Shore Leave Relaxing

Posted on Sat Jan 16th, 2021 @ 1:31pm by Commander Vox Templar & Commander Brielle Jayde

Mission: Shore Leave
Location: Redwood Forest Park, California, Earth

Brielle knew that she needed the break. Beyond just normal duties, the kids were all over the place. They were both old enough to cause trouble, obviously, but not quite old enough to go out to school yet.

She'd been trying to teach them what she could, but with her tac/sec duties, second officer duties, and everything else, it was hard. When they were given shore leave, she was glad that her family was willing to watch the two little ones while she had a break.

She was also glad Vox decided to join her. But now she was waiting on him, as she wasn't sure what his plans really were.

He entered the transporter room where she was waiting for him, wearing a navy blue shirt and dark khaki cargo pants. He walked up to her after nodding to the transporter chief and whispered in her ear, "How does a trip to California redwoods sound?"

Jumping at the sound of his voice, Brie grinned once she realized who it was. "Ah, there you are, Vox. And the redwoods? I suppose, honestly haven't been before. Got something special in mind for while we're there I take it?"

He feigned exasperation and put his hands on his hips. "You're telling me that in the four years you spent at the academy, you never ventured a few miles away from San Francisco?"

"I have a twin sister, remember? We hung out a lot and hiking isn't her thing." She moved over to him and kissed his cheek, "But I'm all for it. Lead the way," Brie stated with a grin.

He took her hand into his and led her up the small steps to the transporter platform and when they had turned around to face the technician on duty, Vox snapped his fingers and said, "Energize."

The transporter room shimmered and disappeared to be replaced by massive trees all around them. The sky above was cloudy and the temperature was cool. The smell of damp undergrowth wafted into their nostrils as he pointed to the side where a large tent had been set up in front of a fire pit that had several logs placed and ready to be lit up.

Tilting her head to the side as she looked at the tent, Brie got a bit confused. "I thought we were going hiking, Vox, not camping." She turned to him with a smile. "Not that I mind."

He locked eyes with her and smirked as he tilted his head in the same direction as hers. "Where did you think we would rest after the hike, exactly?"

"Well, here I figured the ship. But I do like camping too." She caught the smirk and shook her head. "Now why are you smirking at me?"

"Because you're being silly." He walked over to the firepit and proceeded to light the dry wood blocks by first placing a few handfuls of forest floor sticks and dead leaves. "Sometimes I think it's easy for us to forget what living is actually like. It isn't just duranium bulkheads and only stars outside windows."

Finding a seat nearby, Brie watched him work for a bit before leaning back. "I do like being out here. I might be the tough one when it comes to my job, but it is nice to relax. I think sitting here for a while rather than hiking right away would be good too."

Vox managed to start a tiny little orange flame on the kindling and made sure it had the strength to grow and spread around before he rose up and took a seat next to Brie. He let out a long contented sigh. "It's amazing how comfortable we get aboard starships when there's so much down here." He arched an eyebrow at her. "It's growing on you, eh?"

"Growing on me? I suppose so," she said quietly as she laid her head against his shoulder. "Being here with you sure is growing on me. Everything on the ship just ends up so busy, its nice to slow down."

Vox let out a contented sigh as the fire started producing a decent heat level and the flames started producing distinct crackles from the wood every so often. "We could stay here, you know. Resign and build a house not too far from a location like this." He grinned as his eyes remained fixed on the fire, for he knew that it was a silly idea but he wanted to hear her say it.

Brielle smirked. "True. But, I oddly like being in Starfleet. Besides, would we have met if I had done that after all the hell I went through? And I just made commander on top of it." Her eyes looked up at him, but she didn't move from where she was. "I say we sit here and forget the hiking."

"I think you're on to something." He wrapped his arm around her side as she pressed into him. "Besides, plenty of hikes on the holodeck." He knew inwardly that there was potential for them to continue and develop as a couple, as long as duty didn't get in the way, which it usually does. Only time would tell what lay in store.

Commander Vox Templar
Chief Intelligence Officer, USS Mercutio

Commander Brielle Jayde
Second Officer, USS Mercutio