Lt Alex Storm - One for the Road
Karen Morris
((Elysium - Main level, Deck 6, USS Artemis))
Fried pickles … Alex’s mouth watered. Even the smell of them put a smile on her face. She picked one up, dipped it in the ranch dressing and popped it in her mouth.
Storm: Would you like one? ::Pushing her plate in Cole’s direction:: But to get back to our discussion, That’s what security and tactical are all about. We step into that breach every time we go out on a mission.
Cole: ::taking one:: Thank you. ::tossing it into her mouth:: and sliding her cinnabon nachos closer, if Alex was interstred:: Absolutly, it’s part of why I wanted to specialize in it.
Cole slipped her plate between them as well, so Alex picked ine up and gave the cinnabon nachos a try.
Cole: When I graduated, my mom reminded me I was the first one of her side of the family to choose that career path in nearly two hundred and fifty years.
Alex swallowed quickly before asking…
Storm: Has there ever been a point during a mission that you were afraid?
The short silence filled the space. Alex leaned in and gestured to Nat.
Storm: If not for yourself, for someone else?
Cole: ::Nodding:: During my first mission here on the Artemis. Commander Jovenan had me take the tactical station. We were preparing for the possibility of a battle with the Orion Syndicate. During the battle … there was a moment I thought a decision I made, lead to the slaughter of innocents.
Alex’s mouth opened and hung there. She forced it close and took a slow breath in and out before she was able to answer.
Storm: But … you didn’t?
Cole: Fortunately it turned out to be a ploy by the Orions, desperate to make Starfleet look like the aggressors, but the fear in that moment … ::deep exhale::
Storm: That would have been terrifying.
Cole: Corad taught that fear marks the moment where you decide who you are. My father taught that fear means you’ve already failed. ::taking a drink of her old fashioned:: I chose to listen to the one who left room for people to survive the choice.
Storm: In this case, I think you were much wiser than your father.
Cole: Response
Alex nabbed another of her fried pickles and gestured with it as she spoke.
Storm: Do you ever feel like you have big shoes to fill.
Cole: Response
Storm opened her mouth to respond when her combadge - hidden in the pocket of her dress went off. A muffled voice followed the chirp. Alex reached it and extracted it, affixing it to her dress for the moment.
Storm: =/\= Storm here. Go ahead.=/\=
Moiran: =/\= Sorry, to bother you Lieutenant, I know you’re off duty, but we’ve Commander Silveira coming back, we need your signature to finalize a report, so it’s ready for him.
Storm: =/\= I’ll be there shortly.=/\= ::Turning to Nat:: Well, it looks like I’m going to have to run. Let’s finalize the simulation plans, and then I’ll run them by Sil for his approval.
Alex took a deep breath and smiled over at Nat.
Storm: It’s been good, not just planning the simulation, but getting to know you better. Thanks, Nat. Let’s get together again soon.
Cole: Response
Storm rose from her seat, but before she walked away she grabbe one more pickle for the road.
~*~
Tags / End Scene for Storm
~*~
Lt Alex Storm
Tactical Officer
USS Artemis
O240103SK2