Brunch

Posted on Fri Feb 7th, 2020 @ 11:50am by Ensign Evelyn Moro & Patricia Crow & Lieutenant Aemilia "Millie" Stepanova

Mission: Side Stories
Location: 5 & Dime Lounge

Millie took a deep breath. She had to admit, this feeling of butterflies in her stomach was one she hadn't felt in a very long time. As she stepped through the doors of the Five & Dime, her eyes scanning for Evelyn.

The Engineer was seated at a table in the middle of the room already dressed for her shift. She was busy manipulating something on a PADD in her hands.

Millie slid quietly into the seat next to Evelyn. "I hope I'm not interrupting."

Evelyn nearly jumped out of her seat. "Uh, no..sorry, I was trying to get a jump start on the work day." She quickly turned the PADD off and set it face down on the table. "So how's....things?"

The counselor smiled. "I just wrapped up my morning sessions. I'm down to paperwork and updating files for the rest of the day." She paused. "Have you eaten yet?"

"No, I was waiting. To be honest I wasn't sure if this would even happen. Sometimes people get second thoughts."

"It would take a pretty big emergency to make me miss this." Millie's cheeks flushed slightly.

"Well I know I can't ask you about the people you meet with so what should we talk about?"

"How about we start with food?" Millie chuckled. "My first session was at 0500, so I'm a bit famished." A wave of her hand got the attention of the wait staff. "And for the record. I could talk about food for hours."

Evelyn ordered a plain water with a Bajoran salad. She was pleasantly surprised that this was going so well.

Millie, however, ordered a cheeseburger and a lemonade. "So, where did you grow up?"

"Denver. From the accent I'm guessing Eastern Europe?"

Millie smiled. "Da. Moscow. The accent is a little conspicuous, isn't it?"

"I like it, it's....mysterious." Evelyn gave a playful smile and brow raise. She saw the food being brought towards the table when suddenly a blur rushed in front of her and took a seat across from Millie.

"I think I found their last target! Starfleet denies it but I've been charting their attacks and this has to be one." Banks was rambling and not even glancing at the blonde. "So we need to leave in like..an hour."

It all happened at once. Food hit the table, Banks flew in, and it took Millie just a moment to sort everything out. "So...Evelyn, this is Patricia. Patricia, this is Evelyn Moro." The glance she gave Evelyn was apologetic.

Banks looked at the other woman, then back to Millie. "Yea, ok. So one hour shuttle bay one." Banks was clearly energized as she hopped up and quickly left.

Evelyn took a silent bite of her salad, casting her eyes to Millie. "She's...um....excitable."

The counselor sighed. "I'm sorry about that. She tends to be single-minded when it comes to her work." Millie took a quiet sip of her drink. "So, I suppose I have to skip straight to the part of the conversation where I let you know that I'll be on an away mission for a few weeks...and I'm apparently leaving, well, right after lunch."

Evelyn nodded. "As long as it's only a mission." She watched Millie as she took another bite."

"Patricia is happily married to the Captain's son. She's more like the big sister I never had." Millie paused. "That is, if big sisters didn't require a weapon to be deadly." She tried to be reassuring with her smile.

"I hear people are afraid of her."

"Rightfully so." Millie took a bite of her burger. "It is very much a good thing that she is on our side. Trust me, I will be in very capable and over-protective hands." A grin tugged at the corner of Millie's lips. "I would honestly be surprised if she lets me off the shuttle at all."

"What's your mission? Unless it's classified. She mentioned something about attacks?"

"Patricia tends to keep things close to the vest. It makes her good at what she does, but makes her a horrible counseling client." Millie chuckled. "But as over-protective as she is, she certainly wouldn't bring me along if she felt we'd be in danger." In a moment of reassurance, she placed a hand on Evelyn's, as she had the day before.

Evelyn looked up. "Well she better bring you back in one piece or she'll have to deal with me." The faux serious tone was betrayed by a grin.

Millie laughed, giving Evelyn's hand a squeeze. "Who's the scary one now?"

Evelyn plopped a blue tomato into her mouth. "You have no idea..." she said with a smile.

Millie grinned, taking another bite. "I wish I got more time to find out before I leave. Maybe I could...call you?"

Evelyn nodded. "Since literally nobody else does that I think you'll be able to get through."

Millie smiled, but gave a quiet sigh as she glanced to the chronometer on the wall. "Unfortunately, I should..."

"We should do alot of things." Evelyn gave a playful grin. "For the short term just be safe?"

"I will. I promise." Millie reached over, tucking a lock of hair behind Evelyn's ear. "I'll...see you in a few weeks." She smiled, stood, and then hurried out of the lounge.

The engineer didn't let out her breath until Millie was gone. This was going to be a long couple of weeks.





Lieutenant JG Aemilia "Millie" Stepanova
Chief Counselor, USS Mercutio



Ensign Evelyn Moro
Computer Systems Specialist, USS Mercutio