Hanging With The Admiral

Posted on Fri Sep 14, 2018 @ 10:42pm by Rear Admiral John Breckenridge & Captain Madelina Weisz

Mission: Falling Star
Location: Deep Space 10 - Various

Maddy made her way toward Admiral John Breckenridge's office with a PADD in hand containing the shore leave request for the crew of the USS Triumphant. And, as requested, the redhead was dressed in the proper attire for a beach setting, a blue floral sundress with flip flops on her feet and her hair piled on top of her head in a messy bun. She debated bringing Tom with her, but thought better of it, however, she did inform her significant other that she would be off the ship for a little bit, as well as let him know who she was going to see. After all, she never kept secrets from him. And, should she need assistance for any reason, that's where her combadge would come in handy, but the likelihood of needing to use it were slim to none.

As she got to get desired destination, she looked toward John's Yeoman and offered him a smile. "Hi. I'm Captain Madelina Weisz. Admiral Breckenridge is expecting me, I believe. Can you let him know that I'm here?"

A Yeoman, one of many, looked up at the redhead in the sundress. "Captain Weisz? Just one moment, please." He pressed a button. "Admiral, a Captain Weisz is here to see you, Sir."

"Send her in," Breckenridge's voice came over the com. "Yesterday."

"You can go in as soon as we figure out how to make it happen yesterday, Captain," the Yeoman responded.

"Well," the redhead began, gesturing to the Admiral's closed door. "While you and the others try to figure that out, I'm going to go on in. Good luck to you." She gave him a smile and walked through the door that lead into Breckenridge's office. "Admiral, it's good to see you again. I trust you're well?"

John looked up from his desk after putting his thumb on another PADD and set it aside. "Well, well, if it isn't the big bad red riding hood. How's my favorite Captain without a ship?"

"Do you have many Captain's without ships?" Maddy asked as she closed the distance between her and the desk. Since she was standing before brass, she had zero plans of stepping out of line, and even planned to wait until he offered her a seat. It wasn't a good idea to piss off people of higher power since they have the authority to make life a total hell.

"Only you, but I can offer you a wor if you like," he said as he got up from behind his desk and came out from behind it.

The redhead arched a brow. "What is a wor?"

The Admiral grinned from ear to ear. "A worship," he said.

Maddy groaned inwardly. She should have expected that, but he was full of surprises. "A worship, really?" she asked, unable to keep from smiling. She'd looked into his personnel record as Michael had asked, but it definitely wasn't her place too say that. If, and when, he wanted to tell her the things she discovered, he would. If not, then she'd keep that information to herself until the day she took her last breath.

John laughed, then motioned for her to lead the way out of his office. "I thought you'd like that," he said. "Mark my words, though. I will put you in charge of a ship even if I have to chain Aravan to a desk and give you the Triumphant. Nice choice of beach wear, by the way."

"Thank you. I figured it was appropriate since I'm not sure what you have in mind, but I did wear a swim suit, too," she said, making her way out of the office again, still holding the PADD in her hand. There would be a time and place to give it to him, but now wasn't it. "As for my own command, I do recall mentioning I would retire before that happened. The highest I want to go up the Chain of Command is as an Executive Officer for now. Maybe that will change some day, but that day isn't coming any time soon."

"Oh great, another Riker," he moaned but perked up again. "A swim suit, huh? I'm afraid I'm a bit overdressed at the moment, but the holodeck can whip something up for me. Do you think I'd look good in a neon speedo?" He asked as he headed for the turbolift and actually gave the middle finger and a glare at a Yeoman that was headed his way.

"I don't think anyone would look good in a neon speedo," she answered.

"And you just proved you have good taste as well," John said with a laugh as he summoned the turbolift and got aboard. "We'll see how much more taste you have when we get to the holodeck."

Maddy glanced over to him for a moment before turning her gaze back in front of her. "Do you already have something in mind?"

"I do," he said and his voice sounded a little off, but it could be because it was just the two of them in the turbolift. When it came to a halt, he smiled and his voice went back to normal. "After you, Maddy. First door on the left."

The redhead woman made her way out of the turbolift and took a deep breath. It didn't go unnoticed that his voice was a bit off, but she chose not to question it. If there was something wrong, Maddy was sure he would let her know, or so he hoped. While her thoughts ran away with her, she moved to the door he indicated, not knowing what to expect on the other side. The man was full of surprises, and she had no doubt this was going to be one, too.

John stepped up beside of her and the panel said that a program was already running. He tapped the panel and the doors slid open to reveal a white sand beach in the early evening with the makings of a bonfire halfway down the beach. The twilight sky had a few bright stars in the sky and the green ocean shushed upon the shore and retreated in a never ending pattern that shaped continents. "Welcome to Varona III," he said. "A little nowhere of a world that only holds significance for a small number of people."

Alien palm trees and scents greeted her as well as the sound of alien avians that darted in and out of the trees. The sand was soft under her feet but not soft enough to cause her to sink into it and the smell of salt was strong in the air from the ocean.

"Oh, wow..." she said, her voice trailing off as she walking through the door. Maddy was so taken by the view that she didn't say anything else. How did she not know something like this even existed?

"Computer, arch," he said and it appeared in the alien landscape. "Size thirty-two waist khaki beach shorts, mid thigh," he ordered and the requested item materialized. "And a lightweight grey short sleeve top, size medium. Create a changing room." The computer did as instructed and created the other items before he looked back at Maddy. "You may want to look away. I've been in this uniform all day."

Maddy nodded her head. "While you change, I'm going to explore a little bit." She offered him a smile and made her way further into the program. This was absolutely gorgeous, and she hoped to get a copy of it.

Some aquatic animal was washed up on the shore and shot a stream of the green seawater at her which smelled like a floral perfume, then flopped its way back into the water.

The redhead laughed with the little sea creature sprayed her with water. It was completely unexpected, but wasn't an unpleasant experience, and even she had to admit the little thing was cute. Now, Maddy wondered if she would get to see it again, or if the incident was a one time deal. Time would tell she supposed.

John joined her a minute later in the clothes he had replicated. "Looks like you started the fun without me. Don't you know you're supposed to wait for a senior officer before doing that? Oh, nevermind. We never get to have fun."

"Hey," she said, looking toward him when he rejoined her. "It wasn't me that started the fun. There was some cute little sea critter that washed up on shore and decided I was looking a little dry."

"A shame it got your dress wet. Would you like me to replicate a new one?" he asked as he joined her. "Sounds like a Veronian Algabrast. They squirt water in defense when they feel threatened or surprised and add some scent to it which normally scares off other aquatic life."

"Oh man, do I stink now?" the redhead asked, sniffing herself.

"Only to predators of the Algabrast," John assured her. "Are you okay?"

"I'm perfectly fine," Maddy assured him, looking out toward the water with the PADD still in her hand. She glanced over to him. "No plans to get into the water?"

"I'm dressed for it, are you?" John asked before he motioned towards the PADD. "Is that to document every bit of unwanted attention I direct you way, Captain?"

"No. It's the request you asked me to bring with me when we last spoke. I was going to wait until later to give it to you," she replied.

"You could have given it to my Yeoman," he said. "It would get to my desk faster. Still, you didn't answer my first question."

"Wouldn't it get to you faster if I just handed it to you before we parted ways?" the Captain countered, though she was smiling. She didn't know why, but he seemed a little less pushy and a lot more pleasant to be around. Perhaps, they'd be able to be friends by the time their little expedition was over. "As for being dressed for it, I am. I may be a Captain, and most wouldn't question me on it, but walking around in swim wear just didn't seem so appealing, hence the dress."

"Maybe. I have a habit of misplacing things. Lost three ships once because I didn't let someone else handle it,' John responded. "And if someone on my base had said anything, I would have launched them out of the nearest torpedo tube." He headed towards bonfire. "Computer, ignite."

The bonfire sprang to life and began to burn as if it already had fifteen minutes of burn time in and was going steady, the flames illuminating the darkening beach.

"A bonfire, too? I think I might just need a copy of this program if there is one up for grabs," she commented, making her way toward the fire. "So, what's the occasion? If you don't mind me asking."

"You can get a copy," he said as he sat down on a log near the fire. "And humor an old man. So, you like this planet, do you?"

"I do. It's beautiful," she stated, taking another look around. "Where is it exactly?"

"It's a few AU's from the Cardassian border," John said with a sigh. "Prime target for takeover during the Dominion War. They didn't just come to set up shop and enslave the local population, though. They came in to wipe everyone out and make it theirs."

Maddy frowned at that news. "That's terrible," she said softly. "It must not be a large planet since I've never heard of it before now. Then again, I've spent the majority of my career on starships, and being able to go on shore leave and actually be able to enjoy it is a rare thing. What's it like now? Do you know?"

"It's a burned, barren wasteland, just like my life became after that," he said. "It's where I lost my second and last wife," he responded even quieter while the fire crackled and the ocean shushed upon the shore. "I alway say I've been married a bunch of times, but in truth, it was only twice."

"I... I'm sorry to hear that," Maddy said softly, but she'd seen it in his personnel file. The fact that he'd told her about it, though, spoke volumes. Of course, the redhead wasn't going to let him know she knew ahead of time. "Why do you tell people that, though? I don't mean to pry into things, but as you can imagine, I'm curious."

"It fits with the persona I developed after this world was razed," John told her after a minute. "I couldn't cope with the loss, so I decided to freewheel it."

"I don't know how, but I seemed to have developed that kind of reputation on the Triumphant. According to what I've heard, I have a different man in my bed every week and can't remember more than half their names," the redhead said, shrugging a shoulder. "The truth is, I'm the exact opposite. I can count my relationships on a single hand."

"As long as you don't count that hand as a relationship," he said with a smile. "Just take what I say with a grain of salt and move on, Maddy. I'm no good for anyone, so the calluses on me match. "

"The galaxy is a huge place, John, and there's someone else out there that will come in and sweep you off of your feet when you least expect it. In fact..." She stopped speaking as the wheels in her head started to turn. "How do you feel about very exotic?"

John grimaced and poked the fire with a stick. "My doctor tells me that my stomach can't take exotic foods like it used to. I nearly killed myself in a Klingon food challenge before. Turns out that even if you can eat anything they serve, some of it will still poison you if you're human."

"But, I'm not talking about food here," she told him, turning her attention back to him.

"What kind of exotic are you talking about then?" he asked her.

Who knew the PADD Maddy had would come in handy for something other than the request for shore leave? She powered on the device and accessed the Triumphant's personnel roster, then scrolled through until she came across the one she was looking for. "Here," she said, handing it over to him. "Her name is Zahara, and she is Thasian. We encountered her on one of our previous missions. She's extremely curious and eager to learn."

The Admiral took the PADD but listened to what she had to say before he glanced at the woman on the screen. He read over the information and then handed the PADD back to her. "Isn't she the one responsible for killing over two hundred people on the ship?" he asked.

"Yes, and I was nearly one of them," the redhead stated, taking the PADD back. "That being said, she's paid her debt for that, and has put her own safety on the line to help us. She still wishes to atone for what she did, and has proven to be a great addition to our crew. It's not an easy task to forget what she has did, but I have forgiven her for nearly killing me."

"So what does she have to do with exotic other than her appearance and the fact that she's curious and eager to learn?" he asked although he was certain what the redhead would say next.

"She's Thasian. How many of them have you come across during your career?" Maddy countered.

"None," John said. "But what are you getting at, Maddy?"

"Maybe it's time you put yourself back out there instead of freewheeling it," she replied softly. Maybe, Maddy was overstepping, but it was clear he was a good guy and deserved a slice of happiness as opposed to faking it the way he had been.

For a moment, Breckenridge looked his years, then the former mask fell back in place. "Maddy, I'm an old guy. I couldn't keep up with someone eager and curious. It's why I fly a desk and have a dozen Yeoman's to remind me of things I need to do."

She wanted to call bull in the worst way, but kept it to herself. Who was she to argue with him if that's how he felt? "Is you say so," she stated, looking back out over the water. "But, personally, I think you need a vacation, and I hear Pacifica is pretty fabulous this time of year. And before you say DS10 wouldn't survive without you, you know as well as I do that that's not true. That's why there are Executive Officers around. And should they need you for something, they'll be able to reach you pretty easily."

"It's not a matter of DS10 surviving without me," John told her. "It's about where Starfleet wants me to be. I have three months of vacation time and can't use them because every time I try to put in for them, I end up being called back. I appreciate what you're trying to do, but maybe any other setting wouldn't have my mind where it's at now."

"You're right, and I'm sorry," Maddy said softly, falling quiet as she listened to the waves crashing against the shore. Maybe she needed to learn how to mind her own business and keep her mouth shut more. Or maybe, she just needed to let him deal with his personal life the way he saw fit. It was likely she needed to do all of those things, and what better time to start than the present?

"I will tell you one thing, though," he said as he reached over and laid a hand on hers. "If I were a little younger and you were single, you can bet your bottom credit that I wouldn't settle for less than the best."

What could she possibly say to that? The redhead had expected something like that to come up at some point, but not on the tail end of an apology for trying to set him up with someone else in a program where his wife late wife died. "There are far better women out there than me, but thank you nonetheless."

"Tell you what, send this Zahara to the station before you go on your shore leave and we'll see what happens. Does that sound fair?" John asked her. "I can't promise anything, but I've also never backed down from something new."

"At least you're willing to try, and that's a step in the right direction," Maddy told him.

"Now about this shore leave proposal...?"

The redhead pulled the proposal up on the PADD and handed it back over to him. "Everything that's needed is in there."

"Pacifica, hmm?" John mused as he looked it over. "Excellent choice. I can almost envision you in a bikini swimming in that warm ocean and getting a tan." He pressed his thumb to it to approve it, then handed the PADD back to her. "Approved."

"Thanks," Maddy said, offering him another smile. She didn't want to say much about the bikini comment, though. To her, that would be fueling a fire that didn't need to be. "Pacifica is pretty far away from where we are now, but the oceans are exactly why it's needed."

"Then you better get back to the ship and get underway," he said as he came wearily to his feet. "I have a date with a dozen Yeomans and no joy in mudville."

"Thank you again. As well as me, I know the crew thanks you," she said, and unable to help herself, Maddy wrapped an arm around him for a sideways hug.

John smiled and leaned into her for a moment before he straightened up again. "You're welcome," he said before he stared back into the flames for another minute. "Do you need anything else, Maddy?"

The redhead shook her head. "No, but I want you to know that if you ever need to talk about anything, you can contact me anytime."

"And you do the same," he said as he came to his feet. "It isn't every day an Admiral says that, either."

Now that they were standing, Maddy leaned in to give John a proper hug. There was no chance of anything romantic happening between them, but that didn't mean they couldn't be friends. Somehow, she had a feeling he could use one of those. "I'll be in touch to check in on you soon. Until then, take care of yourself," she said, pressing a kiss to his cheek before vacating the holodeck and heading back to the ship.

John watched her go after he returned the hug and sentiments, then sat back down to gaze into the fire once more.