I Need Her...

Posted on Fri Mar 24th, 2023 @ 2:17am by Lieutenant Commander Yana Petrova

Mission: In-Between (S1:E4-S1:E5)
Location: ISS Vengeance
Timeline: Mission Day 1 at 1000
1100 words - 2.2 OF Standard Post Measure

After Chuck finished his morning reports, he composed a request in to speak with the Fleet Shadow's Slave Mistress, Lieutenant Commander Yana Petrova. In the request, he stated that he was very interested in procuring Flight Department Slave Mur'Trolla's freedom. Once the message was sent, he resumed his work as he waited for a reply.

Chuck received a prompt response from the Commander. She sat in her office on Deck 15. It was well appointed, organized, and on the periphery of the slave quarters. Often, her staff were slaves who were off duty, of the 1st Caste whenever possible. Since she was also Deputy Commander of the Shadow Fleet, her administrative role was expanded to managing the other ships outside of Vengeance. Chuck was told he could meet with her in the next 20 minutes.

Upon receiving the Commander's reply, Chuck quickly made his way to the shuttlebay's head and made sure he looked presentable. He didn't want anything to go wrong in this meeting.

At twenty minutes exactly, he was standing outside of Yana's office. He reached up and pressed the call button.

The door opened and a slave man greeted him, his head down. He was shown inside and motioned toward a chair near Yana’s expansive desk. The woman wearing command red turned to him, her piercing eyes still communicating a sharpness and vitality belonging to a younger woman with looks to match.

“Chief Finley. To what do I owe the pleasure?” She asked, looking at him.

Out of respect to both her rank and her position, Chuck snapped to attention and saluted. He then moved to parade rest and replied. "Ma'am, first of all, thank you for agreeing to meet with me. As I mentioned in my request, I wish to secure Mur'Trolla's freedom, Ma'am."

“Yes, I saw that. I’d be happy to speak with you about it.” Yana said with a grin which immediately turned curious. “Might I ask why you’re seeking to free Mur’Trolla?”

She asked even though she already know full well why. For a person who knew everything, she seemed to know nothing.

Chuck cleared his throat and stood straight, proudly, as he replied. "To be honest, Ma'am, I love her, and I wish her to gain her freedom so that I may ask her to marry me."

Yana suppressed a chuckle at that. What was it with men and their blind eyes. It was clear to her this slave was using him for this very purpose. She seemed to process however, and responded differently.

“She is a 2nd Caste slave, meaning that she isn’t eligible for freedom unless she’s first promoted to a higher position. All of those positions, at this point, are filled. So I don’t think that is a viable option right now.” She said, and then leaned forward, her tone softening. “I’m sorry to say it, but I’m not sure marriage is in the cards any time soon without drastic measures.”

Chuck frowned slightly, though, he remained respectful. As a career NCO, he had learned that ability long ago. "I understand, Ma'am. Thank you for taking the time to listen to my request."

Yana looked at him evenly for a while, her eyes giving no indication of what was happening in her mind. She leaned forward then and steepled her fingers together, resting her head there and meeting his gaze.

“Strange. I expected you to push much harder.” Yana said, her expression still unreadable. “You do love this woman, don’t you? That’s what you said, at least. Were those just words, Chief?”

Still standing at textbook parade rest, his eyes focused on an imaginary spot on the bulkhead behind Yana's desk. When he replied, it was full of respect. "Ma'am, permission to speak freely?"

“Go ahead, Chief.” She said with a slight grin.

Relaxing slightly, Chuck lowered his gaze to meet Yana's. "Ma'am, I realize that it may seem that I'm blinded by my feelings for Mur'Trolla. Perhaps I am. However, at the end of the day, I know, in my heart, that she has made me feel things that I haven't felt in a very long time...things that I thought were never going to happen again. My desire to be with her has gone beyond any level of last. The true and simple fact of the matter is, I love her with every fiber if my being, and that feeling and desire to be with her grows stronger every day. I will do whatever is necessary to secure her freedom, Ma'am. She is the woman that I want to spend the rest if my life with."

“Well, if that’s the case, Chief, then why did you give up so easily when I gave you that bureaucratic excuse a few moments ago?” She asked, her silvery eyes seeming to bore into him; to see more than what most eyes could see.

"With respect, Ma'am, you are a superior officer and the person in charge of the slaves in our little fleet. If you say that a slave is not to be freed, there is nothing I can do but abide by your decision and follow your commands. Though I am a man in love, I am also a loyal and dedicated noncommissioned officer in the Terran military. I will follow the orders given to me, Ma'am."

"That's good to hear, Chief." Yana nodded, her eyes still on him, still looking at him deeply. "If you care about her as much as you say you do, what is her freedom worth to you? What would you be willing to do...or to go through, to purchase it?"

Without hesitation, he replied, "I would give anything, do anything to free Mur'Trolla, Ma'am."

"Then we'll be in touch, Chief." Yana said with a thin smile, looking down at a PADD and pressing several buttons. "I do hope you really mean that, though."

"I am a man of my word, Ma'am. That is something you will find as our journey continues." Chuck replied honestly and respectfully.

"I have no doubt of that, Chief," she said with a grin then, leaning back in her chair. Her beautiful face was unreadable, but seemed somewhat pleasant. "When it's time for you to prove yourself, you will know."

Realizing the meeting had come to an end, Chuck stood and nodded respectfully to Yana. "Thank you for taking the time to speak with me, Ma'am."

Yana watched him go with an inscrutable expression. She was very interested, under her deadpan, what all of this would come to.