You said you had a lead. What do we know, and how fast are we moving?
Jaran: ::lightly laughing:: You don't waste any time, do you?
Storm: She doesn't, and I'm thankful for it. ::Beat:: We’re heading to Betazed.
Alex let that settle for just a moment.
Storm: Kona’s father died while we were on Callis I. The funeral’s tomorrow. So…unless there are any objections, we’re leaving now and pushing the shuttle’s engines. I still don’t think we’ll make it on time, but I have to try.
Natasha set her bag down near the door, and Jira leaned forward in his seat.
Cole: I brought changes of clothes, and my better decisions. The worse ones are available if the situation calls for it.
Jaran: And I brought... well, I brought clothes too. No decisions. Forgot those in my quarters. I'll just have to make them as necessary.
Storm: I’m hoping all we need are the good decisions, Nat. I don’t want to imagine the bad ones.
Jaran: Any preparation left to do?
Storm: No. The shuttle’s been cleared. I’m packed…and if I’ve forgotten anything, the shuttle has a replicator. Do you all have any questions before we leave? I figure we can discuss situations and tactics on the shuttle.
Alex stood from her chair and shouldered her bag.
Cole: Response
Jira moved next to Cole, and something new sparked in their eyes.
Jaran: We're going to get you there, Alex. You can count on that.
Alex didn’t move. Her face scrunched to one side and twitched. When she regained control, she managed…
Storm: Thank you. Both of you.
Cole: Response
Jaran: Well, we're never going to make any progress if we don't leave this room. Unless she's hiding here somewhere, let's move.
Storm: Let’s get going. I’ll fill you in on the details once we’re on the shuttle.
Cole: Response
Alex let the other two precede her out of her quarters. Once they were out, she thumbed the locking mechanism.
((Timeskip))
((Shuttle Griffin, Shuttle Hangar, Deck 11, Artemis-A))
Alex entered the shuttle and dropped her duffel off to the side of the door, heading directly for one of the pilot’s seats.
Storm: Nat, can you help me with the preflight checks? Jira, can you get clearance for our departure? Trust me, the paperwork is filled out, so it should be a matter of formality.
Alex pulled up a ‘cheat sheet’ for the preflight check on her PADD and started working her way down ‘seat 1’ preflight checks. About halfway through, her fingers miskeyed a command. She backed out of the menu and tried a second time, only for it to happen again. Her open palm slapped down onto the glass. She froze, and without meeting either of their eyes, she drew in an uneven breath. All she managed was…
Storm: Sorry.
She slowed down, backed up, and input the information one more time. That time, she got it to work, but as soon as it did, her fingers splayed out on the console, and her eyes pressed tightly closed while she counted to ten.
Cole/Jaran: Response
Storm: I think it might be better, if you fly us out, Nat.
She turned her head just slightly and gave Cole a wry grin.
Cole/Jaran: Response
Storm: Okay. My checks are done. Jira’s gotten us clearance to depart. Take us out when you’re ready, Nat.
Cole/Jaran: Response
~*~
Tags / TBC!
~*~
Lt Alex Storm
Tactical Officer
USS Artemis
O240103SK2