A "Personal" Approach (part II)

Posted on Sun Feb 7th, 2021 @ 8:01am by Lieutenant JG Ronen Kym & Lieutenant Remy Boudreau

1,365 words; about a 7 minute read

[CONTINUED]

[OLD]

She put her hand in his. "It would be my pleasure."

[NEW]

Leading her to the door of his office, he considered for a moment, before glancing in her direction, 'I don't know about you, but I don't often go on a date in my uniform - seems a bit formal. Shall we grab a change of clothes and meet at Holodeck 1 in 10?'

"I cannot fault your logic," she replied, then grinned. "Yes, I would definitely prefer to get out of uniform." She felt her cheeks grow warm. "You know what I mean." She didn't even realize the implications of what she said until after she said it.

He reddened himself, 'uh, well ... yeah.' Boudreau laughed nervously. He hadn't actually thought that far ahead. 'I won't pick anything too challenging,' he promised, 'so you don't need to go all-out on your hiking gear.' He gave her hand a squeeze, 'see you in 10.'

"Good. I wasn't sure what would be appropriate. She hadn't done much hiking of late, so she was glad it didn't sound too strenuous. "See you in ten."

As they stepped out of the turbolift after the short journey to the Officer's quarters on Deck 3, Boudreau gave Kym a little wave as he stepped off in the opposite direction. It took him only a short while to find his quarters, freshen up and change into fresh, clean clothes. He tried not to hurry too much on the way back to the Holodeck.

Kym took a moment to change into a pair of soft jeans and a dark green blouse. She slipped on a pair of shoes, brushed her hair, and headed for the holodeck.

Remy was already there when she turned the corner. "Fancy meeting you here," she said, smiling.

'Hey,' he broke out into a big smile as he saw her, 'almost as if we arranged to meet or something.' Boudreau worked the Holodeck's settings for a moment. 'Green, uh, really suits you, by the way.'

"Thank you, kind sir. I must say, you look quite dashing as a civilian."

He chuckled, looking down at the drab olive pants and loose cotton shirt he was wearing, 'now I think you're the one being kind.' The holodeck warbled to confirm that his selection had been programmed. 'Ah, great. So, this definitely shouldn't be challenging, but it was the only program I had with ice cream at the end. It's a walk around Sequoia National Park on Earth - you know it?'

"I've heard of it, but I've never been there." She smiled. "It sounds perfect."

'Great - it's not actually that far from the Academy these days, but most of us don't have time to venture out there when we're cadets.' The doors slid open on a cool summer's day. As they stepped through there was a museum building to their left and the beginning of the trail at their feet.

'I've used the program a couple of times, to clear my mind. Usually takes me about an hour. Maybe less if I get impatient for the ice cream,' he smiled.

It did sound nice. She was glad she hadn't come here before so she could experience it for hte first time with Remy. "That should give us plenty of time to work up an appetite for ice cream." She looked at the museum. "And maybe for a look around there, too. What do they have in the museum?"

'Ah, well, you know, the traditional gift shop. Mostly it's exhibitions about the sequoia trees, the history of Big Forest,' he made a circling motion with his finger indicating they were in that forest, 'and some human history ... I think. I've only done the museum once.'

'Ah. Well then, we shall walk and eat ice cream. Perhaps next time we can find a nice museum to explore together."

'Next time?' He smiled as he took her hand, 'I think a museum would be great. But you'll choose it.' Boudreau nodded to their right, 'the trail starts there, see?'

The path wandered away, framed by the majestic sequoias on either side. 'Shall we?'

His hand felt good. "Yes. Either side is good. as it looks like we'll come out the other." She'd forgotten how good a forest smelled.

'Alright,' replied Boudreau, he took them down the closest entrance to the path, the first one he had seen. He was quiet as they walked hand in hand down the path. The company was good. 'So,' he said eventually, 'you studied at the Academy but never came out as far as Big Forest?'

"Sadly, yes. I kept closer to the Academy, exploring San Francisco when I wasn't studying." She paused to look at a tree. "One one hand, I wish I'd come here before." She paused to smile at Remy. "On the other, I get to discover it with you. I'm okay with that."

'Just wait until we get there for real,' he smiled back. 'Your experience of the Academy seems similar to a lot of people I've spoken to. Seems a bit wrong for everyone to confine themselves to San Francisco, fun as it may be.'

"Yes, but I was more concerned with doing well than exploring, so short trips were all I managed." She shook her head and chuckled. "I know, all work and no play...but I didn't then."

'Well, we all make the choice to go to Starfleet,' he replied earnestly, 'and then we have to fight so hard to get in, fight for our grades to get the premium postings ...' He laughed, 'I'm just lucky not many people wanted the stellar phenomena missions.'

The path they were following meandered around, bringing them into a clearing ringed by the sequoia and a few trees that seemed stumpy in comparison. Wildflowers studded the meadow to either side of the path.

"You underestimate yourself." She smild. "If you weren't good, you would keep doing those assignments." She stopped to look around. "This is lovely."

Boudreau looked at her, 'the view is quite something,' he said gently. 'So, how did you end up on the Aurora?'

She smiled. She'd done a lot of that today. "I was offered a transfer. When I learned the captain was a former counselor, I had to take it." She looked up at him for a long moment. "I know you haven't been here very long, but how are you fitting in so far?"

'I've not had a lot of problems so far ... everyone seems to want to get along. Well, maybe except for Paris. I can't quite work out what his deal is. He seems so unhappy here.'' Boudreau shrugged, 'I'm plenty happy with my lot though,' he finished.

As they walked to the other side of the meadow and back into the shadow of the trees, the artificial weather cooled slightly as they were shielded from the sun.'

"I don't know much about Lieutenant Deville," she said. "I haven't had much chance to talk to him. I think he has demons of his own to deal with." She shrugged. "I think Commander Ka'Tock did his evaluation." Now that she thought of it, she should check when she got back to her office. "I'm glad you like it here so far."

He removed his hand from hers, and wrapped his arm around her waist, checking with a glance if she was OK with it. 'It could be a lot worse,' he admitted as they meandered along the path, 'in all honesty I wasn't expecting to find someone so ... intriguing aboard ship.' Boudreau paused a moment, then clarified, 'I meant you ... not Paris.'

Kym chuckled softly. "I'm glad of that." She slipped her arm around his waist. "I'd hate for this to be one-sided." She flashed him a teasing grin. In truth, meeting Remy had turned her world upside down in a very good way.

(To be continued...)

Lieutenant JG Ronen Kym
Counselor
USS Aurora

Lieutenant Remy Boudreau
Chief Science Officer
USS Aurora

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