Just a walk in the park...

Posted on Sat Apr 26th, 2025 @ 8:06pm by Lieutenant Zara Kingston Ph.D. & Lieutenant Commander Ryan Price

Mission: Those who are left behind
Location: Holodeck 3
Timeline: 1730 hours

On:

Ryan wasn't in uniform, he'd changed into a more casual look even for him. He'd even managed to even get a second shower for the day, he made sure the long sleeve shirt had hidden as many of the scars on his arms and other areas of his body, he figured he call up the program, he found the wading pools from Cirrus IV program.

Zara got to Holodeck 3 and saw from the panel on the wall in the corridor that Ryan was already inside. She was wearing a casual blue dress—something she probably would have taught in at the Institute. She had a bathing suit on under just in case they decided they'd take a dip into the wading pool. "You got here before me," she said as she entered the Holodeck. She looked around at the abundance of trees under a multicolored sky. She looked down at the emerald wading pool—blends of blue and green. "So, what do you think?"

Ryan found himself wanting to say one thing and saying "Very beautiful." despite his best efforts he found his eyes wandering along the lines of the dress she was wearing, "I just loaded the program actually, I forgot how nice this place is." he said trying not to fumble his words.

"Yeah, I'd say the Holodeck does it justice pretty well," Zara said. She sat down and put her feet into the pool. She patted the ground next to her for Ryan. "Have your days gotten any easier since we last spoke?"

Ryan slid his feet out of the shoes he was wearing taking a seat, "It's been an adjustment, sleeping in a bed, let alone some semblance of a schedule. I overslept this morning probably a first." he looked ahead "First chance I get I'm taking a very long vacation..."

"If it's any consolation, this schedule is still pretty new to me." She kicked her feet a little in the water. "Where would you go for your very long vacation?"

"There's a town east of where I grew up in North America, the population hasn't grown much in the four hundred plus years since it was founded, dad's family had a small archoridge nearby, lots of trees, only one road in or out of the property, not a lot of Starfleet types frequent the area unless they're going skiing in the mountains, it's been left to me." Ryan said actually opening up about himself for the first time in a while.

"Well, that sounds like a nice time," Zara replied. "Very peaceful, I'd imagine." She gazed into the pool, thinking about her home world, Qo'noS, which often felt more foreign to her than Earth because she had relocated to Earth at such a young age. "The Resolution is technically supposed to be my vacation but I'm slowly thinking I might want to stay permanently." As she said that her words trailed off slowly.

"I wasn' t sure about my orders when I got here, a week ago I was in a firefight with a Jemhidar on some swampy planet four days ago I was on a transport here, six hours ago you walked in my office and made me actually nervous for the first time since I was a cadet." Ryan said his hand unconsciously brushed against her hand, "Sitting here seeing this, even if it's just a recreation it reminds me of the things I want when I leave starfleet, not what I want in my next assignment."

Nervous? she thought. What in the name of Kahless the Unforgettable could I do to make a Starfleet intelligence officer nervous? "I like that outlook on life," she said, inching closer to him. "What do you want after Starfleet?"

Ryan turned his head slightly "I think I would like to just fade into the background of life, maybe write a book or something, I don't want some admiral turning up saying can you come back one last time to save the universe or something either." he smiled "What about you?"

For a while, she had wanted to become Chancellor of Starfleet Academy. Now, she didn't know what she wanted to do after Starfleet. She had written two books already, so she didn't think she wanted to do that. Her book writing would end when her career ended. "That's a good question," she said with a chuckle. "I think I might want to just spend my time not writing, researching, or teaching. Some light reading. Traveling to different planets for recreational reasons." She looked out into the pond. "Do you want to continue this conversation in the pool?"

Ryan froze at that exact moment his first thought was 'She's going to see something that would drastically change her thoughts about me' but instead he without much thought blurted out "Yeah we could." his mind started to race a bit.

"Great," Zara said. The Holodeck's environmental controls were just at the right temperature to lounge in the greenish-blue pool. She took off her dress, and under it was a Starfleet regulation bathing suit that was black with a strip of science division blue across the top of the suit. She slipped into the pool. "It feels just as good as I imagined it would."

Ryan unbuttoned his shirt, taking it off and setting it aside, the odd lighting made the network of scars on his body very visible, as he stepped out of his pants he could tell she was staring at the mess, as he stepped into the water "warmer than the last swamp i waded through." he said with some irony and trying to make a joke.

Zara's eyes darted away when he caught her looking at the scars. "Sorry for staring," she said softly. She swam closer to him. "Here, I want to show you something." She turned around to show her back and moved her hair out of the way to reveal a small scar on the back of her shoulder. "This is what happens when you lie to your Klingon superiors. I was only 19 when it happened. A painstik."

Ryan looked at the scar, then pointed at his right side "Jemhidar dagger" he pointed to his shoulder next "Bat'leth during the conflict with the empire, the mess on my arm is from hand to hand with a Gorn and a very unskilled and panic-ridden medic." he paused his eyes met hers "The rest are...classified." his voice trailed off.

Without thinking, her hand reached forward to touch the scar from the Bat'leth, but she pulled away. "Does having so much of your life be classified make it hard to connect with people?"

Ryan shifted feeling slightly uncertain how to speak, his life was nothing but classified, "Some of it's for the better, the rest will come out someday hopefully long after I'm forgotten." his gaze drifted a little "There's a lot about me that's not good, it's made having any kind of relationship difficult."

"That must be difficult," she said. She didn't know what else to say. So much about him was secretive. She wondered where he'd eventually draw the line with talking about himself. "I'd like to get to know you more—at least whatever's not classified," she said.

"I think I'd like to get to know you too." he replied he found his hand touching hers "I don't think I'm in a rush to go anywhere."

She grabbed his hand a little tighter. "Well, that's good to know," she said, blushing slightly.

His hand closed on hers, he turned to face Zara "It's very good."

She had no idea how she ended up in this situation. She had only been on the Resolution for a few days, and now she was on what she could confirm was a date. But more importantly, she was enjoying it. Her gaze met his, and then she glanced at his lips and looked down into the water. "Maybe—maybe, it's time for me to head home for dinner," she said. She was still holding his hand while standing in front of him.

Ryan froze, he wasn't completely sure what to do "Yeah dinner is a good idea." spilled out of his mouth as he stood, he wasn't sure if that was an invitation or something he just stood there looking into her eyes. He wasn't sure what was supposed to happen next as he felt her hand interlock with his.

"This was a really nice date," said Zara, "and I enjoyed talking to you." She wanted to kiss him, but something was telling her not to rush into things. She hadn't even officially served on a mission or shared a bridge shift with Ryan. She still had to use a map to get around the ship. Everything was still so new despite it feeling so right. She got closer and leaned her head on his shoulder. "Maybe another day I can take you up on that Ten Forward offer."

Ryan thought for a moment, he'd rushed things once before and that was one those chapters he'd like to forget in his life "I'd like that, maybe even something a little more private." his hand brushed her shoulder he paused for a second "Let's not rush whatever this is becoming, but it's nice."

"I should get going," Zara said before kissing him on the cheek. "Computer, two towels." She got out of the pool and handed one of the replicated towels to Ryan. "A little more private?" she thought. "I assume you have nice quarters as a department chief and lieutenant commander. Dinner and drinks at yours?"

Ryan picked up a towel and beginning to dry himself "It feels like a hotel room to me," he said with a laugh "I'm used to bunks and the ground, it's weird."

Well, maybe he'll like his quarters more with me in it she thought to herself while observing him drying off. "Have you thought about rearranging some of the furniture to ease yourself into it?"

Ryan had to think, "I don't have much except for the furniture in there, well my weapons case and go bag too, I guess living out of a backpack for so long I've never thought about it, truthfully."

"I see," she said. That seemed like so little. Her quarters were heavily decorated to give it a much more personal feel. She placed her dress back on and gave one final look. "If you're not too busy being Chief Intel Officer, I can stop by yours later this week, say 1800 hours?"

Ryan looked at her, "If things don't get too crazy around here I won't be going anywhere." he said as he adjusted his shirt "Most of tomorrow is meetings and spy stuff for me." he said trying to be playful.

"Spy stuff?" she asked with a smile. "Sounds a lot more interesting than what I'll be doing."

"It sounds more interesting that it is, the captain wants me to talk with one of the prisoners, kinda boring." Ryan replied "I hope this doesn't turn into anything."

"Oh" said Zara. "I talked with the Captain about that prisoner...he was picking my brain about how it might affect the crew."

"Yeah this one could turn into a political mess if it's not done right, I hate this kind of thing." Ryan said "There's history for me and messes like this."

She nodded. "It very well could turn into a political mess. It's difficult," she said. "...but interesting. Sorry, I kind of geek out with this kind of stuff." Zara shrugged. "I'm curious how it plays out."

"I said that about tonight..." Ryan said taking her hand.

Her heart skipped a beat. Zara placed her other hand on his chest. "Did you like how tonight turned out?" she asked.

Ryan took a half step closer feeling her hand pressing on his chest, "I think it turned out wonderful."

"I had a great time too," she said and then chuckled after ."Until I got a little nervous about kissing you...which is why I tried to escape to dinner."

He froze "I felt the same.." his voice trailed off.

"I'm sorry," she said. She felt slightly embarrassed now. "I can make it up to you before I leave."

Ryan looked puzzled for a second, all he could say was "oh really." with a smile.

"Really," she replied. Zara leaned forward and slowly kissed Ryan on the lips. As she did so, she wrapped her arms arounds his shoulders.

Ryan's hands slid his hands down to her waist "I think we'll have plenty of time." as he slowly moved in.

End