Moving On Up

Posted on 01 May 2014 @ 8:26am by Commander C. Kos

920 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Pursuit
Location: USS Iroquois, Deck 1, Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: January 20, 2388 || 1000 hours

"You've done a fine job Mac," Commander Rossilli said, reassuringly. "These last couple of months have been difficult. For both of us."

Mackenzie half-smiled. "That is true Ant," she responded, using the nickname she'd given Commander Anthony Rossilli several years earlier when they'd both been assigned to the USS Susquehanna. Back then, they were both Lieutenants; Mac the Chief Engineer, and Ant the Chief Science Officer. They had quickly formed a strong friendship, often sharing meals and off-duty leisure time together. Despite the closeness they shared, the relationship never progressed beyond a friendship, despite what some of the ship-wide rumors were. When the Susquehanna was taken out of service for extensive repairs after a nasty run in with some Breen, both Mac and Ant had been assigned to the USS Iroquois. This transfer saw Mac adding the role of Second Officer to her service record. Several months after the transfer, Rossilli was promoted to Lieutenant Commander, and eventually was made the Executive Officer. Starfleet Command offered the position to Mac but she turned it down, not wanting to leave the engine room. Mac earned her own promotion to Lieutenant Commander shortly after Ant was promoted to Exec. When Captain Rasheed was wounded and forced to retire, Rossilli was promoted to Commander and placed in command of the Iroquois. He appointed Mac Acting Executive Officer. That was nearly 5 months previous.

"Trust me Mac, you're ready for this," Rossilli said, reassuringly. "There is a reason I fought with Admiral Jono to promote you to Exec. He wanted to send someone with more tactical experience to balance my 'softer' side."

Mac snorted. "I'm still not sure I want to be in command. I like it in engineering."

Rossilli chuckled. "I think that ship has sailed Mac. You've done too good of a job here the last couple months. I don't think Starfleet Command will let you back in an engine room full time anymore."

"You're probably right. I hate it when you're right," she grumbled. "More than the engine room, I'm going to miss you Ant."

"And I'll miss you too," the Commander replied, a warm smile peering through his beard. "I'm only a comm away."

"Pbbb!" she blew back at him. "Unless we're assigned to some remote sector. Then it'll be recorded messages only. What's the fun in that?"

"You'll be fine. When do you leave?"

"In the morning. I shuttle to Starbase 17 and then grab a transport out to the Black Hawk." Mackenzie smiled broadly as a thought popped into her head. "Come to my place for dinner. My last meal on the Iroquois."

"Of course," Rossilli replied, smiling. Then his face turned sour. "Just don't cook yourself. Let the replicator do the heavy lifting. Last time you cooked for me, I had to go to Sickbay."

"Oh shut up!"

=====================================================

Early the next morning, Mackenzie woke up. It took her a moment to realize that she wasn't alone in her bed. And another moment to notice that she was nearly nude. "CRAP!"

The exclamation woke the person next to her in bed. "Not so loud Mac. Too much wine," Ant groaned.

Mac cursed in her head. "Please don't tell me that we..."

"No. I'm still dressed. Mostly," Ant said, getting out of the bed to reveal that he was still wearing his pants and an undershirt. "You had a few too many and started spilling food all over yourself. You removed your blouse and your skirt since they were covered in tomato sauce."

"Did I really have that much to drink?"

Ant winced and rested his forehead in his left palm. "Apparently. I talked you into going to bed, but you refused unless I stayed with you until you fell asleep. It seems I fell asleep too."

"You were a lady, and I gentleman," Rossilli reassured her. "What time is your shuttle leaving?"

"Uh...0745. What time is it now?"

Ant looked around for a chronometer. "0657."

"Plenty of time. You go. I need to finish packing."

Ant managed a smile, despite the way his head felt. "Waiting to the last minute, of course."

=====================================================

Mackenzie walked into the shuttlebay with her smaller bag slung over her shoulder and pulling a larger bag behind her. She handed a PADD to the deck officer, a young Benzite woman, who pointed Mac in the direction of the Shuttle Janus. As she neared the Janus, Mac saw Commander Rossilli leaning against the front hull of the small craft. In his hand was a large covered beverage container.

"I brought you a traveling treat," he said, holding out the container.

"Is this more of that horrible swill you drink?"

"No. I gave up on convincing you of the benefit of Tellarite brewed jiarot. This is your favorite."

Mac's face erupted in a huge grin. "Raktajino, with two measures of chocolate syrup?"

"That's the one."

"Thanks Ant." Realizing they were in public she corrected herself, "Captain I mean. Thank you Captain."

"Get going. Send me a message so I know you got to the Black Hawk safely."

"Of course. I will miss you."

"We'll still be good friends Mac. A little distance isn't going to change that."

"Of course not sir," she said with a smirk.

=====================================================

Now on a transport en route to the Black Hawk, Mac thought back on her career and how strange it was that she'd be wearing the red uniform full-time now.

"Attention passengers: we will be rendezvousing with the USS Black Hawk in 15 minutes. That is all."

"Here we go," she verbalized to herself.

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