Into the Woods [Part II]
Posted on Fri Sep 5, 2025 @ 12:15am by Commander Cara Letsul & Colonel Nicholas Means III
1,916 words; about a 10 minute read
Mission:
Time After Time
Location: Pangaea
Timeline: MD 13 Late Evening
(Continuation Cara touched both sides of her cheeks feeling them go rather warm. "Even thinking about that, still gets to me,"
Means laughed. "Those Klingons and their mating rituals...so is it true they like to bite?"
"it is true but I've not experienced it, nope, no thank you. Though I've had offers." Cara giving a wink to Means.
"I can imagine...but there's nothing wrong with a little bite here and there. Though I've heard Klingons tend to draw blood."
"They do, I've seen the resulting after effects of said-bedroom intimacies. Not my cup of tea." a chuckle. "I can take a bit of pain, it comes with the territory when getting into a fight. And its something I am not afraid of but, Klingon intimacy. Nah."
Deep in the dark recesses of her mind, Cara did remember that one experience she had with a Klingon. That though wasn't going to be voiced. That buried memory, ended up bubbling to the surface thanks to this discussion. And her cheeks darkened once more.
"Do you have any family members alive?" Cara decided to move from the subject of intimacies.
"Yes actually. My...great great great grandson Edward Means lives on Vulcan with his family. Unfortunately I don't get to see them as often as I'd like."
Cara gave a nod. "Though he does keep in contact with you on a regular basis or is it difficult for you and him?" she looked back out towards that view, marveling at how the place looked magical by the light of the moon.
He looked over seeing her expression, "Oh it was definitely odd at first but they took me in. His wife is a history professor, so she reaches out from time to time and their two little ones just keep getting bigger and bigger." While he spoke he paused the shuttle so she could take in the view of the moon lit ocean extending out from the tree line ahead of them.
"That is a sight I won't ever get tired of. It is beautiful."
She turned to look at Nick, the moonlight shedding a gentle light upon her features.
"I've been asking you a lot of questions, I think it is your turn to ask some, don't you think?" a radiant smile appearing.
Deciding to bait her he over emphasized a shrugged. "I just figures if I let ya ramble I'd learn all I need to know."
"And yet, are you truly finding out anything?" Cara giving out a chuckle.
Something caught Cara's eye drifting down from somewhere, she reached out catching it in the palm of her hand. She examined it, her eyes widening. A piece of grass?
She pulled out her grooming kit from one of her pockets, and opened up the mirror.
"Oh my, I look like a bit of a wild woman." pulling out a brush to straighten her hair.
"Well it was either from the dizzy-izzy competition...which means that's been there all day, or during your acrobatics while dancing...which means it's just been there most of the evening. Just have to start calling you Jane."
Cara chuckled, as she pulled out something to take away the streaks of dirt from off her face.
"Eh, good thing I am not so worried about getting dirt upon myself, can't be put into the category of a delicate princess or a china doll. " Cara giving a wink to Nick.
Turning his chair towards her, "I don't think there is any danger of that. But if you wanna get dirty I will let you have first crack at the confidence course once it's finished." Reaching towards her he pulled another blade of grass that her brush had missed.
"Confidence course, that would be interesting to try." A quizzical expression appeared, "Are you saying I need to have a run to build up my confidence?" Cara raising an eyebrow.
"Haha...Not at all. Just a chance to get a little dirty; without excuses. And it would give you a chance to get to know the Marines under your command."
"I appreciate that and maybe I do make excuses to get a little bit dirty." Cara covered her mouth with a gasp. Her eyes just brimming with laughter.
"Oh really?"
"Well I suppose so, in truth if I wish to get dirty I do so. No excuses really." a slight sigh. "I guess I am being a bit contrary tonight as well. A little bit tired, a muddled head." Putting away her grooming kit Cara gave an apologetic smile.
He shook his head with a grin. "Nothing wrong with getting a little dirty or even muddle headed from time to time. Besides I kinda liked your wilder, post party, unkempt look."
Cara laughed, "I know a few others who like that look as well. Quite fun to shatter a person's perception from time to time. Only if it is necessary." her eyes wandered back towards the moonlit water and also to the stars.
A wave of weariness roll over her, Cara, stifling a yawn with her hand.
"I apologize for my yawn, you're not boring, Nick, far from it." an apologetic lopsided smile, "I truly do need to get some sleep, and face a new day."
"Well then let find you a bed shall we. We never did confirm one way or the other is Wells could put you up for the night did we?"
"I haven't checked yet." Cara answered pulling out her PADD.
There it was, a confirmation from Alanna. Cara looked up from the message towards Nick.
"There is room for me to stay at Bag End. And in the morning I will be catching a shuttle with T'mpest to get back to the station. Time marches forward whether we like it or not."
Sitting back into he seat he turned back to the controls, glancing back to her. "Well let's get you to Bag End."
"Thank you." As Nick turned back to continue the journey, Cara regarded him for a few moments, just trying to see what his emotion or mood level was.
Catching her reflection in the forward portals as he turned the shuttle back to the north he grinned. "So this a...senior officers ladies night?"
"It seems to have developed into that" Cara, having an amused expression "Both of us were invited to the marine celebration and we didn't want to refuse. Besides there are those who are capable of making certain that the station doesn't catch fire."
"Do we need to swing back by the camp and grab you all some wine from one of the bar stations...or a margarita machine?"
"No need to do that." Cara laughing. "We've had enough to drink, and I don't really think that T'mpest is one to do a lot of drinking."
She tucked one leg under her, draping on arm across the back of her seat, idly playing with a lock of her hair, twisting it around her finger.
"I am quite careful of when or if I get drunk."
Looking over to her, raising the eyebrow over his good eye, as she wrapped her black hair around her finger. "Is that right? No just cutting loose and throwing caution to the wind huh?"
"And waking up to see whose bed I wound up in, the morning after a wild party? Those days ended when I stepped into the role of command, then onwards up to becoming a Rear Admiral."
She unwound her hair from her finger, the lock falling loosely, with a little bit more of a curl to it.
He cocked his head to the side. "Always seems to work out that way doesn't it. The higher the rank the more one has to...restrain themselves." Looking out over the tops of the trees as they moved closer to their destination. His chin lifted slightly, "At least out in the open anyways."
"This is true" Cara looking in the direction they were going. "For me though, I tend to tread carefully, have doors closed until I know for certain that I want to open them again in a personal relationship. It frustrates a few that I do this."
"You wouldn't do that if you didn't have your reasons. But being a Betaziod wouldn't that give you an edge? At least be able to get a feel for someone's intentions?"
"Yes that is true, I also pick up on the body language as well."
Cara looked down at her lap where her hands were clasped, one of her thumbs rubbing against the other.
"I have noticed that you're interested in me." Cara glancing towards Nick. "I do find you attractive, and very desirable."
Cara didn't continue, it was as if something caught her attention. She slightly tilted her head, her eyes closing her posture was as if she were listening.
Turning her way to reply he saw her closing her eyes as she tilted her head. In a fraction of a second, the image of his hand entangling in her hair as he pulled her to him filled his mind.
It was as if a distant voice was calling to her, but Cara wasn't certain from whence it came, the listening though was interrupted by seeing Nick's mental image. Her eyes slowly opened, regarding him quietly.
She wouldn't mind kissing him, she knew he wished to kiss her. Her track record, her damned track record. Kiss them once and then--she was gone. That was how things ended up on Poseidon Station. Well except for Raphael, the chief diplomat. He wasn't looking to settle down and she understood, as she wasn't ready to even think about anything beyond just being with him. She though, they though, went their separate ways.
Cara felt torn, she wanted to kiss him as well, her eyes flicked towards his lips then to his good eye. There was confliction within her expressive dark eyes.
The tension between them was palpable, but seeing the hesitation he smiled. Taking her hand from her lap he lifted and kissed it instead, "No need to rush anything. No one's going anywhere and you have your girls night to get to."
She drew in a breath, when he kissed her hand feeling her heart pick up speed. He was such a gentleman as well.
"Yes, I do indeed have a girls night to get to. Thank you, Nick." her voice soft and filled with gratitude for his understanding.
"Anytime."
Their destination was rapidly approaching and he swung around setting down in the nearby clearing and dropped the hatch as the shuttle came to a stop. "There you go. Safe and sound."
"Be safe on your journey back, Nick."
A touch on his shoulder, Cara rose from her seat and headed down the ramp, she paused once to look back towards Nick, giving a quiet sigh, she didn't know what lay ahead for her or anyoneelse for that matter. There was something dancing on the edge and she couldn't figure out what that was. She made her way towards Bag End, looking forward to a place to sleep and perchance to dream.
As the ramp closed he laughed to himself and deliberately thought ~Get some sleep...you won't later. Hahaha.~
Cara heard that in her mind loud and clear, feeling her cheeks heat up once more. Nick was certainly a rascal.
Commander Cara Letsul
Executive Officer
Deep Space 5
Colonel Nicholas Means III
Marine CO - 21st MEU
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