[USS Juno] Midnight Snack, (Part 2)

Posted on Fri Aug 3rd, 2018 @ 5:35am by Captain Harrold Anderson

1,736 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: [USS Shanghai] S1E2: Encounter in the Abyss
Location: Holodeck
Timeline: 05/13/2394 @ 23:20 Hours

Harry watched as the holodeck create the French quarter of 21st century New Orleans. Harry started by motioning Charlena to follow him. The music was a little loud, there was a lot of people. A lot of distraction. The upbeat tempo of jazz music playing in the background. “This is one of my favorite places to come, when I need to unwind for a little bit and get lost in the distraction that is New Orleans.” He suggested, hoping that she got the reference.

"I have never been here before, but I heard a lot about it."Charlie said.

They started to walk towards Café Du Monde, where he walked in leading Charlena to a counter, he pointed at a pastry he wanted from the local server. He placed the pastry in a bag and handed it to Harry. He waited to see if Charlena would participate. “Is this okay?” He asked, hoping a livelier place would allow her to open up a little.

She nodded. "It's fine." She just said. She didn't know what to think. All the new sounds around her.

"New Orleans has a lot of positive energy, Captain. Sometimes when I am filling drained, I like to recharged my soul. This is my favorite program to run, besides my Klingon combat training program." He said with a big smile on his face. It was a perfect day to sit outside and listen to the music in the background. He pulled out his pastry and a little paper plate along with a fork and a knife.

She nodded. "It is quite an intriguing place."

He grabbed her chair and pulled it back, "Allow me, Captain." He said, trying to be all gentleman like and a little charming at the same time.

She sat down. "Thank you, and maybe you should call me by my first name as well. I am not sure how I feel with you calling by rank, while I call you by your first name. Ehm, it's Charlena, but I have been called Charlie." She started to scan around, and take in the music in the background. She never listened to music, though she was new to it. But this was the first time she actually sat down and really listened to it.

"I like the name Charlena, it's a pretty name, I like it, however if you want me to call you Charlie I will." He said, hoping she would allow him to call her by her full name.

"Either is fine." She said and her feet started to tap to the music a bit. She didn't notice, she was so caught up with the music and her surroundings.

"I like Charlena," he said with a grin on his face.

"Fine by me," she said.

"So Charlena, what do you think of my humble little program?" He asked as he started to slice a piece of his pastry. And grabbed a small part of it and took a bite. Even though it was replicated in the holodeck. The pastry was still delicious.

"Humble?" She asked. "The music is...well is awesome. The sphere, the people. It is a little overwhelming. I didn't know such a place existed." She looked around again. She then closed her eyes and swayed a little on the rhythm of the music.

"To me its humble, no one here is real. Except us. I like the nightlife on a starship, filled with the crew, and people who like to have a good time, but once in a while its nice to be alone in a sea of people. In Nemo's Lounge, everyone knows me, here they only know me, if I tell them to notice me." He said pointing at the holographic people.

"Well, maybe so," said Charlie, "I still think the place is impressive, must make you think how the real thing looks like."

"If this a bit much I have other programs. But they are a little more personal. I wanted you to feel comfortable, as you said, you do not fraternize, so I thought a stroll through the beaches of Risa, would a bit much for two people trying to get to know one another." He suggested, with a smile.

"l already said," Charlie nodded, "This is fine." She gave him a bit of smile.

Harry grinned a little bigger, when she smiled at him. "I'm glad this is suitable for you, taking a stroll would have been lovely with you, but honestly your not catching me at my best. Been a long day, but I am glad to have someone to share this with." He said, using his hands to point at the program.

"Thank you for sharing it with me," Said Charlena.

"Not a problem, been a long day, needed to blow off some steam, and now time to recharge the soul." He suggested, s he took a few more bites, and under the table he was tapping his foot to the beat of music playing in the background.

Charlena laughed nervously as she was taking another bite.

"Loosen up a little, Charlena. You look so stiff," He suggested. He could tell that she was not going to break years of training and protocol over night. She was big about the fraternizing aspect. For him, it felt more like a guideline than a hard rule. There were several Starfleet officers and enlisted that went on dates, were married and managed to serve without an incident.

Charlena took a napkin and wiped her mouth and then said, "Computer stop music!" She put her napkin down. "Look Harry, don't take this the wrong way. All this is great, but...ehm... I am not made of stone ok. I look at you and I just hope you're not one of those guys. I avoided parties and social gatherings to avoids such guys. The type of guys that come at you with their silver tongues trying to get you in to their beds. The guys that destroy marriages and families. One of those guys swept my mother of her feet, she just came home, got her things and just left. I didn't exist to her. She just walked right around me. My father didn't look at me for two weeks. He got discharged from the Marines for assaulting a superior officer. When I joined the marines, I saw them everywhere. Those guys, men." She sighed before continuing, "I went with it once, once and he walked right over me like I was nothing. But I like this and I don't want this to...and you're the commanding officer of this ship..." She was stammering now so she just stopped. "Sorry. You just wanted to blow off some steam and here I am just...sorry."

"Never apologize for saying how you feel, and in some ways I guess I am that stereotypical male, but I not shallow and only think with one head," he said with a wink, before going on to say. "I think your very attractive, but unlike most of crew, you understand my obligation my authority of responsibility. You command 128 marines aboard this vessel, its a great Burdon and reward at the same time. I'm sorry your father hurt you and your mother like that. That is not my intention, nor is it with my daughter. She is sitting on the bio bed in sickbay, recouping after having an anxiety attack, and I am helpless to helping her.

Her mother kept her from me for the same reason you listed, guys like me are not trustworthy, but I beg to differ. Starfleet trusts me with the command of a starship and her 853 crew. All I am asking is for a chance to be your friend. I like your dedication to duty and to your people, but like me, I know you sense the loneliness. All I am asking today is a chance to be your friend, and see where this goes, and before you ask, no this is not my typical approach to hitting on ladies. Honestly, a little over it. Even though I will miss the thrill of it. I am looking for more." Said Harry laying his feelings out there and seeing how she was going to react.

Charlena was quiet for a moment. She was a bit stumped by his speech. "Oh well..."She began not knowing how to respond to that. "I appreciate your honesty and your understanding." She finally started. "I would really like to be your friend, and again don't get me wrong, I really hope this could be more, I really do. Maybe you couldn't tell with me putting up a wall and being stiff and all, but I think you are attractive too. Which is why I hoped you were different somehow." She laughed and then said, "I didn't want to fight you, if you can believe it."

Harry was not sure how to act, typically at this stage, he would have made a cheesy line and moved in for the score, but he did not want to do that. He wanted to be a little more respectable. "I don't want to him, that guy, the one that chases girls, cause he is afraid of a commitment. I am not sure how to be respectable, but I am going to try, not simply for you, but for me too. 853 personal look up to me to lead them. I can't chase the ladies forever. I prefer to chase the one sitting with me in New Orleans."

Charlena leaned forward to him. "Why don't you stop chasing me, and start being with me in New Orleans?" She gently took his hand. "Computer! Resume music."

Harry was a little taken with the sudden impulse hand holding gesture from Charlena. He smiled big as he built up the courage to say. "I would like that." He stood up, continuing to hold her hand. He felt like a high schooler, holding the hand of a girl that he liked.

They continued there little adventure into the district. They started to walk over a local jazz performers. They stopped to listen to the music. The musicians were happy and dancing around, bringing in a lot of positive and fun energy. Harry smiled but did not say a word. This moment was perfect, he seemed to have the girl. This honestly thing was scary but very exciting at the same time.

 

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