Finally they made it down the corridor. He looked over his shoulder to check the sign by the door. “This is us, Madam Locker. Left turn please, then straight.”
“Thank you, kind sir,” Reena chortled as she eased the cart around to follow his directions and then keyed in her biometrics so they could head in. She was pretty sure he wasn’t authorized to be in here but it wasn’t like they had sensitive equipment unsecured already so she didn’t think it was a problem.
“You know, you’re probably not supposed to be in here so let’s just keep this between us so you and the nice lady bringing me here don’t get into trouble.”
He grinned as he spotted the gap the locker was intended for. “Oh, I’m sure I’m not. So mum’s the word. Okay, turn and then we can ease you into place, Madam Locker.”
Serena couldn’t help but chuckle at last as she moved per his guidance. She could see the mounting points on the floor where the locker was going to be bolted to so it wouldn’t move no matter what. Stopping just short of the spot, she started to ponder how to unload the damned thing from the cart when her helpful companion decided to take matters into his own hands… literally.
”Pull the cart away, would you?” He asked, strong-arming the locker into place. They weren’t that heavy when unloaded, but it was still hefty enough he didn’t want to trip over the cart and drop it.
She hurriedly did as he asked, dropping the whole locker puppet show routine and watched as he easily maneuvered the whole thing into place like it weighed nothing. If she had to do it herself it might have taken a lot more effort but he made it look easy.
“Wow,” she mused out loud as she turned to pick up the bolt gun from the nearby equipment cart and started locking the locker into place. “That’s great work, Mr. Muscles.”
The metallic sound of the ram bolts being driven into place and locking solidly without any give wasn’t too loud in the small confines of the room but it definitely punctuated every action she took, bent over as she secured the locker into place.
When she turned, she still had the teasing grin on her face, especially when she took in the man’s face for the first time. She had to admit, she didn’t expect that the guy who’d helped her out from the goodness of his heart was hot.
Then she saw the rank insignia on his collar and the expression froze on her face.
Ohhhh craaaap…
“My eyes are up here,” he teased, winking when she looked up at him. ”So, Madam Locker, does that meet with your approval?”
Now he could see her properly, she definitely didn’t seem the sort who should be in the HazMed locker room, but it took all sorts. Being friends with Enna had taught him to never judge a book by its cover.
Her brow immediately furrowed and she gave him a squinty eyed look at the sound of the silly nickname, only for her to immediately remember that this guy who looked like he should be in magazines was actually a higher ranking officer. Way higher ranking than her. What was he doing onboard? Did he get lost on his way somewhere and decided to be a hunky bellhop on a whim?
“Um… At this point I’m not sure what I’m supposed to be approving of,” she managed. “But if you’re referring to your manly display of strength then you definitely more than pass… err…sir.” She wasn’t quite sure what to do with her hands at that moment and on impulse her left hand snapped off to give him a jaunty left handed salute that came off ridiculously awkward.
He grinned. “The placement. But thank you for the compliment.” He offered his hand. “RJ. I’m new aboard.”
She immediately switched the bolt gun in her right hand to her left so she could shake his hand, then quickly realized she didn’t have to keep holding the damned thing, so she put it down as she gave him a firm squeeze and a shake.
“You’re welcome,” she said with a smile. “Though if you’re new aboard at least that means you definitely didn’t get lost on your way somewhere else. Nice to meet you, Sir… uh… RJ. I’m Serena Veren, nurse by day, combat medic by night, and I guess locker puppeteer when I’ve got nothing better to do.”
”Pleased to meet you Serena,” he shook firmly, then let go. “No, I didn’t get lost. I was on my way to the lounge, in search of the strongest coffee known to man. Wouldn’t mind pointing me in the right direction, would you?”
“Oh well good news; thanks to you, my job is done here so I can lead the way if you like?”
Coffee sounded good to her too but she already had some a while ago, but something sweet as a snack would be nice.
“Just don’t go to the replicator on deck three till they get it fixed. It likes spraying people with gravy and sprinkles, especially if your last name is Smith.”
He blinked. “Okay… my name’s not Smith, but I’ll keep an eye out for that one in case it decides to expand into the R’s.”
Reena was thoughtful for a moment as she led the way to the door. “Huh, your surname is the first letter of your initials? I didn’t know. That’s interesting. Let’s get you some coffee then.”
