A Quiet Place

Posted on 17 Jun 2023 @ 6:02pm by Lieutenant Leland Hawksley & Master Chief Petty Officer Alexi Michelle
Edited on on 03 Jul 2023 @ 4:24pm

2,523 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: S3 Episode 5: Diplomatic Incident/Hydaransz Again (Incidentals)
Location: Engineering Storage Bay
Timeline: Current

[ON]

MCPO Alexi Michelle needed to unwind after her travels and the best way to do that was to find someplace to play her guitar. Enlisted quarters were out since someone was invariably trying to sleep no matter what time of day it was. She had been looking at the ship schematics and believed she had found a suitable location. Just outside of engineering there appeared to be a little used storage room. She could sit on the floor for all she cared, she just wanted to play a little bit.

When she found the storage room, she was surprised to find it was virtually empty save for a couple of crates suitable for sitting on. She made sure the door was still open slightly and placed a small block in the way to make sure it stayed that way as she went in and sat on one of those crates. She'd learned her lesson all too well by getting trapped for almost 37 hours in such a room. It wasn't until someone needed something from that location that she was found.

She sighed in relief and unpacked her guitar from its case. After quickly tuning it by ear she played a few simple chords just to hear if it had stayed in tune. That was a trick she'd learn to determine if she needed to change out the strings after moving from vessel to vessel.

She limbered her fingers with a couple of simple scales before she started to pick out a couple of well-known riffs from some really old songs. She started playing a song called *I'm Your Captain.* It had been a favourite of her grandfather. She sang along quietly, her eyes closed as she felt herself relaxing.

Hawksley first noticed that the doorway to engineering storage annexe 9-008 was open because of a block keeping the automatic door ajar. His eyes narrowed a bit, surprised that someone had entered the storage room; there wasn’t any reason for mechanical devices to be removed. Secondly, someone had dropped an anodyne case, small just enough to unseal the entrance.

That is when he heard a voice.

The song lyrics had a familiar ring to the ear, as Hawksley couldn’t help but grin as he leaned his ear to the door panel. He decided to let himself in when he discovered that the voice was that of a female, upon view, a Vulcan/human-looking female. “… Though I’m feeling mighty sick…” Leland did his best after licking his lips to sing out.

He opened the doors, and the singing stopped. There was a surprise! A young Vulcan female in the Engineering cargo annexe with a guitar. To his surprise, Leland was bringing his guitar to the annexe. The room had excellent tuning devices. Leland’s guitar, he held and strummed along the next chord. “We’ve been lost now, days uncounted..”

Leland entered the room with the strap around his shoulders, out of uniform in his casual khaki cargo shorts and a raglan grey sweatshirt. “Chief of Engineering here. Lt. Leland Hawksley. I don’t believe I approved stowage in the annexe?” He raised an introductory brow.

Alexi heard another voice join hers and all but dropped her guitar, Thank the stars the strap held it from falling from her hands as she scrambled to her feet to stand holding her guitar against her protectively. She stood stiffly at attention, "I... I apologize, Sir. I apologize for the intrusion. Enlisted quarters are not conducive to rusty musicians such as myself." She tilted her head slightly to take in his appearance, "I did not know the Tomcat had such a relaxed duty uniform, sir.' She allowed a small smile to turn the corner of her mouth up slightly.

Alexi was well aware that he could have her thrown in the brig since she was neither an engineer nor a security patrol, "I am newly assigned to the Tomcat as Security Investigations Officer." She began to slip the guitar strap off her shoulder, "Again I apologize. I will remove myself from this location forthwith and endeavour to locate an alternate."

“Whoah. Whoah.” Leland paused and held his large hand up, staying the situation as best he could. He thought a moment. “I appreciate your attention to protocol and removing yourself from the annexe….” Leland lent his eyes towards the insignia of the enlisted crewmate.

“Master Chief Petty Officer. I am sorry I do not know your name. I haven’t had a chance to review the recent boardings and transfers.” Not that he always had the information of who arrived on the Tomcat and who departed. Leland occasionally was CC’d in new officers, but not this one.

“I’m not here to lock anyone up. If I say so, you found the right spot to contemplate and pass a few tunes. You play the guitar?” Hawksley had gestured to the prominent instrument that Alexi was holding. “That makes two of us.” Hawksley chuckled with a slight wink. He then entered the room and sat on the crate that was just opposite to that Alexi. “I actually,” He held up the bottom end of his guitar, visible scar marks of an animal had chewed on it. “Came down to repair my own. This annexe has some precision tools.”

A hint of excitement in his voice as he held his guitar and strummed on it gently… “I see you enjoy old Earth classics. If I’m correct, you sang ‘I am the Captain?”’ Hawksley found the choice of the song fitting. The female Vulcan hybrid was a welcomed surprise from mostly stoic Vulcans onboard the Tomcat.

She relaxed a little and smiled, "Sorry Sir, it's Alexi, MCPO Alexi Michelle, and the name of the song is actually I'm Your Captain." She settled back on the crate and frowned at the damage to his instrument, "Looks like something does not appreciate music. I'll have to take extra precautions to ensure that does not happen to mine as well," she said with a small smile.

She listened to his strumming for a moment and then nodded, "That era of music has the best songs if you ask me, although there are genres from all cultures that are nice, I suppose."

Alexi began to follow the chord progression that Leland was playing, "Do you play any old earth country music? Sometimes I also play that. Depends on the mood I am in I suppose."

Hawksley chuckled as he sat back on the crate and strummed more with MCPO Alexi. He grinned as he looked at his ratty, light, brown-coloured guitar. His canine Dog, Hercules, completed the chips and lines in the splintered wood. Leland continued stringing to the song and giving it a zippy up and down as he finished.

He then set his guitar on the engineering task table. He turned on overhead task lights, crates held to the annex room wall. Leland started biosynthesizing more from the replicator more pieces to restore his guitar.

“Hercules, my AI dog. Hercules gnarled off pieces when I was away, he was supposed to be walked that day, but I was busy with a double briefing to the Engineering Maintenance Crew and the Senior Staff. Busy day but is which goes with most days on the Tomcat.”

“Tell me, how has your stay been on the Tomcat? Alexi, you have some classical musical tastes from a very expressive period of old Earth 21st Century musical appreciation—a storied and lauded time by modern historians. You like Electric Guitar, the big Hair Rock bands of the Earth’s 1980s. I’m addicted to Holodeck recreational concert-going, all the greatest. Even queen, quiet riot, kiss, ACDC.” Hawksley had named some of the more established bands. “How about you?” Hawksley had offered. “I’m going to get some beverages; what do you like to drink?” Leland asked.

"That is why I would not wish to have a pet. Being in shared quarters with several others prohibits that option anyway," Alexi said as she picked out an old Southern Rock tune called "Gimme Three Steps" by a band called Lynyrd Skynyrd.

She shrugged her shoulders slightly as she played and he worked on his repairs, "I have not been here long enough to form much of a decision on my stay here so far. As for music," she gave another shrug of her shoulders, " Queen and AC DC are fine, as is Kiss. But I prefer less gnashing and more... finesse, I guess you could say."

She continued to play her guitar quietly, "I have not spent much time in holodeck programs like that," She said finally, "I find them too crowded and way too loud. One of the less favourable aspects of my Vulcan heritage is above-normal hearing. Not as much as a full Vulcan's, but it still will sometimes be difficult for me when it is not for most humans."

His sudden offer to bring her refreshments came as a bit of a surprise. "It is kind of you to offer," she stated, "If you don't mind, a Diet Pepsi would be nice if the replicators have that programmed."

Leland nodded as he left and returned with two Pepsi diets for them after a short while. “Finally, another Pepsi fan. We are few and far between. Not to mention diet Pepsi. I like it for the taste, honestly.” Hawksley handed Alexi the drink.

Pausing, Leland then let his guitar slowly slide into a song of his own… 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

[Intro] Em [Verse 1] Em. “Listen to the wind blow.” D C Em. “Watch the sunrise.”

A. “Run in the shadows” D C Em. “Damn your love Damn your lies.” Leland watched his guitar. He began playing a favourite tune of Fleetwood Mac, wondering if Alexi would catch on since they both had the era of music closely related.

Alexi smiled her thanks for the cola a took a sip. "That is so true. There are not many who like this, so it's not to find someone else with similar tastes." When he began playing a very familiar song she put down her drink.

She smiled and joined in with the guitar on the first chord for the chorus while Leland sang the first line. Am7. ["If you don't love me now, you will never love me again."] She joined him in singing the higher part... "I can" Em "Still hear you" C "saying you would" Dsus4 "never break the" EM "chain." When the time for the Bass riff came she played on her guitar, "Man I wish this was a bass right now," She exclaimed with a laugh.

Hawksley chuckled at Alexi's enthusiasm. It was infectious in a way. Leland slapped the side of his guitar during the song's chorus. Leland strummed the chords confidently and precisely as he watched his strings singing. "And if you don't love me now."

Leland paused to take a drink from his Diet Pepsi to wet his mouth before continuing on his guitar with Alexi in time."You will never love me again. I can still hear you saying...
You would never break the chain!" The song was a pure classic.

He had rarely heard it played over any audio platforms for a while, so in the instrument realm, it sounded fantastic, along with Alexi's excellent guitar playing. Hawksley sensed she was a long-time musician.

Alexi dropped back into the bass part for the extended outro to the song, her eyes closed and she smiled as she played, knowing that Leland would play the high guitar parts and the answering vocals somehow. "Chains... keep us together"

“Chainsssss keep us together. Running in the shadowwwwW…” Leland strummed his guitar with the tempo and intensity that required the ending salvo of an excellent impromptu jam session—leaned over the side, watching his chords changing ranges and watching back at Alexi. Her guitar work was eloquent yet withstanding.

The small annex was a great room to quiet their guitar work yet let the music reverberate across the walls. Nearing the end, Hawksley set his guitar upright as he relaxed and grinned.

“That was incredible. I had no idea I would meet another Officer with such classical tunes. Far out!” Hawksley referenced the period and chuckled. He swallowed another drink of his diet Pepsi and then narrowed his eyes. “tell me, Alexi. Do you play any other instruments? What about sports?” Leland already decided this was a good friend to have, especially jam sessions.

Alexi set her guitar down gently and shook her head, “No, Guitar is the only instrument I play, although I could play the Bass Guitar if the need arises, which is not often.” She picked up her Diet Pepsi and took another sip before speaking again, “I do not participate in sports per se, however, I do study martial arts, which some consider a sport. I however see it as combat training.” She smiled at Hawksley, “And what about you? Same questions.”

Leland nodded. "Martial Arts is a noble sport. There is some minute cross-over to Vulcan artists. I have not experienced it, but I can appreciate the sport." He then added. "I play hockey and like mixed martial arts, kickboxing." He shook his head. "I'm not sure there are many martial arts in it other than the roundhouse kick. No katas, no, nothing."

Alexi smiled and nodded, "You'd be surprised. Roundhouse is one, but I am sure the back kick or possibly some of the blocking techniques are also used." She sat back a little, "Kata's help me center myself. I find them peaceful as well. And they are good exercise."

"And finding balance is what it is all about, good for you." Hawksley laughed in good nature as he regarded Alexi. "Myself. It is busy between engineering and hockey ice time on the holodeck, along with Lilli and the baby coming."

Alexi gave him a small smile and nodded to herself, "So, you are going to be a father soon. That will most likely curtail a lot of your other activities. I have seen how a child makes all other pursuits fall to the wayside." She sighed a little at the thought that someday, she might be as lucky as Lilli. But she was not going to hold her breath to wait for that time. "I really should be getting back. I have a lot of work yet to get done." She stood and picked up her guitar gently, "Thank you for the jam session. I enjoyed it immensely."

"Just remember." Hawksley gestured to the crates in the room. "Can't have the storage room used in such a matter." Leland sounded scolding as much as he could wince out!


Alexi chuckled, "I'll keep that in mind, Sir. Until next time!" With that she turned and headed out, feeling much less like an outsider.


[OFF]

 

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