Paul and Ouros - Part Three

Posted on Wed Nov 30th, 2022 @ 6:09am by Lieutenant Commander Ouros Yamaguchi & Ensign Paul Harrison

Mission: Mission 116: All Along the Watchtowers - Part One
Location: Various Locations - Starbase Vanguard
Timeline: 1710Hrs - December 6th, 2393

Ouros chuckled softly. "Two of my sisters would disagree with you... I am unsure of where I stand on the matter..." she then shrugged. Suddenly a waitress appeared as if conjured from the shadows. "Could I get you two a drink to start?" she asked.

"Sure," Ouros answered. "Could I have a glass of coke-cola please?" she inquired.

"Of course ma'am." the waitress answered before she turned to Harrison. "What of you sir?"

Paul looked up, "Yeah, I'll have the same thing." He watched her leave, "Besides, what business is it of theirs anyway? I treat women the way a woman should be treated." He was irritated about the whole situation.

Ouros regarded him in silence for a moment. "That's the major pitfall of being in a large family... Everyone tells everyone everything..." the tall woman let out a soft sigh. "I really wish they wouldn't do it... But they do." Ouros held her silence for a moment. "I would have figured that Selendis was too pregnant to care what her siblings were up to but I was clearly mistaken..." she softly craned her head to one side. "Same with Rachael being off on the Heart of the Tiger... Clearly, these two have unlimited amounts of energy..."

"That's for sure." He thought for a moment, "Well...I can't help what any of them think. They can be jealous as much as they want."

Ouros opened her mouth to respond as the waitress suddenly appeared with their two drinks and menus in hand. "Here you go," she commented as she placed the two drinks down on the table. She then placed the two menus in front of Harrison and Yamaguchi.

She smiled. "I'll give you a few minutes to look things over." and with that, she departed again

Yamaguchi opened her menu as she began leafing through the various pages. "What?" she asked upon noting the look she was getting from Harrison. "Survival of the fattest, you know?. I'm wasting away here..."

Paul shook his head, "I didn't say a word." He started to thumb through the menu as well, "You look pretty good for someone who is wasting away." He snickered slightly as he continued to look at the menu.

"That's alright," Ouros answered. "I've not eaten all day... Despite today being mostly paperwork. I still had two hours in the gym..." as she gave him an impish smile. "Maintaining my figure is serious work, y'know..." she added.

Uh-huh." He figured out what he wanted so he put the menu down and took a drink. He observed her for a moment, "Only two hours."

Ouros regarded him. "Why don't you come and join me for a workout in the gym some time?" she asked. "Two hours of weight lifting... cardio does not count... otherwise it would be three hours..." Ouros selected the food she wished to order from the menu before she placed the menu down on the table before her. "So... What are you having?"

"I should." He picked back up the menu, "I'm having a cheeseburger and onion rings." He put it back down again, "You?"

"Chicken pot pie and mashed potatoes," Ouros answered. "Then... I have a little free time before I head back to the gym. I want to get some aquatic time in."

"Sounds fun. You're going to need it after you eat the starch." He was just teasing her, "I could join you." He added, "If you want."

Ouros raised an eyebrow, she suddenly smiled. "Sure. Why not?" she asked. "You get to sit back and watch me swim lengths..." she commented

"Watch you?" He smiled, "I was talking about doing some laps myself. Maybe we could race each other or something. It's been a while since I've done anything with anyone."

Ouros grinned. "You're on," she answered with a zesty smile. "Then after, we can always blowtorch away some stress with a soak in one of the jacuzzi's..." she added.

Paul smiled, "I'd like that." The waitress came back over, "So, have you decided what you want?" Paul nodded, "Ladies first." He referred to Ouros.

"Could I get the chicken pot pie and mashed potatoes please?" Ouros placed her order for the food she wanted to eat for dinner.

The waitress turned to Harrison. "For you sir?"

"I'll have the cheeseburger and onion rings." Paul handed her the menus.

The waitress smiled, "Okay, I'll put that in for you." She walked away.

Ouros regarded the waitress in silence for a moment before shifting her attention back to Harrison. "So... How's life in the science departments these days?"

After watching the waitress leave, he took his attention back to Ouros, "It's going well. It's actually been interesting work. Should be finished by the end of the week."

"Oh, nice" Ouros answered. "Constantly exercising in the same outdoor area is getting old," she added. "Its because we don't know what the terrain has... I thought this planet had been charted before settlement."

"Yeah." Paul started, "But whoever did it the first time didn't give it the time that they should have. Some people just want to get the job done so they don't take their time and they do a rush job." He sighed, "That's just not me."

"I guess laziness truly wears no face..." Ouros answered flatly. "Still.. I'd like to know how the settlement was approved with the job wasn't finished." as she narrowed her eyes at the statement she had just made. "Mmm... something to consider another time," she added as if trying to brighten the conversation. "Its been a while since I was able to sit back and enjoy a planets sunlight... Without the need for exercise or being in uniform," she added.

Paul nodded, "I know exactly what you mean. I'd love to go back to Earth and enjoy the beaches and the sun there." He smiled at the thought, "Hopefully I'll be able to go on my next shore leave."

"Earth... It's overrated." Ouros answered with a gentle smile. "What's wrong with Utgarde?. Or Bounty?" she asked. "Mesa is in its winter season right now... Ballast is always cold and then there is Estuary... Which is in its storm season right now." she shrugged. "Have you ever seen a Hypercane?... I didn't until I heard of this place." Ouros paused. "What about the Arrow colonies... Most of their weather is gravity-related... Because its a small globular cluster with everything always in motion." she paused. "Then there is Krodis Two... Now that planet has some surfing weather... assuming you like hundred-foot waves..."

"Whoa. Hold on." He smiled, "I have never been to any of those places. I go where I am familiar with the area." Paul shrugged, "Now, if I had someone to go with, then I would consider any of those."

"Well." Ouros gave him a rather impish smile. "That's easily arranged... But will you be able to handle me... I am told I am dull company..." as she smiled. Clearly, that revelation did not burden her all that much. "I am not a very social creature..."

"I don't care. I just don't like going to places I don't know." He smiled, "That's okay. I have enough energy for the both of us. "

"Fair enough..." Ouros answered as their food arrived. "Mmm... This looks great..." as both she and Harrison received their food. "Let's eat."

Paul thanked the waitress, "It really does." He began to eat, starting with an onion ring and took a bite out of it, "And hot too."

Ouros blushed as she smiled. Before she cut herself a chunk of chicken pot pie and then she began to eat her food.