Lt. JG Natasha Cole - [Backsim] Dressed as Herself
Natasha Schell
((Elysium - Main level, Deck 6, USS Artemis))
Storm: Yeah. ::Alex paused for a blink.:: Only if you’ll tell me a bit about your explosive fettish. ::Alex shrugged her shoulders:: Skuttlebutt travels at light speed.
Cole: ::slightly pinching the bridge of her nose, with a small smile and laugh:: A girl collapses a tunnel and hurdles herself into the air on her first away mission and gets labeled a Pyrophilia.
Alex had turned to get the server's attention.
Server: Can I help you?
Storm: Pick your poison and a snack … on me.
Cole: That is kind of you, Thank you.
Storm: I’d like a black hole and an order of fried pickles.
Cole: I will have an order of cinnabon nachos with cream cheese icing dip, and an old fashioned with a blood orange peel. Thank you.
Server: I’ll have that out in just a minute.
Natasha nodded to the server, before looking back to Alex continuing their conversation.
Cole: ::wry:: I prefer my chaos redirected and my explosions purposeful.
Storm: …So—do you actually prefer chaos?
Did she? Or did she thrive in spite of it, something the universe may never know the answer too..
Cole: ::straightening slightly, like the words matter:: There’s a saying in my family, Strength in Adversity.
Storm: It’s a good saying to live by.
Cole: It doesn’t mean charging into fire. It means staying steady when everything around you wants to fall apart.
Alex leaned back in her chair and placed her palms down on the tabletop as if to stabilize herself
Storm: … because that never happens around here at all.
Cole: ::steady, thoughtful:: I was taught that strength isn’t about overpowering chaos, it’s about standing in front of it so it doesn’t hit the wrong people. That’s the kind of security officer I’m trying to be. One who makes sure the chaos doesn’t land on those who never chose the fight.
True to form, their server came back with their drink order and snacks, placing them down in front of each of them.
Storm: ::to the server:: Can I get a couple of napkins?
Server: Sure.
He reached into his short apron and set a few down between
them on the table.
Storm: ::To the server: Thanks! ::To Nat::I didn’t think about the grease when I ordered these. Story of my life. Have you ever had one before?
Cole: ::leaning forward as if to share a secret:: I love pickles. I used to sneak them off Juno’s plate when they weren’t looking.
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 interested:: Absolutely, it’s part of why I wanted to specialize in it.
She picked up one of her cinnabon nachos and dunked it into the cream cheese icing dip. Looking at it with a smile, she slid the plate between them to offer any to Alex.
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.
Biting into the cinnamon covered nacho with a coating of icing, letting the flavor sit for a moment. They were nice and crispy with a perfect balance of flavor.
Storm: Has there ever been a point during the 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?
Natasha thought for a moment, almost lost in thought. There was likely always going to be a moment where fear would try and creep in. There was a moment that immediately played out in her head though.
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 dropped open for a moment before she closed it.
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 me 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: Cheers to that.
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.
That was a question;
no one had directly asked her. In her mind, because of the strained
relationship she had with her father, she didn’t even give that a second
thought. Now her Ancestor was a different story. She had heard stories from different
family members about his bravery. She even saw a recording of his speech to a graduating
class of 2231. Aunt Rea shared stories like she knew him personally, truth be
told Natasha really thought she was just obsessed with history.
To say she admired him would be an understatement. He was the first member of
her family to join Starfleet back when everything was unknown and new.
Cole: Sometimes, but ultimately I remind myself that my story is mine to forge my own way, while honoring those that came before me.
Alex was about to speak when a muffled voice followed the chirp of her combadge.
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: Absolutely, this was fun, especially brainstorming some controlled chaos.
Alex stood up, and snagged another fried pickle before heading out. Natasha gave her a smile as she left. Once she was gone Natasha looked at the now abandoned plate and slid it over towards herself. She leaned back in her chair and flipped her PADD back over, confirming that she did indeed send that message.
Letting out a sigh through her nose, she opened up a new message. This one would be far easier, she did promise her Mom she’d try and write more often.
End of Scene for Cole
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Lt. JG Natasha Cole
Security Officer
USS Artemis-A
Writer ID A240205NC4