Baseballs, Spikes, and Laxatives?

Posted on Sat Nov 16th, 2024 @ 1:58pm by Lieutenant Fang Lee & Lieutenant Commander Jason Frankley

1,623 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Stars Around the Well
Location: StarBase 2

ON:

Giovanni and Vance had spent a few days getting to know each other. Giovanni was starting to understand why Adrianna liked him. He had a good sense of humour for one and was a very smart guy. If it weren't for the obvious, Vance would have made a great Starfleet captain. Still, life didn't pan out as such.

"... Yes, so that's when Adie decided that grappa production wasn't for her," the Italian chuckled, shaking his head at the memory of his sister being creeped out by worms.

A man in uniform soon walked over, "Captain Baciami, Jason Frankley. I wanted to introduce myself. You have a wonderful sister."

Giovanni smiled politely and shook his hand, "Thank you, Lieutenant. You served with her on your last ship, didn't you? She didn't mention you, I'm afraid. I've not been in touch for a week or so." A lie, but Giovanni felt it was subtle enough to hurt his ego a little, "tell me, what is she like being a head of department? This is only her second ship in this capacity."

Jason shifted a little, but took it as she just didn't talk to her brother much. "She's very good at what she does, sir. A force to be reckoned with, for sure. A number of the lower decks and engineers are scared of her. I think they've been reading too many horror stories. I didn't find her that terrifying."

Giovanni chuckled, "she keeps us in check too. If you didn't find her terrifying, you are either really brave or really stupid." He looked to Vance, a glint of mischief in his eyes, "sorry, lieutenant Frankley, this is Adrianna's future husband, Vance."

Jason's smile dropped and he cleared his throat a little, "nice to put a face to the name."

Vance smiled. "Hey Paly! Nice to meet you." He held out his hand and when Jason reluctantly took it he put in a death squeeze as he shook it. "I've heard everything about you. Simply everything. I was dying to meet you."

Jason retracted his hand rather quickly, "must admit, I feel the same way. I wanted to meet the man she wanted to quit Starfleet for. Equally, I wanted to meet the man that could forget such an amazing woman."

Giovanni watched the exchange carefully. He would defend Vance, of course, but Jason deserved what would come if he tried his luck.

Vance laughed and tapped his head. "An elephant never forgets my friend...just temporarily misplaces but never forgets." He shrugged. "Yeah she is an amazing woman. You seem to have great taste so I like that but tell you what one thing I never forgot even with a bump on the head and oh I don't know two bottles of Grappa in my system is morality and what is right and wrong." He picked up a bag. "I was hoping to meet you I have a peace offering." He reached in an pulled out a baseball tossing it to Jason. "Know what that is?"

Jason seemed to get a little pale, not knowing how much Giovanni knew. He didn't want to get off on the wrong foot with his new captain. Jason caught the ball and looked confused. He looked at Vance, "as much as I would enjoy using this, I don't understand."

Vance smiled. "In three, two, one," Two spikes popped out of the ball pricking Jason's fingers. As the ball dropped he bent down to pick it up and removed the two spikes which he threw in his bag. He gave the ball back to Jason.

Jason grunted in pain and glared at Vance. He was a complete psycho. Adrianna deserved better.

"Now then since you are still on your feet there was nothing on those spikes that would kill you. Just a friendly reminder that it's important to be a moral upstanding citizen in Starfleet and a souvenir to remind you that I am an excellent ball player!" He wrapped an arm around Jason. "Just be the nice upstanding Starfleet member that Adrianna believes that you can be and there will be no problem. Pull any of your old habits again and that ball will be so far shoved down your throat that it would take proctologist 48 hours to remove it."

He turned to Giovanni. "Well then brother mine. I should get going. Let me know how the new upgrades ya'll made to the ship work out. I will be in touch. I shall see you at the family reunion pending your sister doesn't kill me post surprise."

Giovanni raised a brow, and lowered his voice for just Vance's ears, "here's me thinking this was just going to be a threat along the lines of 'come near Ade again, and I'll beat you with the corresponding bat'. I'm proud of you, Vance."

Jason glared at Vance, "you don't deserve a woman like that. What man is psycho enough to make something like that? Equally, you need to let her go. Your relationship was built on a lie, at least with me she has never lied to me or felt the need to lie. You are a mere criminal and this will pass. She belongs with someone more like me."

Giovanni put a hand on Jason's chest firmly, stopping him, "don't Frankley."

"Don't? Don't what? Protect your sister from this criminal? Fight for a woman I am in love with? What? Don't what?" Jason's eyes remained focused on Vance.

Giovanni dropped his voice, "your options were a year on my ship or being discharged completely for harassment amongst other things. Choose your next words carefully."

Jason's eyes went back to Giovanni and nodded, "you're wrong about him, captain. Men like him do not deserve second chances."

Giovanni nodded, "nor do men like you. Leave."

Jason shrugged Giovanni off and went to leave but first stopped next to Vance. He shoved the ball into Vance's hold and lowered his voice just for Vance to hear, "when Ade wakes up and realises her mistake, I will be waiting for her with open arms, and I will be sure that you know that she ran back to me-- be it a picture, video or message log."

He snorted. "Well sugar. Had I known you suffer from delusions I would have been nicer. Enjoy your new posting somehow I have a feeling you'll be thinking about me a lot. I'm so flattered already." He watched Jason go and blew him a kiss. "Ta then."

"Now that was fun," He said turning to Giovanni.

"Sometimes-- only sometimes-- the best kind of warfare is psychological," Giovanni grinned, "out of interest-- got any more of those balls? I fancy a game of catch with my brother's when I next see them. We'll call it Italian roulette-- like Russian, but less deadly."

"I'll walk you to your shuttle," Gio smiled, "when you do see my sister. Can you make sure she's ok. I know it sounds obvious, but she's only been reinstated for a year or so. I worry about her and I know that between Jason being... Jason... And you bring resurrected-- It's a lot to take."

He snorted. "I got lots." He reached into his bag. "Here's two more. Believe it or not your sister inspired that one. We were playing catch one day and accidently threw it to hard and she didn't catch it thus I won the little match and I was gloating and she said to me and I quote. Put a Spike in it And I thought brilliant! So here we are." He snorted. "Oh as for making sure she's okay I will. I got Zai looking out for her. His people are empath healers and I know he's gonna help her as much as he can." He looked at Giovanni. "Jason was right about one thing."

"Makes sense that she'd think of something that barbaric," Giovanni chuckled, but his smile quickly faded.

"She can fool an empath, Vance-- years of training and being undercover," Gio sighed, "if he can feel her emotions, it's too late." He paused and looked up, "you best have a genuine response, because I think the only thing that man gets right is the fact he put his uniform on straight."

"Well okay then that's two things right. The Uniform thing and the fact that she's too good for me." He sighed. "Oh um...I do have to admit to something and... I totally understand if you are pissed off."

"Trust me, no-one is perfect, just perfect for someone," Giovanni nodded. "And, if it's about the fact that you pushed a scary clown into me and almost got me drowned, I've already put two and two together. You are forgiven," Giovanni grinned.

"Oh well that's one thing I was more thinking about boy wonder there. Those spikes...I said they wouldn't harm him... kind of lied. They had a formula used on the Catian world to make their people cough up hairballs. Nothing lethal but he'll be coughing up imaginary fur balls for a few days and it will...um... have a rather big laxative effect on humans so ... there is that." He smiled impishly. "Sorry I couldn't resist."

Giovanni froze for a moment, silently processing. He had the same thinking face as his sister. It was then that he shrugged, "not deadly, don't care. Come on, let's get you to my sister."

Vance laughed. "Well I think you and I will get along great! Enjoy the show in the coming days. I should really be worried that I don't feel bad about all this." He shrugged. "Oh well!"

"He hurt your love, my sister," Giovanni chuckled, "it's karma, right?"

He grinned. "Yup."

OFF:

 

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