Post 339: Meanwhile

Stardate:70801.1430
Title: Meanwhile, in the Main Cabin. . .
Author: February Grace
Scene: Runabout Hiawatha
Time: During and after "Consultation"
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Lily T'Ana and R.J. Gilmore were engaged in a game of Chess, trying to make the journey pass by more quickly It was difficult to tell who was paying less attention to the board, because neither seemed to care much about how the game was going.

TC Blane turned around and glanced at the board as T'Ana picked her piece up to move it. He cleared his throat.

"You have something to say, Lieutenant?" Gilmore asked.

"Just that she might want to think twice about that move."

"I didn't know Chess was a team sport," Gilmore's frustration was showing, because he had taught Lily so much about the game in her childhood that he found her skills to be equal to his own now that she was an adult.

TC shrugged and turned back to the book he'd been reading. "Sorry, Sir."

Lily set her piece down in the spot she'd selected, despite the warning from TC.

"Check."

Gilmore waited a moment to be sure she wasn't going to change her mind, then he moved his piece, taking advantage of her mistake.

"Checkmate. Good game." He watched as she nodded and began to put the pieces back into their wooden box. "It was hardly fair, though. You haven't been paying attention at all."

"Neither were you, Uncle R.J. You still beat me, fair and square."

"A rematch, later." He offered, patting her on the hand. "When our minds are clearer."

She nodded again. It was true, she was distracted. She hadn't been able to talk with February at all since they'd left the Independence and she wished that she could. She hoped that just knowing that she was there would be a comfort to her friend.

"We're coming up on the location of the Federation Embassy." Simon announced from the helm. He turned to Blane. "You ready to go, Sir?"

"Indeed. Let's get this over with. Commander Reece told me that we shouldn't miss the Tenaran Ice Cliffs while we're on Trill, if we can help it. I'd like to get back to shore leave before it's over." He and Simon stood and gathered their gear.

Captain Gilmore took over the controls of the runabout and Lily slid into the co-pilot's chair. She entered the coordinates for transport.

"Keep those com badges on, gentlemen. Just in case." Gilmore reminded them.

"Aye, Captain." TC thought that if there was one phrase he hated, especially while he was supposed to be on vacation, it was 'just in case'. "We'll keep a good thought for February." he added, and Simon nodded in agreement.

"Energizing." Lily moved her hands over the controls, and the two men shimmered out of view. She tapped her badge. "T'Ana to Reece, we're ready to change course."

Reece rejoined them in the main cabin a moment later. "I'm going to give you a different heading than we originally planned."

"I thought we were going straight to the Symbiosis Commission, Reece! Explain yourself." Gilmore demanded. "February-"

"We're doing this for February." Reece interrupted, as he leaned over Lily's shoulder and programmed the ship to bring them within transporter range of Jaine Hood's current location.

Gilmore snorted. "We are NOT going to pick up your girlfriend first!"

"Not in the capacity of my girlfriend, we're not, and it's fiancée, actually, Captain Nemo."

Again, Gilmore ignored the Trill's impudence because he knew all too well that they needed him. "Well in what capacity, then?"

"In the capacity of, if you want to save Grace, not to mention its sweetest host ever, we better quit arguing and beam up Dr. Hood, right quick."

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Lt. (jg) February Grace
Helm/Flight Controller
USS Independence NCC-90791