Long Distance

Posted on Mon May 1st, 2017 @ 2:46am by Petty Officer 3rd Class Avery Stiles & Ensign Theodore Vega

Episode: Fishing Expedition
Location: Theo's Quarters on Verona VI
Timeline: MD-24, 2045

Avery set down his cup of coffee at his desk and then typed in his access code. Seconds later, he was sending a message to Theo's terminal on Verona VI. The two hadn't had a chance to really talk, save the occasional short message, with both their schedules being to busy. Avery was looking forward to a few moments of uninterputed time with his friend.

Sitting on his balcony and sipping a local fizzy drink while typing a report, Theo noticed the comm indicator on his terminal blinking away. After checking on who it was, he paused his music and let the call come through on the screen.

"Hey Theo," Avery said, with a smile, as his friend's face appeared on the screen. "How's water world?"

"Oh, you know, it's wet," Theo said casually. "Kind of dark once you get under the water. The sun's too bright some times."

Avery rolled his eyes. "Water tends to be wet, also you always think the sun's too bright. Remember when we went to Cabo, that's like the first thing that you said."

"I'm pretty sure I didn't."

"Okay, fine it was the second thing you said," Avery replied. "How's the research going?"

"Really well, actually," Theo said. "I mean, a whale tried to eat my diving pod at one point, but that gave me all sorts of useful close-up scans. Well, I think it was trying to eat me, anyway."

"Get any images of it?" Avery asked. "And that thing had to be huge if it tried to eat the diving pod. How's Vex, bored out of his mind yet?"

"Are you kidding?" Theo said, leaning across the table to snag his spare PADD and start looking for images. "He's having plenty of fun. Dangerous wildlife is the bread and butter of security work."

"I can't wait to hear all about it," Avery beamed. "We finished the upgrades to the science lab today."

"Did you? Anything exciting I have to look forward too? We could really use a few of those new holo-terrariums."

"You have two," Avery replied, glancing down at his PADD. "That's all that we could fit in without overloading the grid. Also, I got you and Ryan two of the Quantum Scanning Scopes, we're still working on networking them into the ships system though. The buggers have hella complicated code that is currently competing with a few of the LCARS subroutines."

"Thank god for that," Theo said. "Shen Xiaoyi over on the Rosalind Franklin won't shut up about theirs. You'd think we're flying around on a Daedalus-class from the way the people on a dedicate scienced ship talk."

"Yeah, but they don't get the chance at using some of the hyper experimental sensor suites that they are working on putting onboard," Avery said. "We'll have those intregrtated and ready go before you get back... I hope. Anyways, enough talk about the ship, how are things going with Vex? Did he do anything I need to punch him for when you return?"

Theo gave Avery a quizzical look. "Like what? I hope you're not trying to protect my innocence, because that ship sailed long ago."

"Yeah," Avery rolled his eyes. "Like you didn't tell me that story a hundred times over. I just hope that he is treating you alright."

"Well, his drink mixing could use a little work," Theo said thoughtfully. "I think there's some subtle difference in how our taste buds work. But he gets a gold star for effort."

"I could give him a few lessons, I mean I'm starting to work on my mixology," Avery offered.

"Ah," Theo said, thinking back to the first few weeks after lunar law said they were old enough to legally drink something harder than wine. Mostly he could recall poor decisions and painful mornings. "Um. Maybe... someday... eventually."

"Alright, fine," Avery said, holding his hands up in defeat. "I'll leave him to his own devices. I'm glad you found him, he seems to make you pretty happy. Also, you grin like a total idiot every time that he is around."

"Excuse me," Theo said. "I have a degree saying I am a very smart person, even when he's around."

"Yes, yes," Avery said, waving away Theo's comment. "We both know that you are a very smart person. I was just saying that you are lucky to find someone that is so into you. Who can also stand me."

"Let me tell you, it was that last part that was difficult," Theo said, "but I kept looking because I knew that out of the trillion people in the Federation, there had to be one who suffered the same strange affections as I do."

"I'd make a comment about the laws of averages but it would detracte from that oh so romantic way you put it."

"Of course, he's not actually from the Federation. Still, Starfleet's close enough."

Avery nodded. "I guess it is. Still, makes me happy to see you happy Theo."

"And it makes me happy that you're happy. Which makes you happy, which traps us in a loop of bliss like a poorly written code loop."

Avery laughed. "Alright, I should probably let you get back to work. It was good talking to you Theo. Miss you man."

"See you in a couple weeks," Theo said, saluting Avery with his tropical drink.

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