Lipstick Stain - Part I

Posted on Tue Nov 12th, 2024 @ 8:23am by Lieutenant Adrianna Baciami & Lieutenant Fang Lee & Lieutenant JG Zai

1,236 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Stars Around the Well
Location: Main Engineering | USS Arcadia

ON:

The following day, Adrianna made her way down to engineering. She needed to speak to both Zai and Fang, and didn't know who to start with, but in one sense, it didn't matter. The engineers still seemed on edge with her, which Adrianna thought was amusing, but equally--wondered how long it would take for Vance to prove to them that Adrianna was a secret sweetheart-- well, only to him. Ah, her reputation would be lost. She didn't care, she was too happy to care, though a serious and professional aura stayed about her and across her face.

Stepping into the office she looked around, "both of you here at the same time? Excellent I can kill two birds with one pebble." She ensured to door shut behind her before speaking, "who wants to go first in terms of listening to what I have to say?" There was something cold and disconcerting about her demeanour.

Zai had just come into Fang's office to drop off some reports and blissfully Adrianna had walked in before Fang could say anything. He looked at her. "Timing is excellent and in gratitude I shall take the whipping first."

She walked up to him and placed her hands on his collar as if about to hit him. Her demeanour was cold and also psychopathic, pulling him close to her. But suddenly, a huge smile crossed her lips and she kissed his cheek leaving a lipstick stain on his cheek. The emotion of pure joy radiating from her. "I was right-- he's back and it's all that's to you and your people. You won't know this, but I am terrified of mind melding and anything to do with the mind, but evidently-- in this case, it was exactly what was needed-- he's back. Vance is Vance."

Adrianna turned to Fang and stepped back from Zai, "that leaves you. Have you made a decision about that engineer yet?"

Fang's eyes widened. "Well...no, not yet."

She handed over a PaDD, "let me help you make that decision. That man was captain Vincent Adams, notorious smuggler-- one of the most successful on Freecloud. Operation drifting gallivant-- the parts that are available to the public and XOs and Higher. He may not look good on paper as he has not been in fleet for long, but there is his full resume. He has unorthodox methods, but he maintained the Pendragon, single handedly, and is very resourceful. He is a man that I would trust-- I would, and have, put my life in his hands."

She paused, "from a personal perspective: I would like my other half on board."

Fang sighed. He waved a hand. "Fine, you both get your engineer."

Adrianna grabbed Fang and kissed his cheek, also leaving a lipstick mark, "I will at least give you a favour I'm return-- Our situation-- with a crew mate. I'll allow you to handle it how you want. As my other half will not appreciate it being left and I will be unable to hide from it."

Fang smiled an evil grin. "Ohhhh good."

Adrianna sighed, "I don't want to know about it though. I'm sure Zai would enjoy helping since he had to put up with me stealing his bath a few times, sharing emotions and equally having to deal with Vance-- the engineer in question-- bugging to find out what happened. I only told you and K'Var what happened." She looked at Zai, "though I'm sure that further to a drink we had together, you figured out that it was about Jason. You just don't know what happened. Nor does Vance."

Zai looked around. "That mean I get to vent someone?"

Her eyes went back to Fang as if waiting for permission to tell Zai. Her eyes went back to Zai and sighed, "if you tell Vance, just give me a warning, ok? I don't know how he would react. Jason didn't appreciate me choosing Vance over him. He has made this clear, twice. Once whilst drunk, which got very serious, but I managed to snap him out of it. The other time-- well, you were the one that fixed what happened in the corridor opposite my quarters." She looked to the floor feeling a little guilty before looking back to Fang, "Jason is not a bad guy, this just hit a nerve."

"I'm not worried." Fang said. "Oh I spoke to your mother. She said hi so did Giovanni? I think that's his name."

"Gio?" She asked, "he should be off on his maiden voyage as captain now. My mother would never leave Earth. Are you sure it was Giovanni? There are 8 boys. Marco and Franco are closest to my mother and Franco is between ships at the moment." Adrianna reached into her jacket and pulled out a family photo, handing it to Fang, "wait-- why were you talking to my mother?"

"She called me to ask what my mother liked. As a birthday present. Giovanni called because he wanted to talk CO to XO about his new recruit." Fang smiled in an evil way. I promised I wouldn't send the footage to him but I did an interpretive dance...explaining the situation. He was quite taken by my interpretation."

Ade nodded her understanding at the gift but the second her mentioned new recruit and telling Gio what had happened she turned at little pale, her stomach turning, "you cazzone!" She punched him, "I said to transfer him there, not to tell him why! Gio will kill him for what he did, or rather-- tried to do! What is wrong with you! He's going to call me and shout at me for being so lenient, isn't he?"

"He won't. I promise. He told me he would be very nice to Jason. He will take a personal interest in teaching him the ropes...or did he say chains...One of those." Fang waved a hand. "And I didn't tell him I told you I made an interpretive dance version."

Zai watched the two. "Huh?"

Fang looked around Adrianna. "Don't worry about it. It's been handled."

Adrianna glared at Fang, she let her rage seep out, but quickly pushed it down, "our new engineer, Vance, if he finds out, he will kill Jason. We keep this between us, please. Jason is not a bad guy, just troubled."

"Fine."

Zai looked at them. "Seriously ya'll are leaving me out."

Adrianna to a breath and looked to Zai, "I'll allow you to view both pieces of CCTV, one from both incidents. If you tell Vance-- I will not have blood on my hands on this matter. I want nothing more to do with this -- no more than I have to be."

Zai looked. "Okay okay. I'm going to respect your decision. Sounds like I would want to blow the vents if I found out so I will just trust you to know what's best and tell me if I'm needed to press the vent button."

She looked back at Fang, there was a slight hesitation before she spoke, "there was one more incident-- happened this morning. Hardly worth a mention. He wasn't angry this time -- so you cannot reprimand me like last time. His friend in security pulled him away before anything happened. Everyone is fine."

Fang pinched the bridge of his nose. "What did he do now?"


To Be Continued...

 

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