Contemplating the Future

Posted on 22 Jul 2025 @ 1:42am by Lieutenant JG Daniella Blake & Commander Terry Walsh

2,701 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: Imposters Among Us
Location: Various
Timeline: July 2390

Dani made her way into the quarters she shared with Terry, and without giving it much thought, she moved over to the couch to sink down onto it without bothering to change just yet. Things had been a bit busier than she'd experienced in some time, but despite that, she was back home. This was where she belonged, and where she hoped she could relax for a while.

Terry had been getting cleaned up from the days work. He didn't care the amount of time he stayed in that bathroom so long as he got the day's crud off his body. When he was finally satisfied, he put on a pair of blue shorts and a red island-style shirt with white flowers.

Walking out into the living area, Terry saw Dani resting on the couch and walked on by to let her rest for a minute. He replicated a few warm, medium sized chocolate chip cookies on a plate and two glasses of cold milk.

Dani cracked an eye open when she felt a presence close by. She already knew who it was, and felt a bit of the days stress already melting away. "Hey," she said with a smile. "I didn't know you were here, but I'm glad that you are."

"Hey there," he responded. He brought the plate of cookies over. "Yeah, I was just trying to hours of crud washed off." He went back for the two glasses of milk and set them down. He lifted up Dani's feet and sat down the couch, putting them back down on his lap.

"I should probably take a shower, but I'm not ready to. I just need a few minutes to lay here with you," she admitted.

"Eh, there's always later." Terry leaned forward and grabbed a warm chocolate chip cookie and a glass of cold milk. "Have some," he said to Dani. "We'll just sit here and relax for a while." He took a bite of cookie followed by a drink of milk.

She reached for the other glass of milk and grabbed a cookie before sitting up a bit. Unlike him, she chose to dunk hers, letting it soak up some of the milk before she bit into it. Dani took a moment to chew and swallow it before she smiled at him. "How did I ever get to be so lucky? You have been the greatest since the moment I torpedoed you in the pool."

"We're both lucky," said Terry. "And that was some of the best damn fun at the beginning, too. We should hit the pool again sometime. Or a holodeck island party or something. Surely someone on this ship has some sort of anniversary or birthday that we can all celebrate."

Dani nodded in agreement, but she couldn't recall off the top of her head who might have a birthday or anniversary coming up. "It would be nice to be able to relax a bit, but I don't know when things will settle enough to be able to do that," she admitted before taking another bite of her cookie. "Maybe we can go to the pool and reenact our first encounter?" The thought brought a smile to her face. That had been over two years ago, perhaps closer to three. And, as the saying went, time did indeed fly when you were having fun.

"You're right," he said. He finished his cookie and picked up another one. "A visit to the pool sounds like a great idea. And reenacting our first encounter sounds fun. Maybe after the pool...if we have enough time...we can stroll to the holodeck and pull up some old beach party program and pretend we're celebrating a birthday."

Dani finished up her cookie, then her milk before she set the glass down. "Even though it isn't technically our anniversary, we could still celebrate it if we wanted to. It's just a little early," she said with a smile. "And, to be honest, the time I've been with you has been some of the happiest, and that in and of itself should be reason to celebrate."

"Agreed," said Terry. "And who cares if it's a little early. We can celebrate twice," he said with a grin. "Or three times. Or four times." He laughed a little before continuing. "The only reason we'd have to stop celebrating is to go to work." He finished his cookie and chugged the last of his glass milk. "You still have that little number you were wearing you torpedoed me, right?"

Dani laughed as she nodded her head. "I do. It's tucked safely away in my underwear drawer. I suppose I might be persuaded to pull it out. I might also be persuaded to wear something I think you might like a bit more."

"Heh, am I really going to have to do that much persuading?" asked Terry. "I mean, I could if you really wanted me to. But let's go with the one that you think I might like a bit more." He rubbed her leg and then patted her knee. "Maybe afterwards we can have a drink. A nice Sauvignon Blanc would round out the evening well...whether it's at the pool, Talons, or back here. Whaddya think?"

"You won't have to do much persuading at all. The one I think you might like more would be most suited for her or the holodeck, I think," she said with a grin. "In fact, wear this particular suit under my uniform or whatever else I happen to be wearing everyday. As for the Sauvignon Blanc, I definitely cannot turn that down."

Terry grinned at Dani. "Ahh yeah, that outfit. The one you got on your birthday. Yeah, I'd definitely like that one more. Skinny dipping in the holodeck...we should take a bag to keep our clothes dry for afterwards. A little walk on the wild side."

The petite woman grinned. "We can do that, and I think this might be just what we need after a dat like today. We can bring some wine and a couple glasses with us."

"Absolutely," Terry said. "You grab a bag for the clothes and I'll get the wine and glasses. We can talk about what kind of environment we want to swim in on the way to the holodeck. How's that sound?"

Dani sat up and leaned in to kiss him, smiling from ear to ear. "You got it," she said, as she rose to her feet and made her way to their bedroom to grab a bag for their clothes. This seemed very naughty, but she was certainly looking forward to it.

Terry went to get the Sauvignon Blanc and a couple of glasses. If they swam in their birthday suits, fine. If they swam in their undergarments, fine. They just needed some time to cut loose and relax.

Dani came back with a bag, but it looked like their might have been something tucked inside already. There was room for more. "I went ahead and packed our suits just in case," she said. "Still, we don't have to wear them if we don't want to. Should we bring anything else?"

"That works for me," he said. "We could always start with them and then if we feel adventurous..." He trailed off that last part. "A couple of towels might not be a bad idea. But we could probably call some up, holodeck and all." He hefted a small chilling container. "The wine and glasses are in here."

Dani smiled as she shouldered the bag and gestured to the door as she made her way to it. "Then, it seems like we're all set," she said. "I hope we get some down time after this. It would be nice to take a real vacation with you."

Terry followed her out the door and smiled. "Yeah, a real vacation, just the two of us. We can make it if we try." As they walked down the corridor, he asked, "Were would you want to go on vacation?"

"Definitely somewhere with a lot of sun. It doesn't necessarily need to be beachy, but that would be a nice bonus," the petite woman said as she slipped a hand around his arm and laid her head against him. "How about you? Where would you like to go?"

"I like the mountains," he said. "Quiet, peaceful. But sunny and beach is nice. We could find a section away from all the hustle and bustle and maybe a little beach house. Just me and you and the ocean breeze." Honestly, any place that was quiet and peaceful with Dani would suit him just fine.

Dani smiled. Both of those sounded pretty heavenly, but anywhere would be as long as Terry was with her. She'd grown quite fond of the big bald man, and loved him unconditionally. "Quiet and peaceful sounds really good to me, but as long as you're there, I think I could go anywhere."

"Perfect," he said, as they entered the turbolift and he ordered their destination. "A little beach house on a secluded beach. No one else around. Just me, you, and nature. Maybe even a secluded island...that actually sounds pretty good." He paused, thinking, "I'm not sure I'd ever want to leave if we did that."

"Have you ever given thought to retiring?" The petite woman asked as they neared their destination. Dani wasn't quite ready to give up her career just yet, but for him, she would if it was something he was actually considering.

The lift stopped and the doors opened, allowing them to exit. Terry put his arm around Dani's shoulders as they started towards the holodeck. "When we first met in the pool, I'd have said no without any hesitation. It's still no. But I'd be lying if I said I hadn't entertained the thought lately." Then he chuckled, "I guess we'd be one of those active Starfleet and retired Starfleet couples. I'd get a robe and wander around the ship wearing it, a pair of shorts, flip-flops, and a t-shirt with 'I'm retired. Arm you own damn torpedoes.' printed on it. Yeah...I'd be in a counselor's office on a regular basis. Or the brig."

Dani couldn't help but laugh at the visual of him dressed like that roaming the ship. "You're probably right, but if you ever start to seriously entertain the idea, tell me. I go where you go. I love you, big guy."

"For sure," said Terry, as he pulled her in for a hug. "I love you, too." They continued down the hall and around the corner. "So what kind of swimming environment do you want? Something plain and simple or more like that secluded island beach we were talking about?"

She looked thoughtful as her arms went around him. "How about secluded island beach? It'll give us something to look forward to."

"Oh yeah, perfect," said Terry as he searched for a program and then input a few tweaks. He grinned as the computer signaled it was ready. The doors opened and the couple walked in. The sight was beautiful and the island breeze that brushed across their faces was relaxing. There was a short walk down the beach to get to the house, but it'd be worth it.

Dani lit up brighter than any Christmas tree ever decorated. "Oh, wow... this is... I don't think words could possibly can express just how beautiful this is," she said softly, closing her eyes and smiling as the breeze danced across her face. "This is breathtaking."

Terry looked at Dani, eyes closed and smiling. He sighed and leaned down to kiss her forehead. "Not so much as what I'm looking at. C'mon, it's not a long walk, but let's do it right." He reached down and took off his beach sandals, wiggling his toes into the warm sand. "Ahhh, so relaxing."

His words made a smile dance over her lips and her heart flutter. Dani considered herself to be the luckiest lady on board the ship, and there wasn't a soul alive that would change her mind. She followed his lead and took her own sandals off. "If this gets any more perfect, I don't know if I will ever want to leave."

"That, I get," he said. The two of them walked the distance and took in the amazing beauty and the warmth of the sand between their toes as they did. "You know, the holodeck never ceases to please. But I'd like to see something like this for real."

"I say the moment we get the chance, we try to see this for real," she suggested. "I know our little slice of paradise has to be out there."

"Square deal," said Terry. "When we get the chance, we look for someplace like this. It won't be exactly like this, but I want it damn close." They weren't too far away at this point so he stopped and turned to Dani. There was that half grin, smirk thing he did when he was about to do something crazy.

Terry ran around behind Dani and hoisted her up on shoulders. "Hang on!" he called out and took off jogging towards the house's front door.

Dani gave a startled squeal, which almost immediately turned into laughter as she held on to his head when he took off down the beach. "My short little legs never would have gotten us here so fast," she giggled.

"Bah," he said, setting her down. "I like your short little legs." He opened the door and allowed Dani to enter. "How's it look for a hologram?"

"It looks incredible," Dani answered, unable to keep the sound of awe from her voice as she looked around.

It was like stepping into another world—a space where coastal charm met laid-back luxury. The open-plan living area was bathed in natural light, thanks to expansive floor-to-ceiling windows that framed the breathtaking ocean views. Soft, neutral tones like sandy beige, crisp white, and shades of seafoam blue created an airy, relaxed atmosphere, while weathered wood accents added a touch of rustic elegance.

A large, inviting plush sofa upholstered in linen beckoned for them to sink in and unwind. Tropical-themed throw pillows added a playful touch, and a woven jute rug anchored the space, complementing the hardwood or light-toned tile floors. A central coffee table, perhaps driftwood-inspired, held seashells collected from morning walks, along with a few well-loved books.

On one side, a cozy traditional fireplace added warmth during cooler evenings. Opposite, glass doors lead out to a sprawling deck where Adirondack chairs and hammocks awaited, offering the perfect spot to watch the waves roll in. The cabin's decor was effortlessly coastal, featuring rattan light fixtures, breezy curtains, and art showcasing marine life or local seascapes.

The kitchen seamlessly connected to the living area, boasting open shelving stocked with handmade pottery, fresh flowers, and all the essentials needed for a proper beach vacation. Whether it was the gentle lull of the waves or the salty breeze filtering through, the space was designed for relaxation and savoring the beauty of the ocean.

Terry let out belong, slow whistle as he took in the side of the beach house. "Yeahhh, I could definitely go for something like this for retirement. Hell, this would make a perfect floor plan if we even wanted to have our own built. That actually sounds like a better idea. Anyway... Find a plot of land we like and build this."

He walked up next to Dani. "So, whaddya want to do first? Explore, snack, swim, or what?"

"That sounds like my idea of heaven," the petite agreed as she pictured what retirement on the beach might look like. Dani had to admit it was quite appealing. She snapped out of it and grinned. "Swim, of course!"

Terry made a mental note. This was something that was getting more appealing by the minute. "Alright, swimming it is then." He proceeded to change into his swim trunks and then grabbed a towel. "Time to test the waters." Whether he was meaning the holo-waters or the idea of a peaceful retirement with Dani, one couldn't really tell.

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