Lt. Cmdr. Kirsty Carpenter - My Date with the Captain(s)

[Justin Partridge]

((OOC: Cap (rightfully) pointed out I missed this lovely little coda! Thank you all for being amazing (and for being just as patient with the process).))

((Bridge, Deck 3, U.S.S. Ronin.))

The Captain, still favoring slightly his midsection, chuckled with his usual bright animation as Tucker and Sims departed the Bridge. Kirsty basked in the warmth of the sound, thankful she was even able to hear anything at all. Lana was still trying to fuss over her and her reopened burns, but Kirsty couldn't bring herself to leave the compartment just yet. 

The inevitable adrenaline crash had started to cascade across the whole of her senses. She hadn't needed to sit once more like she had just earlier, but the pulse pounding in her ears and the the slightly ragged quality of her breath was certainly clocked by Morgenstern. But she waved her away quickly, wanting to breathe through this like Dekas had taught her. Even just a few deep and even breaths, sparkling across her body like a fresh snow, had started to help. 

But the unexpected boon was the steely, but not-unkind gaze of her Captain finding her once more. She started to dart around her own eyes, noticing finally that her and The Captain were the only members of the active roster still on the deck. She stiffened slightly as she always did under the look of a commanding officer, but her gait started to loosen a bit once the wide smile started to break across his features (and now that Lana had stepped back a few more beats to give Kirsty room to reorient herself). 

Niac:  You know Kirsty...it occurs to me your shift ended hours ago.  What do you think would be adequate compensation for this egregious oversight?  

Kirsty blinked. More blanched. What time WAS it actually? Uncharacteristically, she didn't know. She had, they all had, a lot more on their plates over the last...six, eight hours? Time barely had much grip in the middle of a fight as pitched as that one was.

But she gave a wry look of consideration. Not wanting to blow this moment of reconnection with the one CO she had had that actually had seen her as a person, not just as a soldier and tool to be used and discarded. But a thought did occur to her. 

Carpenter: We Nebraskans appreciate a bottle, sir. Maybe a dozen considerin' the day we had. 

Karrod Niac boomed a single huff of laughter and then his hands found his sides. Kirsty now stepped forward, as if she would have been able to do anything. Which was the look that Lana Morgenstern had given her as she started to examine The Captain, but then seemed to think better of it, thanks to the unspoken decorum of the Bridge.

Kirsty took a single step up and out of her alcove and retook her loose attentive stance. Before she was just trying to be polite (and maybe gain a little more facetime with a Captain she deeply respected and valued), but now she was genuinely curious as to what he had to say now.  

Niac:  Well I did tell Captain Shayne we'd meet for a drink on the station when this was all over.  Be rude to cancel now.  In fact, I'd say the honor of the ship may be at stake.  

Carpenter:  And we certainly can't have that, sir. But, uh...you might wanna give me a beat to find y'all a spot.

The Captain smiled once more despite his obvious pain, but he swept a hand across the semi-powered Main Viewer. Now little more than a window with a few scant data-feeds trying to restart across it's exterior haptics. The Khitomer was limping toward the still-standing station, flanked by the beautiful and still seemingly factory-fresh Excalibur. She couldn't help her own smile at the sight. More than worth a few drinks with officers she was honored to stand with. 

Niac:  No rush Commander, seems like we've got all the time in the world.  

Carpenter: That we do, sir. That we do. 

The careful tractor beam of the Excal started to pull them into a towing embrace. Inching now ever closer to DS33. Captain Niac deposited himself into the Center Chair. Kirsty would never presume to take either XO Raga or Second Officer Alieth's seat...but she was more than willing to stand with The Captain as they made their way toward the station and hopefully a more together sense of mastery over their once active systems.

Morgenstern and the Sickbay (and her slightly weeping burns) could wait. She was standing with Her Captain. Whatever was out there, whatever was waiting for them...they would have each other in the meantime. That would always be enough for her.

--

(Actual) End of Act 3 for Kirsty!

--

Lieutenant Commander

Kirsty L. Carpenter

//\\

Chief of Security & Tactical

Starfleet SAR

(Marine Rank: Major)

//\\

U.S.S. RONIN

NCC-34523

ID: E239512QC0

//\\

F.N.S. Contributor