80721.14
Concurrent with A Gathering of Friends
=====
-=Betazed=-
The breeze came through the open balcony window, and it was the first sensation Jack Hubbard had that morning.
He smiled and slowly opened one eye and looked through the open curtains and out to the expansive view of the marina. *Gods I love this planet* he thought.
The white sheets, though tussled, still had the brand new feel to them and he was in no hurry to rise from the bed. From his comfortable vantage point he could see the white caps on the waves and sailboats making their way out from safe harbor into the challenges of the bay.
*Shore leave* he thought.
He turned slightly and felt the presence of a body. *Oh, I really love this planet* he thought.
His thoughts ran back through his tenth evening of shore leave on Betazed. *She was amazing,* he conjured up images and slowly turned toward the balcony window, not wanting to disturb her.
Slowly he made his way to his robe and then the coffee and finally the balcony.
"Reminds me of home, San Francisco," he whispered slowly to himself as he watched gulls circle the docks near fishing boats. He loved San Francisco with all his heart and it was there he embarked on his Starfleet career. Shore leave was always welcome and this one had been particularly rewarding.
He walked slowly along the balcony and side-stepped several bottles from the evening's festivities. He closed his eyes and let the breeze fill his senses.
He heard her rise but his eyes remained closed. "Good morning," he called out. She laughed. He could tell she was rustling about for her clothes.
"Dr. Hubbard, you are trouble," the soft voice called out from the kitchen area.
He laughed and outstretched his arms, "...if you only knew the half of it."
He ambled into the kitchen to see her, dressed, finishing a cup of coffee, with intentions of heading out.
"I'm supposed to get an assignment today," he told her as he refilled his cup.
She came closer to him, "Colony? Space station?...Ship?"
He held her close, "Never done a station."
She pushed him away playfully, "One of the few things you haven't done." She headed for the door. "I have to make a transport...meetings all day...if you don't ship out..."
"Dinner tomorrow night. On the waterfront," he acknowledged.
Venna heard him and then, she was out the door.
His comm unit flashed. He moved to it and activated the signal. Starfleet memo, posting orders. He looked toward the ceiling and made a rolling of the dice gesture. He then read on.
USS Serendipity.
He nodded, "The Sera," he said aloud. "Right." He read on...the vessel was currently in for repairs, but apparently a large portion of the command crew was en route to his very location- and his orders were to beam aboard something called the USS Alchemy as soon as they contacted him and informed him that they were ready to receive him.
He wondered what this Alchemy had to do with the Sera...
"Gods!'" he called out loudly. He quickly set down his cup and announced, "Oh Gods, Sarrahh...I forgot to call her."
He immediately set about the business of contacting an old flame.
*****
His day was then spent on his balcony corresponding via the comm with various organizations.
Taylor Hospital on Melina III, The College of Medical Sciences, Merritt Hospital, and the Interspecies Medical Exchange. The work was fever-pitch and exhilarating. Hubbard always suspected it was something of an addiction, but he never espoused the viewpoint. His work allowed him to enjoy his off-time, and he excelled at off-time.
He stopped.
Work came easily. He was gifted at playing.
He wondered how his posting to the Sera would affect his life. He rather liked spending a couple of years at one posting and then moving on to another experience. He knew eventually he would tire of the life floating about.
*Sera...*
He remembered suddenly that he had to meet Sarrahh. Then he recalled she was always late. He shrugged and fired off the last few communiqués before stretching and setting about getting ready for the evening.
*****
The elaborate holosuite recreation of a favorite old haunt, the Buena Vista, was a centrifuge of raucousness. In the center of the storm was Jack Hubbard.
Along with Sarrahh, he'd happened into an impromptu reunion, right here on Betazed, of several mates from his earlier postings. Drinks were flowing and jokes were abundant as the enormous crowd drank themselves into another quadrant, Irish coffees, the mainstay of the establishment, providing a great deal of the momentum.
Officers from the Erasmus and Hornet were trading jibes and supporting each other's outlandish tales. Hubbard was no different. The mood of the evening was one of 'letting one's hair down', nothing short of a party that would eventually summon the Security details.
One of the crew of the Hornet leaned in closely and told Hubbard of the recent action involving the Sera's former doctor, and former fellow crewmate of Hubbard's from the Erasmus, Avery Breaux.
Hubbard drew back from the woman, a Lieutenant, and he was in total disbelief. "No, impossible."
"It's true," she offered. "Of course, I didn't serve with him, but the Erasmus people were as surprised as you...they've had their fill of HQ edicts...they miss their Captain...Angela?"
"Nolan," he finished her thought. "She's a tough one-great leader..heard about her reduction in rank-sometimes the brass have no clue," He reached for another drink.
The Hornet officer, leaned back in to Hubbard, whispered, "The blonde...are you going home with her?" Lieutenant H'artaz obviously had a plan.
Jack looked over to Sarrahh and took in her striking figure. Jack could feel H'artaz lips on his cheek. Defenses were down. Hubbard laughed, on his way to being fairly well intoxicated,
"Well what kind of a gentleman?" His words were difficult to find, and when they arrived they were often thick with Irish whiskey...the evening was sneaking up on Jack . He tried to continue, "If I don't take her home..."
H'artaz jumped his sentence, "I will." She smiled. "I don't mind crowds...either..." she smiled.
Hubbard blinked several times as his mind drifted back for a second to their earlier discussion. "Avery Breaux? Are you certain?"
All thoughts of the past dissipated when she kissed Hubbard; the long, intense kiss drew several catcalls from the crowd.
Lt Cmdr Jack Hubbard
Soon to be CMO
USS Serendipity NCC 2012