Technical Expenses

Posted on Sun Jul 7th, 2019 @ 2:17am by Lieutenant Aleksander Voroshilov

Mission: Getting To Know You
Location: Aleksi's Quarters

The scent of cheap perfume was the first thing to hit Aleksi’s nose as he walked into the room assigned to him. Either the fleet had run out of its knock-off Pinesol when they got to his room or they had double-booked the room. Considering the sort of woman who would wear that scent, he was seriously hoping for the latter, “Computer, lights full on.”

The light revealed a lithe Bajoran woman sprawled out on his couch dressed in what could generously be described as a nightgown. Grumbling a little she opened her eyes, a playful smirk on her lips, her head buried in an oversized pillow, “Good morning daddy.”

“It’s afternoon sweetheart,” Alexi removed his jacket, tossing it casually on the counter, and approached the woman who was making a show out of stretching on his couch. He wasn’t concerned how the woman ended up on the couch, in fact he felt fairly certain he knew how she got in. Taking a seat on the lounge chair he kept his eyes on her, more out of caution than pleasure, though there was that as well, “And I always thought you preferred women?”

She giggled as she sat up, a lustful look in her eyes, “For the right price,” Sliding closer to him, a purr was in her voice, “I can be prefer anything,” Resting her right hand on his hand, her left moved to his knee. Her breath quickened a little as her hand slid up. She was so focused on his face she didn’t see the pillow swinging at her head. Throwing herself back against the couch she covered her face, her tone changing to one of annoyance, “Jesus Christ Aleksi! Was that necessary?”

“Business now,” He tossed the pillow away, clearly amused by her reaction. Their history went back many years on a trip to retrieve some non-functioning equipment, when he was working for the Foreign Material Exploitation directorate. She had approached his team claiming she could access the components, for a price of course. Most of the straightlaced officers had ignored her in the past. Aleksi on the other hand paid double, to ensure the delivery of the goods and cover the previous insults, “Did you have Mira’s gift?”

Delle Tebiza, a Bajoran smuggler and occasional lady of the night, had seemed to identify Aleksi as a man who could be convinced to take extra legal measures. A combination of good looks and loose sexuality carried her far, but it was her ability to hack into almost any computer that sealed the deal. It was also that hacking that probably gave her access to his room. Rubbing her face, no serious injury, she looked at the man, “I brought it, along with your other special package.”

Tebiza was attractive, something Aleksi had freely used to his advantage. Their working relationship had been fruitful, the human paying more than the bajoran was asking to get equipment the Federation claimed they couldn’t get and the bajoran going out of her way to prove the overpayment was worth the cost, “Good, I assume it’s boxes labeled as fragile?”

“Just like my ego,” She pouted, most of it an act. While their relationship had been mostly transactional, a sort of respect cusping on friendship. It was likely the most genuine relationships he had developed with a sentient being, no feelings. As far as he had been concerned she was simply an asset, a flesh and blood humanoid, but an asset nonetheless.

“My dear, if it was that fragile the universe would have crushed you by now,” Standing up he ignored Mira’s toybox and instead went to his other package. It was something security would have likely confiscated, or at least questioned him about, if it had been brought in through traditional means. Fortunately he had several tricks up his sleeve, including one named Tebiza, “How much trouble was it?”

The phrase was him asking the price for her skills, it was indirect as to avoid anyone getting the suspicion of him condoning illegal activities. Not that anyone really minded since no one had questioned his expense reports, more than happy with the results of the higher than normal costs, “None really, close to the core it seems people get less suspicious. Shame, I was hoping to play a little more with security.”

Slinking next to him, she observed the man removing random pipes and tubes from the box. He had always piqued her curiosity, the only man that didn’t seem interested in her companionship beyond the mission. It was refreshing to a point, no one promising her a small moon or to ‘rescue her’, which she had always considered demeaning. Just a simple thief and patron transaction, “So, will 5,000 credits cover your lack of entertainment?”

“I’m feeling generous, 1,000 credits and ten percent of whatever you plan on making with that,” Aleksi stopped what he was doing, shooting the woman a confused look. Clearly she wouldn’t be around to collect, at least that was his initial thought. A devious grin crossed her lips as she saw the only logical solution dawn on him, “Crewman Delle, reporting for duty sir."

"Cyka Syn," An involuntary chuckle escaped him, figuring this was the absolute last place he’d find her, "What's a nice girl like you doing in a corrupt cesspool like this?"

“Your replacement was a total cheapskate,” Her tone was grumpy. She had felt a little betrayed by his departure but was used to the rotation of fresh Federation bodies that visited her, “I told her the going rate and she blew me off, talking about ethics or some bullshit,” She did in fact get some money off of her, paying for company. Apparently sex was not included in the list of sacred ethics, “And I was bored and you looked like you were having so much fun I decided to follow in daddy’s footsteps.”

“I could think of dumber reasons to join,” Alexi’s laugh was a little louder than he intended. He’d always thought the woman was too clever for her own good, apparently his praise was a lot higher than it deserved, “But I’m definitely not sleeping with you now. After some of my more recent adventures I have to behave more than normal, plus I have a date tonight that has more experience dealing with scum than either of us do. She’d pick up your scent before she’d seem my charming smile.”

“Oh? So someone that can keep you on a leash?” The tone carried a bit of a growl, playfully she moved closer. She was happy to see that after all shit he had to deal with, she had been keeping tabs on her favorite Intel officer after all, he could still find time for the more intimate pursuits, “She must be pretty and lacking any sense of self preservation.”

“Easy tiger,” Aleksi stood up, offering his hand to help the Bajoran. Despite his initial shock he was genuinely happy to have someone on his side after meeting his deputy. Sure it would come at a price, but it was one he was glad to pay, “Now I suggest you get changed and get back to your own quarters, I want to get some sleep before tonight. We’ll have plenty of time to reminisce later.”

“Aww, playtime is over?” She joked, watching the man wander off to the bedroom. In that moment she decided to ask the question she had always wanted to know the answer to, “Do find me attractive?”

“Extremely,” Aleksi’s tone was matter of fact, turning to face her. Leaning on the door jam he decided to preempt the next question, “I don’t like paying for sex so directly, preferring to think it’s my charming looks and stunning personality that win my partners over. Also if I paid for your time it would be real awkward to explain to finance.”

She couldn’t help but laugh, “So you did expense my services? What was the charge if I can ask.”

As much as he found her entertaining, she was still just an asset, “Technical expenses.”