Getting the Job Done

Posted on Tue Feb 11th, 2025 @ 5:37pm by Lieutenant Adrianna Baciami

2,598 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Stars Around the Well
Timeline: Past

The dimly lit bar hummed with low conversation and the occasional clink of glass against metal. Adrianna leaned against the table, her expression composed as she translated for Vance. Their client, a smooth-talking trader from an Earth-like colony planet, more specifically one that spoke Betazoid, had proven both shrewd and annoyingly persistent– not with the deal, but with his interest in her.

“Your captain drives a hard bargain, beautiful,” the trader murmured, his gaze lingering on her rather than the datapad in front of him, “but I think he doesn’t appreciate the true value of what’s in front of him.”

Adrianna barely reacted, keeping her voice neutral as she relayed the statement to Vance. She expected his usual sharp reply, but when she glanced up, she caught the way his jaw had tightened, the flicker of something unspoken in his eyes. “He can appreciate just fine,” Vance replied curtly, arms crossing over his chest, “Let’s stick to business.”

But the trader wasn’t deterred. He shifted closer to Adrianna, his fingers barely brushing hers as he handed back the datapad. “I’d much rather discuss other arrangements,” he said smoothly, “a woman of your talents shouldn’t be wasting her time running errands for–”

Vance didn't need to know what was said to read what was going on, “The deal’s off.”

Adrianna blinked. Vance had pushed back from the table abruptly, standing so rigid she thought he might actually hit the guy.

The trader raised a brow, clearly amused, “Oh? I thought you were desperate for supplies, Captain.”

Adrianna translated dutifully.

“Not that desperate,” Vance snapped. His gaze flickered to Adrianna, just for a second, as if daring her to argue. She said nothing.

The trader chuckled, shaking his head. “Shame. I was looking forward to future meetings,” He reached for Adrianna’s hand again, but this time, Vance moved first. Not violently– just enough to shift between them, to make his point.

Without another word, he turned and strode out of the bar. Adrianna let out a slow breath, snatching up the datapad, raising a finger to the trader as if to say ‘back in a minute’ before following Vance out.

She caught up just outside, grabbing his sleeve. “That was stupid,” she muttered, her voice low.

“He was a prick.”

“He was a useful prick.”

Vance exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair, “I don’t trust him.”

She studied him for a moment, her head tilting, “That all it was?”

His mouth pressed into a thin line, “Drop it, Reggimi.”

She could have– maybe she should have. But as he stalked off into the night, she couldn’t quite shake the feeling that– whether he’d admit it or not– Vance Adams had been jealous.

Adrianna jogged a few steps to catch up, grabbing Vance’s wrist this time instead of just his sleeve. He stopped, but didn’t look at her, his posture rigid as if bracing for an argument.

“You need those supplies so that we can get back to Freecloud, Vance,” she reminded him, keeping her voice low, “We both know that.”

Vance exhaled sharply, still staring ahead, “I’ll find another way.”

“With what money?” she challenged, “We went over the numbers– you, Lutz, me. This guy is the best deal we’re going to get unless you fancy gambling half our fuel away on the slim chance you win big. We need the fuel. We've already had Fleet prevent us from getting a job done, that means we're running short on funds. We should cut our losses. Get the supplies and go home to lick out wounds.”

His jaw clenched, but he didn’t answer. That was as good as admitting she was right.

Adrianna sighed and softened her tone, “Look, I know he’s a– I don't even know what a polite translation would be. I don’t like it either. But if I go back in there, I can play along just enough to get what we need– maybe even for even less, if I push the right buttons.”

That got his attention. He turned, eyes narrowing, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means I know how to handle men like him,” she said simply, “I’ll let him think he’s charming, maybe laugh at a bad joke or two. If I make him feel clever, he’ll cut the price just to impress me. That’s how these types work.”

Vance’s frown deepened, “I don’t like it.”

“You don’t have to like it,” she countered, “This is why you hired me. You just have to let me do my job.”

He was still tense, arms crossed tightly over his chest. Adrianna took a step closer, lowering her voice, “I can handle myself, Captain, and before you start brooding over it, that guy isn’t my type. But, I’ll flirt if it gets us the supplies we need– so don’t worry.”

Vance held her gaze for a long moment, something unreadable flickering in his expression. Then, finally, he sighed, looking away. “Fine,” he muttered, “but if he tries anything–”

“I’ll handle it,” she cut in smoothly, already turning back towards the bar, “You just try not to break anything while I’m gone. I'll meet you back at the ship.”

Just as Adrianna reached the door, Vance caught her wrist– not rough, not demanding, just enough to make her pause. She turned, one brow raised, but his expression wasn’t the usual guarded mask he wore so well. He looked conflicted– frustrated. “I don’t want you flirting with him,” he said, quieter this time, like it wasn’t just about the job anymore.

Adrianna tilted her head slightly, “Why?”

Vance exhaled through his nose, his grip tightening for half a second before he let go. He ran a hand through his hair, looking away, “because I want you to be only mine.”

She didn’t say anything right away. She didn’t tease him, didn’t make it harder than it already was for him to admit. Instead, she just studied him, letting the words settle between them.

Then, she smiled– soft, knowing. “I know,” she said simply.

Before he could respond, she leaned up and pressed a kiss to his cheek, her lips barely lingering before she pulled away. No hesitation, no second-guessing. She bit her lips, still tasting his skin on them. She smiled and blushed.

Then, just like that, she turned and slipped back into the bar, leaving him standing there in the dim light, watching her go. His hand went to his cheek where she had kissed him and couldn't help but smile and relax. He wasn't ashamed– of course he was a fool in love.

***

A few hours later, Adrianna strolled into Vance’s quarters without so much as a knock, a satisfied smirk playing on her lips. He was slouched in his chair, boots propped up on the edge of the table, nursing a half-forgotten drink.

She didn’t say a word– just dropped a datapad onto his lap.

Vance frowned and went to reprimand the intruder for not even knocking, but saw it was her and picked up the pad, skimming through the figures. His brows shot up, “this can’t be right.”

“Oh, it’s right,” she said, stretching lazily as if she hadn’t just spent hours smooth-talking a trader who thought he was getting the better deal, “twice the amount we originally wanted. Quarter of the going rate.”

Vance’s gaze flicked up to her, sharp and wary, “How?”

She rolled her eyes, flopping into the chair across from him, “I told you– I played the game. He thinks he charmed me into a bargain, when really, I bled him dry.”

Vance didn’t look convinced, “Did he touch you?”

She snorted, “Not if he wanted to keep his hands.”

His grip on the datapad tightened, jaw ticking as he set it aside, “so what, you just flirted your way into a deal this good?”

“Vance,” she said, voice carrying an amused lilt, “you really underestimate how easily a man like that will cut his own throat just for the chance to impress a woman when he is that egotistical. I made him feel smart, I made him feel powerful, and I made him feel like he was the one in control.”

Vance exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand down his face, “I still don’t like it.”

“You weren’t supposed to,” she said with a smirk, “You’re just supposed to say ‘thank you, Adrianna, for being the most brilliant, beautiful and effective crew member on this ship’.”

He scowled, shaking his head. “I don’t like it,” he repeated, but this time it lacked any real bite.

Adrianna’s smirk softened completely, and she reached across the table, tapping a finger against the back of his hand as if to regain his focus so that he could see that she was being honest and acknowledging his feelings on the matter, “You don’t have to like it, capitano. You just have to trust me.”

Vance stared at her for a long moment, then exhaled, shaking his head again– this time in something close to reluctant admiration, “you’re dangerous, Reggimi.”

Her smirk returned, “and yet, you still want me to be yours. I'll expect you to take me out on a date at some point though. You can't stake a claim without putting your money where your mouth is.”

His silence was answer enough.

As Adrianna stood, stretching like a cat ready to retreat to her quarters, she hesitated just long enough to make sure Vance was watching. He was still frowning at the datapad, flipping through the figures like they might somehow change if he stared hard enough.

She bit her lip, then spoke playfully hesitantly. “Oh, by the way, amore mio…”

Vance glanced up, suspicious, “What?”

She leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, her tone entirely too casual, “I didn’t have to actually flirt that much.”

His brow furrowed, “Then how the hell did you get all this for so cheap?”

She tilted her head, feigning innocence, “I got him very, very drunk, waited for him to pass out, then tweaked the numbers myself, leaving him a lipstick mark from some hooker on his cheek and a note that said ‘thank you for an amazing time’.”

Vance blinked. “You–”

“--’fudged’ the deal while he was unconscious?” She grinned, “si.”

He just stared at her for a long beat. Then, as if deciding he was too tired to process the absolute insanity of her methods, he sighed and dragged a hand down his face, “I should throw you out the airlock.”

“You won’t,” she said smugly, “you like me too much.”

He let out a short, incredulous laugh, shaking his head, “You’re going to get us killed one day.”

She winked, “Not today though– supplies will be here in fifteen minutes if you want to get the engines ready and get some extra hands.”

With that, she turned on her heel and strolled out, leaving him sitting there, still holding the datapad, still trying to figure out how exactly he’d ended up with twice the supplies for a quarter of the price of what it was worth– and a headache that had nothing to do with negotiations.

Vance was still staring at the datapad when his door slid open again, and Lutz strolled in, a questioning look already on his face. Vance went to protest against someone else coming in without so much of a knock but was interrupted.

“I just passed Reggimi in the hall,” Lutz said, plopping down in the seat Adrianna had vacated, “she looked pleased with herself. What the hell happened?”

Vance exhaled, tossing the datapad onto the table, “she got us twice the supplies for a quarter of the cost.”

Lutz’s brows shot up, grabbing the pad “you’re joking.”

“Wish I was,” Vance ran a hand through his hair, still trying to process it, “She got that idiot blackout drunk, waited for him to pass out, then changed the numbers herself.”

Lutz let out a low whistle, shaking his head with a grin, “damn. I’d heard she was ruthless when it came to negotiation and translation, but I didn’t think she was this good. Or this much like us.”

Vance shot him a look, “like us?”

“You know what I mean,” Lutz smirked, “She’s got the instincts. No hesitation, no second-guessing– just gets the job done however it needs doing.” He leaned back in his chair, putting the pad back on the table, “honestly, if this is how she does business, she’s worth her weight in credits. You should be glad she’s on our team and not working for someone that we work for. We'd be even more broke.”

Vance didn’t answer immediately, just glanced down at the datapad again. He knew Lutz was right. He’d known Adrianna was capable, but this? This was next level and even though they were criminals, it still felt morally grey.

Finally, Vance huffed out a laugh, shaking his head. “I know,” he muttered, “that’s what I’m afraid of.”

Lutz watched Vance a little too closely, the smirk on his face widening. “Wait a second,” he said, leaning forward, “this hesitation isn’t just about the deal, is it? It's not just about her getting it done instead of you winning this deal.”

Vance frowned, “what the hell are you talking about?”

Lutz chuckled, “The trader was flirting with her, wasn’t he?”

Vance didn’t answer, which was answer enough.

“Oh, that’s rich,” Lutz said, laughing now, “Captain Vance Adams, king of keeping things casual, actually getting bothered by a little competition.”

“It wasn’t competition,” Vance snapped, but Lutz just grinned harder.

“Right, right,” he said, holding up his hands in mock surrender, “let me guess: you almost tanked the whole deal because of it and she saved the day whilst you stewed in here. Am I close?”

Vance scowled, but Lutz just shook his head, still grinning. “You should just marry her already,” he said, clearly joking, “save yourself the stress.”

Vance huffed, “she’d kill me before the honeymoon.”

“Probably,” Lutz admitted, then leaned back again, crossing his arms, “but listen, Cap– if you’re really planning to pursue her, you better make damn sure you don’t clip her wings in the process.”

Vance frowned, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Lutz shrugged, “it means this is how she gets the job done. Her flirtation, her manipulation, whatever you want to call it– it works. You start limiting that because you don’t like how it makes you feel, and suddenly she’s not as useful as she was before. Find a way of keeping business and pleasure separately or we'll end up even more out of pocket.”

Vance exhaled, running a hand down his face. He knew Lutz had a point. Hell, Adrianna had basically said the same thing earlier. But that didn’t make it any easier to watch or agree to.

Lutz stood, clapping a hand on his shoulder, “just something to think about, man.”

Then he walked out, leaving Vance alone with his thoughts– and a datapad full of proof that Adrianna Reggimi was, without a doubt, the most dangerous asset on his ship and equally, the key to making a lot of money.

 

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