A Taste Of Luxury

Posted on Fri Sep 17th, 2021 @ 2:21am by Commander William Gerhard & Ensign Alexandra 'Lexi' O'Connery

Mission: Mission 4 - Eden
Location: The Caelestis - Residential area
Timeline: Day 163 - 21:30 hours
2231 words - 4.5 OF Standard Post Measure

Lexi grinned as she walked down the corridor of The Caelestis’ vast Residential sector with the chief Armoury officer in tow. Lexi was buzzing at the prospect of using one of the showers she had seen when they had discovered that they were not alone. It was the only thing that had stopped her coming back by herself that they were not alone on the vessel and the AI nor the person had made their presence known to anyone. Everything was stark white compared the Atlantis. It was a stark reminder of how much more developed the ship was.

“You promised me if I did not come over here by myself like I had promised you would accompany me later on.” She reminded as the silence dragged on.

William walked with Lexi as he kept his head on a swivel. He was armed with a phase pistol which he kept holstered. There were still a few science teams aboard the vessel, and each had a security team assigned to them. William knew that Lexi was determined to use one of the showers, and being the dutiful boyfriend, he was carrying her bag of toiletries and fresh uniform she had brought. "As you keep reminding me," he said slightly teasing her with his tone. Lexi was determined and he had relented when she had said she was going to use the shower come hell or high water. Glancing around at the numerous doorways they were passing he looked over to her with a smile, "So have you decided which room suits your fancy yet?"

“Not really. I am in an empty hotel with endless choice. This will never come again..” Lexi looked at him and shrugged. She was like a kid in a candy store and had no idea which one she wanted bleaching them walking in circles for a bit longer before she finally decided on one. She slipped inside and sighed in happiness at the stark white and cleanness of the room. “Does this suit for you with security in mind?” She wondered sitting down on the sofa with a plop. She felt grubby even sat there when she knew she was not.

William followed her in and looked around and pulled a hand scanner from his pocket and activating it. The only biosigns he was reading were Lexi and his. Satisfied, he closed the scanner and sat down on the sofa next to her. The sofa was fairly comfortable compared to the equivalent back aboard their own ship. He looked back over at her and smiled, "Since you asked, in my professional opinion this area is secure." He then looked over at her with an upraised eyebrow, "Remind me again what is so special about these showers?" William was no stranger to long periods without a shower. The smell he had acquired after his Starfleet training had burned into his memory.

Lexi grinned as William finally sat down next to her and started to relax. “Of course I value your professional opinion. I would value any armoury officers opinion but especially yours.” She gaped at him with her mouth wide open as he commented on where she was so excited about the bathroom. Why was no one else on the crew excited about the fact of having a proper shower? It was like a luxury hotel and no one else seem to like it. “Why is no one else excited about the prospect of a proper shower in luxury?” She wondered back.

William shrugged slightly as he felt himself start to relax. He propped his feet up on a small piece of furniture that looked like a coffee table. "I don't know about some people, but I've never put much thought in a luxury shower. I've always thought the showers on our ship were just fine," he said. He then looked over at her and raised an eyebrow, "What if you get in there and its no better than our own shower?"

"I grew up with not many luxuries so this whole ship is like something I have never seen before," Lexi revealed timidly glancing around taking it all in. They had had never overly discussed her past or anything in detail but he knew it had been hard, university and Starfleet had been her escape from it. "Then I will be very disappointed but clean." She said with a shrug. Either way, it was something other than her little shower cubical. Something new and not grey. She was starting to miss the purple nebula they had first come out of into this other side of the universe.

William looked over at her when she mentioned her past. He did know that it had been rough, but they had not discussed the specifics. This mirrored his own past and the rugged arctic conditions he had spent time in had also been devoid of any luxuries. He was used to having spare accommodations, but he knew that she was looking forward to this moment and he was not going to be one to mess up her moment. He pulled her close to him and placed a kiss on the top of her head. "I know, but I am fairly confident you will be impressed with it." He then looked at her with a teasing smile, "So do i need to carry you in there, or is that too caveman for you?"

“I’m easily pleased but I am also very fed up of grey.” Lexi smiled at the fact he said nothing or even questioned what she said about her past. It was exactly what she needed in someone, maybe it was the fact he was solid and dependable or maybe it was just the fact that he knew how to make her laugh. “Very caveman like.” She touched his cheek for a moment before disappearing with all her items up the stairs to where bedroom and bathroom area was.

William watched her go and smiled as he could see how excited she was. He had endured plenty of hardships in his life, and he had resigned himself to the fact that he would probably not find anyone willing to accept him. But, he was grateful that Lexi had been willing to be there for him. He knew that she would be there for him no matter what, and in return he would do the same for her. He called up to her as she entered the upper level, "Well, everything how you remember it?"

”It’s beautiful.” There was something about the room that was stunning and exotic to the woman who had grown up in dreary England. It had been stunning with all the history but the ship was just out of the world. “I am going into the shower.” She called to let him know she would not be able to hear him for a few minutes or more.

"I'll be here," he called after her. He then leaned back and looked around at the room he was in. The whiteness made him feel a bit like he was in a hospital, but he did think it helped with the natural lighting. He decided to take a look around and he stood as he heard the water turn on above. The lower level was a near perfect image as the other ones he had searched before. He noted there was no strange smells this time since he remembered finding some rotten food with Elegy. This room did not have any computer terminals so he returned to the couch and put his feet up again. After some time he heard the water turn on and then he felt and heard a slight noise also coming from upstairs. He furrowed his brow as he tried to place the noise. It reminded him of a sonic screwdriver, but it was not as high pitched.

Lexi spent far much longer than was acceptable in the shower but when her head appeared above she looked happy. “I think I’ve just had a shower and then sonic shower.” She said thinking of the showers that Darru had told her about that was on Vulcan to save water. It would have to be investigated by the Vulcans. She had never had that type of shower but she felt super clean.

He looked up at her smiling down at him. He could tell she was happy and he could tell she had a glow about her. He smiled back at her, "A sonic shower? That explains what that noise was after you turned the water off." He stood up and stretched his back some, "I take it it was much better than you thought?" He approached the stairs and paused before climbing as he looked up at her with a sly grin and an upraised eyebrow.

Lexi paused as she saw his grin and narrowed her eyes at him as he reached the sleeping area. She was just wrapped in a towel that had appeared when she had finished. “It was perfect. I feel really clean. I think I prefer sonic showers.” She admitted thinking about what they were going to do once toiletries and other items ran out.

William stopped for a bit when he saw her narrow her eyes. He looked her up and down and smiled, "I can tell you feel much better You have this glow about you." He crossed his arms in front of his chest and looked at her with an upraised eyebrow, "So this sonic shower what did it feel like? I'm sure it was a pretty weird sensation."

"Relaxing. Feels like I have had a cold shower without actually having one." She said simplifying what the experience had been like. It had been enjoyable and she wished it was something they had on the ship. It would certainly help her feel more awake without having to have a cold shower. "I can see why it conserves water." She smiled watching him just stood there watching her. "Why don't you go have a shower? I promise to keep watch and not go to sleep in this ridiculous bed."

William thought for a moment before answering, "As tempting an offer as that is, I didn't bring a fresh uniform." He looked over at bed she was talking about and pointed, "Now if I could sneak one of those beds back on Atlantis, I would in a heartbeat. I swear someone put a bar in my mattress that hits me right in the back." He reached around behind him and rubbed the small of his back with a clenched fist. He then looked back at Lexi an walked over to her. He put his arms around her waist and pulled her close to him. He kissed her and looked in her eyes while smiling, "I am glad that you were able experience some luxury, you deserve it."

Lexi let him pull her close and kiss her for a moment before spoke. “Have you been spending time with Ensign Nascimento? He likes to steal too.” She teased putting her hand over where his back was obviously giving him issues. “Ah so now I have found out why you like my bed so much.” She shrugged, it did not matter to her but she had not thought his mattress bad. “Could swap it for one of the beds that are unused and you don’t need to change uniform could just y’know enjoy a shower.” She said with a shrug.

He continued to hold her in his arms, "Yes I have, though I don't think he could get away with stealing something that large." He then leaned down and whispered to her, "By the way, don't tell him I've been aware of his pilfering. I know he thinks he was being sneaky but I've known all along." He then gave her a sly grin, "Well there are other reasons why I like your bed." He gave her a playful nudge as he said this. "And as tempting an offer as that is, I think I will take a rain check." He smiled at her again, "Come on, I'm sure someone back on Atlantis is wondering what has taken us so long."

Lexi grinned a bit. Nothing overly got past him snd she highly suspected that Elegy already knew as much as William knew about him. What a game of cat and mouse they were playing.

“Yes Sir.” She said with a long sigh as the thought of missing out on having a nap in the big bed. She would never get a chance like that ever again in her opinion. “Give me five minutes and I’ll be down.” She said quietly as she pulled back and away from him.

William let her pull away from him as he watched her. He felt like he had said something wrong due to the way she looked back at the bed. He sighed for a moment before responding, "Well, maybe we can say that we got lost making our way back to the ship?” he said with a slight smile as he surprised her by scooping her up in his arms. "And since you called me 'sir' i get to carry you like a caveman," he said as he smiled at her.

It was the rule after all.