Lt. JG Natasha Cole - No Time to Waste
Natasha Schell
((Gymnasium - USS Artemis))
Ensign Braga had agreed to spar with her, which was generous of him considering she had made a point of telling him she still owed him a hit. He had apparently decided to be a good sport about it or a reckless one.
Natasha rolled her shoulders once, sweat already cooling at the back of her neck as they circled each other on the mat. Whatever else could be said about the last stretch of missions, it had left her with a restless kind of energy that refused to sit quietly.
Braga: Ready?
Cole: ::mischievous smirk:: Oh yeah.
Braga: ::concerned:: … Ok.
He came in a little too open on the next pass.
That was all she needed.
Natasha pivoted, drove a clean strike into his side, and followed it with just enough force to make the point without making Sickbay anybody’s next stop.
Cole: ::with a quick, satisfied grin:: There. I feel much better now.
Braga: ::wheezing, catching breath:: … good, I think I might cough up a lung.
She took a step back, breathing a little harder now, and lifted her hands again as if to signal she was ready for another round.
Her combadge chirped before she could tease him.
Storm: =/\= Storm to Cole =/\=
Natasha lowered her hands and tapped her badge, still catching her breath.
Cole: =/\= Cole here. What’s going on? =/\=
Storm: =/\= Are you still up for going with me to find my daughter? I have a lead on her and … Kona.=/\=
Cole: =/\= Yes. Absolutely. =/\=
Storm: =/\= Okay, good. Can you meet me in my quarters? Bring a change or two of clothes. We may be gone a couple of days. =/\=
Natasha glanced toward Braga, then over at where she’d left her bag.
Cole: =/\= On my way. =/\=
She tapped the badge off and looked back to Braga.
Cole: Looks like I owe you a rain check on round two.
Braga didn’t say anything and only offered a thumbs up while he was still a bit hunched over.
Cole: ::already moving for her things:: Thanks for the workout, we’re even.
((Storm’s Quarters, Deck 4, USS Artemis))
Natasha had stopped by her quarters to swap out her workout gear and grabbed three sets of clothes, better to be over prepared than under. She rang the door chime to Alex’s quarters.
Storm: Come in, Nat.
Alex had walked over to her terminal.
Storm: Just a sec, and I’ll be ready.
Natasha entered Alex’s quarters, immediately reading the room. Whatever this was, it had moved past theory and into motion.
Cole: You said you had a lead. What do we know, and how fast are we moving?
Jira opened their eyes wide and grinned.
Jaran: ::lightly laughing:: You don't waste any time, do you?
Nat shrugged as if to say ‘not really’.
Storm: She doesn't, and I'm thankful for it. ::Beat:: We’re heading to Betazed.
The weight of that could be felt in the air.
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 but didn’t sit. She had already shifted fully into the kind of focus that came when someone she trusted asked for help and meant now.
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.
Natasha stood there waiting for details when Jira stood next to her. She realized all three of them were nearly the same height. She noticed Jira tried to match Alex and her own energy.
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: None that can’t wait till we’re en route.
Jira’s attempt to match their energy was short-lived, but their heart was in the right place.
Jaran: We're going to get you there, Alex. You can count on that.
Nat noticed a moment of hesitation from Alex. She didn’t read it as fear, but realization that this was really happening.
Storm: Thank you. Both of you.
Cole: You asked. I’m here. That part was easy.
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: Lead the way.
Nat and Jaran left Alex’s quarters as she locked up.
((Timeskip))
((Shuttle Griffin, Shuttle Hangar, Deck 11, Artemis-A))
Nat followed Alex, with Jaran on their heels. They entered the shuttle Alex dropped her duffel off to the side of the door. Nat tossed hers into the open door towards the rear of the shuttle before turning towards the pilot 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.
Nat clocked it instantly. Not the bad input itself, but the way Alex’s hand struck the console and then stayed there a fraction too long. The held breath. The apology that came before anyone had accused her of anything.
Storm: Sorry.
Nat stepped in beside her, not crowding, just close enough to be there.
Cole: Alex, breathe. We have time for a clean reset.
Jaran: Response
Storm: I think it might be better, if you fly us out, Nat.
Alex gave Cole a wry grin.
Cole: Works for me. You’ve got enough on your plate without wrestling the helm too.
Nat slid into the pilot’s seat and swept her hands over the controls with practiced economy. No flourish, no hesitation. Just clean and certain motion.
Jaran: Response
Storm: Okay. My checks are done. Jira’s gotten us clearance to depart. Take us out when you’re ready, Nat.
Her fingers moved quickly, checking readouts, confirming power flow, aligning the launch sequence.
Cole: Copy that. Let’s go get your daughter.
She glanced over to Jaran and Alex. She didn’t need to be a Betazoid to feel the tension in the air.
Cole: Alright, Griffin. Be kind to me.
Jaran/Storm: Response
Cole: We’re on our way.
Nat let the words settle in the cockpit for a beat... giving Alex the smallest possible moment to breathe.
Jaran/Storm: Response
Cole: So… what’s the plan? Jira knocks your ex out, or do you need me to weaponize my charm in the name of justice?
Jaran/Storm: Response
Tags/TBC
----- ◌● -----
Lt. JG Natasha Cole
Security Officer
USS Artemis-A
A240205NC4