Shore Leave: The Beach

"Funny. Yes, I did get lucky, but it's not like Darcy doesn't have high standards and enforce discipline."

Cass laughs. "Me? Leave Spacefleet?" It's a preposterous thought... isn't it? "A team again, huh? What exactly is it you're doing these days?"

Cass sighs deeply. "I do. I miss the simplicity, I miss the thrill of flying. I miss--" She stops, switching gears. "But command has its own thrills and rewards."

It sounds like a rather half-hearted defense, even to Cass. "And the chair isn't that uncomfortable!"

Cass grins. This is safer ground for the conversation. "Nic, we've known each other a long time. You know that I don't kiss and tell. Now, look." She stops walking. "You're giving me a pretty hard sell for your new job, telling me all the perks and benefits. But they're all superficial things - things I don't think have really ever been that important to you. What's the real story here, Nic? What do you really like about working for... I'm sorry, what's the name of the company?"

She looks at him, a little troubled by how casually Nic mentions that he's working for a Merengi. But he certainly seems sincerely happy in his new career. "I know that what happened to me sounds scary. Hell, it was scary. But it was an anomaly, you know? At least, for an acting captain. We both know that a Spacefleet captain is usually pretty insulated from undue risk. Of course, when Darcy resumes command and I go back to being first officer, I'll be leading away missions again, and that carries more risk, but--"

She stops, realizing that she's making his case, not hers. "Anyway, I'm glad you love your new job. I like seeing you happy, but I just can't see throwing away everything I've worked for in Spacefleet. It's... where I belong."

She smirks at the threat, but then gives him a more sincere smile. "I miss you, too. I've been thinking a lot recently about our time at the academy. We were... well, we were rebellious fools. But once in a while, I wish I could cut loose like that again."

She's not sure where that came from. Yesterday, she was confiding to Alex her fear that she might still be that irresponsible rebel. Does she secretly hope she is still that person?

"Anyway, some of my bridge crew are here on leave, too. We're going to play some volleyball soon, if you'd like to come meet them. You could even play, if you'd like."

"They won't mind," she says. Then she clears her throat. It's possible she's blushing, but hard to tell in this sunlight. "As for the getting drunk, well... I might have already beaten you to that."

"Yeah, well, you'd probably be more disappointed if you'd seen it. Seems I can't hold my liquor the way I used to."

They walk a few steps and Cass says, "How did you know I was here? I don't believe you just happened to vacation at a Spacefleet resort at the exact moment I take shore leave here."

Cass chuckles. "Where are you staying? In one of the cottages?"

"I just thought that, with all the money you're making, maybe you were staying in that swanky, exclusive hotel I've heard so much about."