163: Small Miracles

by Ensign Nimue Andraste
80223.2300

During Confrontation

-= Brig of the Executor =-

Petty Officer Craig Thorburn was not the kind of man who broke rules. Truth be told, he was not even the kind of man who broke his routine. He had come aboard the Executor five years ago, and since then had gotten up at precisely the same time each morning, gone through the exact same workout routine and eaten the same breakfast before reporting to his post. He liked constants. It was comforting to know that in the ugly chaos and unpredictability of the universe, in a time-space continuum as vast as it was fluid, an individual could have absolute stability in all his dealings if he wanted to. It was, he was quite convinced, one of the greater miracles of the universe.

No one who knew him, therefore, would have been able to explain why he was walking to the Executor's brig now, fully intent on smuggling contraband into a prisoner's cell. Under ordinary circumstances, it was not something he would ever do. But these were not ordinary circumstances. Nimue Andraste was involved. And Craig Thorburn was ensorcelled.

It wasn't that she had a habit of looking to the side, away from you, when you made her smile that had this effect on him. It was not the animated, mischievous light that glimmered light brown eyes when she spoke. It wasn't her quick smile or the way she only used just one finger to tuck stray hair behind her ears. At least, it was not just those things. Nimue Andraste had an magnetism about her the source of which Thorburn could not identify. It was like he was a man who had discovered the one rose that would not die in autumn.

He did not quite know what name to give the strange stirring in his heart when he was around her. Certainly, it was not love...but there was something there. Enough to make him ignore the greater miracles of the universe for a time. A smaller one had seized his imagination.

As he walked into the brig, she heard his footsteps and looked up. With a smile, she jumped to her feet.

"Tell me you're finally allowed to let me out of here."

Craig shook his head, "Sorry, babe. No word from the Admiral."

"Yeah. I'm starting to think he's forgotten I'm in here."

Thorburn laughed. "Maybe. There is some serious stuff going on up there."

"Like what?" "Not really sure. Something about the Gauntlet and Alchemy."

Nimue blinked. "He's trying to make turn a glove into gold? I'm pretty sure that won't work."

"No. Those are starships that we...."

"I don't really care," she interrupted with a sigh, "This is insane. I'm not even a member of this crew. Why do people keep kidnapping me when I'm on vacation?"

"Well...you were a participant in a highly dangerous and illegal race."
"Wasn't the first time."

"And you drove your vehicle into the Admiral's yacht."

She scratched her head sheepishly, "It was only a little dent."

"There was major hull damage. Worse, you told Admiral Vox you were a Starfleet officer and that that made it okay. And then you tried to bribe him so that he wouldn't tell...well, himself."

"He wasn't wearing his uniform," Nimue answered with a slight scowl, "How was I supposed to know who he was? Anyway, fine - things got a little ugly. But I've been in here for two weeks now. How is that reasonable?"

"Admiral Vox is not really a reasonable man."

Nimue shook her head, "Who is these days?"

"I am," Thorburn volunteered, "I brought you what you asked for. Now we have to be careful. I'm risking a lot here and if anyone finds out...."

"You brought me chocolate?"

"Well...that depends on your answer to this question. How good do I look to you?"

She laughed, "You're a very handsom...."

Before she could finish her sentence, the red alert klaxon went off. Weapons fire rocked the ship.

"What the hell?"

Thorburn shook head and ran towards the exit. "I have to go. Stay here."

"Okay," Nimue called out from behind the brig's force field. "I'll do that. You have fun. Hey...wait. Could you at least leave the chocolate? Craig?"

Ensign Nimue Andraste
Aboard the USS Executor