Stardate: 70629.2045
Title: Thanks for That, I'll Log That Away, Part Two
Authors: TC Blane and Zanh Liis
Scene: Seven
Time: Following "Babies, Me?" and "Thanks for that; Part one"
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TC's eyes narrowed as he studied the acting CO, wondering if she had an ulterior motive.
He was still uneasy since the incident in the brig and fully untrusting of those with secretive power; a side effect of his years with special ops. He sat up, brushing off powdered sugar from his uniform, the remnants of the calorie filled treat that he had just consumed.
"Have a seat." He kicked out a chair with his foot.
Zanh side-stepped the moving piece of furniture and waited for it to come to a stop. She set down her plate, turned the chair backward and straddled it to sit. She draped one elbow over the chair's high back. She picked up a fork with her left hand, poking her food with it.
"Much obliged."
He nodded to her and took another sip of his beverage.
"Don't even know where to start with all this," she gestured toward the food London had stacked on her plate, using her fork. Then she gestured to the empty plates in front of him as she settled on trying a bite of the hasparat. "I take it you found the food selection satisfactory, TC?"
His eyebrow rose just slightly at her use of his name instead of his rank. She noticed instantly that it seemed to rub him the wrong way and added, "If I can call you TC? Everybody else around here fares far worse when I get past calling them by their rank. But with you, I'm thinkin' I'll stick with TC, or perhaps Thomas, if you prefer."
She knew that some found her difficult to understand, or work with. Once you reached a certain rank, it was a given that not everyone was going to like you. She would have been willing to wager that Blane was one of those people. Still it was not in her nature to be difficult with anyone, just for the sake of it.
Now TC was not sure where this was going. He shrugged his shoulders. "I suppose you can call me whatever you would like. You are a ranking officer."
He knew he was being defensive but was careful not to be too abrasive. In the back of his mind a small voice told him that he might be looking too deep into Zanh Liis' intentions. Still, he could not shake his instinct to be careful around her. He opted to try to be civil back, to see where the conversation would lead. He observed her plate and pointed to it.
"I'd start with the vegetables, they are rather good. If you like your food spicy," he offered. "That meatloaf looking thing there is also really good." His eyebrows raised in thought. "I never inquire too deeply into food. Sometimes, not knowing what it is or where it came from is preferable," he forced a smile. "As long as it is good going down."
"I suppose there are times when ignorance truly is bliss," Zanh countered, gesturing to the meat. "'Cause that 'meatloaf looking thing' is rinta stomach. On your native Earth, I think there is a similar dish. Called haggis."
She watched his expression change, then hastily added, "Kidding, I'm kidding. It's meatloaf. I'm acting CO. I approved everything on today's menu." She took one bite of the vegetables he had suggested, and then another. They were indeed quite delicious. "You see, I find that with my food, as with my officers, I like to know in advance where I stand."
Trick London swept by and dropped off a cup of coffee for her. She nodded her thanks and then lifted the cup to her lips before speaking again.
"So, in case you're more particular about your ranking officers than your dining adventures, I want you to know straight up that I think you've been doing a hell of a job in the ops post, Lieutenant. I know you'd have preferred to stay in security. But sometimes, we're all called upon to serve in positions, or under people, we'd rather not."
*Ahh, now he knew where this was going,* thought TC Blane. Her instincts were quite good.
"Thank you for the vote of confidence, Sir," he leaned forward and took another sip from his glass. "Permission to speak frankly?"
She nodded.
"Straight up, I don't know how to take you just yet, " he leaned even closer so he could speak in a lower tone, one that only she could hear. "That incident in the brig, with Windsor and the prisoner. Does not sit well," he paused, thinking of how to proceed.
"I've dealt with your type before, in a past life and it did not sit well then, either. So, let's make a deal. When I know that your crew sits above your alliances of the past, then maybe we'll be friends. Until that time," he stood up, "you're simply a senior officer, and I will follow your orders to the best of my ability."
Sunshine stood up at the sound of TC's chair sliding back and moved to join him, with a yawn and a stretch. TC pointed to her meatloaf. "Enjoy your meal."
He turned and made his way toward the exit, not giving her the opportunity to respond. Sunshine lingered a moment longer, before following the Lieutenant out of the reception.
Zanh pushed her plate away and drained her coffee dry. She stood up and prepared to make one circuit around the room before heading back to the bridge.
Her eyes followed TC Blane as he disappeared from sight, and she was thinking that her impression of him had been correct from the get-go.
He hadn't seemed to her to be the sort of man who would shrink back from an insinuation, and his reaction to hers did not disappoint. He didn't try to blow sunshine.
Even if he hated her guts, she knew she could work with him because he was willing to speak his mind, regardless of how many pips were on the collar of the person he was addressing.
It would likely have bothered the hell out of him to know it, but in that aspect even if none other, they were very much alike.
*Yep,* she thought to herself. *I knew I was going to like that guy.*
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Lt. TC Blane
Acting Chief of Operations
USS Independence
-and-
Zanh Liis
Acting Commanding Officer
USS Independence NCC-90791