Commander Mary Anacostia-Bolling couldn’t remember the last time she’d actually had a holiday; a day here and there yes; and there had been periods between various assignments. The time, last year spent between March when she’d lost the USS San Jacinto in battle at Atracos III and September when she’d been given command of the USS da Vinci, had been anything but a holiday. It had been a period of recovery and contemplation, a period of mourning, and not the last.

She’d lost too many good friends over the years; the photo in her quarters was testament to that, the last of six cadets on their graduation day. Keeping busy had been her way of coping. Now she was being ordered to relax.

Doctor Sunny had recommended the place she was staying at, the grandly named Eternal Springs Spar and Meditative Retreat; now there was a mouthful. It was evidently a mere coincidence that the place was owned and run by his elder sister. Having met and spoken with the women in question, Tanvi Sunny did not look to be in her late fifties, not even close.

Mary would be happy if this place helped knock off a couple of years, it might help her feel closer to the 45 she was. Alara her friend and First Officer said she was exaggerating and that there was nothing wrong with the way she look, Mary just didn’t always feel convinced.

She’d have to find a really good way to make it up to her XO, having sent her off to go play nice with the Klingon’s. Mary would have to think about that one.

Mary picked up the Padd next to her, it was one issued to all of the Retreats guests, listing the daily routine. Not every day was the same, and each guest had their own personal plan. There were 22 guests, herself included. They ranged in age from 30 to 70; and included married couples, widow and singles. Many of them had connections to large businesses and there was a retired Professor by the name of Higginbottom who seemed to think everyone understood him, when he started getting technical.

He’d lost her on the subject of Quantum Entanglement on Wednesday, and she’s been doing her best to avoid him since. It was lucky he had no idea she was in Starfleet, otherwise he’d probably feel obliged to tell her even more.

The idea made her shiver and in turn her feet splash in the small pool she was sat at the edge of, which in turn sent the myriad of tiny fish darting for cover; until after a brief pause they decided it was safe and came back to continue their work.

It was an odd experience to have these vibrant golden orange fish, no larger than the size of her thumb, nibbling at her toes. Similar to the Wrasse found on Earth, these little fish were the cleaners of the sea. They fed off dead scales from other larger fish or in this case skin from feet, removed parasites and other unwanted things. They helped keep other fish clean and healthy, whilst picking up a free meal and in some cases protection from their predators. In a way it felt like having tiny fragments of sandpaper gently rubbing at the skin. It wasn’t an unpleasant experience in Mary’s view, just odd, and something she would have never contemplated, if it hadn’t been on the list.

Mary certainly felt it was more enjoyable than yesterday’s mud bath. Now there was an experience she’d have no qualms about avoiding in the future. The staff had told her all about the benefits of lying there in a vat of warm fresh mud for four hours straight. A Sonic Shower could do the same job in as many minutes as far as she was concerned and would be much more pleasurable.

Still, she was being good and following instructions, unlike the Saxon’s who seemed to find a way of complaining about everything. First it had been the pillow in their room, possibly too soft for their liking. The sauna had been too hot on the day after; it did have a temperature dial, but that would have required thinking on their part. He was into fine art and antique dealing; she was into emptying his pockets. There was a forty year age difference between the pair of them, that in itself wasn’t unusual, but they did look a mismatch when stood side by side. They appeared to be complaining about their drinks now. Mary closed her eyes; glad she was too far away to hear the and silently wished they just leave the staff in piece.

A shadow passed across her right side, and she opened her eyes to see a tall slim man in his early forties, wearing dark blue shorts and a light blue shirt, currently unbuttoned to reveal a chest of a man who clearly knew which direction the gym was.

“Enjoying being lunch?” He asked with a smile and accent she couldn’t place, nodding in the direction of the pool and the fish. “The names Walsingham, Francis Walsingham.”

The man held out a hand a Mary obliged by shaking it. “Mary Smith; nice to meet you.”

“Is this your first time at the Retreat?” He asked politely. “I’ve been here a couple of times over the years.”

“Yes, this is my first time.” Mary replied. “Haven’t had much time to relax in a while.”

“Why, what do you do?” Francis asked. “If you don’t mind me asking, that is?”

“I’m in security.” She answered, which in a way was technically correct. She was assigned to protect Federation space.”

“That sounds both fun and dangerous.”

“It has its moments.”

“I’m into Asset Management.”

The pair of them chatted for a good forty minutes, and seemed to get on well. It had been a long time since any man had paid Mary much attention, or was it her that just brushed them aside. The uniform probably hadn’t helped in some instances. This Walsingham guy was certainly a charmer, once he got going, but he wasn’t over confident with it. He wasn’t in your face and strutting like a peacock.

When he walked away, Mary had a warm smile on her face and had somehow agreed to have dinner with the man, later that day. This was not how she’d envisioned a week at the Retreat going, but she certainly wasn’t going to complain. May be she could get used to Shore Leave.

**********

At the back of the main guest wing, a tall man obscured by tall palm trees and the shadows they created, pulled a small black device from the pocket of his shorts and held it up to his mouth. “This is Four Five to Control.”

“Go ahead Four Five.” A female voice replied.

“Have made contact, will proceed as planned.”

“Confirmed Four Five, happy hunting.”

He placed the device back into his pocket, and disappeared from view.