[Vimyridge] SD931005.9 Lox and Reed take a break (Lox, Reed)

[J]

Justin sat in 10-forward reading a PADD and having a quick meal.

It was times like this that Nick really wished that ten forward served
the real stuff, he mused.  Ah well, he'd end up passing on the synth
crap.  He couldn't stand that stuff.  He got himself a small meal as
well, seeing it was still in the middle of one of his many shift's.  He
didn't much care for taking a break, even for a meal, but he had been
told he had needed it.  He sighed softly, glancing over the lounge itself.
Relativedly crowded... what?  Did everyone have the same idea?  He shook
his head taken note of one person in particular.  He made his way across
the room before he was standing near the table.  "Commander Lox, right?"
he asked, plastering a fake grin to his face... it was a pretty accurate
replica though.  "May I join you?" he asked.

"Sure.  Have a seat."    Justin was having a meal of some sort of spicy
meat on a bun.  It looked like something like shredded brownish fibers in
some brownish-red sauce, with some green and white chunks added in.  He
had only taken a few bites of it, but it was obvious it was a messy meal
from the drippings on his plate.  "Kinda busy in here today, isn't it?"

Nick pulled up a seat, his was just a simple sandwich. He didn't really
seem all that put off by Lox's choice of food.  He was used to the exotic.
"A little," he said simply.  "Not unexpected though,"

"It was for me.  I'm  not used to seeing this many people in here, except for
formal occasions."  Justin said.  "How are things going?"

Nick shrugged, "Fair enough," he said, taking a bite of his sandwich.  He waited
until his mouth was empty before speaking again.  "Running drills, trying to
keep security tight, never know what sort of thing we'll encounter..." he said.
It was true, he had been increasing security and trying to get what security
personell he could into a stricter training schedule ever since the Cugino
incident.  He wasn't going to let something like that happen again.  "What about
you?" he asked.

"Simulations, repairs, upgrades.  We stay very busy.  Always something
going on. Being short handed has set our upgrades back about 30 days, and
getting worse
but .. if things will stay quiet for a while... we will catch up."  Justin
said.

Nick actually chuckled at that, "Well, good luck with quiet..." he said
simply. "I'm sure all of us could use the break," he said simply.

Justin chuckled too "Quiet is a relative term.  This is quiet" he gestured
to the crowded ten forward "for us as least.  "Also.. remember to take
time for yourself.  Something that was recently re-reminded to me.  Make
sure you take a few hours each day to just relax.  Not just sleep."

Nick shrugged at that, "I'm unable to relax unless I'm on the job, but I'm
pushing for some leave time, actually, hopefully once we get back from
this recent mission," he told him, taking another bite.  He was hoping to
actually get the chance to go home and deal with someone who felt it was
necessary to send an assassin onboard his ship and grab someone to use
against him.

"I used to think that way too.  You will get to a paint that you need to
get away for a bit.  Start taking that time now, while you can.  It may
not be available later."  Justin said.  "What do you plan to do on leave?"

Nick shrugged for a moment, "See old friends, some family..." he said.  Though
he never really got along with his family after Marissa was hurt and left
him...  And
the supposed friends were contacts... and people he'd either have to scare into
submission...
or just kill.  He hoped he wouldn't have to do THAT again...

"Your tone says something else... Some trepidation?  It is none of my business..
just be careful in whatever you do.  Keep yourself safe, and... relaxed.  Don't
stress out while trying to decompress from the stress of serving on this ship."
Justin looked up and at Nick.  "If you need an escape...  I have a couple of
holo programs you might enjoy.  Especially if you like adrenalin rushes."

Nick shrugged lightly, he'd have to hide his actual emotion a bit better...
"Didn't really leave on good terms with my old man," he said.  Then shrugged,
laughing at Lox's talk of adrenaline... he was a bit of a junky.  "I have a few
of
my own," he told him, "It's fun, and doubles as training aids," he said simply.
"You should check out the life of Robin Hood sometime," he added.  A brief
shrug.  "What'd you have in mind?" he asked.

"I race shuttles.  I have a obstacle course sim that makes the top pilot's
certification program at the Academy look like a walk in the park.  Then there
is my re-create of one of out early missions, called the stone place.  That one
is sure to either make you lose your lunch, or give you such a rush it takes a
week to come down off it." Justin grinned.  "Robin Hood?  You should talk to Dr.
Blake.  She loves sims like that."

Nick nodded lightly, "Sounds like my kinda thing alright," he said, "I figured
the doc would like that sorta thing after that little fantasy sim she ran on the
holodeck one day, that was pretty fun," he said simply.

"That is was.  We need to do more of that in the future." Justin said.  "Maybe
we can devote one of the holodeck to an ongoing real-time game that we can step
into and out of as needed... " He was quickly lost in though working out power
consumption, deck stresses, and other factors "Security could use it too..
completely different kind of combat and encounters than what they would expect.
Great for honing one's edge... yes?"  He looked over at Nick

Nick took a final bite, nodding as he chewed thoughtfully, washing it down with
whatever beverage that was.   "I think I'll just have to look into that," he
said with
a smile. "But if you'll excuse me, my shift isn't quite up," he said with a wink
as
he stood.

Justin nodded and focused his attention back on his PADD.

=/\= =/\= =/\=
Lt. Commander Justin Lox, CEO
Lt. Nick Reed, Security