=/\= The Brig =/\=
Brent could not hide the slight smile that was plastered on his face. He was happy. Very happy in fact. He was walking up to the doors of the Brig not even bothering to stop for half a moment. He had several ideas in mind on how he wanted to handle this best. One of them, more of a comedy option, involved walking in, shutting the forcefield down before throwing Sakarra over his shoulder thumping his chest once or twice with a free hand before leaving. He figured that any woman would probably dislike that though, especially one from a more matriarchal society. As a result, the sensible option won out in the end.
Brent stepped inside of the Brig and moved up to the first cell where he saw the Commander still sitting and meditating. He idly wondered if she had moved very much if at all from when he had last seen her. "Lieutenant Commander Tyrax. Commander Marcus has seen fit to move you back to your quarters where you are to remain under confinement until the entire situation is to be resolved. If you will please come with me," he said in his authoritarian voice, note quite the Drill Instructor voice but still one that he used with his Marines. He motioned that the two marines there in the brig should follow him, as they moved over to help escort the Commander to her quarters. Brent nodded at the security officer as the force field disappeared from in front of Sakarra.
Familiar footsteps, sure and confident, and right now decidedly with a certain ease to them, made her thoughts return to the surface and Sakarra blinked languidly before looking up at the towering figure who had just walked through the doors.
It actually took her a full 0.8 seconds to make the connection between the smile on Brent's face and the tone of voice, but it would hardly do to derail him after he had so flawlessly intimidated the poor guards.
"Certainly, Lieutenant."
With fluid grace, the young woman got to her feet and gave a brief incline of her head towards the ambassador seated on the bunk. It seemed hardly fair the injured human should have to remain, but it would be pointless to argue. Not to mention there was a look in the Marine's deep blue eyes that prompted a quirked brow at last.
She had barely stepped out of the cell when the field was reactivated and her entourage lined up – truly, three Marines for one small Vulcan? Fascinating.
"I am not certain whether I should feel honored or insulted by warranting such attention."
Still, she kept her melodious voice as level as possible, tilting her head upwards to let a calm gaze wander over the three males. Rather like a tsh'in surrounded by full grown Sehlat, she was nonetheless politely, almost gently, herded out into the corridor. It might have been the way Brent was hovering over her small frame that made the others keep a wary distance, and it certainly didn't do much to quell the surge of humor already twinkling in Sakarra's eyes.
The trip to the turbolift was quiet and uneventful. Brent stayed silent as did his Marines. Neither of them paid much attention to Sakarra or Brent, apparently they had heard the rumors. When the lift opened the three Marines escorted Sakarra down the corridor to her quarters. The two Marines took up position outside of her quarters as guards properly should. Brent nodded at them, "I'll make sure everything is fine out here." he said and opened the doors to Sakarra's quarters and followed her inside.
Once inside and the doors closed his slight smile grew into a large one as he made the motion for the two fingers for the greeting that they had come accustom to exchanging. Only this time when Sakarra moved to match his greeting Brent moved his hand down scooping her up by her waist bringing her close for a deep and passionate kiss.
'Told you I'd get you out of there.'
As usual, she should have expected it and … had not. Not this fast, at least.
The embrace literally lifted Sakarra off her feet and she would have made a startled sound had there been any time for it. Instead, she barely managed to blink before his lips descended onto hers and she reflexively dug her hands into his uniform, even as her body relaxed against him.
Inevitably, the flames raged up her spine, having been denied before and held at bay, while the mindlink flared to life with near painful intensity. Unable to formulate a coherent reply or regain her footing to counter this marvelous assault, she was torn between laughter and impatience, clinging to the rough uniform jacket like a woman drowning.
At last, he seemed inclined to take a breath, but kept holding her close, watching with clear joy and more than a little amusement how she struggled in the firm hold he had on her, ready to curse him, and while she was at it, the heavy robes that hindered her movements.
"Brent Warren, while I am most grateful for fulfilling your promise, you will either proceed immediately with what you started or face the consequences."
A rather low but malevolent laugh came over Brent as he smiled. "Not just yet my dear," he said as he gently tapped her nose once before he let her down from his close embrace. "I have something planned, something very nice where we will be able to finish what I started so to speak. But first we have to take a little trip," he said and winked at Sakarra. "Now behave yourself we will have company."
"Savant? Can I get your help with something?"
She did not appear, but her voice was summoned with little fanfare. She sounded amused, "Of course, Brevet."
Behave? The Look directed at Brent should by all rights have sent him running for cover, but the young Vulcan found her curiosity sparked and it sufficiently delayed her response. Before she could decide what to do about this … impossible male, Savant's voice forced her to put any suitable retribution on hold.
And what was that about a trip?
"We need to make an exit unseen to the uninhabited quarters that you told me about a bit ago, and then we need to remain unseen there for the duration of our stay and make sure that our absence here is not detected. It would after all be a great misfortune after all if we were to miss the show because of something as silly as this. Could you help us with that? I would be greatly in your debt," Brent said leaving out that he was slightly annoyed with Savant that she had helped to distract him while Sakarra was off committing her 'crimes' earlier.
"Of course, Brevet." she replied, her tone smooth, the sounds of the worlds liquid in their fluidity and confidence. Before the last phoneme had slipped from the room's speakers they felt the familiar tingle of an annular confinement beam wrap about them both, drawing the world upwards in a blue sparkling haze.
It lasted barely a few seconds. Savant was quick; she forestalled the computers' attempts to log the transport and meanwhile choreographed several routine diagnostics at the same moment in order to ensure that the power loss of the transport was not traced. The two escapees found themselves in a darkened crew quarters on the port side, a magnificent panoramic view of the stellar nursery splashed out before them. Ten thousand stars spun themselves up into existence, a slow ballet that spanned millennia and made the opening act for all life and love. A fitting show.
Brent smiled as they were transported over to the unoccupied quarters. The darkness helped to accentuate the images the stars were giving them as Brent leaned over and put an arm around Sakarra. "Thank you Savant. I really appreciate it," he said. But she didn't reply. Even a computer program knew when further intervention would just get in the way.
Sakarra could not help it – for several long seconds she was completely still, the telltale sign of a Vulcan entranced by what she saw. Fascinating, even astonishing were insufficient, pale, if not insultingly feeble words to describe … this.
Despite the Vulcan's inquisitive nature, prompting the immediate wish to dive into such a marvel with every sense and technological equipment available, to see, examine, pick apart, uncover more, and revel in every detail with deeply lived, though almost always silent joy, she found herself unable to do anything but gaze in wonder at the entirety of what was spread before them.
=/\= To be continued ... =/\=
Captain Savant
Command Liaison
Brevet 1st Lieutenant Brent Warren
Marine Commander
Lt Cmdr Sakarra Tyrax
Chief Helm
USS Charon
