Peter Griper's Ticked-off Check of Michelle's Preppers
Posted on Tue Jul 7th, 2026 @ 4:18am by Petty Officer 2nd Class Peter Kozlowski & Michelle Erilin
Mission:
Die Hard: Chimera Edition
Location: Hyperion Lounge
Lounge
"And I come home, and she's blonde," Peter said. "I think she was gorgeous with dark hair, but I wanted to be supportive, so I told her she looked great, it's an interesting change, et cetera. She makes a face, says it didn't turn out the way she'd hoped, and she'll be going back to brunette soon as she can. I say that works too, I've always liked her hair color. She then says I'm contradicting myself since I said I liked her being blonde, and I'm trying to explain I just like her, no matter what her hair color, but she's already out the door and heading to Sickbay." He threw his hands up in exasperation, then leaned over to pick up another crate of foodstuffs for the transport cart. "Swear to God....women..."
Michelle chuckled as she continued to load up some of the real wines that she kept behind the counter and putting them into a box, "Can't live with us, can't live without us." She paused for a moment. "She was just so upset at how she thought it turned out that there was no win in that talk for you, just a way for her to vent her frustration." She glanced through the bottles and plucked one out of the box and placed it on the counter. "You're going to give her a date night that will make her forget about it. Pair this with lobster and and a good filet mignon and she'll forget just about anything and be in awe of you. Just stay away from her hair as a subject, go with her eyes, her lips, her hands, fingers, make sure to kiss those."
"Putting the tractor pod before the cargo, there, Michelle," Peter grumbled. "First have to get her to agree to a dinner date. If she isn't researching a story, I'm just her roommate." He let out a sigh he normally would keep to himself. Outwardly he was far more happy-go-lucky about life and love, and he wouldn't deny that the doc and others had been pleasant distractions, but in the end, that's all they were. Bradley was only so much help, but Peter didn't fault him for that. No guy wants someone asking how to date his sister, even a spiritual sister, even if it's the guy's friend. Plus, he knew his reputation, and he knew that was working against him. Still, he hadn't expected to fall for his roommate, of all people, in the first place.
"Need Kally to distract me," he muttered. "At least that'd keep my mind clear for a few hours."
Michelle shook her head and thought back to what she knew about Erika. The crewman wasn’t a common sight in the lounge and, like Peter had said, she was someone who did a lot of research and always had a PADD with her. She put the bottle down and took the few steps between her and Peter, placing a gentle hand on his forearm, “What sort of stories does she research? Does she have any other hobbies that you know of? I know that you’ve probably already thought about that.” Michelle gave him a little tug and wrapped her hand into his, leading him towards the open space in the middle of the floor, spinning into and under his arm to subtly guide him to a slow dance positioning, get his mind in a particular mood.
Peter was a bit taken by surprise as he found himself with the attractive bartender pressed against him, dancing in the center of the bar, but he wasn't about to object. "Well, she um...she writes erotic stories. It's one of her favorite hobbies. Sometimes when she needs a particularly detailed love scene written out she'll have me help her by role playing the parts. It's..." he looked over Michelle's head trying to find the words. "I know she's just using me out of convenience, but after the first time, I was blown away. She's amazing." He looked back down. "And it's not just about the sex. I've had other partners who are great in bed, it's just...something about her." He shook his head. "But it's not just that. It's the way she chews the end of her stylus when she's editing, the way she mumbles the passages she's really happy with as she rereads them, and how her tongue sticks out a bit when she's concentrating on it. She loves cupcakes, but never bites them, just puts them whole in her mouth so her cheeks puff out like a hamster. It's the cutest thing I've ever seen. Her laugh is bright, her smile is pretty and when she's present and not lost in a story, she's fun." He looked down at Michelle and shrugged. "I mean, plenty of fun girls on board, right? I'm not exactly short on choice. I just...can't get her out of my head. Doesn't help she's my roommate, so she's literally three feet away, while a world apart."
Michelle chuckled at the vision his words gave her, the affection not just in his voice, but in his mind as the wonder in those emotions were echoed in that voice. She was almost certain what that meant, that it was love and not just a passing fancy. Of course, the trust that Erika clearly had in him was important, maybe she just didn’t know, or was waiting for Peter to come to a conclusion and finally broach the subject, “You know, you may be ‘convenient’ to her, but are you sure that all she’s using you for is for plot exposition?” She continued the music-less dance with him, “Does she sleep around a lot? Girls? Guys? Do you ever get back home and find her in Eros’s embrace with someone?” The questions sounded like an interrogation, but were so soft that it was clear that she was only using them as words, “I’m. It in your quarters, but I’m willing to bet that last doesn’t really happen, that she’s usually there when you get there. After all, she’s letting you into her mind and soul-space by bouncing ideas off of you, with you deeply involved.” Her voice was very suggestive at the end.
"That's pretty much the only time she's close," he said, with a slight shrug. "Otherwise she's got her nose buried in a story or I suggest we get dinner, go to the holodeck or have sex, and she's always casual about it, like I'm one of her girlfriends suggesting a night out." He shook his head. "She doesn't bring anyone home. Neither do I. I usually go to someone else's quarters when I need...a distraction." He hated using the word but it was the best thing for it. "I know she hangs out w/Kally and some of her cohorts so I can't imagine she's living like a nun when I'm not there."
“Not with Kally there, I wouldn’t imagine.” Michelle chuckled, “She and my aunt are two reasons I don’t get that much of a clientele here, leaves me more time to bone up on some other things and certifications. The problem you have is that you’re not being clear that you want to take this Roommates With Benefits thing further than what it is.” She gave him a tight embrace, “Do you ever just put music on at home and grab her to dance, like this? Not sex, at least not right away, find out what music she enjoys, but then just dance. She’s Chinese in origin, if I have her name right, so…. Pink Peonies in an arrangement around a planted purple orchid… And you and I will coordinate so that you and she can have an absolutely romantic dinner here with her. Make her feel special, and it’ll be a surprise for her. That should set the right mood, because you don’t want something informal like just ‘going to a Holodeck’ or grabbing dinner from the mess. Separate yourself from the pack.”
Peter would be lying if he said he didn't have a weakness for a pretty face, and having Michelle pressed against him was definitely weakening him, but her words weren't lost on him. Something she'd just said was needling the back of his brain, but he couldn't put his finger on it. The idea of just asking her to dance, however, hadn't even occurred to him. He'd been so careful to try and be casual so as to not scare her or ruin what they had, that he hadn't really thought of anything bold. "Good advice," he thought to himself. He didn't dance often, but he could get used to it. Feeling Michelle against him was certainly pleasant enough. A bit too pleasant, as he realized they were now so close that they were practically wrapped around each other, and the effect was not lost on him as he felt himself press against her. "Sorry about that. You're...inspiring," he said, grinning down at her.
“Why are you sorry?” She batted her eyelashes up at him, clearly knowing what he was apologizing to her about, but just as equally welcoming of the growing erection, “Besides, you yourself said you could use a distraction and Kally just happens to be on the station already. I’d be more than happy to help you with your problems.”
Peter looked down at her beautiful eyes and as the offer sank in, the strain between them only became starker. "At the risk of sounding boastful," he said, "we're going to fall pretty far behind schedule if we do."
“Oh no, whatever will we do.” Michelle deadpanned with a laugh, contradictory though that was, “We’ve got plenty of time, don’t you worry about that.
He gave a grin and shrugged amiably, not letting her go. "Well, I didn't say I wouldn't want to. My quarters or yours?"
“Almost everybody is off the ship already.” Michelle remarked, leaning up to give him a surprisingly chaste kiss on his lips before separating herself and grabbing his hand towards the bar, “Help me up on the bar, let’s try something bold.”
Peter prided himself on his strength and as he pulled her back to him he grabbed her rear, pulling her up and holding her against him as he walked to the bar and rested her on it, kissing her before he vaulted up onto it with her.
Michelle brushed down her outfit after having to take a couple minutes to get it untangled and back on. She enjoyed the complicated twists and attachment points of the short dress, but it wasn’t meant to be easily removable and put back onable again.
Peter was lying naked on the bar top still, staring at something only he could see, trying to remember his own name. He turned over to look at Michelle and let out a yelp as he accidentally rolled to the end of the bar. He quickly caught himself and swung his legs over, dropping to the floor and standing up on shaky legs.
Michelle, meanwhile, finished with the final touches just as Peter was straightening up, then leaned up to give him a smoldering slow-burn kiss, her arms wrapping behind his neck for support. Something for him to remember her by. “I hope you feel at least a little better now.”
Peter couldn't quite recall a time he'd felt better. He kissed her back and had to fight the impulse to yank her dress back off her, even though she'd pretty much alleviated him of the need to do so. He fought to get back the breath she took from him and cleared his throat, looking for his boxers and finding them where she'd dropped them. "More than a little," he said at last. He quickly threw his uniform back on, and as he straightened it, grabbed her and lifted her onto a barstool, so he could return the kiss properly. "Thanks," he said, smiling at her.
He looked into her eyes and the way she was smiling at him struck a chord. "Wait," he said, standing up straight as his thoughts from earlier broke through. "Kally and your aunt...your aunt is the Captain?"
Before she could respond, the doors to the lounge opened and three men walked in, looking around briefly before seeing the unexpected couple at the other end of the room.
"Hi," Peter said, confused. "You guys from the station, I presume?"
“Hey now, my bar,” Michelle teased him with a smile before turning in the stool to face who he was talking to and she almost stopped cold. Outwardly, these three newcomers were dressed as engineers, a junior grade Lieutenant and two enlisted, but while two of them were focused on her and Peter, the third was taking a searching look around and the determination flowing off of them just seemed wrong. There was a fraction of a second of hesitation as she reached automatically for Peter’s hand, “What he said.” She said almost idly to the trio.
“That we are,” the officer stated, “We’re doing a last sweep of the ship to make sure everyone’s off before the deadline. You know about the Baryon sweep of course.” He made a show of looking at the unfinished work, “Are you going to make the deadline?” One of the others was lifting the top of one box to look in before dropping the lid back on.
“We…got a little distracted,” Michelle said, squeezing Peter’s hand, “But we’re almost finished packing up. But since you’re here, would you like a drink?” The attention focused on her and Peter made her brain want to split, her instinct telling her that something was terribly wrong. The last one in seemed to be focused on his belt, thumb hooked into it as if he needed to be right where it was. Her eyes flickered from one to the next, her smile inviting to them.
“Yeah, sure.” The second one, the NCO, said instead of the officer, “Whatcha got?”
“Hey, we’ve got a job to do.” The third one finally spoke, “We’re going to have to escort you off the ship. They changed the time of the sweep, I guess you didn’t get the word. But maybe, sure, one drink won’t hurt.”
Peter had warned her they'd be behind, but truth be told they were almost done. Still, odd the inspectors would be fine with drinking on the job. But, as she said, her bar. He gave the men a polite smile and offered Michelle a hand back to the floor.
Michelle slid off the barstool and turned to Peter, rising on her toes to give him a chaste kiss on his lips, “Play it cool.” She muttered through the kiss, before returning to her flat feet, “Peter, honey, would you get that bottle of Devris Reserve from that second box?” She batted her eyelashes at him.
He glanced at her use of the word 'honey' but put on a smile. "Of course, sweetheart," he said, heading for the last box of bottles. "You guys are in luck. She's pulling out the good stuff," he said, putting on a friendly smile while he watched them.
As she watched Peter move off, she took a sniff of the air. “Oof, sorry about that.. Mind if I light something to freshen the air up?” She started to move around the bar and suddenly three weapons were brought out as her hands disappeared.
Peter blushed a bit as he pulled the lid off the box, but tried not to let it show.
“Hold it!” The ‘NCO’ barked and Michelle froze, “Move slowly now, girl. You over there,” Another weapon was pointed at Peter, “Don’t do anything stupid.”
Peter's spine went stiff and he froze in place, watching the gun pointed at him. He stood up slowly, the crate lid in his hands as an ineffective shield, trying to judge how far it was to put himself between the gunmen and Michelle.
Michelle slowly brought her hands up over the bar, already having retrieved the stick, “It’s all right, see?” She held up the incense stick, “It’s just cinnamon and vanilla, it’s a bit ripe in here right now for my tastes.” She slowly slid herself over, hands always visible and stuck the stick into a candle on the counter, reaching over for the small plasma torch on the counter and flicking it to life and lighting the end of the incense stick, leaning over to blow on it until the end was a cherry red and she gauged it.
“All right, you’ve lit it, now come out over here.” The NCO stated, his gun never leaving her and Michelle did what he wanted.
Peter stepped closer to her as well, his eyes never leaving the weapon. "Look, fellas, if you're here to 'appropriate' a few bottles and such before the sweep, I'm sure she's willing to part with a few good ones. Let's not make this bigger than it needs to be."
Michelle kept her hands in plain sight, but mentally started counting, "You can have anything you want, on the house." She agreed with Peter while moving around the back of the bar and into the open again. Now all three weapons were pointed in the same area, "There's an actual bottle of Jack Daniels, 2215, behind the bar. I'll admit, I was saving it for a special occasion, but this is as good of one as any."
"This is not as good as any," Peter muttered, her surrendering that bottle almost causing him physical pain.
"Drake, go get it." The 'Officer' lowered his weapon and went around to the back of the bar while the 'NCO' kept his weapon pointed at the pair. "We're going to be taking you two into custody and over to the mess hall. That's where we're going to keep you all until we know what we're going to do with you. Is there anyone else in here that we can't see? If they don't show themselves, they're not going to get lucky a second time."
"No, no one else here besides us." Michelle finally found herself next to Peter as her eyes flicked around, "What do you guys want? We're not armed, we were just trying to get this stuff moved."
"They want us," Peter said. "If they wanted the stuff, they'd have actually helped us carry it, then run off." He watched the NCO twitch in confirmation. "What's wrong, guys? Schedule a bit off? Worried the sweep will start while we're all here?"
"Shut up and stand still," the NCO said. Peter wasn't a huge tactician, but even he knew they were outnumbered and had a weapon pointed at them at nearly all angles. His one priority at the moment was keeping himself as 'between' the weapons and Michelle and he was slowly rotating her away from them towards the wall.
“Go check them, Hawk.” The lowest ranked one said, “And no funny business by the two of you. If I get the slightest idea you’re going to try to take his weapon, you’re both going to die.” The NCO stayed out of the line of fire as he moved around to behind the two prisoners and kept his gun trained on Peter while he used one hand to pat down Michelle, clearly groping her as he did so. He ignored Peter's growl of protest and pressed his weapon to the back of Peter's head, reminding him not to be a hero. He plucked something from her pocket and tossed it to the side, then finally satisfied moved over to do the same with Peter, but more professionally, finding nothing.
“They’re clear now; she had something.” He moved back and away towards the bar, “Make with that whiskey, Drake.”
The one behind the bar, Drake, had four bottles on the counter now, his gun lying next to them, then pulled out a JD bottle and checked the date. “This isn’t 2215? This is 2345!” Unnoticed, the incense stick next to them started to glow brighter at the tip
“You’re right.” Michelle said, a smile starting to form, “And that’s not incense.” Only she was truly prepared for what came next and she lunged for Peter with her hands to try to cover his ears as best as she could as the brightness increased suddenly and the carefully disguised flashing grenade exploded.
Peter saw the flash build and turned away, trying to shield his eyes as he used the distraction to land a fist on the jaw of the guy behind him. He grabbed Michelle and lifted her bodily off the floor, running for the bar doors. He heard the shouts and random weapons fire behind him and swung Michelle around in front of him to shield her. When he heard the shift in the carpeting, he knew he was in the corridor, but he didn't slow down until they'd put some distance between themselves and the bar. Most rooms were locked to prevent people wandering in or getting lost and he didn't find an unlocked door until he reached the turbolift.
He put Michelle down and tapped his combadge. "Kozlowski to security." The silence didn't make him feel better. "Kozlowski to bridge. Kozlowski to anyone, respond." He cursed inwardly. "Jammed. Question is, where is the jammer. They can have it anywhere on board."
Michelle fought him unsuccessfully but not very hard, “Dammit, that’s my best taser and I really wanted to kick that guy in the balls!” She threw a kick back in the direction of the the lounge, “No touching the merchandise without permission!” She barked back towards them, then sighed. “They’ll probably have it with whoever is leading this foray. Bridge, I’m guessing, maybe engineering.”
"If we can get to Engineering, I know how to signal the station," Peter said. "But we need to get there fast." He pressed the button for the lift and kept an eye out. "Hopefully they won't cause too much damage to your things."
“I hate to leave them there, but don’t worry, the 2215 I have is safe in a, well…safe. You don’t think I’d keep that behind the bar, do you? You know how expensive that stuff is?” she gave him a nervous smile.
Peter grinned and chuckled, despite the situation. He pulled himself together quickly, remembering he was now responsible for the safety of a civilian. He looked at her expression and patted here shoulder. "You're handling this great," he said. "Just stay with me and we'll get through it." It sounded like the stupid platitudes officers said, but for the moment it would apply.
“I’ll take your word on that, Peter, I’m used to a different sort of chaos than this, hence the taser and it’s good to know those flash-sticks work as advertised.” The adrenaline was real in her and she looked back again. “But I’ll tell you what, you get me out of this in one piece and you’ll get some of that 2215 on the house.”
The lift arrived and he turned with relief as the doors opened, but his relief evaporated as a weapon pointed right at his face. "Of course...the backup."
"Let's go," the man said, gesturing back to the corridor. Unlike the others, this one had no rank, just a set of coveralls, and unlike the others, his voice was calm and collected, less prone to distraction or mistake.
"I'll go with you. Leave her; let her go to the station. She's just a civilian," Peter said.
"Sorry, no one's leaving," the man said, gesturing for them to turn around and walk.
Peter pulled Michelle in front of him and stepped back into the corridor.
"So you gather us in the mess hall and let the sweep kill us?" Peter said as they walked.
"You won't get killed unless you do something egregiously stupid," the man said. "If you sit tight and stop causing problems, everyone gets out alive."
"And I'll just take your word on that," Peter said sarcastically.
"That's right," the man said, finality in his voice.
They reached the mess hall, and Peter noticed a security lock on the doors. The man put a scanner against it and it beeped and the doors opened. "Inside," he said.
Peter pushed Michelle in then turned to swing, hoping at least to knock the weapon out of the man's hand, but as he turned, the man fired and hit him square in the chest, the force of it knocking him into the mess hall with the others, stunned and unconscious.
The man closed the doors and locked them again, walking down to the lounge to check on his people.
