33
Stretching with my arms above my head, I looked out over the ocean. The beach party was going great and I was keeping a close eye out all around. Both from low altitude drones and orbit, but my APD's were also patrolling the perimeter.
Besides, I had not detected any large dangerous predators in the vicinity, so things were safe enough. Just to be safe, I kept a constant transporter lock on everyone and stayed overhead instead of orbiting the planet.
"Rommie, this was a great idea." Captain Montgomery commented as she walked up next to me, taking a sip from a fruity drink. Grapefruit. "?Even with all the excitement of having a entire world to explore, it's great to be able to take a break like this.
She was wearing a red one piece swimsuit. I had to admit she looked pretty good in it.
Mine on the other hand, was a admittedly slightly skimpy white and gold bikini, matching my hull colors. Not a thong, I may have worn one when I was on vacation with... with T'Ro, but I wasn't about to parade in front of the entire crew in one.
Well, not without having a specific target I wanted to attract the attention of, in any case.
But it was definitely on the revealing side.
"Yeah, I figured people would like it." I answered with a grin, dropping my arms, "How's your drink?"
She smiled and took a sip, "Mmm, pretty good. I might need to reassign crewman Ericson to the mess hall."
I grinned at that, "It's actually not a bad idea to have a 'live' kitchen. Even if the ingredients are replicated, it give a special kind of unity for the crew to have the option."
Hannah looked thoughtful at that, "Is there room? Space is a bit of a premium on the Nova class."
"Not sure. I mean, the mess is already pulling dual function as recreation area. Perhaps not, I'll ask the next shipyard we pass by if they have any designs."
"Do that and we will see." She confirmed before she smiled again, "Now for a more pressing issue... They are setting up a volleyball net. Think you are up for a challenge?"
"Oh you are so on."
"Human limits?"
I pouted but nodded, "I'll keep to what my avatar should be capable of, if it was a actual human, with this build."
"Pick your team and meet by the net in a hour?"
"Full six player teams?"
At her nod, I grinned and head off to find someone to pick for my team as I quickly scrolled through my personnel files.
Glancing around I hmmed. Crewman Lawson played on a team at the Academy. She would likely want to play, I just need to get to her before the Captain.
Luckily, I could cheat!
I contacted her via her com-badge. Now.. who else?
Hmming to myself, I looked around. Who looked like they would be good at the game...
I caught some appreciative looks as I glanced around. Who can blame them, I knew I looked good. Sadly, they were mostly male. Maybe I should have taken Star's offer to reset my preferences, it would have made things easier when trying to find a partner.
Still, there were some prospects even in a crew as small as mine. I had caught some looks from female crew members.
...Unfortunately none that I was interested in. Hannah for example. Not a interested glance from her. She might be my captain, but she was also intelligent and attractive. I wouldn't have minded her attention.
Well, guess that come with having a crew of only seventy. Not that many options around when it come to dating.
Maybe I really should ask for a reset next time we visit a shipyard.
Suddenly smiling as I caught a perfect candidate for my team, I crossed the beach to where Hriss were sitting with a book in the middle of a large towel, as far away from the sand as she could get.
"Enjoying yourself?"
Hriss looked up from her book, her ears flicking before she nodded, "Somewhat."
"Somewhat?"
"Fur don't mix well with sand. Or salt water."
"Oh... sorry." I said, and sank down to sit next to her.
"It's fine." she said, and adjusted the shoulder strap of her green one piece swimsuit, "The sun is nice and the food is even better."
I nodded, "So, is that a no to joining my volleyball team?"
She tilted her head in question, "Volleyball?"
"Yeah, the Captain challenged me to a game. I need a team."
"Who's on it so far?"
"Jessica Lawson. I had been hoping to recruit you too, but it would most likely involve rolling around in the sand a couple of times." I said with a small shrug, as I regarded my Caitian friend. She was one of those I had hoped would have looked at me with a bit of interest, but that seemed to have been a bust too. Too bad, she was cute and quite clever.
She seemed to consider that for a moment before she smiled and nodded, "I'll play."
"Really?" I asked with a grin. Yes! Not only was Caitians generally faster and more agile than humans, but Hriss was athletic in general. We were so winning this!
"On one condition."
"Name it."
"I have some holodeck time saved up. When we get some free time, you and I are going rock climbing.
"Deal!"
...Damn, the Captain had already recruited Drake. Who else to pick...
AN// Many thanks to Kyceraza for betaing this section.
Besides, I had not detected any large dangerous predators in the vicinity, so things were safe enough. Just to be safe, I kept a constant transporter lock on everyone and stayed overhead instead of orbiting the planet.
"Rommie, this was a great idea." Captain Montgomery commented as she walked up next to me, taking a sip from a fruity drink. Grapefruit. "?Even with all the excitement of having a entire world to explore, it's great to be able to take a break like this.
She was wearing a red one piece swimsuit. I had to admit she looked pretty good in it.
Mine on the other hand, was a admittedly slightly skimpy white and gold bikini, matching my hull colors. Not a thong, I may have worn one when I was on vacation with... with T'Ro, but I wasn't about to parade in front of the entire crew in one.
Well, not without having a specific target I wanted to attract the attention of, in any case.
But it was definitely on the revealing side.
"Yeah, I figured people would like it." I answered with a grin, dropping my arms, "How's your drink?"
She smiled and took a sip, "Mmm, pretty good. I might need to reassign crewman Ericson to the mess hall."
I grinned at that, "It's actually not a bad idea to have a 'live' kitchen. Even if the ingredients are replicated, it give a special kind of unity for the crew to have the option."
Hannah looked thoughtful at that, "Is there room? Space is a bit of a premium on the Nova class."
"Not sure. I mean, the mess is already pulling dual function as recreation area. Perhaps not, I'll ask the next shipyard we pass by if they have any designs."
"Do that and we will see." She confirmed before she smiled again, "Now for a more pressing issue... They are setting up a volleyball net. Think you are up for a challenge?"
"Oh you are so on."
"Human limits?"
I pouted but nodded, "I'll keep to what my avatar should be capable of, if it was a actual human, with this build."
"Pick your team and meet by the net in a hour?"
"Full six player teams?"
At her nod, I grinned and head off to find someone to pick for my team as I quickly scrolled through my personnel files.
Glancing around I hmmed. Crewman Lawson played on a team at the Academy. She would likely want to play, I just need to get to her before the Captain.
Luckily, I could cheat!
I contacted her via her com-badge. Now.. who else?
Hmming to myself, I looked around. Who looked like they would be good at the game...
I caught some appreciative looks as I glanced around. Who can blame them, I knew I looked good. Sadly, they were mostly male. Maybe I should have taken Star's offer to reset my preferences, it would have made things easier when trying to find a partner.
Still, there were some prospects even in a crew as small as mine. I had caught some looks from female crew members.
...Unfortunately none that I was interested in. Hannah for example. Not a interested glance from her. She might be my captain, but she was also intelligent and attractive. I wouldn't have minded her attention.
Well, guess that come with having a crew of only seventy. Not that many options around when it come to dating.
Maybe I really should ask for a reset next time we visit a shipyard.
Suddenly smiling as I caught a perfect candidate for my team, I crossed the beach to where Hriss were sitting with a book in the middle of a large towel, as far away from the sand as she could get.
"Enjoying yourself?"
Hriss looked up from her book, her ears flicking before she nodded, "Somewhat."
"Somewhat?"
"Fur don't mix well with sand. Or salt water."
"Oh... sorry." I said, and sank down to sit next to her.
"It's fine." she said, and adjusted the shoulder strap of her green one piece swimsuit, "The sun is nice and the food is even better."
I nodded, "So, is that a no to joining my volleyball team?"
She tilted her head in question, "Volleyball?"
"Yeah, the Captain challenged me to a game. I need a team."
"Who's on it so far?"
"Jessica Lawson. I had been hoping to recruit you too, but it would most likely involve rolling around in the sand a couple of times." I said with a small shrug, as I regarded my Caitian friend. She was one of those I had hoped would have looked at me with a bit of interest, but that seemed to have been a bust too. Too bad, she was cute and quite clever.
She seemed to consider that for a moment before she smiled and nodded, "I'll play."
"Really?" I asked with a grin. Yes! Not only was Caitians generally faster and more agile than humans, but Hriss was athletic in general. We were so winning this!
"On one condition."
"Name it."
"I have some holodeck time saved up. When we get some free time, you and I are going rock climbing.
"Deal!"
...Damn, the Captain had already recruited Drake. Who else to pick...
AN// Many thanks to Kyceraza for betaing this section.