Command Evaluation - Kaylen Pt 2

Posted on Sun Jul 11th, 2021 @ 11:50pm by Remal Kajun & Captain Rhenora Kaylen

Mission: Gamma Quadrant
Location: USS Sunfire
Timeline: Evaluation Week

"That's good to hear, for everyone's frayed nerves. And you, how are you feeling after our talk and walk yesterday?" He stopped at a turbo-lift.

"More centered, definitely more centered" she admitted with a small self-assured smile "You do have a knack for keeping me on the straight and narrow whenever my compass seems to falter" the admission was truthful, a weakness she would only ever reveal to him.

They stepped into the lift. "Good. That's why I get paid the big doe's." He smiled unaware he had said it wrong.

"Remind me to review your salary and I think the phrase is Big Bucks." she snorted as the lift doors closed behind them, the light banter continuing.

"Oh right. Never did understand how they associate the vernacular of woodland fawns with currency, but I digress." He tapped the wall of the lift, "deck 2" and then he continued. "I do recall 'pass the buck' and 'the buck stops here' being a part of everyday speech at one point in human history."

"I still believe they are used on occasion. Earth English is full of strange references" the captain remarked " most of them make no sense whatsoever" the turbo lift stopped at deck two, the doors opening.

" I suppose I should be brushing up on standard SOPs and emergency procedures" she grumbled.

As they exited the lift and made their way for their quarters, “You do whatever you feel you need to help you sleep at night. However, I feel you will do fine with the physical portion of the exam. Aaaand, I have confidence that you will do well in the psychological portion as well. I know you, you’re strong in both mind and body.”

"I question your judgement on that statement someone's" she elbowed him gently in the ribs as they entered their quarters. With a sigh she rounded the corner of her workstation and dropped into the chair with a sigh, questioning everything.

“I feel like having fish tonight. How about I cook and you tell me your worries and fears.” He quickly back-pedaled, “Not so that I could potentially use them against you or anything.” He fake-coughed as he pulled out a pan for frying up some fish.

The look was a mixture of shock, horror and 'you're kidding me right?', a hesitant sigh escaping as she buried her nose back into the command manual. "Fish would be lovely, although hold the wine." She admitted, having a vague feeling she wouldn't be sleeping much tonight - wine or no.

He could only roll his eyes, “Alright, no wine, and no whining.” Then he began to craft a garlic and herb-based codfish over soft wild grain wild rice with a side of fresh veggies. He was thankful for the ventilation on the Sunfire, for there wasn’t much like a fish dinner smelling up the cabin.

Half an hour later the smell of a beautifully cooked meal permeated their cabin, filling it with the scents of the ocean.

"Smells delicious" her stomach rumbled, tearing her attention away from her manuals. She rose from the desk and headed into the kitchen to linger over the delicious smelling pots.

“Hey now, remember, you have to pay the chef before sampling the wares.” He smiled devilishly as he tossed a towel at the recycler and proceeded to prepare plates and dinnerware for them to eat with.

"Oh really now I thought payment was always after the meal" she smirked, attempting to dip a spoon into one of the pots.

“Ah ah, no. Downpayment now, full payment later. Unless you want me to negotiate terms like some Ferengi I know, then, not only do you pay upfront, but you would be naked while doing so.” He smacked her bottom lightly to show he was serious.

She spun him around and kissed him deeply, making him wish for further payment but denying it until after dinner. "Be careful what you wish for my dear" she grinned before leaving him In the kitchen and setting the table.

It took a moment for him to recover from the momentary mental break as all of the blood rushed from his head. Once he blinked, he hurriedly carted the food from the kitchen to the table. Adding a well timed, “Well then, dessert should be interesting.” Then as he sat down he joked, “Well if you fail your recertification, at least you will be able to be home more often.”

Her face blanched for a minute before she realized the lightness in his words and recovered.
"Would you survive having me home full time? You'd never get any sleep" she grinned devilishly at him.

Accepting her tease, and tossing it right back, "I guess we'll have to find out tomorrow when you don't pass. I mean, you could always sleep on the couch." He was joking of course and hoped she read it as such and not mistaking his banter the wrong way. Perception was key.

“ You’d fail me and make me sleep on the couch? Ouch, if that’s not incentive I don't know what is” She retorted, poking a fork in his general generation. The dinner was delicious and she was ravenous, demolishing the plate before her in no time flat.

“I’d give you a pillow, if that would make you happy.” He smirked as he dived into his fish first. He would get to the veggies, but the tender flaky fish was this evening's craving. Aside from the cute blonde sitting across from him.

As expected, dinner ended, cleanup ended, but the flirtation between the two of them continued well on into the evening. Dessert was sweet as honey straight from the hive. It was a good way to unwind at the end of a long day. And as they finished, embraced into a heavy cuddle, Remal fell asleep holding onto what mattered most in his life. She on the other hand, struggled with much on her mind.

TBC