Paths Intertwined
Posted on Mon Apr 13th, 2026 @ 7:45pm by Lieutenant Commander Alyssa Maren & Major Edmund Merrick
Edited on on Tue Apr 14th, 2026 @ 5:26pm
1,687 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
The Cure: Operation Kakori
Location: Mess Hall - Deck 2 - USS Valiant
Timeline: MD003 1400 hrs
He was hungry, that was the reason why Edmund went to the mess hall. He also wanted to make certain to avoid running into Emiko. The girl seemed to still be fixated on him. He hadn't missed the glare she shot towards Audie, when he looked at the marine who looked back at him. Just an acknowledgement of what they heard.
A cup of green tea and a lemon filled pastry was what he acquired, Edmund settling down with his back to the wall, just enjoying the quiet, along with the delectable tasty pastry. The crust certainly melted in his mouth, he was in heaven.
It was Ruby's turn to check on the mess to be sure there were enough pastries. And, if she were honest, it was an opportunity for her to take two...or three...back with her.
"You better chow down, or it's gonna get cold so eat it, I don't care if you're full just eat it," she sang as she headed for the pastry table.
"Just eat it, eat it," came the muffled notes from Edmund trying to sing around the pastry in his mouth. He paused, drank some tea.
At first, Edmund hadn't noticed who had come into the mess hall. He just broke out singing, well, tried singing. Can't do that too well with pastry in the mouth.
"Nice voice!" he greeted the singer, the cute dark haired woman who reminded him of someone.
Who did she remind Edmund of, then a flash came to him, Never Winter! His eyes widening, "R-ruby?"
Ruby froze, turning to look at him. "Edmund?" She had to be mistaken. Edmund was on the Pioneer, and they were hosting a team from the...oh. And then she blushed.
Ruby the vivacious beauty, the one whose kiss he remembered vividly. Edmund's first kiss after years of not having had one, not having allowed one to happen.
Feeling the crumbs left over from his pastry upon his lower lip, Edmund quickly wiped his mouth off.
He smiled warmly, "This is, well unexpected seeing you and a very pleasant surprise to be certain." Edmund's eyes drifted down to her lips, then made his gaze go back to her eyes.
"If you have the time, want to catch up a little bit?" He motioned towards the table where he sat.
Ruby grabbed a couple of pastries and a drink, then sat down by Edmund. "Sure. When I heard we were escorting some crew from the Pioneer, I wasn't sure if you'd be one of them. How are you doing?"
"I'm not doing badly at all, especially seeing you. I will say that the dance we shared at Neverwinter it was a life changer and I thank you for that. Gave me a bit of a boost." Edmund reaching out to get another pastry.
"These could be considered addictive." Edmund taking a bite. "I wonder who made these. I've got to get the recipe." a little bit of powdered sugar ended up making a bit of a smear on his chin.
"They are addictive. Hoarding certain supplies can be considered a perk of being in operations," she said before taking a bite of one of her pastries.
"What have you been up to as of late?" Edmund definitely wanting to know. "How has the Valiant been treating you?"
"Not bad. I like Kat--she's my department head, and the captain is nice." She shrugged. "I don't read many comic books any more, though."
"Any reason why you don't read too many comic books anymore?" This piqued Edmund's interest. "Are they becoming stale or the same thing?"
Edmund's mind slipped towards the comic book he saw. It had the great artwork and the hero looked a little bit like him. Which still boggled his mind.
"I was on a ship where the XO was sick. He liked superhero comics, so while he was recovering, I'd slip into sickbay and read him comics. I really haven't read many since then."
Edmund nodded towards Ruby, "I take it he got well, and comic book heroes became a little bit old."
"He got well, but I left the ship a short while later. I guess I got too busy." She looked at him for a long moment, her head cocked to one side. "You know, the captain picked up this comic on Empok Nor..."
" A comic book? Uh what sort of comic book did he pick up?" Edmund's mind making a leap to a conclusion. Then he mentally shook his head. Nah she couldn't be referring to that blasted comic book, with the cover art having a striking resemblance to him.
"Something about Merrick and his band of merry maids," she said. "There's a picture that looks a lot like you on the cover. And one that looks like one of the intel people."
Edmund closed his eyes, slowly shaking his head. His gut feelings were spot on.
Opening his eyes, Edmund gave a wry smile. "Oh, that comic book. Well, it could possibly be me. It has an uncanny likeness. No, I didn't pose for that. This has been popping up all over the place along with tee shirts, Merrick's Merry Maids. Then there is the Not Merrick's Merry Maids Tee shirt. Someone decided that they'd play a prank and it’s become quite uh.. I am not certain how to describe it."
"Well, all you need to do now is dress up like a superhero and see if that makes it into a comic book," she teased. "At least then you'd be a hero."
"Are you saying that I am not a hero, but instead a villain?" Edmund getting a thoughtful expression in his eyes.
He reached up to twirl an imaginary moustache, like a villain in a melodrama.
"I can sweep you off your feet, put you over my shoulder and carry you away to my lair..." waggling his eyebrows up and down towards Ruby, having an amused gleam in his eyes.
"Well, that would all depend on your lair," Ruby said, giggling. "Or, I should probably say, No, please don't throw me over your manly shoulder and carry me off to your lair, for I would have to swoon and drape across you like a bag of potatoes."
Edmund just stared for a moment as a memory popped from a conversation he had with Neil.
One quote in particular.
Neil had said, Chivalry is fine. They want to know you respect them and enter into things with good intent. And then they want to be thrown over a shoulder and carried away. You kinda forgot that last part my friend
Grinning, Edmund chuckled, "I just don't see you swooning for too long. If I were to do that to you, I most likely would feel a knife in my back or at my neck, you telling me to put you down." he rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "Though sweeping you off your feet, in my arms that is another matter."
Ruby laughed. "You're right. I'd have to want to be carried off. Otherwise, I'd go kicking and screaming. Not very ladylike, but I've never been one to swoon." She couldn't help grinning. "However, I do recall a certain nightclub where you did manage to sweep me off my feet--literally."
"This is true, and-" Edmund's cheeks reddened, "And you swept me off mine as well. The kiss, that moment, had a magical effect on me, a powerful life changing effect." his voice low and slightly bashful.
"Really?" Ruby was surprised. It was a great kiss, yes. But she'd never swept anyone off their feet before and had a hard time believing Edmund. "No one's ever said that to me before."
"It is the truth, you changed my world and set me on a path ." his smile softening.
Reaching over Edmund picked up her hand, rose slightly upwards to lean over and kissed the back of it, he glanced at her lips once more, like he had back at Neverwinter.
"Would you allow a villain to give you a kiss?" Edmund's eyebrows going upwards in a flirtatious manner, looking deeply into Ruby's beautiful green eyes.
Ruby's face turned as red as her hair. "I...um... Yes." She couldn't lie. She'd been thinking about that kiss a lot since she learned he was going to be on the Valiant.
With Ruby admitting she wished for a kiss, Edmund moved around to the side where she sat. He swept her up into his arms, a fiery heartfelt kiss he gave, enjoying the sweetness of her lips, and the beauty he held.
The kiss ended, with Edmund reluctantly releasing her lips, looking soulfully into Ruby's eyes.
"You are an amazing woman." one hand cupping her cheek, his thumb caressing her soft lips.
"As much as I would love to continue this, holding you in my arms, and kissing you." Edmund smiling warmly. "I had better go get some rack time before my team and I go on our mission." releasing Ruby from his ardent embrace.
"And I'm on duty." Ruby sighed. It was the story of her life. Meet a great guy and he's either in a relationship or going somewhere else. But she had to admit, the kiss was definitely worth it.
"Such is life, right?" Edmund said somberly. "I am glad our paths crossed once again. I wasn't certain if it would happen, but the universe proved me wrong." Giving a slight chuckle. "Well, take care, Ruby and who knows, maybe our paths will cross again?"
Edmund did want to kiss her again but thought better of it. He blew Ruby a kiss, before making his exit. The lady, for that is how he saw Ruby, wasn't one to be trifled with. Nor to lead her on.
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Junior Grade Ruby Rojas
Assistant Chief Operations Officer, USS Valiant
Major Edmund Merrick
Company Commanding Officer, The Cure
USS Pioneer
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