A Taste of Home
Posted on 30 Jun 2021 @ 4:13am by Lieutenant JG Harper Matthews
Mission:
Patching up the Copernicus
Location: Holodeck
2179 words - 4.4 OF Standard Post Measure
As part of intelligence, Ethan took finding out things about the new ship he was on, rather seriously or was it? Either way, he'd rather learn more about the crew and from what he's been observing, he was liking the Andromeda more and more. He checked out the files of those who had left frowned slightly at the fact that one of the newer crew members, a Rita Doe, had just vanished without any trace after kidnapping the Assistant medical doctor, Syvar and left him and the runabout there on the planet's surface. Thankfully both had been recovered by the XO and the CO. Now unfortunately due to that incident, Ethan was maybe feeling a bit of paranoia or maybe a heightened sense of wariness either way, he was determined to check those newly arrived and observe them . One of which was a woman, named Ensign Harper Matthews.
He asked the computer where she was at, then proceeded to go there.
Harper was feeling a little homesick. It had been a while since she had been home and it was starting to show on her. If anything she was a daddies girl and he used to take her to place near the beach and they'd fish for hours. Truth be told she never when for the fish, rarely caught anything but her dad was her hero and she went because he loved taking her.
She sat on a rockface looking out onto the Coral Sea. The sun wasn't too high, if anything it was setting behind her but it gave a shine off the water that made her miss the sea as much as ever. To her left was a beautiful sandy beach, in the sky the faint noise of birds followed by the light lapping of waves on the shore. Harper's mind was gone in the environment, her eyes closed and mind shut off to much that she did not notice the entry of someone.
Ethan entered the holodeck, noting the beautiful scenery, the seascape and the serene nature of the program. It was something he liked, the mystery of the ocean the very cradle of life itself. Then he noticed the crew member he had been seeking. Ensign Harper Matthews. He quietly requested a pair of swim trunks, changing into them behind a large rock. He quietly went into the water and swam to where he was even with the ensign. There he treaded water observing her, then decided to walk towards her out of the sea, the sun glistening upon the drops of water that fell from his body.
He sat down, near Harper and watched the play of the gulls in the air, then looked at Harper. And just smiled. he wondered how long it would take for her to notice she was not alone.
It was always something odd that gave a real person away. In a program holograms acted in a scripted way. The way they moved, reacted and even sometimes just the way they breathed. It was always easier to spot a real person if you knew what to look for, what to see.
"You know you'd be less obvious if you wore a large sign round your neck saying 'Look at me'." Harper said without turning her head, or opening her eyes. She had noticed him before he sat down and acted in the same nonchalantly way he had.
"If I really wanted to be less obvious I would have done so." Ethan remarked, with a slight smile. "I just didn't want to. I asked the computer where you were and so I came. I also couldn't pass up the opportunity to go for a swim. It had been awhile since I have." turning his eyes back to the ocean.
"I miss it." Harper said with a sigh as she surveyed the scene before her eyes drifted to the body of the man near her. "I grew up here. Wait, why were you looking for me? Who are you?" She asked.
"I am part of the crew on this fine ship, the USS Andromeda. My name is Ethan Smith. And well..." his voice faltered, then he recovered. "well I think I have officially become a stalker." thinking that he had just lost his ever loving mind. "I had been going over the roster and saw there were some new crew members and was going down the list of them to introduce myself. I will admit, I got caught up in this program and forgot to let you know that someone was here."
Harper's ears perked up at the sound of the word stalker. This man who had just admitted such as he wandered onto her program, took a swim and sat near her.
"As someone who grew up by the sea I can understand why you would lose yourself Ethan. She's a beauty." Harper said as she gestured out towards the water. "Do you always introduce yourself to new crew members? Are you like an official greeter or something? She asked.
"Well another truth to state, I am not the official greeter. That is normally someone else's job like the XO, and maybe even Chief of Operations, or the chief engineer Lieutenant Hawkins. He seems to be the one who greets newly arrivals. I've not been here long myself." he gave her another assessing look, now that he was closer to her. Then smiled. "You are good at getting information."
"Why thank you." she smiled and nodded in jovial acceptance. "Next you'll be telling me what you actually do on board and why you felt the need to seek me out. The real reason as I find it hard to believe that you just saw a few names and decided to be a good Samaritan, especially when you are quite new yourself." She eyed him up a little and a smile sparked across her face. "Do you go topless every time you meet a new girl?" she asked playfully.
"Only if they are on a beach." Ethan said, his smile growing to a grin. He was certainly enjoying this exchange. "Since I already know what line of work you do on the ship. I will... hint at what I do." giving a chuckle. "I am sure you will guess it pretty quick though." noting the intelligence radiating from her blue eyes. "Your eyes are beautiful. I am trying to figure out what shade of blue they are." his eyes traced the line of her jaw, to the curve of her lips and the softness of her cheeks. Without touching her physically. His eyes linger once more on her lips, then flicked back to her eyes, a twinkle in his dark brown. "A hint I work alongside Security to help keep people safe."
It wasn't a bad answer and the best place for topless men was the beach. "And you have a nice, that." she said pointing to his body up and down. "Custodial? I mean you keep my floors clean and tidy? No-one likes tripping over trash, its dangerous." she smirked.
"Well good answer, and yes doing custodial work can tend to develop muscles and a body like this." teasingly flexing his biceps, like a weight lifter. Even kissing his own biceps in a rather comical manner. Then he lowered his arms. "Hmnnn... come to think of it, what I do is sort of custodial work, cleaning up or picking up dirty laundry. Finding the hidden stashes of dirty utensils, things that have been forgotten or stashed away under the proverbial rug." Ethan giving a chuckle as he was enjoying this verbal sparring.
Harper rolled her eyes as the sheer display of masculinity was put on show. She smiled to herself as she wondered what made men think there was a need to showcase every muscle in their body on beaches. If he had longer hair he'd probably run his fingers through it and then glance up at her for effect.
"Well with a fittin description of a spy like janitor then I can only assume you work for the intelligence department." she quipped.
"You are correct." Ethan replied, with a grin. Then he said, "Computer, one white vee neck tee shirt, XL and one beach towel please" the computer complying with his request. They appeared next to him, and he picked up the tee shirt to put it on. In truth he wasn't one to stay shirtless around people, if he wasn't going out swimming. And even though he can get away with wearing a large tee shirt, at times he'd rather wear something loose and comfortable.
Harper glanced over as Ethan sat down on the towel, "Where are you from?" she asked. She had already essentially shown him where she grew up.
"I'm from what is termed the Grand Canyon State, as in Arizona. The Northern part Flagstaff. Close to mountains and the scent of pine, where there are species of squirrels that not found in other areas. On the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is the Kaibab Squirrel which is black with a white tail and on the South Rim there is the Albert Squirrel." he stopped and gave a slight laugh.
"My parents were National Park Rangers, helping to preserve the natural beauty." Ethan replied.
"Ah, an American." Harper mused. "I thought that from your accent, but it sounds like you had a similar childhood to me. Lots of time spent outside gettin dirty."
Ethan nodded, "Yes, I did get to play outside and get dirty, it was glorious. Also wonderful seeing the sheer beauty of nature. " his eyes became wistful as he thought of his boyhood. "Horse back riding down into the Grand Canyon, touching the water of the Colorado river, and shivering when the toes touch the almost frigid water." he looked at her, "What was your favorite part of your childhood?"
"Honestly?" she asked rhetorically. "There are a few." she said with a small smile. "Bein in the water is one of my most favourite places. Somethin serene and beautiful about it. Sports, I'm super competitive. I played volleyball, field hockey and ran on the track team. I LOVE music." she said with emphasis. "I play piano, guitar and when I sing I get lost in my own world." she shrugged as Ethan stared at her. "I'm complicated, I'm a woman. Can't be simply one thing."
"Both men and women are complicated, and we all have layers, like an onion. I have some really weird skills. I am a skilled tailor, a cobbler, a gadgeteer, a stage magician, a worker with metal and I craft jewellery. I also can read lips, besides being able to mimic voices and also throw my voice." Ethan laughed. "Like I said, many layers."
"I prefer cake to onions." Harper joked. "Much nicer to eat, and smell... but you do sound like a very talented person." she added. "I can only claim to be good at some sports, am quite creative and well, I don't really know what other layers I have." she shrugged. "But if I ever need some fancy jewellery then I know who to come to."
'Or even..." Ethan looked at her feet "Make you a pair of boots that would fit you most comfortably. Or design you a dress." looking back into Harper's lovely eyes. "I would also love to hear you play music, and also to hear you sing. "
"Well if you're lucky enough you just might." Harper said as she felt the fake sun beat down on her. It was warm sure, but not the same as the real thing. You could tell. "I have not sung for quite a while." she admitted.
"How about right now? With the ocean being your orchestra, I would think it enchanting." Ethan remarked. "Please would you sing?"
Harper smiled, "Even with the sweet compliments, no." she said as her smile turned into a cheeky smirk. "The ocean will have to be all the music you need. That's not to say once I am more comfortable here that I wont open up, sing a song but not just yet."
"That is fair enough." Ethan giving a smile, he leaned back on his hands and gazed out towards the ocean, then gave a shake of his head as if to clear it. "Perhaps it is time for me to get back to work, or to dinner whichever the case may be. " with an easy movement Ethan rose from his towel. "it was a pleasure to meet you, Harper. And I do hope we will meet again soon. At the very least we'll work together." he folded up his towel, and slung it over his shoulder.
Harper smiled as the man rose to leave. "I look forward to it Ethan." For a moment her eyes lingered on the shape of the man as he left but her mind was drawn back to the sea and she was lost once more.
Ensign Harper Matthews
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Andromeda
LTJG Ethan Smith
Assistant Intelligence Officer
USS Andromeda
