R and R

Posted on Sat Feb 3rd, 2024 @ 4:22pm by Captain Mira Rodale

Mission: Guilty Pleasures
Location: Risa
Timeline: Present

On:
{Risa, Beach}

Mira raised her face to the sun as she closed her eyes and smiled. The last time she had been here, she spent her whole time dealing with Q. Plus, worrying what he was going to do to the crew.

This time, she was going to live.

A deep voice said, “Well, hello, beautiful. It’s been a long time.”

Mira smiled, turning her face in the direction of his voice. “Rico. It’s been too long!”

He looked around with a slight frown and then asked, “You by yourself, or is Kolar just off doing Klingon stuff?”

Mira shrugged. “Sorta by myself. I am on leave with my crewmates. But I am single.” She took the hand he held out. “Kolar was killed 4 years ago.”

Rico looked surprised. “And it took you 4 years to come back?” he grinned. “Well, if I had known that, I wouldn’t have invited the other guys to join us.”

Mira laughed. Right now, she had on black shorts, a black tank, and her black bikini was underneath. She had an almost empty backpack that had a built-in water bottle with straw. “ I need a few things from the store before we take off. I thought I was meeting you later. “

Rico took the flower lei in his free hand and slipped it over Mira’s head. Kissing both of her cheeks. “Welcome to Risa. All that we have is yours.”

Mira smiled, letting him lead her to the store as Vaytoc followed behind her. Rico had been the only human on their security team. There had been 14 Risan men, Rico and her. “I need some great running shoes.”

“Oh, you got to try these. I love them! “ He told her, then he held up his foot to show a rubber sole on his foot and nothing else. “They stay on even swimming.”

At the store, Mira slipped off her sandals and stepped on the rubber soles “Oh by all that is holy, I need a few of these.” She got another bikini in blue and a green one. A few colorful sarongs to match the bikinis and a kimono as a cover-up. Folding them up, she added them to her backpack.

“You got your climbing gear?” Rico asked
Mira nodded. “Body suit and safety shoot.”
Mira smiled. “After Kolar started making me wear it, I started needing it.”

Rico laughed, “Knowing you like I do, more than likely, you started take more risks with it on.”

Mira nodded it was true. “ I have an adopted brother on the ship with me.”

Rico grinned. “Is that your way of telling me hands off and limiting the kind of fun you will be having?”

Mira slowly shook her head no. “Rico, I still don’t know how I feel about you. You’re a dear friend, but you don’t want to be in the friend zone.” Mira cocked her head to the side, studying him. She had already messed up her chance with Kevin, but he might end up being a good friend. She didn’t want to lose Rico by wanting more from him and then her not feeling things they way he did.

“The other guys? ‘Are a hard, no way in hell’ would I get in a relationship with them.” She leaned forward and whispered. “Their Risan and would shred my heart, “ Mira told him. “I told you about Kronnelti because he might join us or we might see him. Plus, I wanted you to know I am not alone on the ship, as you said you are worried about that. Plus, I always have Vaytoc.”

He smiled. That had been his one worry about her leaving Risa. Her being alone and him not being with her. Not that she would listen to that. “Ok, beautiful. Are you ready for this?”

He looked up the steep path. Mira took off her tank top, tossing it in her bag, and then slipped on her backpack. “I am as ready as I am going to be.”

She took off at a jog both Vaytoc and Rico, letting her set the pace. It was a 15-mile trail up the mountain, but it was beautiful.

“So, is there anyone on the ship you’re interested in.” He asked as they ran.

Mira took forever to answer him. “I thought so, but ……”

Rico shook his head. “Please tell me you did not fall for another loser!” That was all she seemed to pick. No wonder she had built a wall around her heart.

Mira rolled her eyes. “He isn’t a loser he just isn’t interested, and maybe that’s for the best. I am a commander again, and one more step and dating is over.”

Rico laughed, “Captain’s can’t date crewmembers, but they can still date. Have you decided to become a captain?”

“No, I just think I wasn’t meant for love.” Mira told him. Maybe it wasn’t real.

They had made it to the halfway point before Rico called for a break. If he left it to Mira, she would keep going until she dropped. Mira poured water into a collapsible bowl for Vaytoc before using the straw to drink her own.

Pulling a canteen out, he drank and then smiled. She had been a kid when she worked here. All long legs and long hair with big beautiful eyes. He couldn’t believe the jerk that had talked her off the ship she had a home on, and then he had just cheated on her.

She got over the guy, but she learned not to trust. From what she said when she was at the academy on earth, another guy reinforced not to trust her heart to anyone. Then there was Kolar. Rico frowned. He had been slightly different. Won her over, but…..left to fight when he should have just stayed. Rico could understand revenge. The guy who had stabbed Mira had cost him his baby, but if he had stayed with Mira, it wouldn’t have cost him his life and the loss of his mate.

Off:

Commander Mira Rodale
XO
USS Chuck Norris