Tactical Surprises

Posted on Fri Feb 28th, 2025 @ 1:24pm by Lieutenant Anya Bagh & Lieutenant Commander Ezrin Ezee & Ensign Henry Ivo
Edited on on Fri Feb 28th, 2025 @ 10:33pm

1,788 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Joint Logs
Location: Ivo and Bagh's quarters
Timeline: Stardate: 78396.4 (Friday, May 25th, 2401 at 1600 hours)

Anya paced in their bedroom, her stomach in knots. She ran through the scenario in her head countless times. She picked out Henry's favorite holodeck program, had packed a picnic basket, even packed extra clothes for him. She went as far as asking Ezrin to watch the children. They agreed happily, even though it wasn't a normal night for them to do so. She had taught herself how to handle stressful situations, but this one was different

She smiled at her reflection, straightening the floor length red dress she wore. It wasn't the same one she had worn previously, but an almost exact replica. She felt one of the fringes, trying to calm her nerves.

“Deep breath, slowly let it out…” The mantra helped momentarily until she looked at the chronometer. Henry would be home soon. Her eyes went wide as she grabbed a small black box, about three inches squared, and hurriedly slipped it in a hidden pocket in her dress. She stepped into the living room, seeing her dearest friend already interacting with the children.

“How do I look?” Anya smiled, her nervousness still obvious to Ezrin.

Ezrin looked at her and smiled, brightly. “Ezrin says you are giving good eye-pleasings.” They replied.

Anya smiled anxiously as she felt something pulling in the back of her dress.

*Toy!* Anya turned at the word in her head, finding a calico Arumagati batting at a fringe.

“Lila…” Anya picked up the almost fully grown kitten. “No, not a toy. I need to go meet Daddy for a date. Sprna Ezrin can play with you if you behave yourself before bed.”

*Ok mom,* Lila easily jumped out of Anya’s arms, running off to the room she shared with her brothers. *Felix, you're it!*

Anya shook her head as the kitten darted away. She took one last deep breath, smiling timidly at Ezrin. “Wish me luck.”

Ezrin smiled and put their hand on her shoulder. “Ezrin says you are not needing. Ezrin says you are having family-unit already, is just being formalities.”

“I know, many people think it's archaic to even do this. It's more to put my mind at ease if anything happens to me,” Anya relaxed at Ezrin's warm touch. “and let him and the universe know how I feel about him.”

Ezrin smiled and hugged her. “Ezrin says is being obvious to all beings but you.” They informed her teasingly.

Anya hugged them back. “Then it's to make it obvious for me as well.” She let out a small giggle before looking at the chronometer again. “Oh, I gotta go. He's off shift.” She gave Ezrin one last hug, gathered her basket and started toward the door. “I have my combadge still if you need me!”

“Ezrin says to be going!” Ezrin laughed, shooing her out the door.

Anya ran down the corridor to the turbolift. “Bridge.” She ordered taking a last deep breath. The doors opened to the bridge before she knew it. She scanned the bridge, seeing Henry finish giving a report to the ensign relieving him.

Henry was tired, and looking forward to going back to his quarters; he’d promised to show Felix and Sean how to format an ops report. He chuckled to himself, still wondering why the boys wanted to know that, but who was he to stand in the way of curiosity? He turned to head to the turbo lift, and froze, his jaw dropping a bit when he saw Anya standing there.

A shy smile spread across her face.
“I thought we could maybe go dancing.”

“But..the children?” Henry asked, trying to put his eyes back into his head.

“They are in our quarters with Ezrin.” Anya's smile grew a little more confident. “I thought I could surprise you for once.” She shrunk back slightly into the turbolift, noticing the rest of the crew on the bridge looking in her direction as well.

Henry grinned, “I love it when you surprise me.” He told her, following happily, either ignoring or not seeing the amused looks on the faces of the rest of the bridge crew.

“Deck seven,” Anya smiled as she spoke. “Salsa tonight?”

Henry looked her over appreciatively. “Sounds great, but I'm not exactly dressed for it.” He looked down at his uniform, which, while suitable for most any activity, it was a little form-fitting and not entirely comfortable.

“I have an outfit in the basket for you. Let's get to the holodeck first though. I don't need you showing everybody everything.” She led the way, holding his hand as they walked along the corridors.

She stopped in front of the holodeck, punching in a few codes. The doors opened up to a spacious ballroom where they usually practiced. This time the room was dimly lit. There was a path of rose petals with small lights on either side. These lead to a table covered with a white tablecloth and set simply with only chopsticks, wine glasses, and an ice bucket on the table.

Henry paused. “...this doesn't look like dancing. Anya, what are you up to?” Henry asked her teasingly.

“I thought you might be hungry first.” Anya smiled, opening the basket and taking out the sushi and moscato. “The rest you might want. It’s the change of clothes I promised.”

Henry chuckled and took them. They were a bit fancier than he usually wore for dancing, but he was starting to get the impression that this was more than a simple dancing date. “In that case, I’ll go get changed while you set out supper?” He suggested, amused.

She nodded, setting out the food and placing the wine on ice. She took one more deep breath as she looked over the table. After she was sure he had stepped away to change, she patted her pocket, making sure the box was still there.

Henry returned after about fifteen minutes, with the suit she had brought for him on, and surprisingly his beard was neatly brushed, and his hair combed. To put it mildly, he cleaned up well.

Anya relaxed as she turned to see him again. “You look … good.” She fumbled over her words, trying to describe what she felt but they failed her.

Henry flushed. “So do you.” He gestured at the table, “shall we?”

She nodded, turning back to the table. She sat down quickly smiling at him again. “How was your shift?”

He shrugged. “Bit boring. Yours?”

“The usual. Had to calm down a rowdy party the delta shift was throwing.” Anya grinned. “It looked fun, but they quieted down pretty fast when they saw me.”

Henry chuckled. “I bet they did. Nothing is as intimidating as a Klingon in a security uniform.” He smiled at her affectionately.

“I can think of other things…” A sheepish smile returned to her face.

“Oh? Like what?” Henry asked, genuinely curious to know what she would find intimidating.

Anya froze.”Umm…” She took another deep breath. “Planning out a surprise and hoping it worked. You know I’m not the best at keeping things from you.” He could tell she was making that up on the spot.

Henry raised an eyebrow. “Well, maybe you just need more practice.” He grinned.

“There are other things I would rather practice with you. Like waltzing.” She responded, trying to act cool.

Henry laughed. “I’ll be sure to give you the opportunity.” He began eating the sushi, his face blissful. “I love this. This is awesome.” He told her happily.

“I’m glad you like it.” Anya’s eyes twinkled with excitement. She picked at her food, eating a few pieces. “There is something else I wanted to do though.”

“Oh? What's that?” Henry asked, curiously, and wondering if his suspicion was correct. He hoped it was.

Anya stared down at the table cloth, absentmindedly. “You know I love you with all I am. I also have to risk my life more often than I want to admit, but…” She lifted her gaze into his eyes. “I want you to know I’ll always come back to you. I want to promise it to you.” She swallowed nervously, moved beside the table still facing him, got on one knee, and opened up the small black box that he had presented her with a few months prior. The combadge in it was replaced with a gold ring with intricate designs.

“Henry Ivo… parmaq, will you marry me?”

Henry felt tears in his eyes, and he knelt in front of her. He took her hands in his. “Of course I will.” He replied, kissing her hard.

She returned the kiss, her nerves finally relenting. She broke it shortly after, the expression on her face pure joy as she released a nervous giggle.

“I was so afraid the kids or Ezrin would say something.” Anya took the ring out of the box and slipped it on his finger.

Henry laughed. “Even Ezrin knew, eh? And all the kids?”

“Well… Sean knew. I wanted his permission before asking you.” Anya smiled sincerely. “I had to be careful around the kittens though. Lila would've told on me.” She chuckled. “And Ezrin, I thought they deserved to know why I needed a night and not tell you about it.”

“No wonder Sean has been smirking at me,” Henry smiled, admiring the ring. “I have a surprise for you, too, you know.” He told her, with a broad grin.

Anya tilted her head. “And what is that?”

Henry pulled a similar little box out of his pocket, still kneeling on the floor across from her, and offered it to her.

“That's why it took you so long to get changed.” She giggled. “Though last time you offered that to me it was my comm badge…” her grin spread from ear to ear.

“I know,” Henry grinned. “Open it.”

Anya opened it slowly, finding a comm badge. She grinned, tapping it twice quickly to test it.

It made no noise, but Henry’s badge set off an alarm. Henry shut it off. “Fixed and ready.” He grinned.

“It's perfect.” She lifted it up, inspecting it closer. “I hadn't planned on…” a sparkle from the box caught her eye, drawing her attention back to it. “maybe I wasn't as sneaky as I thought?” She smiled at the ring that was still in the box.

“No, you were. I had no idea what you planned. I was just planning the same thing.” Henry grinned.

Anya burst into a hearty laugh. “Oh parmaq… you somehow know how to make me happier every day.” She snuggled into him. “I don't want to be without you. Ever.”

“I'm not going anywhere.” Henry assured her, hugging her back contentedly.

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