Lt Alex Storm and LtJg Charlotte Brexis - Rooted in Hope - Part I
Karen Morris
((Security Center, Deck 8, USS Artemis))
As the newest Strategic Operations Officer, Charlotte knew she needed to familiarize herself as intimately with the ship as possible. The Armory was one of her favorite spots to see on a ship. A well cared for Armory, showed a well put together department. The one on the Artemis was nothing short of immaculate. After showing herself around the rest of the security center, she felt a familiar sense. A fellow Betazoid.
Brexis: ~~ Hey there.~~
Alex stopped midstride. The black of her eyes shimmered as another voice broke her internal solitude.
Storm: ~ Hello? ~
Alex’s head swiveled around, looking for the source of the voice.
Charlotte held up her hand and waved.
Brexis: ~~ Lieutenant JG Charlotte Brexis.~~ ::Raising her eyebrow in curiosity:: ~~ Is it always this quiet around here?~~
A light chuckle escaped Alex’s lips.
Storm: ~ Only when most people are on shoreleave. Security and Tactical only have a skeleton crew operating at the moment. ~
Charlotte smiled warmly at the woman while she brushed her long blonde hair behind her shoulder to uncover her pips.
Brexis: ~~ Ah. I’m newer here. Strategic Operations. I was just checking out the lay of the land around here. Seems like a pretty great place so far. ~~
Extending her hand, she said…
Storm: I’m Lieutenant Storm - Alex if I’m not on duty. It’s nice to meet you, Charlotte. How new are you?
Brexis: About as new as it gets. ::Returning the handshake:: It’s a pleasure.
Alex took a look around the Security and Tactical office gaging where Charlotte came from and where she may be going to.
Storm: So, how much of a tour of the security area have you taken so far? I’m happy to show you around if you haven’t caught much.
Brexis: If you aren’t busy and wanted to show me around that would be great.
Storm: Okay. So what HAVE you seen? I’ll see what else there is to show you?
Charlotte glanced around the immediate area and let out a breathy laugh.
Brexis: I spent more time than I should have in the Armory, I got a quick look at the brig and now I’m here. ::looking around:: I haven’t found a snack stash which is uncharacteristic for security. Maybe I just haven’t found it yet…
Storm: The armory is definitely the prize of the Security Office. But let me show you around the rest.
Brexis: ::Nodding and holding out her hand:: Lead the way!
Storm: We should start with the hidden snack stash. Just don’t tell petty officer Maxim that I was the one who clued you in.
The two women finished up the tour of the Security Center with minimal questions and maximum laughs– most from Charlotte who could very easily sense that Alex had some tension, some worries and an underlying sadness. She did fairly well at masking it, but Charlotte wanted to extend an invitation, maybe give Alex a distraction from whatever may be bothering her.
Brexis: Thanks for showing me around. ::beat:: I hope this isn’t too forward, but you seem a little tense. Once I finished up here, I had plans to go check out a greenhouse I heard about planetside. ::lifting her eyebrow and smiling:: You interested in seeing some cool flowers and plants with me?
Alex tipped her head and scratched a finger down its side while scrunching up her face.
Storm: I’d ask what gave it away, but …
Alex shrugged, gesturing at Brexis.
Storm: There aren’t that many Betazoids on the ship. I guess that makes us soul sisters after a fashion, huh?
She gave Alex a warm smile. Charlotte had some troubles every now and then connecting with other Betazoids, but thankfully, Alex wasn’t one that shut her out. It was a relief and a breath of fresh air.
Brexis: Soul sisters it is. What better thing for sisters to do than go planetside and check out some pretty flowers?
Storm: I’m not a fan of Ferenginar in general, but I could definitely be persuaded to visit a greenhouse. That is, not really in my bailiwick, but definitely up my alley.
Brexis: Ferenginar isn’t for everyone. ::Letting out a breathy laugh:: Hells I don’t even know if it’s for anyone. If you are up for it, let's go.
Storm: Excellent. There are transporters one deck up.
Charlotte held out her hand and fell in line beside Alex. She was about to speak, but another gold shoulder walked by them.
Brexis: ~~Thanks for showing me the snack stash.~~
Storm: ~ And in case you weren’t aware, that ::nodding her head as the security officer who just walked by:: was Petty Officer Maxim. ~
Charlotte covered her mouth to hide the laugh that escaped.
((The Latinum Backed Leaf Emporium Greenhouse, Ferenginar))
Thankfully, the greenhouse wasn’t hard to find, and with a bit of arguing with the owner, she was able to get her and Alex inside for free. She wasn’t going to reveal exactly what she said, but whatever it was, worked.
Brexis: Let’s just say, I told them I knew how they procured some of the Betazoid flowers here. ::Shrugging and tilting her head with a smirk:: They saw things my way.
Storm: If I ever need to break into a greenhouse again, I’ll know who to hire. You…
Alex leaned in toward Brexis, eyes still pointed elsewhere, and whispered out of the corner of her mouth…
Storm: … Are now my designated botanist burglar.
Once inside the large building, she stopped to take in the sights. Rows and rows of plants and flowers. Some brightly colored, some dark. A whole row of ones that gave off a bioluminescent glow. Those were the ones she wanted to see first.
Without much of a second thought, she made her way to the row and touched the small name plates with the plant names as she walked by them.
“The Lottia Luminaris”
She stopped. Her fingers gently lifted the petals.
Brexis: ::Looking towards Alex:: My mom bred these flowers.
A pressure pulsed just above her neck at the base of her cranium, and Alex’s voice softened.
Storm: She doesn’t breed them anymore?
Brexis: ::Slowly shaking her head, not looking away from the flower:: No. She died when I was ten. This was one of the last strains she grew before I lost her. ::a saddened smile:: She named it after me.
Alex planted one foot and swiveled the other, so she was face-to-face with Brexis. Her black eyes tightened, and her lips disappeared into a line. Her lungs locked tight, and her raven head turned away, eyes closing completely. When her diaphragm relinquished control, she turned her head back to face Brexis, small lines crinkled across the outside of her eyes.
Storm: Words … are inadequate.
Brexis: It’s okay. I’ve learned to cope with life without both of my parents.
Her ways of coping were definitely not healthy by any means, but they seemed to work in a pinch.
Storm: Do you have grandparents or other relatives that you’re aware of?
Brexis: My parents were fairly distanced from a lot of their family. Their parents weren’t fond of the way they lived and how much distaste they had for the Noble Houses. ::Chuckling slightly:: They were called ‘hippies’ which is funny because by definition, most Betazoids are hippies. ::Shrugging:: My aunt raised me though. If you can call it that.
Charlotte knew she wasn’t leaving without one of the flowers, but wanted to look at what else the greenhouse had before politely haggling with another Ferengi.
Storm: I’m glad you had someone who was there for you.
Lt Alex Storm
Tactical Officer
USS Artemis
O240103SK2
Lieutenant JG Charlotte Brexis
Strategic Operations
USS ARTEMIS-A
A240103SR3