Sapozhki i pirogi

Posted on Fri Dec 27th, 2024 @ 2:21am by Lieutenant JG Katie Kellerman & Senior Chief Petty Officer Jadizon Enor
Edited on on Fri Dec 27th, 2024 @ 4:41am

Mission: Doing What We Do Best
Location: Main Engineering Computer Lab

The empty shell of the holo-emitter sailed through the air. It's path was straight and true, and its speed wasn't ballistic, but it was moving at a rather impressive velocity.

As the door to the lab opened and Jadizon walked in, the tiny casing struck his chest, bouncing harmlessly to the floor.

Katie looked up from her position on the floor, surrounded by parts, and frowned. "Sorry," she said, sitting back against her desk.

Jadizon glanced down at the holo-emitter casing that had bounced off his chest before looking up at Katie, one eyebrow raised in mild amusement. The scene in front of him—her surrounded by a mess of parts, looking both exasperated and apologetic—drew a smirk to his face.

"Well, that's one way to make an entrance," he said dryly, stepping further into the lab and picking up the casing from the floor. He tossed it lightly between his hands, eyes assessing the chaotic spread of components before landing back on her.

"Trouble in paradise, JG?" His voice carried a teasing edge, but his gaze was steady, with just a hint of concern.

"Just tired of frustrating technology, Chief," she said, her tone when she said 'Chief' lightning a bit. She liked the little banter of rank they now had. "I have taken these apart, put them back together, and back apart again, and nothing I'm doing is getting me the results I want. I can't get the holodeck to be as specific as I need it without affecting the rest of the grid. I hate to give up, but nothing I'm doing seems to get me where I want to go. Not a very "engineer" attitude, I know, but I'm about ready to accept defeat."

Jadizon looked over the parts and Katie’s frustrated expression, a slight smirk forming. "Technology’s great until it fights back, huh?" he said, his tone confident.

"Holodecks are tricky—move one part, and six others push back," he continued, meeting her eyes. "But frustration isn’t defeat; it means you’re pushing limits."

He leaned over the console. "Let’s isolate the section you need and create a subroutine to hold it steady without affecting the rest."

Raising an eyebrow, his smirk deepened. "Ready to try again? Engineering’s about finding another way when the first one fails. And I know you’ve got that in you."

Katie gave him a small smile and held up a hand. As he gripped it, she pulled herself to her feet and used the momentum to propel her a bit higher, snagging a quick kiss before anyone could peek in the door. She leaned against her desk and folded her arms. "As a matter of fact, I wrote five subroutines," she said. "You helped me test them on the holodeck that night we..." she smiled slightly. "Anyway. I'm a programming specialist. Subroutines are what I do. The hardware just isn't built to do what the subroutines want. It can adjust holographic objects, but not real ones. Real ones can only be scaled if the light of the scene is bent to scale the scene. That's just literally how they work."

Jadizon felt the brief warmth of her lips before she pulled back, a small smirk forming on his face as he listened to her explanation. The mention of their holodeck session and the way she caught herself brought a flicker of amusement to his eyes.

"Impressive," he said, crossing his arms and leaning against the edge of a nearby console. "Five subroutines is no small feat. But you’re right—hardware limitations can be a pain when it comes to working with mixed environments." He glanced at the scattered parts, thinking for a moment. "What you’re trying to do pushes the system beyond what it was designed for. That’s not a failure on your part—that’s you aiming higher."

His eyes met hers, the hint of a challenge there. "We just need to figure out how to make the hardware catch up with your programming. Maybe it's time to look at adaptive interface protocols or see if we can reroute the power distribution in a way that supports the light-bending adjustments."

She sighed and sat on her desk, swinging her legs in frustration. "Yesli sapozhnik nachnet pech' pirogi, budut nepriyatnosti," she said.

"As far as what you just said in what ever native tongue you just used my Universal Translator didn't catch that so care to enlighten me?"

"An old Russian proverb. Something my mother used to say," Katie said. "Roughly translated, 'There will be trouble if the cobbler starts making pies.'" She gave him a wry smile. "Kind of a 'people should stay in their lane-slash-play to their strengths' kind of thing. When Kally and I were young, playing in the house, she'd be espousing proverbs all day to 'bestow some wisdom.'"

Jadizon gave a small nod, smirking. "Sounds like your mother knew how to keep you in line. But sometimes, sticking to your lane doesn’t get things done."

"I do have other projects, maybe a rest is in order. Whenever I was frustrated with some of the farm equipment, Papa would tell me to sit back and go play a game or something with Kally. Of course, that wound up giving me more down time than he wanted, but I didn't mind, and we usually got things accomplished eventually."

Jadizon chuckled, nodding. "Sounds like good advice. Sometimes stepping back is exactly what you need to see things more clearly."

He leaned back, crossing his arms casually. "Tell you what—why don’t you take that break? Clear your head a bit. And when you’re ready, we’ll tackle this fresh." He gave her an encouraging look, a small smirk on his face. "Besides, wouldn’t want you getting too frustrated and throwing another holo-emitter at me."

She blushed. "I wasn't throwing it at you per se," she said. "You just happened to get in the line of fire." She stood up and stretched. "Thanks for the pep talk, Chief," she said, smiling. "Right about now I'd be finding Kally to organize a field game or go for a hike. Probably should go get something to eat. I'm due for a lunch break. Join me?"

Jadizon glanced at his comm briefly, a small flicker of hesitation crossing his face. "I was supposed to meet up with PO Draven," he admitted, "but I think he’ll survive without me for one meal."

He looked back at her, a faint smirk forming. "Besides, field games and hikes aren’t really my thing, but lunch? I can manage that." He gave a small nod toward the door. "Lead the way, Let’s see if we can find something that’ll actually recharge you."

With that, he fell into step beside her, putting Kael on hold for a while and letting himself enjoy the moment.

Katie kept her hands clasped behind her, maintaining a professional detachment for his sake. As they stepped into the turbo lift, she called for her Deck and looked him over. "So what do you do for fun? Judging by your morning routine, I'm assuming hitting the gym is a big part of it?"

Jadizon leaned casually against the wall of the turbolift, arms crossed as he gave Katie a measured look, the faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "The gym’s a big part of it, yeah," he said. "It keeps me sharp, focused—good way to clear the noise. But fun? That’s another story."

He paused for a moment, his expression shifting slightly, as if weighing how much to share. "I’ve got a particular interest in marksmanship," he admitted, his tone calm and even. "Specifically, working with projectile weapons. My TR-116 is my favorite—equipped with an exographic targeting sensor, lets me hit targets through walls if need be." He let that sink in for a moment, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. "It’s modified with some other...accessories, but let’s just say those aren’t for standard Starfleet use."

He leaned back, the smirk growing a little. "It’s not just about hitting the mark, though. It’s about control, precision, and knowing I’m capable when the moment demands it."

Jadizon shifted his focus back to Katie. "But enough about me—what about you? Hiking and field games are great, but what do you do when you really want to unplug?"

As the turbolift doors opened, she stepped out, leading him down the corridor. "Sometimes I'll read, or Kally and I like to watch old Flotter videos and make fun of them. A good hike is a way to unplug as well." She stopped in front of her quarters and as the doors opened, she stepped inside, then let him follow.

Jadizon followed her into her quarters, his sharp gaze taking in the space with casual interest as the doors slid shut behind him.

As the doors closed behind Jadizon, she smiled softly. "And I've found our times together to be rather fulfilling as well." Now that they were in private, she walked up and stood on tiptoe, giving him a kiss. "What would you like to eat?" she said, smiling at him and then moving towards the replicator.

As she moved toward the replicator, his arms crossed over his chest, a hint of a smirk playing at the edges of his mouth. "What would I like to eat?" he echoed, his tone calm but teasing. "Depends. Are we talking food, or was that kiss just an appetizer?"

He leaned casually against the wall, his confidence radiating effortlessly, but his eyes stayed on her, curious to see how she’d respond. "Surprise me," he added, the faintest trace of a challenge in his voice. "Let’s see what you think would recharge me after the day I’ve had."

Katie thought for a moment. She walked over to the replicator and tapped a few buttons, coming back with a tray containing plates with two long, rectangular buns and what appeared to be a ground beef patty with several toppings. She put a mug of ale in front of her plate and water in front of Jadizon's.

"My father said that there is nothing more comforting than a good hamburger," Katie said, setting the plates down on her small table and gesturing for Jadizon to sit. "This is a family favorite. A half-pound burger, avocado, pico de gallo, whole grilled shrimp and mango ketchup on a loaf of pineapple/coconut bread. That and a side of French fries and it'll lift your spirits no matter how bad your day." She smiled and raised her glass of ale. "Prost she said.

Jadizon approached the table, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied the plates in front of him. He reached up and scratched his jaw, clearly trying to process the sheer complexity of what Katie had just described. "A... half-pound... burger?" he said, his tone skeptical, as if the phrase itself felt alien in his mouth. He let the words hang for a moment before attempting the rest, his voice slow and deliberate. "With... avocado, pico... de gallo, shrimp, and... mango ketchup? On pineapple... coconut bread?"

He leaned forward, folding his arms on the table as he gave the meal an appraising look. "That’s... quite the combination," he muttered, his hesitation clear. He glanced up at Katie, one eyebrow raised in reluctant amusement. "Humans really know how to... overcomplicate a sandwich, don’t they?"

Katie gave a shrug. "Maybe, but in this case? Sweet and savory works." She picked up half of her own and took a bite, smiling at the nostalgic flavors.

But despite his obvious struggle with the concept, he reached for the plate and picked up the burger, his hands large enough to almost dwarf the rectangular bun. "Your father swore by this, huh?" he asked, the hint of a smirk breaking through. He gave the burger another long look before taking a cautious bite.

The mixture of flavors hit him all at once, and he paused, chewing slowly, clearly trying to decide how he felt about it. After swallowing, he nodded slightly, though his expression still seemed thoughtful. "It’s... interesting," he said finally, not wanting to offend but still processing the bold mix of sweet, savory, and spicy. "Definitely not something you’d find on Betazed."

He reached for a French fry, popping it into his mouth before raising his glass of water. "Prost," he echoed, his accent making the word sound slightly foreign. He met her gaze with a small, reluctant grin. "Guess this counts as broadening my horizons."

Katie smiled happily. "I'm glad I could introduce you to something new," she said. She chewed thoughtfully through another couple of bites. "So what's your comfort food? That meal you want when you're under the weather, or tired, or sad and is guaranteed to put a smile on your face?"

Jadizon leaned back slightly, setting the remains of the burger down on his plate, and wiped his hands on a napkin before meeting Katie's curious gaze. A small, thoughtful smirk played on his lips. "Betazoid comfort food isn’t quite as… bold as this," he said, gesturing to the elaborate burger with a faint chuckle. "It’s more about subtlety and connection, something that centers you when everything feels out of balance."

He held her gaze as he explained, his voice calm but with an undertone of nostalgia. "For me, it depends on the moment. If I’m feeling physically worn out, there’s Pahtarak Stew. It’s made from these hearty tubers that are slow-simmered with G’tar mushrooms and wild greens. It’s earthy, warm, and simple—it feels like home in a bowl. Growing up, my mother used to make it after long days when we were all mentally exhausted. Sitting down to that, with everyone around the table? It had a way of grounding you."

He paused for a moment, the corners of his mouth tugging upward as another memory surfaced. "And if it’s more about the soul needing comfort—something to just lift my spirits—then it’s Vespa Fruit Pastries. They’re flaky, sweet, and filled with this fruit that tastes like a mix of citrus and flowers. We’d have them during family celebrations or whenever we needed to patch things up after an argument." He chuckled quietly, shaking his head. "Nothing mends sibling rivalries like a shared pastry."

His tone softened as he added one more. "But if I just need calm, something to help me recenter when things feel too loud, it’s Rixxian Garden Soup. Smooth, creamy, with just a hint of spice. It’s the kind of thing you’d make for someone who’s sick or… just needs a little bit of extra care. It’s a reminder that you’re not alone, even in the worst moments."

Jadizon glanced back at Katie, his smirk widening as he casually picked up the burger again. "Or," he said, taking a bite and chewing thoughtfully, "there’s what you humans call... Pizza." He swallowed and gave her a mock-serious look. "Flatbread with cheese and toppings? How did no one on Betazed come up with that? It’s genius." He let out a low chuckle, shaking his head as if genuinely impressed. "I mean, honestly—so simple, but it hits every time."

Katie smiled as she chewed, her eyebrows bobbing. "My mother is not a fan of pizza. I think it's brilliant," she said finally. "Kally and I enjoy mostly Russian dishes from home. Mom was a great cook. She made German dishes for Papa as well, and a few others now and then. A hot pile of pirogis, smothered in caramelized onions and some sour cream...." She sighed happily, licking some ketchup off her lips. "That can relax me no matter what."

As they finished their food, Katie took their plates and recycled everything, then got herself a glass of water and drank it slowly before coming back towards him, swaying her hips teasingly and smiling at him. "So, what were you saying about that kiss being an appetizer?" she said, sitting in his lap and brushing her lips against his.

Jadizon leaned back slightly as Katie settled into his lap, his hands instinctively resting on her hips. A small smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth as she teased him, brushing her lips against his. His voice was calm, with that steady confidence she knew well.

"I was saying," he began, his gaze steady on hers, "that an appetizer is meant to leave you wanting more. But..." He leaned in slightly, their foreheads almost touching, his tone softening but still firm, "you know we’ve both got things to get back to. Work doesn’t exactly handle itself."

He let his hands slide up her sides briefly, his touch lingering just enough to remind her of the connection they shared before gently shifting her weight. "I’ve still got a duty roster to finalize, and I’m sure you’ve got your hands full in Engineering," he added, He glanced at the chronometer on the wall and sighed lightly, brushing a stray lock of her hair behind her ear. "What do you say we table this until later?"

Katie shivered slightly, remembering touching his mind, and instinctively wrapped her arms around him. The part of Katie that let her understand Kally and join her in her escapades briefly reared its head, demanding he 'table' her then and there on said furniture. However, she knew he was right...mostly. She also glanced at the chronometer and then back at him, smiling. "Well," she said, slowly, "I don't know how it is for Senior Chiefs, but we mere Lieutenants get a full hour for lunch, and that hour ends in ten minutes. So that means you have at least five minutes to kiss me. Otherwise...you'd better rain check with me tonight."

Jadizon raised an eyebrow, smirking as he caught the playful challenge in Katie’s tone. "Five minutes, huh? Plenty of time," he said smoothly.

Without hesitation, his hands slid to her waist, pulling her close as he kissed her deeply, leaving no doubt he took her request seriously. He lifted her effortlessly onto the edge of the table, his presence commanding, his lips firm and deliberate against hers.

Katie's legs wrapped around his hips and she held him close, kissing him with everything she had.

When he finally pulled back, his lips hovered close to hers, his voice low and teasing. "That enough for you, Lieutenant?"

Before she could answer, he kissed her again, this time with even more intensity. As he broke away, he glanced at the chronometer and smirked. "You’ve got three minutes to make it on time. We’ll call this even... for now."

Katie's breath was caught in her throat and her face was flushed, but despite the time warning, her legs didn't let him go just yet. She looked up at him and let out what she'd been holding back. "I want to go on a date with you," she said, nerves making her somewhat rush the words. "A proper date. Tonight. 1900 hours." She swallowed nervously. "Join me in the holodeck?"

Jadizon tilted his head slightly, his sharp blue eyes narrowing as a small, knowing smirk crept onto his face. His voice, calm and measured as always, carried a subtle edge of amusement. "Is that you asking me, Katie? Or telling me?" he said, his tone teasing yet steady, the weight of his gaze making the question linger in the air.

"Asking," Katie said, swallowing. "Respectfully."

For a moment, his posture straightened slightly, instinctively carrying the air of the Chief of the Boat, before he caught himself. He exhaled quietly, the corner of his mouth softening into a faint smile. "Sorry," he said, his voice lowering a touch, his demeanor shifting. "I keep forgetting I’m not just the Chief of the Boat when I’m talking to you."

He gently placed his hands on her hips, steadying her as he held her gaze. "If it’s you asking," he said softly, leaning in just enough to let her feel the closeness of his presence, "then who am I to say no? Holodeck. Tonight. Your call on the program." His smirk returned as he straightened, finally stepping back to give her some space, though his gaze remained locked on hers. "But just so we’re clear... I expect you to bring your A-game, Lieutenant."

Katie grinned at him and saluted. "Aye, Chief," she said. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go come up with a good excuse for being late." She kissed him once more and ran full speed out of her quarters.

Enor watched Katie dash out of her quarters, the faintest smile on his face before he quickly refocused. He tapped his combadge.

"Enor to Draven," he said, his tone friendly but with a hint of business. "Meet me in my office, Kael. We’ve got something to discuss. Get here when you can."

A few moments later, the combadge chirped in response.

"Draven here, Chief I'll on my way."

Enor nodded and stood up, heading towards the door. He glanced back at Katie’s quarters one last time before stepping into the corridor. His footsteps were steady as he made his way toward his office, where Kael would soon join him to discuss the matter at hand.