<USS Avalon> "Girls and Boys"

?Girls and Boys?
by Lieutenant Zachary Winters
& Ensign Tomarys Dalonega



Tomarys walked down the corridor with both an excited energy and nervous one as she moved towards Lieutenant Zack Winters? office. Her first run-in with her probationary mentor had not exactly been the smoothest. He didn't seem too thrilled that she was even aboard the ship. In fact, he seemed irritated. But, there was no getting around it. Tomarys had to report to him. Nearing his office, Tomarys took in a deep breath and then strode inside.

His eyes would've been fixed on the PADD until the end of his shift if he didn't sense a sudden change in the demeanor of the room. Something was askew, something wasn't right, and there was the added heat of another body in the room. Zack was very critical when it came to the area around him and he was very analytical of even the slightest change. He looked up and suppressed a sigh - all too late. "Yes, Ensign? Is there something that I can do for you?"

Tomarys was not surprised by the 'greeting' she received by Lieutenant Winters. "Per the request of Commander, I under your supervision during my probationary period of joining the USS Avalon. I came to report for duty, sir." The girl from Tennessee tried to hold back any kind of negative sound in her voice. She needed to make somewhat of a good impression on Lieutenant Winters eventually. And letting her own irritation she was feeling come out in her voice would not be a good thing. She stood up straight in respect before him, hoping it would help.

"Really." Zack stated almost as if to pad the blow to his time schedule, but he stood nonetheless. "I guess I should formally welcome you onboard. I would, at this point, normally send you to Ensign Ryan Hollander for quarter assignments - but he's out sick. Here you are, you're two decks down on the starboard side." Winters eyed her for a moment and then sat back down after giving her the PADD. "Is there anything you'd like to ask me or that you'd like to know?"

Tomarys took the PADD that was offered and glanced down at it, before returning her eyes to Zack. It was obvious he really wanted her out of his hair and quick, but his question almost made her feel mischievous enough to hold him with a thousand questions. "Well...sir. I would like to know if there are any security alerts that have been submitted to the crew that I should know about." Well, there was one question, she thought.

"We are currently getting ready to send an away team - led by Commander Sierra - to the surface to retrieve some of our stranded crew, but other than that we have none." She was intriguing, he thought to himself as his eyes glanced back to his own information, but she was just an ensign and that was just too much of a step down. "Is there anything else?"

Tomarys tried to hold back her smirk, as she had a barrage of questions floating in her head. She could hold him for hours with the questions. Her only thing was now was should she? "How often should I report to you? Or would you prefer simple reports uploaded to you?"

He looked up, almost disturbed by her question, "I'm sure you can make that distinction yourself, Ms...?" Through all of their talking and babbling back and forth, and even through the fact that he wanted nothing more than for her to step out of his office and not return, he still wasn't aware of her name. "I'm afraid I haven't gotten your name."

"Ensign Tomarys Dalonega, sir," she said with an emphasis on the word sir, one brow flicked upward instinctively as she was perturbed by the fact that even as her probationary mentor, Lieutenant Winters had already forgotten her name.

Zack smiled at her, "That's a really cool name, if I may say. Lieutenant Zachary Winters." He extended his hand out as he stood. There was something about her, he surmised, that made him feel all jittery. Then again, as he gauged her up and down for the fourth time since she entered the room, Zack realized that she stood three inches smaller than he did, but she was just as intimidating. "Come to think of it, there are some things we should probably go over."

Tomarys was surprised by his sudden change in attitude. She took his hand in hers and shook it, her warm brown eyes watching him carefully. She wasn't exactly sure what she said or what happened to make him change his demeanor. She slid her hand from his after the shake, still standing there before him and his desk, "Should I sit down, sir?" She asked not sure if he was just playing her or really wanted to spend some time talking to her.

"Well," Zack glanced to the chronometer on the wall, "I'm technically off shift now. If you'd like I can show you to your quarters and then maybe we could go for drinks in the lounge? I mean, I'd like you to be informed for your first day of actually being on-the-job." Zack smiled as best he could after brushing back his hair.

Tomarys slid her eyes slowly to follow his, as she saw him glance at the chronometer. Then returned her attention back to him. His sudden change was throwing her so far off it was confusing. "Well, thank you sir. I would appreciate it. Though, you really do not have to take me to the lounge for drinks." One brow quirked up as she watched him change into mister smiley.

"It's all free, ensign. Besides, I like to get to know my probationary officers a little bit better then their name, rank, and serial number." Zack smiled as he clasped his hands behind his back, "It would be my honor if you'd accompany me for drinks. He almost felt like he was overstepping his bounds, but he hesitated in stopping himself with the hopes that she'd say yes. Besides, naturally, they're off duty and then therefore can fraternize.

Tomarys looked at him quietly for a minute, trying to size him up. But, there just wasn't any figuring him out at this point. And besides, he was her probationary mentor, she had to make a good impression. "Well, then I suppose I should join you," Tomarys smiled and made a step towards the door. "I guess that would be a good idea. And I can ask you more questions about the Avalon and crew."

Zack followed her out into the main area and into the hallway beyond. "I'd be happy to offer any insight into the crew as I can. I would also be glad on informing you of how to handle our mutual commanding officer, Commander Sierra. " Zack smiled as he pointed to the turbolift and held the door for her, "After you."

Tomarys walked down the corridor and then into the lift past Zack. Then turning on her heels once inside to face the door. "Is there something I should know about handling Commander Sierra?" Tomarys was cocked her head looking towards Zack. She hadn't really thought about it...handling her commanding officer. Tomarys had been trained to just take orders and follow them.

"He's an odd fellow - very secretive. He's nice to some people, incredibly mean to others." Zack shrugged as he tapped the console panel on the inside of the lift and it vibrated to life. There was a long awkward silence for a bit as the gentle humming echoed in the compartment. "I don't know really. There's just something about him. I hear he's dating the counselor. Then again, everyone has a partner nowadays."

Tomarys gave him a quick side-glance as he mentioned that everyone had a 'partner nowadays'. Then she returned her eyes forward, thinking that was an awkward thing to say. But, she shook it off. Tomarys certainly did not want to get involved in the affairs of others. "I wouldn't know about that, sir," she answered, as she began to think that this was the slowest turbo lift in the galaxy.

The doors parted with a hiss and he allowed her to leave before him. They marched out together and Zack took a couple of turns and then stopped, tapped a pad on the door, and it opened into quarters that were all her own. It still smelled fresh from not having anyone sleeping there or living there. "Here we are, Ms. Dalonega. Your new home sweet home."

Tomarys followed him and then watched as the doors to her new quarters opened before them. She stepped inside, looking around slowly and taking it all in. It was a bit sterile, yes. But, it was Tomarys' new home. A home aboard a Starfleet vessel. She smiled to herself, proud at the moment. She wondered if it had been the same for her father when he first boarded his first Star Fleet assignment. Turning around, she faced Lieutenant Winters. "It is very nice, I like it," a dimpled smile took over Tomarys? chiseled features.

"I'd wait until you unpacked, but that could take forever. Why don't you just toss your bags there and we'll go get something to eat?" Zack turned towards the door, still open and leading into the corridor beyond, and waited for her to follow him. "I hear that there is a new replicator program in the lounge for some fine Alpha Centauri dinners. Finest in the galaxy, I've heard."

Tomarys placed the one bag she had with her on the couch in the middle of the room. The sound of a good dinner was about the only thing other then an order that could pull her from relaxing in her new quarters. She strode towards him and the door and replied, "I have to say that I have never had an Alpha Centauri dinner." Tomarys stepped out into the corridor and joined him. Her long slender legs keeping up with his own.

He smiled, "You're missing out." They entered the turbolift one more time and before long they were walking along the corridor and into the crew lounge. Zack crossed the facility to a quiet table in the back corner and sat down, but made sure she sat before him. "So, where'd you come from? What?s your specialty? Who is Tomarys Dalonega?" Zack always tried to prod the lives of his subordinates just to know what made them tick; what made them unique.

Stepping inside the lounge, Tomarys let her warm brown eyes dance around and absorb the lounge and it's patrons around her. This was where they all relaxed and got to know each other. She in turn relaxed a little bit. But, still she was careful of her quick mood-changing mentor. She sat down, and pushed her long wavy brunette hair back behind her shoulder. She knew she should have braided it, and hoped it wasn't a distraction to her professionalism. "Well, I was born in Nashville, Tennessee, Earth in 2352. I lived most of my life in Nashville, except when we visited my father on whatever ship he was serving at the time. As for my specialties? I mainly specialized in unarmed and armed combat at the Academy, along with the required classes of First Aid, Shipboard Tactical and Security Systems." She got quiet, feeling she had just said probably more then he even cared to know.

Someone walked briskly by and deposited their drinks on the table before joining the hoards of people again. Zack nodded and took a sip of his drink, smiling when she stopped almost abruptly, "How interesting. I majored in almost the exact same thing except I also had a minor in strategic tactical abilities. How do you like the feeling of not being at the academy? Isn't it the most surreal thing that you've ever experienced?"

Tomarys glanced at the drinks set before them and picked it up. She took a careful sip first and then finding it to her liking, she took a slow but filling drink. Setting the cup back down, Tomarys shrugged. "It is kind of surreal. I am excited to finally find myself with an assignment on a ship,? Tomarys answered. She was also missing her classmates and the Academy. But, there was no way that she was going to tell him that. "How long have you served aboard the Avalon?" She asked curiously, really wondering how long it had been since he had been at the Academy.

"Oh, about a year I guess. I transferred from the USS Montevideo. I was, though, on the USS Aristotle before that and I served on Starbase 112 right out of the academy. Great ships and station they were, but I think that I've taken the biggest liking to Avalon - she's my new home." He shifted almost uncomfortably in his seat, "I figure that I'll live here for the rest of my life; maybe even make Chief Security officer one day. I've been out of the academy for newly five years I think." His thoughts roamed.

Tomarys had been drinking while he spoke about his past assignments in the Fleet. She smiled and pulled the cup from her lips. "You have been a very busy man in the last five years, then. Is it that normal for the Fleet to do transfers so often?" She was a bit surprised about how many ships he had already served on in the last five years.

Zack swallowed a mouthful of the liquid, as he shook his head, ?No. Although, with promotion does come prestige. I transferred basically because I was no longer a junior officer. I mean, I'm not a chief or anything, but I'm not a lower rank any long. I'm hoping to stay here and find my niche. Maybe settle down with someone and start a life that isn't all about business." Zack smiled a sly smile; "Everyone needs to relax sometime."

His sly smile was a bit unsettling to the ensign. She wasn't too sure what to think about it. Was he trying to come on to her? She knew it wasn't a good idea. On top of him being her mentor, he was also in the same department and she had only known him for a few hours now. She quickly finished her drink and then sat it down. "Yes, I guess they do,? Tomarys answered and glanced over at the door, feeling her flight instinct coming on pretty strong right now. "Well, sir. I have to thank you for showing me to my quarters and inviting me to the lounge. But, if you don't mind. I think I should return to my quarters and get a nap in before I am to return to duty." She pushed her cup aside, letting the waitress know that she was finished with it.

Zack could only nod as he watched her walk away. He tilted his head slightly, looking at her rear end, as all men have been known to do, and then swallowed the last mouthful of his drink. "By all means, Ensign, you can walk away from me anytime."


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