Making plans
Posted on Mon Dec 22nd, 2025 @ 6:38am by Lieutenant Eira Cortez & Lieutenant Hamlyn Ambrose
1,170 words; about a 6 minute read
Mission:
Match sticks and Gasoline
Location: Starbase One
Timeline: Current
ON:
The Columbia was in repairs and the crew was on a short shoreleave until they were assigned to a new ship, which meant that Eira had plenty of time to do what she wanted. Whether it meant spend it back on Earth seeing some sights or spending it with Lieutenant Ambrose.
He was the anomaly in her life at the moment. A casual conversation turned into a couple of drinks that led to a fun night that turned into an actual proper date and so on and so forth. Now they'd been seeing each other exclusively for the last couple of months and she was still unsure how she felt about it. Part of her still wanted to run, to hide and keep the walls up and him at arms length so he couldn't break her heart. The other part of her was hesitant to take a leap and let things hopefully blossom.
They both walked along the corridor toward one of the turbolifts, her a few paces behind so it hopefully still wasn't obvious they were a thing. Once they were in the lift, Eira reached out and slid her hand down Hobb's arm gently, purposefully and smiled the rare smile. "So we've got some shoreleave now, got any plans for it?"
'It's unexpected,' Hobb replied with a smile, 'so I didn't really have much time to plan.' His smile faded a little, 'I can't get the grafts too wet for a while, so no beach holiday for me.'
Shrugging as they stepped into the turbolift, he said, 'I was thinking of taking a trek up through Northern India, across the Himalayas and into Tibet. There's a buddhist temple I'd like to visit. I thought about rounding a person or two to come with ...'
Eira didn't want to assume he was asking her to go with him, but a trip to the Himalayas did sound appealing. "That sounds like a perfect shoreleave, trading the sand for snow. I'm jealous because you're one step ahead of me with that." She let out a small laugh, "I thought about just heading to my apartment in New York for a little bit, but that's it. Nothing fancy as you."
'Is that all you had planned?' he asked lightly, 'New York is alright, but it's not that much fun. If you'd rather not be bored stiff ... you can come with, if you want,' Hobb concluded quickly, rushing the words out. 'It won't be fancy though. Just hostels and monasteries the way they did it in the 1960s...'
He was still in the dark about her history so far in Starfleet. She'd spent a lot of time in the shadows, sleeping when and wherever possible, and making sure she didn't get caught. Her past was definitely not on the path she ever thought she'd go down or that was possible, but it still led her to be here standing in front of him in that moment, so Eira was grateful for it. "You underestimate my ability to live life on the edge, Lieutenant," She smiled the smile reserved only for him. "Spending a night in a monastary sounds good though, maybe we could even get to be under the stars at some point too while we're there?"
'I think that can be arranged,' Hobb replied with a smile. 'Tell you what - come round later and we can plan the route together?'
"Name a time and I'll be there, want me to bring anything?" Eira asked in reply. She had no idea how to plan anything that could be considered a fun trip.
'Coffee, snacks,' Hobb replied with a shrug, 'you know, trip planning stuff. Come around nineteen-hundred hours?'
"Coffee and snacks I can do," Eira admitted, and then in a rare moment of uncertainty she added, "I don't know what you mean by trip planning stuff in a 'fun' context... I don't think I've actually been camping or hiking or tripping anywhere that wasn't mission related, even as a child."
He looked at her for a moment, then smiled. 'You do do things for enjoyment, right?' he asked as he nudged her in the ribs, 'we can see what's on the trail you like the sound of, and pencil them in.'
"Of course I do things for enjoyment," Eira started as she dodged the nudging in the ribs and looked at him, "They're just a little bit different to what you would do, that's all. Come on, you've seen me enjoying reading and there was that one time you caught me dancing when you came over." She was still guarded with him, even after it being a few months together, but was allowing small pieces of her true self to come through every so often.
Raising an eyebrow in return, Hobb stepped into the turbolift, took the opportunity as the doors closed to steal a squeeze of her hand. 'I mean, we could work in some dancing I'm sure ... a day or two to chill and read, and drink tea?'
Eira looked down briefly at the fact that he'd been so bold as to squeeze her hand, so she laced her fingers through his and looked back up as if that hadn't just happened. "This is your trip, remember? I'm just along for the ride so whatever you want to do, we can do. Or not do, completely your choice." The idea of reading with a hot tea was lovely though.
'Nah, it's not just my trip any more,' Hobb replied happily. 'It's one for both of us. You're good to have all your clothes in a backpack, right? Carry a tent and that?'
Eira nodded in reply, "Of course. You wouldn't think it, but I'm actually stronger than I look." She took the opportunity to flex her arm muscles in her free arm. "See?" She joked.
He mock-wiggled his eyebrows, 'so that's how you were able to do that thing the other night. Explains so much.' He chuckled. 'It'll be fun - catch you later?' he asked as the turbolift drifted to a halt.
"You're an ass, Ambrose." Eira bit back her comment with a small grin and pushed him in the arm as the doors opened. "I'll still see you tonight though." It was her that exited the turbolift first, mostly just to prove her point.
He chuckled as she went the opposite way to him, 'using my given name?' Hobb called, 'must have touched a nerve!' He sauntered off, eager to get a start on planning his vacation.
Even though he wasn'table to see the small smile on her face as she walked off, Eira was cautiously excited about going on the trip with him. "Keep dreaming!" She called out before rounding the corner and disappearing out of sight.
OFF
Lieutenant Eira Cortez
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Columbia
Lieutenant Hamlyn Ambrose
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Columbia
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