Plans are a Changeling

Posted on Wed Oct 25th, 2023 @ 12:40pm by Captain Grace Stark & Cadet Sophomore Grade Dane Pines

1,700 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: 1 - Cruising through the galaxy
Location: Deck 7 - Club Whisper

Dane had a long few days of work, but he felt satisfied. There were a good few cadets who knew him now, most owing him favours or having at least enjoyed his company. Favours he could pull to help other cadets and people who enjoyed his company not actively hating him.

All positives.

But the General Announcement that the Captain had made was quite a sour pill for him to swallow. At the very least personally. Like her station would suggest, she was a good speaker! Making the ship sound like it was going to be a scholarly cruise through the stars. Dane very aware that the ship itself was a bit shaky. Any would be after so so long in service and so many retrofits. Sometimes a ship, updated as it was, was just tired. Dad always had a thing for ships, talked his ear off about them.

Sliding around the club itself, he was happy to mingle. Talking to people and getting a few names. Shaking a few hands or the cultural equivalent. Avoiding certain people who'd shown some light hostility towards him. All until he checked the clock for the umpteenth time and walked to the more private area of the club. Where certain cadets were coming in and leaving a very private conversation with the Captain.

Dane's turn was up. Waiting for the last person to scoot out from the booth and the talk and walking right up to the table. Saluting for respect and giving the older woman the biggest genuine smile he'd had in awhile. No teeth. But beaming! Glad to finally have a good sit down with their stalwart captain.

"Cadet Sophomore Dane Pines, reporting, Ma'am. As you requested."

"Sit," She commanded. She used to love this assignment, oh how time changes. "Always ass kissers," She muttered as the Human in appearance sat down across from her. G. Stark knew all the Cadets serving her, knowing them personally always kept their morale high. "I've been read in on what you are Mr Pines." She paused, pending his answer.

Sitting was easy, he slid into the spot and couldn't help but smirk at the ass kisser comment. Sure that there'd be another comment if he wasn't showing the proper deference. Their Captain seemed tightly wound, maybe he could help. Though he'd be lying if he said he didn't have ulterior motives, there. Just keeping quiet and letting them speak, and prompt him. With...quite the tense question.

"There's not much. I've been told me and the only other openly 'what we are' in the quadrant are different. But I'd rather not be shunted out the airlock. So if you've any questions or commands for me...consider my second duty an all-hours Yeoman for yourself."

Grace looked up at the young farmer who sat across from her, in her eyes he was still a boy and his record at the academy proved that. "That is not why I've ordered you to report," She said with a sign, resting her upper body on the table. Flicking a PADD over to him she continued, "You have a reputation for something as a prankster? A joker, a funny man... Are you funny?" She asked rhetorically, trying to shift between bad batch cadets and the mediocre batch cadets.

Well, that was a slightly strange turn. People usually were much more concerned with his species than what he did. She wanted to know about his history as a joker? She had his file, she knew at least the surface of what he was capable of. Holding off on talking as he grabbed the Padd. Thinking of a joke. A quick one. The rumour mill he'd cultivated so far producing fruit.

Looking over the Padd, he squinted for a moment. Grumbling like he couldn't see. Before his body quickly shifted, a golden-orange shift as his whole form rearranged itself, and suddenly there sat Admiral Ross, of all people!

Visually perfect, even the voice as he let out a series of exaggerated low-brow tsks and grunts.

Except just a feewwww points. The makeup. Greasy white clown makeup done in a classic Sol 'bozo' style, with big fake eyelashes that wouldn't stop wobbling and a rubber nose. His rank bar hanging off his uniform by a thread!! And to top it all off, the changeling 'pulled out' a pair of big goofy glasses.

Thick lenses that made their eyes look HUGE, especially as he was forced wide-eyed, lashes pushed up by the frame. Which was so damn thick you could see 'jerk' printed over and over along the plastic! Adjusting them, and then rushing to keep the nose on as it slipped.

Muttering a comment about 'can't be out of uniform' under his breath as he tilted his head back like an old man to read the Padd.

"Excuse me, I usually have a Yeoman read to me. Never quite got the hang of these squiggly lines...things. Words, right. Words. Ahem."

Grace laughed but quickly hid it with a cough, she couldn't stand Admiral Ross who she remarked was a clown once, he was preparing the front lines for war but his briefs were bland, missing critical strategic information. Admiral Alynna Nechayev would be better on the front lines.

"Thank you for proving my point Cadet," Grace said trying her best not to crack again. "You are a Starfleet Officer and I expect you to behave as one... Grow up." Through her years of service, she never once saw a shapeshifter it was always something she wanted to discover when Stardancer was an explorer. She needed to act tough but encourage his development but that couldn't start until he understood what a Starfleet Officer meant, this cadet cruise should show him that.

"G-Grow up?" the Admiral whined, his head slowly getting a bit bigger. "Captain, if it gets any bigger...I won't be able to hide my hairline receding!" One last punchline, before the head gave a little balloon rip sound, and made like it was letting out air. The whole form shifting into a gold-orange again before his body shifted back to...Dane, him. Himself.

Giving the Captain a restrained but still beaming smile that he'd gotten a laugh out of the older woman.

"I couldn't help myself. You've seemed a bit down, and I hate seeing a woman of your caliber without a moment's reprieve here and there."

Definitely a flirt. Whether security would he be happy about it not, he had his own weaknesses. Wartime romance with a Captain? Interest piqued.

"But I do assure you, Captain, I'll do my best to learn under you. Until then, I'm still FSC approved to defend the crew and the Federation at a moment's notice. So...call on me, if you've need of my services."

Grace sighed and her eyes rolled, "I am very much aware of you." She commented. "Your behaviour is not acceptable aboard my starship. Do I make this clear Cadet?" Every class there was at least one joker that needed to be weeded out. This was going to be more changing than any of the other pranksters she had aboard her rusty old ship.

Dane listened, and got the eyeroll, but he was going to maintain low pressure over a longer period here. AFTER he made sure the Captain understood his position. Changing his posture, more upright and rigid, the smile draining a bit from his face as he made absolutely certain his wasn't misunderstood on the point he needed to make.

"Yes Ma'am. I'll make sure it's kept within the bounds of a Cadet Morale Officer. Though, with your permission, I'd like to explain the behaviour. Why I deem it necessary."

Her facial expression blanked, "...Proceed" she replied tastelessly, noting his posture the fat woman didn't change hers, she still was relaxed in her side of the booth with her small flabby arms folded against her waist. He was a very interesting person, she couldn't deny that but once he was raked in, he would be a great Officer.

Nodding lightly, Dane held a finger up, the colour shifting into a long needle-like blade. Tapping it on the table to show the Captain that it was steel, sharp and perfectly pointed in a dangerous bayoneted shape.

"Because when historic humanity domesticated and bred Canis Lupus into modern dogs, they treated the cute breeds well! Kept them safe and as companions. But the ones bred ugly to do dangerous work that eventually wasn't needed? Those breeds were eventually vilified and abused," he explained.

That blade changing orange-gold again and shifting into a finger again. Nail well painted and perfect. Like the others. The Cadet batting his eyelashes at the older woman with a big beaming handsome smile. His tone again turning flirty, watching the Captain's face dreamily.

"However you need me, Captain, you need only say the word. Consider yourself with my leash in hand."

Sophmore didn't have much balls but this Sophmore had a massive bag of balls. "Thank you, Mr Pines," She said brushing his flirtatious comments off her "You have a great deal of work to complete once we get underway. I suggest you get a grip on that." She stated, implying him to find someone who needed cheering up.

One of the upsides of a prankster, for certain. Dane had balls to spare and the willingness to put others' to the test. Reveling it in, really. Though that he didn't get any kind of real reaction from the Captain on the flirting was a loss, he'd gotten her to break on the laugher, at least. That was a good way into a woman's heart often times.

"Already underway, Ma'am. You know where to find me, for any need you think my resume can fulfill. Shiatsu and deep tissue included. Permission to be dismissed?"

"Granted," Grace recreated. This was a long line of Cadets was issues she needed to attend to but by far, Dane was the one to keep an eye on. He was interesting, to say the least, but he would be a great officer maybe one of the greatest in Starfleet history... Only if this war didn't kill him first.

 

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