A Benefit

Posted on Tue Jul 24, 2018 @ 10:51pm by Petty Officer 1st Class Ben Efits & Lieutenant Xylia Lischka

Mission: Falling Star
Location: Security
Timeline: MD 34 || 0900 Hours

Petty Officer 1st Class Efits left the administrative offices where he fielded messages for the Commodore around the clock, collated data, processed the PADDs coming in from the different departments and made certain that people who did not need to bother the Commodore, would not bother the Commodore.

He was browsing through the morning reports and then he frowned and sorted through them again. With a frown, he closed the file, grabbed a PADD from his desk and headed down to Security. Once he arrived, Ben marched in and looked around.

"I'm looking for Lieutenant Lissshka," he said and mangled Xylia's last name, but he wasn't about to try the first name.

The receptionist in Security looked up at Ben when he spoke and couldn't help but smile at him. He definitely seemed to be the friendly sort, but her husband wouldn't be too happy if she got to know that for sure. "You're looking for Lieutenant Leesh-kah?" she asked, pronouncing the woman's name as it was meant to be. "I'm sorry you came all this way for nothing, but she's no longer Security. She's made the move to Command. Mission Advisor to be exact. She's got a cushy office in Administration now." She offered him another smile. "Don't feel bad, though. You aren't the only one who has come seeking her out here. Her transfer is still fairly new."

"That's imp.." Ben stopped and looked at his PADD for a moment. "No. It's not. Thank you," he said with a smile before he turned on a heel and headed out, a flush creeping up his neck at his embarrassment. A short time later, he came to the Administration complex that he knew like the back of his hand. Except for the personnel that worked there, which he now planned to rectify. It didn't help that every department had hundreds of personnel, he mentally grumbled.

A few minutes later, he came to the door that had the correct name on it and pressed the chime.

Inside her office, Xylia sat on the couch instead of behind the desk to look over some of the mission reports that were coming through already. She wasn't even in that far when she took note of some things that could be changed, but there would be time to bring that up to Commodore Aravan and Captain Weisz. "Come in," she called, setting the PADD in her hand on the table off to the side of the couch. It was only proper that her guest get her full attention.

Ben entered and stopped when he saw the magnificent looking woman on the couch. He put on his best smile with a twinkle in his eyes as he approached her. "Lieutenant Leesh-kah?" he asked her, making sure he pronounced her name like the person in Security had. "I'm Petty Officer Efits, the Commodore's Yeoman. Do you have a moment?" Or a half an hour in the nearest supply closet? he mentally added.

"Sure, what can I do for you?" she asked, gesturing for him to join her on the couch. Xylia rose to her feet and made her way over to the replicator, placing an order for a cup of tea. "Can I get you anything?"

Yes, your quarters assignment and favorite position would be nice Ben thought and then watched her walk towards the replicator, his eyes drawn to her hips. "I'll have an ass of apple juice, please," he said and then realized what he said "Glass! Glass of applejuice!"

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that to save you a little embarrassment," she said, ordering his juice and bringing it over to him before settling back down once again. "So... you asked if I had a moment. For what?"

He had to think for a moment for the reason he had came down. "Oh," he said. "I wasn't certain if you were required to turn in reports to the Commodore or not," he said once he remembered and accepted the glass. "Thank you."

Xylia shook her head. "No, I don't usually turn reports in to Commodore Aravan. In fact, I have reports given to me to go over, which is what I was doing right before you arrived. Seeing the way things have been handled and how people have reacted in situations allows me to do my job better the next time. I speak to him and Captain Weisz directly, though, so there are never any reports."

"Then I do apologize for taking up your time, Lieutenant," Ben told her after a sip of his juice. "Captain Weisz is currently on the planet, so if I can be of assistance in getting you a better chance of speaking to the Commodore with his current schedule, I'd be happy to." And if you're single, I'd be more than happy to do a lot more.

"That's certainly appreciated, but I don't have anything to bring him right this minute," Xylia stated. "I've still got more reports to go over, then I'll take it from there."

"Is there anything I can assist you with?" he asked her. "As the Commodore's Yeoman, I have access to many of the reports that are coming in fresh."

Xylia shook her head. "No, but I appreciate the offer. I've got access to most reports, and those I don't, the Commodore and Captain fill me in with what I can know."

"Very well," Ben said as he came to his feet. "I apologize for wasting your time, Lieutenant. I'll let you get back to those reports."

"You didn't waste my time, Mister Efits," the German woman assured him, rising to her feet again. "Have you had breakfast yet this morning? I haven't, and I'm a bit hungry. The Black Hole makes a mean stack of pancakes."

"I never have time for breakfast, but I guess I could join you for them if they're as good as you say they are," he told her and settled back down. It gave him more time to think of a strategy where she was concerned.

Xylia offered him a friendly smile. "You should make time for it. It's the one meal of the day that really gets us going," she said, gesturing for him to follow her as she walked out of her office. The German woman loved her new job, but she definitely missed the hustle and bustle that Security brought her. "Considering we can be awake for days on end, you want to make sure you keep herself fed, hydrated and rested whenever you have a chance."

Ben got up to follow her and once more was attracted to the sway of her hips. "I probably miss a lot of things, but my position is a busy one and I have to keep the Commodore up to date constantly about what's going on in the Task Force. Did you hear that he got put in charge of all of it instead of just Asteria?"

"I heard something about it, but haven't had the chance to talk to him yet. We've all been pretty busy since this mission began," she said, making her way out of Administration and into the corridor. "It does make me wonder how his wife feels about it. He was busy before he was promoted, but now he's going to be even busier."

"That's the life of a Starfleet officer," he responded to her. "It's also why most stay single and have flings instead of anything serious. Me, I can't even get a friend on this ship."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm so busy working for the Commodore," Ben replied. "It's a never ending job even when I'm off duty because we have a relatively new crew and everyone is still getting used to how each Chief does things. I've had comms at zero three thirty asking me the code for this or that and it's all in the PADDs I made and distributed to everyone in Admin."

Xylia could understand that. "You need to make time for yourself like we all do," she said, stepping into the turbolift and requesting the deck they wanted. "The only way you're going to make friends is to make time."

"It's easier said than done," he said. "Things will settle down soon. Have you made many since you've been on the ship?"

"I've been on the ship since her first trek into space," Xylia stated with a smile. "I know quite a few people on board. If you want, I can introduce you around. It'll help you get to know some of the crew."

"You were one of The Originals?" Ben asked as he came to a slow stop. "As in one of those selected to serve on her?"

Xylia couldn't help but smile. They'd seen a lot of turnover over the years, and even some of those who had been part of the ship's maiden voyage fell victim. She was one of few who'd stuck around. "I am. The Commodore's wife was our Executive Officer, but a medical condition forced her into early retirement. Captain Weisz has been with us for a while, too, though she wasn't part of the original crew. It doesn't seem that way, but it's true."

"I knew about Commander Scott-Aravan," he said. "I wish I could have been on the ship since the beginning. I'd have everything running more effectively. Anyhoo, breakfast?"

"That's where we're heading," she said, stepping out onto the deck once the turbolift doors opened. "And coffee. I have to have some coffee."

"I think I need about a gallon of that, a stack of pancakes, some bacon and some fruit," Ben said. "Or two gallons of coffee and some bacon."

"I already know what I'm getting, and I can't wait to sink my teeth into it. A stack of pancakes, loaded hashbrowns, sausage, bacon, a few sunny side up eggs, cinnamon raisin toast and a bowl of fresh fruit with some coffee," Xylia said with a look of pure bliss on her face.

The Yeoman laughed and looked over at her. "Where are you going to put it all?" he asked. While she was voluptuous, he didn't think she would be capable of tucking all that food away.

"In my stomach. It won't go to my hips or anything, because I'll bust me ass in the gym for it later," the Mission Advisor replied with a grin.

I'd guess other places, too, Ben thought but kept his expression neutral. "I work out by running back and forth every hour of every day. It's a real cardio trainer."

Xylia made her way into The Black Hole and requested a table for the two of them, then turned her attention toward him. "Come on. As your first official friend aboard the ship, I insist on buying you breakfast, then we should probably get back to work. As soon as we both have a free moment, I'll introduce you around to some of the people on the ship and get the friend count a bit higher." With that, she followed the hostess to an empty table and settled down with the intentions of getting to know her friend a bit better.

After he joined her, he smiled. "I can agree to that," he said. "After all," he grinned. "Who wouldn't want to be friends with Ben Efits?"