Making New Friends
Posted on Thu Mar 20th, 2025 @ 4:08pm by Lieutenant Commander Hermia O'Rourke & Ensign Millicent Ambrose & Helena Moreno
Edited on on Thu Mar 20th, 2025 @ 9:07pm
2,036 words; about a 10 minute read
Mission:
Episode 16 - Silent Cries
Location: Maintenance Hatch 36-A - Deck 2 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD007 1930 hrs
Millie was on Deck Two getting ready to open the maintenance hatch to check on readings there. She was humming quietly as she put in the access codes for it. She heard the opening of the turbo lift looking over to see who had stepped out from it. Someone stepped out of it and was limping. She quit entering the code and moved towards the woman.
"Hello, ma'am, my name is Ensign Millie Ambrose, are you okay?" the ensign had concern for the redhead.
"Hi, I'm Doctor Hermia O'Rourke, nice to meet you, Ensign." Hermia said. "I'm sorry, I'm not quite myself right now. I was wondering, could you help me to my quarters? Its cabin 22 on this Deck."
"Sure, I'll be glad to do so, Doctor," Millie giving a smile. She moved Hermia's arm across her shoulders and offered a supporting arm around her waist. "Go ahead and put your weight on me, and we'll get to your quarters soon enough but at a gentle pace."
"Thank you." Hermia replied, putting her weight on the Ensign. "I'm not taking you away form your work, am I?" She asked.
"Not really, besides I wouldn't be able to concentrate if I had just ignored you, and you are not feeling well. And I am certain that the Pioneer wouldn't have liked this junior doctor for the ship, ignore the Doctor for the crew." giving a bit of a chuckle at her flight of fancy.
"I'll let your boss know about your help." Hermia said. "My brother, Edward, is always telling me, that as a Combat Engineer, he is a 'doctor' for machines."
"I like that." Millie giving a bright smile. When they reached Hermia's quarters, and the door opening to allow entrance, she looked around at the nice place. "Where would you like to have a seat? On the sofa?"
"The sofa's fine." Hermia said. "Could you get me a glass of water, and feel free to order yourself something from the replicator."
"Okay." Millie going to the replicator to get some water for Hermia and some tea for herself. Bringing both over, Millie placed them on the coffee table. "Lets get your shoes off so you can get more comfortable." before handing the water to Hermia.
"Thanks," Hermia said thanking Millie for the water and help with her shoes. "So, Millie, can I call you 'Millie'? What brought you to Starfleet?"
"You can call me Millie that's okay by me. Would you like me to call you, Hermia?" Having a seat at the other end of the sofa, one knee up on the seat, the other foot on the floor. She looked at Hermia then towards her feet. "So.... would you like a foot massage?"
"Sure, I'm not one who stands on ceremony." Hermia said. "Nice question avoidance."
"Nah no question avoidance, I end up answering the question when my brain reminds me." Millie giving a chuckle. "StarFleet, I joined it because I wanted to go see the stars and really get a look at the engines that move the ships in space. I saw the engines and I fell in love, how can I not fall in love, the hum the music it makes. Ohh sheer heaven." she picked up one of Hermia's then paused. "Do you have any lotion or an oil you use for you feet?"
"Yes, in bedside table." Hermia said. "Next to the concussion grenades."
Millie blinked, raising an eyebrow, "Concussion grenades? Uh, why do you have concussion grenades? " moving ffom the sofa to go get the lotion, returning she sat back down and gently picked up Hermia's foot, to begin working on it. Her touch was firm and gentle just right to not cause any ticklish sensation.
"They're for protection, I use them, if I can't reach the Phaser Pulse Rifle under my bed." Hermia said as if it were obvious.
When Millie began massaging her feet, Hermia moaned softly with pleasure.
"You are the first person that I've known in Starfleet to have emergency back up like this. I do know of someone who does sleep with a knife under their pillow or a hammer within easy reach. " Millie giving a smile. She could feel what her mother said was lactic acid build ups in the feet. "You know your feet are saying you have a lot of stress right now."
"Force of habit, I spent 9 years attached to a Marine base in Cardassian Space." Hermia said. "Yeah, the lack of sleep and the strong emotions are getting to me."
Millie looked up from where she was working on the other foot of Hermia. "Strong emotions? You can pick up on the emotions of others. And it sounds like you were not having a good time of it. I won't ask about what happened, as I can feel from your feet that its not a good memory, your toes are tightening up and not in a good way." Millie carefully rubbing the toes to get them to loosen up. "I also want to know what brought you to StarFleet. "
"Well, mostly I wanted to learn how to help people, and the rest was rebelling against the life my father had set out for me." Hermia said. "In his plan, I was to be yet another Marine, following in the steps of my father and his ancestors. Starfleet seemed away to achieve both my goals."
Millie shook her head, "Funny at times when parents have their own ideas as to where their kids should be, instead of allowing the child their own desire. My mom had to be convinced to let me come to StarFleet. She isn't part of StarFleet." Millie chuckling at that memory, a sense of fondness coming from her as she thought of her mom.
Millie had just finished up the other foot. She looked around for a blanket spotting one she retrieved it and placed it over Hermia's lower half. "Are you enjoying being here? I know I love this ship, even though I've not been on the Pioneer for very long. It has definitely become my home in such a short time."
"Yeah, I think of the Pioneer as home." Hermia said. "I started here as Assistant CMO, and when the CMO was reassigned, Tyler offered me the job and I accepted."
"I am glad to hear that. So, what do you like to do on your personal time? Do you have some interests you like to do? Like playing music or, sing or, go exploring on mountains?" Millie was honestly interested.
"I like to sing and dance." Hermia said.
"Really! Awesome, what sort of songs do you like to sing?" Millie making herself comfortable." I like to sing the classic rock and roll songs from way back on Earth."
"Yeah, I like to sing rock and roll, and some Blues." Hermia said.
"Really? That is great! You know maybe we can go do some singing together like having a karaoke night, what do you say about that? I would love to hear you sing. "Millie having a bright cheerful smile, and a little bit of a distant look in her eyes as she imagined how they would both sound together.
"Once, this is all over, I'll take you up on that, Millie." Hermia said managing a weak smile.
"Sounds wonderful. Uh is there anything else I can do for you? Uh maybe I can do what my mother did for me, when I was stressed out. She'd have me lay my head on her lap and she'd stroke my hair and hum a gentle song until I went to sleep. There was just something soothing when she did that." Millie raising her hands upwards then patted her lap.
"Thank you, for the offer, and for what you've done so far, but my daughter will be home soon." Hermia said.
Millie gave a nod."You have a daughter? Cool. " giving a smile. "I will see myself out then, take care Hermia and hopefully you will get the rest that you need." a pause, then Millie remarked. "I just want you to know that I feel comfortable being around you, like the sense of being family." rising from the couch. "And I think that you are a wonderful person" she wanted to give Hermia an embrace but felt that might be a bit too much.
"If you have the time, you can wait and meet her. " Hermia said.
"Really? I have the time." Millie taking a seat back upon the sofa. "What is her name?"
"Her name is Helena Moreno, she has her father's surname." Hermia said.
A few minutes later, the doors opened and in walked lithe, redheaded, teenaged girl. "Hi Mum," She said noticing her mother on the sofa. "Are you okay?"
"Just a bit of stress, Mo stoirín (My little darling in Irish Gaelic). "This is my new friend, Millie, she's been looking after me." She paused a moment. "Millie, this is my daughter Helena."
Helena smiled at Millie. "Thank you." She said.
"You are welcome, and nice to meet you Helena." Millie's return smile warm and genuine. "How was your day?"
"Pretty good. Mr. Marec was teaching us about Cardassian history today, it was very interesting." Helena said. "I like learning about other cultures."
"I too like to learn about other cultures, there are so many out there. I met a Klingon Operations officer. His name is Kolok. I had never worked with a Klingon before, and it was amazing. He thought I did well when we tackled an operation and engineering problem." Millie giving a smile at the memory.
"Cool. A lot of people look at cultures as one dimensional." Helena said. "Take the Klingons for example, most would say they are all warriors, looking for their next fight, and that's true, but they are also poets, architects, builders, scientist and engineers, to name just few roles. A society can't function without these roles and others. There is even a group of Klingon monks." She added. "You have to look deeper."
"I agree wholeheartedly. I have always believed that everyone has layers, like an onion, never know what lays beneath it the surface." Millie responded with a chuckle. "Klingon monks? Intriguing! I definitely need to do more studying on the Klingons and their culture."
"Yeah, from what I gather, the order was founded to guard the tomb of Kahless the Unforgettable." Helena said.
"Really? That is pretty amazing. Okay I think I need to take classes from you and I am serious about this. No joke at all. You have an amazing amount of information." Millie giving a nod of approval and definitely impressed. She looked over towards Hermia. "She is amazing."
"Yes, she is and I thank, whatever gods there are, for her every day." Hermia replied.
Helena's cheeks turned bright red in embarrassment. Her father never said anything nice to, or about her.
Seeing Helena blush, she said. "Mo stoirín. Why don't go get washed up before dinner."
"Nice to meet you, Millie." Helena said before heading to the bathroom.
Millie beamed towards Helena as she left. "If you don't mind my saying this, but you're a great mother." looking back at Hermia. "If you are okay now, I should be getting back to my work."
"Thank you for the compliment, and all your help today, Millie, enjoy the rest of your day." Hermia said. "And if your Chief has a problem with you leaving your job to help me, tell them they can talk with me about it, okay."
"Okay I will do so, and thank you. This has been quite the day so far. I'd like to give you a hug before I go if that is okay with you?"
"Okay sure." Hermia said and enjoyed Millie's brief embrace.
A Joint Post BY
Ensign Millicent Ambrose
Engineering Officer, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Commander Hermia O'Rourke
Chief Medical Officer, USS Pioneer
Helena Moreno;
Child, USS Pioneer;
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