Shower, interrupted.

[Victria 0]

Water had. Never. Felt. So. Good.

 

One of the advantages of being a commanding officer was that your shower was actually, you know, a shower. The Excalibur had at least five hours before it could leave port, and Corizon had no intention of spending it smelling like the inside of a bar-tenders pants. The shower had never felt so... cleansing.

 

"Why did my quarters not come equipped with one of these?" Victria's voice cut through the steam. "Sonic showers are never as satisfying and are impossible to enjoy with another person." Perched on the sink, she was holding his towel hostage.

 

Corizon blinked for a moment, then turned the shower off. Stepping out to collect his towel, he looked at her. "Have you ever heard of knocking?"

 

"I did, but you did not answer. I see now that you were occupied," she replied with a slight quirk of her eyebrow. Her bold gaze strayed downward as he stepped out, and she frowned in disappointment when he covered himself with the towel. "Do not stop on my account. I am perfectly content to sit here and watch... or join." She smirked.

 

"By the talk of the entire ship," he said as he grabbed a second towel to dry his hair with, "you're already in my bed..."

 

"Yes, I heard that as well," she grinned. "And no, I did not start the rumor, but I do find it amusing. My exploits seem to grow with every passing day. I suppose that it would cause no harm if that one particular tale came true?"

 

"Are you coming onto me?"

 

"Of course," she stated matter-of-factly. "Have you not noticed? I have considered you acceptable prey ever since our first meeting. Do you remember your stay on Al-Ucard? You offered yourself to me then and I did not accept. Foolish of me to allow you to leave so easily," she admitted, her tongue toying with one of her fangs.

 

"Missed opportunities," he said with a smile, walking towards the living area and a couch, where he seated himself. "So I take it you didn't break in just to look at me naked?"

 

"Actually, it was not my intention to catch you naked at all. That was simply an added bonus." She slid down from the counter and followed, taking a seat next to him. She inhaled his scent as she leaned closer. "I brought you something interesting..."

 

"Oh?"

 

She slid a data padd from her tunic and activated it, flipping it around so he could view the screen. It was a photo of her in full Orion-chosen slutty outfit. "I took it as evidence. The Orion made me wear this to the station."

 

"And?"

 

"Do you find it... stimulating? Or revolting?" she asked curiously. "I have yet to formulate a decisive opinion. The males on the station seemed to be influenced by this type of clothing."

 

Snorting, Corizon leaned back into the couch. "You fit in then, didn't you?"

 

"Somewhat," she admitted. Drawing up the next image, she smiled. "Did you?" How she had gotten a holo of him in his mercenary-like station garb was her little secret. "I especially love the buckles. Very archaic."

 

"I pass as a pretty decent smuggler/assassin... it's my standard outfit for that sort of... mission."

 

"Yes, you should forego the uniform from now on," she said teasingly as she deactivated the padd.

 

"I am sure Starfleet would love that," he said with a smirk. "So what is my resident spy/assassin thinking about this whole... mission?"

 

"Frankly, I am amazed. Someone boarded your ship without your knowledge and did so without raising any alarms. Does that happen often?"

 

The liquor was clearly starting to fade out. "Don't remind me... when I get my hands on the... people... I am not sure if I should congratulate them or take out their throats."

 

"Or steal their technology and study it to discover how it was achieved. I was curious as to why they would steal the infant. The emotions on the ship regarding that event are... tumultuous."

 

"I see it as a tactical..." he stopped, not believing how cold he was about the subject. "I should talk to the parents, shouldn't I?"

 

"Do you think they would draw comfort from it? From what I have been able to ascertain, this situation is unique and most are not certain how to react. Retrieval is important to them." She did not quite understand that concept yet. To an Al-Ucard, a lost crewman meant you had one less soldier to fight, but was not necessarily something to mourn.

 

"It's a very... different situation. It's their child... and well most humanoids have weird maternal and fraternal instincts..."

 

"If you speak to them, what will you say?"

 

"That I will do everything in my power to bring their child back to them in once piece..."

 

"Even if it means violating your directives?" Her eyebrows lifted slightly.

 

"The safety of my crew is my first directive, it supersedes all others."

 

She nodded slightly as if expecting that answer from him. "Then we will be invading the Boganary territory to retrieve the child? And what of the crownstone? What if this venture ruins our chances of finding it?"

 

"The humans have a phrase..."

 

"Humans have many phrases, most of them useless," she pointed out.

 

"True, but this one is apt..."

 

"And?"

 

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it..."

 

"I prefer the burning of bridges to the crossing of them," she said with a smirk. She rose from the couch, deciding she had encroached long enough. "Thank you for the interesting discussion, Captain. You have been very... insightful."

 

"I try my best," he said. "And Victria...."

 

"Yes, Ah-Windu?"

 

"Next time, bring your own towel..."

 

"Is that an invitation to try out your shower?"

 

"Sure..."

 

"Now?" she asked, her grin widening.