Everyone was putting in long hours. Arin’s teams were no exception. Helm seemed like a cushy assignment. They also had maintenance duty, logs, and reports to do like everyone else. Driving through her performance reviews, she received a message that perhaps a bit of unwinding for Lavender might be a good idea. The message was anonymous.

For about 90 seconds. Filing away the nugget of information later in case it was needs, she replied it would be taken care of and thanked the receipt without letting them know she knew.  Oddly, on that messages heels, was a second from Senior Staff, announcing rotating extra day off. Looking at the schedule, she and Lavender had the same slot starting at tomorrow’s duty shift. 

Thinking about how best to do that, she decided it was time for Lavender to see behind the curtain on her life a bit. Not exactly meet the parent moment but still part of who she was.  A set of closely coordinated instructions were planned and she sent a message to Lavender. 

“You are hereby informed that starting 0800, we have an extra day off. Dress casual, but bring a bikini and sunglasses. Holodeck 3.” Arin wrote, then added a teasing photo before sending it to Lavender. Feeling like the cat that ate the canary, she refilled her coffee and drove towards parity in paperwork, chasing the elusive ever-moving target. “I’ll pack a lunch and extra napkins.”

A distance away the recipient of Arin’s message was in her office doing reports. It was one of the things Lavender hated about being C.M.O. There was way more ‘paper’ work as head of department. But will some coffee and determination she could get through, usually in the quiet before the main shift started. 

Lavender saw the message arrive and by virtue of her boredom was unable to avoid opening it instantly.

“Casual, huh?” Lavender drawled and with an amused smile canned her paperwork and, making sure her staff knew where she was going headed for her quarters.

A short time later Lavender was walking the corridors of Denver in civvies for the first time since coming aboard. The requested bikini was strappy, triangular and somewhat Saint-Tropez in nature and black (of course) and was covered in a strappy black summer dress with a fitted waist and a flared a-line skirt that finished half way down her thigh. The black lipstick she tended to only wear when off duty was present and her makeup was gothic (naturally) and more intricate than her toned-down work looks. On her feet, black Mary janes with an extra double ankle strap and a gothy platform toe and block heel. A black choker completed the look which certainly drew some attention from passers by as Lavender made her way to the holodeck. Checking the controls she found a program was already running, owner Arin Jones. Lavender entered.

As the doors swished open, the tarmac opened up with a tan metal hangar to her right, next to it was a ramp that led down for access to the waterway, or onto the long runway. Nearby was a dock, and an old PBY Catalina seaplane was tied up with a few other vehicles. Off in the distance, piano music could be heard.  To her right a tall glass of something rimmed with salt and had ice, lemon slices, and a few peppers. The note read “Jalapeno Margarita-low sugar. Hard to stop drinking.”

Lavender surveyed her surroundings. It seemed tropical. Warmth and bright light radiated around her and spilled out into the corridor. The sea was Azure, the Sky Cerulean, and the grass Emerald surrounded with creamy outlines of sand.

“Excellent.”

With a smile the doctor slid the large black sunglasses that were resting on her head down and obligingly took the drink. It was salty, sweet, bitter, fiery, and delicious.

“Mmm… excellent.” Lavender sauntered onwards hearing the doors close behind her and, taking a drink every twenty feet or so went in search of the piano-player. The hangar had a small door on one side. Lavender opened it as she swallowed a gulp of Jalapeno and coughed a little. Inside the hangar was relief from the brightness. The music reverberated around like being in a Cathedral. The space was huge. There was an office to the right, a few aircraft on the floor. A Beechcraft Staggerwing, a rare Supermarine Spitfire trainer two-seat trainer, and lastly a McDonnell-Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle. Of course Lavender didn’t know what any of these were, but she did recognise Arin, who was wearing sneakers, black cotton shorts, and vee neck low cut tee shirt. The sound of Lavender’s footsteps would have bounced about the space were they not drowned out by the music.

Approaching the instrument Lavender necked the rest of the cocktail and placed the empty glass on top of the piano with a grin to its’ maestro.

Without lifting her hands, she did meet Lavender’s gaze. Playing a few more licks of Linus and Lucy before setting the piano to autoplay, she got up, admiring the view. Spinning her index finger, she motioned for Lavender to model the dress for her. Approving with a wider smile, she hugged Lavender, kissing her for a moment. “Not much finer than a pretty woman in a sun dress. Though you are out of uniform.” She said with a wink as she slid a purple Bolian Peonia above Lavender’s right ear to highlight her eyes, face, and hair. “That’s better.” 

She refilled Lavender’s glass and topped over her own. “Welcome to my Arin’s Laboratory. Far too many hours in here as a teenager, especially after we moved from Earth to the colony farms.” Grabbing Lavender’s hand she walked slowly. “Hundreds of things to ride, swim, or fly in.” Lavender’s heels clicked along as they walked with the occasional sneaker squeak from the highly polished light grey floor. “The piano has nice acoustics in here.”

Turning to face Lavender. “I know to most these are just trinkets. But this is also my job, and hobby. I would like you to feel comfortable enough to be here. I obviously don’t expect you to stick around if I am puttering around or flying, but perhaps you can discover the joy I do in something simple to operate that can be fun even at low speeds. It doesn’t always after to be Warp nine with our hair on fire.” Arin said. Then added, “a nice leisurely drive in a convertible maybe. Go see some music. Driver gets to select the tunes.” She said teasingly.

“A convertible what?” Lavender asked. “Oh and just so you know, my hair isn’t usually on fire but when it is it burns purple…” she added with a sly smile.

“Computer. Add my 1966 Beetle convertible.” The copper-colored car had blackened rims and a black cloth roof. appeared. “Though I would change those shoes.” Arin reached into the vehicle popping both sides of the cloth top, and folding its mechanism to the rear in a few seconds. ”Viola. Open-air fun.”   Pulling her copper-framed sunglasses from her cleavage, she jumped into the driver’s seat and cranked up the radio. “Little Duece Coupe” by the Beach Boys started from the speakers in the vehicle. 

“Oh, shiny” Lavender commented looking around the vehicle. “So what does it convert into? And why do I need to change my shoes? I like these shoes…” she pouted.

“It’s a good thing you are so hot for a doctor.” She teased with a smile. “These old ground vehicles had solid roofs so they cut it off and added a cloth top. Hence converts to an open-top. As for your shoes, I guess, I’m driving.  Arin hands Lavender a padd of destinations on the island. There was a pilot bar, and Arin had a list of concerts they could attend. ”Picnic lunch on the rear seat. Sandwiches. Cold watermelon. Nothing heavy. However, I did bring popcorn if we wanted to go see a ‘drive-in’ movie. They would have larger screens and people would arrive after dark to see movies. Though according to the lore, it was also a traditional play to be with that special someone. Hmm. Computer. Replace the Beetle with a 1970 Cutlass hard-top power blue, white interior. Bench front seat.” 

The larger two-door sedan replaced the smaller compact car. “I wanna be comfortable after all.” She opened the door for Lavender so she could step in. Gesturing with her hand as she held the door, Arin waited for Lavender to sit down. 

Lavender flounced past and gracefully deposited herself on the front seat.

“Yep you’re driving,” she said with a cool smile, faux-stretching lazily. “Us hot doctors have a reputation to uphold you know. Besides, I’m a doctor not a chauffeur.” She patted the seat next to her on the driver’s side for Arin to get in and took a slug of her cocktail. “You decide where and what, I’m tired of making decisions. I could try operating a thing or two. However if I’m operating anything then you will be patient or I’ll tell you the same thing I told my piloting instructor at the academy.”

Do tell.” Arin said smiling.

“I told him to be patient,” Lavender responded with a smirk.

Arin then added, “If I am driving, computer. Change it to the W30 model. Automatic transmission and make it a convertible. Top stored please. Might as well get all the sound and fury And make it the white model with dark bronze trim.” 

The car changed once more. Arin smiled. This is the one. 

After getting in, she pecked Lavender on the lips, before moving around to get into the driver’s seat. The door closed with a solid thunk. The keys were in the ignition. The four-leaf clover keychain appeared on all her vehicles somewhere if they had an ignition. “It’s loud at first but she’ll settle in. This is a bit of a treat for me and as a pilot, a slight adrenaline junkie. It has the all-mechanical feel, nothing digital except the radio.  That slice of cheesecake kind of moment and I’d like to share that with you. In control, but hanging onto the horse a bit as you fly like the wind, of that makes any sense. 

Turning the key, the large Oldsmobile big block fired up with gusto. Arin let the healthy V-eight motor warm up as she fiddled with the radio. Radio had been pre-programmed to search out songs that fit the location and vehicle. ‘455 Rocket’ by Kathy Mattea started playing. 

Smiling at Lavender she tipped down her sunglasses and looked at Lavender with a smirk. “Ready? If it’s too much just say something. She placed a warm hand on Lavender’s and squeezed it gently. 

“Engage?” Lavender offered with a cute smile, then returning the squeeze as she downed the second Margherita with her other hand.

“About two hundred years too early, but this is comfortable and fast.” This was the origin of the road trip for fun. Computer, add light traffic, no heavy trucks. The perspective changed slightly. The car was now in the turn lane ready to pull. “Hold off on the refill briefly until we start moving,” Arin added about sixty percent power as it turned to the right. The back tires slid for a second, Arin easily adding counter-steer to keep them moving in the right direction and then straightened out the metal beast as the engine hit mid-growl. 

Once up to speed, Arin’s head bopped with the music as the car reached cruising. An old microbus was up ahead, loping along as the family dog had its face out in the wind. Long ears flapping. 

The rubber tires bounced softly as the suspension easily soaked up the minor road imperfections. The plastic steering wheel provided a tactile feel that starships most spacecraft lacked. She liked the manual controls versus pressing buttons. The vinyl bench seat was soft and easy to relax in. Rhythmic pulses in the motor would come to the forefront when Arin feathered the throttle to pass slower cars.

Next to her Lavender was soaking up the experience. The first time she had been in a vehicle of any kind was leaving M’talas Prime at fifteen. Since then, other than village-sized starships that didn’t really feel as if they were moving her only experience of small vehicles was learning to fly a shuttle at the Academy. This was different. This was loud, jiggly, bumpy and windy. The wind whipped her hair behind her and Lavender leant forward after a mile or so to pop her hair up into a bun. Wind, she knew, would tangle it all up and that wasn’t a great look.

The miles passed easily. It wouldn’t be a long trip but enough to help clear the head, and get in the moment. Enjoy the scenery and each other. 

Lavender was enjoying being in Arin’s mind. It was an interesting experience. Being in Arin’s comfortable place said a lot about her. Lavender was working out what these machines meant to her. It seemed like a different existence from her own, almost a different universe. The idea of controlling a machine the size of a room was daunting to Lavender, a starship even more so. Arin did it with such ease. It was a moment the doctor realised as she watched another car zoom by how much she respected Arin. How they were so different in a lot of ways. How they had a lot to learn about one-another. Lavender decided she would show Arin her safe space. But that could come at another time. For now she smiled at the woman beside her and enjoyed the odd calm that came courtesy of the show reel of the scenery flying past.

Looking over, she saw Lavender struggle with her hair. She used the power windows to put the glass up, reducing the wind substantially.Arin even had to lower to the radio. “Sorry, kind of in the moment. Like being one with the horse you ride and trust. It’s quite different than flying through space. Plus you can slide next to me. Bench seating does have advantages over shuttle chairs.” She said, placing a warm hand Lavender’s.

“I can even remove the traffic if you ever want to learn. I respect if you don’t, but I like the feeling of being in control and spending enough time that the vehicle feels like it is hooked to your spinal cord. Trust me, not all vehicles feel that way. Especially anything with shuttle in the description.”

“I’m good,” Lavender replied, still watching the world go by. “Small steps ay?” She added, looking across to Arin and spying something on the rear bench.

“Do me a favor. Please open the basket in the back seat. Fresh-made strawberry muffins. The batter is replicated but the strawberries are mine. I could use one.” We are almost there, we have fresh popcorn, sandwiches, and a fresh thermos of regular margaritas.” Arin said, pausing.

 “Almost there. It’s an ancient movie but if you want to understand a bit about the Irish people and laugh at the same time, I have a good one picked out, I never get tired of watching, especially when I get homesick.”:

“What my Da and I used to was a trade-off. One of mine and one of his. That way we got to a mix. Whatcha think?” Arin asked Lavender.  

“Sounds fair,” Lavender said as she reached back and acquired two muffins. One she passed to Arin, the other was broken into sections and Lavender chewed on it thoughtfully, still taking in the new sensations of wind-in-the-hair motoring.

In the distance, the drive-in came up as the sun started to dip closer to the horizon. An oversized billboard with electrics, and flashing lights showcasing the movie title. The Quiet Man featuring John Wayne and Maureen Ohara pictured in the center of the billboard.

Lavender nearly said something about the “Da” chatter. But it wasn’t Arin’s fault that her father wasn’t murdering scum like Lavender’s was. She obviously had good memories and experiences she wanted to share. Lavender ordered herself to be cordial and interested.

“The Quiet Man,” she mused as they drove past the sign and into the drive-in, the tires starting to kick up some dust. I’ve not watched screen stories since my Mom was alive…”

As she pulled up the gate, the attendant asked, “How many? Really, this time. Don’t screw around and have 4 kids in the trunk, Arin. I almost had to pay for those tickets.” 

“Come on Fred, you know I’d be driving the Plymouth for that. Besides, I am on a date, thank you very much. Two adult tickets please” Arin countered.

Fred laughed out loud, then canted over on his seat to see Lavender in passenger seat. “Well, she is a looker. Heartbreaker, like you I see.” Then added. “Don’t mind me, I’ve known this girl since she wasn’t large enough to see over the steering wheel. Watch it missie, this one can be a tiger by the tail. Pleased to meet ya.”  The white-haired gentleman said from the window. “On the house tonight, ladies. Enjoy the show.” 

Lavender grinned. 

“Thanks and … I noticed,” she replied with a glint in her eye.

Fred picking up the glint smiled, “You shoulda picked the Thunderbird, Thelma. Or is that Louise?”

They drove through. It was slightly early. Arin got a choice spot in the center where the windshield nice framed the whole screen. Young children were romping around on the playground equipment area underneath the large over-sized billboard movie screen. 

Sliding the car to an easy stop, Arin placed the transmission into park, and turned off the ignition, but left the accessories on so the radio still played. Adjusting the volume down, you could barely hear the rhythmic tick of the motor beneath the large metal hood cooling. Arin turned slightly to face Lavender, her back against the door of the car.

“And whose imagination is Fred from?” Lavender asked as she unbound herhair again, her features the model of entertainment. Muffin dispatched she reached back for the sandwiches.

“Fred was a friend of the family. Why I spent so much time working or flying airplanes. Escape. Exhilartion. Call it what you will. So yeah, Fred knows me. I wanted to take you here so share my safe place. I have friends here, Fred still checks in online occasionally. So does Dad. When we didn’t have the holodeck, the side of the barn would do on nice summer nights for the movie screen and simple projector. So this became kind of an homage as well as a good place to stash good movies to watch.”

“Satan bless you for feeding me, Arin Jones.” Lavender took a bite of one, not much caring what was inside and offered one to her driver.

Arin took the paper-wrapped roast beef with bacon jam and swiss cheese from Lavender. “Hey, as much as you clamor about not gaining an atom, I am not about ta go fer a hug and get rib-stabbed by the likes o’ you,” Arin said in jest, her Irish brogue getting thicker in the excitement as she snickered.

“Hey, I can’t go completely unarmed,” Lavender replied after she’d finished snickering herself. “Now I can’t have my black talons,” she added, wiggling her gingers to indicate her black fingernails which were sensibly short. “Very impractical for doctoring… and other things…”

Opening the door, Arin got out, gesturing for Lavender to stay put. Placing the basket of goodies on the ground, she laid out a few blankets and asked the computer for a short ottoman section, extending the rear bench seat forward, now ending at the back of the front seats. It created an area with plenty of room to recline. ” 

Placing some of the snacks and drinks to one side in the back seat, she walked over, opened Lavender’s door, and knelt, slowly unsnapping the shoes. “Shame, those are cute on you,” Arin said, taking the time to massage her foot before repeating the procedure on the other. Since she was already down there, she pulled Lavender to her, cradling her, as she transferred her to rear seat.

“Fuck me, you’re strong,” Lavender commented as she snuggled into her new position, wiggling her toes which were similarly black-nailed. “Wanna see me try to pick you up? Would probably look and sound like a Chihuahua trying to top a Border Collie.” Normally she would have protested vehemently about being picked up but Arin had earned some leeway after the ‘rib-stabbed’ comment which Lavender had found excessively entertaining. Plus she was slightly and rather relaxingly tipsy.

“My chores were all farmwork, however, I could lower the gravity for ya.” Arin countered. She said, taking a moment not nuzzle their noses. Arin caught Lavender’s scent as she lingered for a second. Making sure everything was secure, she started back towards her side of the car.

By now the sun had nearly set, and the kids were settling with popcorn, candy, and soft drinks in nearby cars. Other cars had other young lovers.” Arin paused. “Dad used to take me here. Especially after Mom was executed and you find out your cousins, though distant, were in on the plot. I wasn’t expecting to grow up one half-murderous pirate slut. So I channelled the energy, thanks to my dad and Fred into other pursuits.” Reaching to the side, she popped open a bag of potato chips. “Engines, welding. Anything to keep busy and distracted. By the time I was sixteen, I had my pilot’s license for eighteen months and had finished my first hand-built airplane. Though I had some help.”

Sliding onto the other side, she pulled up the cotton waffle blanket over her legs and bit into her sandwich, savoring the sweet and balsamic punch mixed with the roast beef and creamy Swiss cheese. “Sorry, didn’t mean to get morbid. It’s not something I like to think or talk about unless needed. And know, it doesn’t bother me you brought it up. These are the things that make us closer. Knowing I really should feed you, cuz you’ll only eat that repli-slop without me or you’ll get hangry. I know enough to not get between a woman and her food.”  Arin said with a smile. 

“Just like you know my first cup of coffee should be before you talk to me and it should be like you, strong, full of flavor, and just a bit sweet when needed, maybe just a bit of bite,” Arin said, winking at Lavender. Lavender had just polished off the first sandwich and swallowed, chuckling and smiling at Arin. It was a kind of smile one didn’t often see. There were layers of bravado with Lavender, but sometimes, when she was a bit drunk and a bit happy and she felt safe, all artifice was lost, for a while at least.

“I didn’t know your cousins were in on it,” she said solemnly, removing her now extraneous sunglasses and chucking them into the front seat. “If there’s anyone who gets that kinda betrayal it’s me. Not that this is about me, just…” Lavender paused. “Ugh I don’t know how to finish that sentence without being crushingly banal. You get what I’m saying.”

Arin nodded, pushing her mind to more pleasant places as she settled in. “I’d worry about you if you did. That’s psychotic level stuff.” She blew out a heavy sigh, as she pulled Lavender into her side. Cartoons started to roll on the movie screen as the radio swapped to the movie channel.

“This really reminds me of Mom”, Lavender observed as she cuddled in with Arin a bit. “She used to love watching the channels on M’talas. Mostly documentaries about other planets and cultures. When I started thinking about that as an adult I started to think maybe it was her way of escaping. Escaping District Seven, escaping my Dad…” Lavender leaned over and swiped a bottle of water from the food and drink pile and necked half of it, wiping the black lipstick off the top so it left a black circle on the bottom of her hand.

Leaning over, she kissed Lavender on the forehead, leaving her lips and face there for a moment. “Then, I like to think we have guardian angels, karma, fortune, whatever you want to call it somewhere.” Arin said doubling the kiss then adding, “Only you have an extra one now, one who is an excellent cook, free maintenance checks, loyal, though she can’t bloody sing a note.” Taking a sip of a newly opened soda, Arin added “Though I heard she can be a bit selective, in who she lets into her inner circle.”

Lavender smirked. “Well we wouldn’t want just any old riff-raff in there now would we…? I Don’t hold with Guardian Angels though.” Lavender looked past Arin to the saturated dancing images on the screen outside. “Everything good in my life I made for myself. I got myself off M’talas Prime. I got myself to Earth. I managed to get into Residential, School, Starfleet Medical. I worked my ass off to be shit hot. I chose a Trauma speciality because I saw the writing on the wall when all that shit kicked off in the Bajoran sector. Pretty sick gamble but it worked. Four years out of the Academy and I’m a two-and-a-half-ringer and C.M.O. of a Nebula. That was me. I learned when I was a kid ain’t nobody looking out for me. Well, ’til now.”

Lavender sighed and looked back at Arin.

“Sorry. Claws in.”

“Clearly, this was a bad idea,” Arin said with finality as her face dropped. She hadn’t moved her arm back but thought about it. Instead, she watched the movie. 

“No, it wasn’t,” Lavender replied, looking at Arin pointedly. “But if you want me to be someone I’m not just to help the mood then I’ll call the arch right now.” Lavender sighed. “Computer, freeze programme.” The movie and all of the people and families around them became statues. The wind stopped moving the trees which froze mid-buffet. From the myriad sounds about them there was total silence. Lavender lifted her legs and swivelled on her rear so she was facing Arin, her knees bent and legs together by her side so she was half sitting, half leaning on the side of the car, her right arm running along the waistline of the vehicle.

“Okay. I’m twenty nine, I can do this like an adult,” she said, her expression serious but free of any other negative emotions. “I’m here to learn what makes up Arin Jones. Seems to me you really want to take care of me, so irrespective of how badly I’m dealing with that, why is that? What is it about you that really makes you want to look after me? No judgment, no accusations, just talk to me. Help me understand.”

Arin took a breath and paused as much for effect as for her thinking processes. “As a shuttle pilot, like you as a trauma surgeon, I get to see the gruesome side of life far too often. At first, I just wanted to ensure you were okay after flying back from the prison. The whole ‘Mercy’ thing.”

Lavender nodded with comprehension. That’s where the name came from. Arin continued.

“The longer I stayed, the more interesting you became. Kindred spirits in some respects. I saw myself in you. Back then, it was all I could sometimes do to get from one day to the next. So I may not get the particulars, but I know pain when I see it. My intention was not to smother or mother you. Perhaps I overdid that. I’m sorry.”

Then she added, but beyond that. “I fecking like you, you giant pain in my ass. Freaking cool make-up, a brain that can match me barb for barb, and….easy on the eyes.” Arin said trying to lighten the mood. “Maybe my type of support needs to change. I just wanted us to have a good time today. Watch people more neurotic than we for a change.”

Lavender snorted.

“Here’s the dirty secret, boo,” she drawled, “doesn’t exist. And the mothering thing is a good call, I’m just not used to it and I’ll push you away. But we can talk about how or why later. Right now I’m gonna wind my fucking neck in and enjoy Arin land. Deal?” Lavender scooped up the thermos of Margheritas and waved it at Arin with a smile. “Oh and I fecking like you too,” she added, aping Arin’s Irish accent.

“We can watch the movie later. Computer. Bahia Honda State Park, and resume” The scene changed to a white sand beach, a soft breeze from the ocean, and water clear enough to see the bottom of the ocean floor. She shed her t-shirt, revealing a yellow and lime green string bikini top. Against her green skin, it left little to the imagination,  Kicking off her sneakers, she wriggled out of her shorts, revealing the matching bikini bottom.”Ta da!” Arin laughed as Lavender’s face lit up.

“Now that’s what I’m talkin’ ’bout. Nice opening round Jones!” Lavender nodded with an approving grin. The open Margarita thermos was shoved somewhere it would’t fall and Lavender pushed off her seat to sit on the side of the car. “You pack a powerful punch. Good technique. But I think…” she slid the straps off her dress and let them fall down her shoulders, “…round two…” the zip was now within her grasp and she reached around and slid it down, “…will go to me!” Lavender stood and the dress fell revealing her own black Bikini. She sat again to grab the thermos quickly, necked most of what was left and threw it over her shoulder then swiveled her legs off the side of the vehicle. “The Orion can talk the talk but can she swim the swim?” She asked, looking over her shoulder, her features given to pure joyous mischief before she vaulted off the side and sprinted for the sea.

Arin laughed as she chased Lavender to the water, tension from the previous moments evaporated. The sand slightly hot and impeding progress as she chased the dark-haired raven. With great effort Arin managed to reach Lavender’s hand as they touched the ocean at nearly the same time. Spinning her around, they slammed into each other with a slight slap, Arin grinning from ear to ear. “Now whatcha gonna do, Bunkie?” Said teasingly to Lavender, her vision slightly glazing over.

If Lavender’s grin before she ran was mischievous, it was nothing to this one, her lips pursed, eyes narrowed and cheeks high. “Oh a challenge…” Lavender said in a manufactured as-alluring-as-possible manner, sliding her arms around the other women and going in for a kiss before suddenly throwing her entire weight backwards and dragging them both off their feet and under the water.