*** Lucy Flemings Quarters * SB Unity ***
Lucy was leaning against the wall looking out at the arc of
the planet. Reflected light lit her face with a pale yellow
glow and she did not move although her thoughts were in
turmoil.
It was almost seven hours since she had met Vlimar
PontBrillant in the clinic and during that time he had
rarely been far from her mind, but the more she thought
about him, the more annoyed she became. The feeling had
intensified but it was not the unfortunate Colonel that
caused such a mood.... it was herself.
She went over and over the meeting, examining every word,
every expression, every glance. She recalled the tone of his
voice and the looks he had given her that had left her lost
for words,feeling tongue tied and foolish and the more she
thought about it, the more annoyed she became.
The turmoil began when she admitted to herself that she
found him attractive, there was no doubt about it and he had
made it clear that he liked the look of her too but she knew
within herself that it had already gone too far.
{He - is -'married'... } she told herself yet again {..and
that's the end of it.}
She pushed herself away from the wall and made her way in
the half light towards one of the armchairs, pulling the
pale pink robe around her as she sat down, curling her feet
up onto the cushions.
She was not usually such an indecisive woman, nor one so
easily swayed by a smile and pleasant voice but on both of
the occasions when she had spoken to the Colonel, first by
commlink and then again in the clinic, she felt she had
regressed to an immature girl, given to crushes and hero
worship and every shred of sense had flown out of the
nearest airlock.
{It might be difficult..} she told herself, biting her lower
lip thoughtfully {...now I'm back on the base it could be
awkward to be so near by.}
She frowned into the darkness
{ Only if you let it be} she admonished herself and sighed
impatiently.
A moment later she scrambled quickly off the chair and
walked swiftly to her bedroom, throwing off the robe and
discarding it carelessly onto the floor. Her satin nightgown
shone as she climbed into the bed she had vacated half an
hour earlier and she pulled the coverlet over herself,
folded her hands on top of it and stared up at the ceiling.
{This is ridiculous!} she told herself firmly. { Lying here
awake at this time of night! }
She closed her eyes, took in a deep breath and released it
slowly.
Her eyes opened.
{ It's a large base and I can avoid him if needs be..}
She considered this for a few moments.
{ Ok...so I like him....he's not bad looking, in fact
physically he's in good shape } she thought seeing in her
minds eye Vlimar removing his shirt
{....but is he really the sort of man for me? ..no he
isn't..not really....}
She lay still letting the thought sink in.
{ He's obviously willing to flirt with other women when his
wife isnt around.} Her head nodded slightly at this truth.
{ ...and if she's on the base, well then he's playing with
fire...and serve him right if he gets burnt!...If she's
away..well....that's just as bad. It means he's willing to
deceive.}
She narrowed her eyes.
{ He's certainly very adept with his pick up lines...in
fact, 'too' adept..too polished...too practised}
The thought came to her that she might well be the latest in
a long string of women who had caved in to his charms and so
she pushed other thoughts of him away, burying them under
the weight of cold facts, dismissing smiles and soft tones
and everything else with a harsh determination.
She made up her mind.
The next time he came to the infirmary for the post op
check, she would be busy with other things and certainly not
standing in the clinic when he walked in.
{In fact..} she told herself {...Rangi will have to see him
anyway because of the 'classified records' }
She felt a minor glow of satisfaction that his dubious plans
were so easily foiled by his own status and twisting to the
side, propped herself up on one elbow and pummeled her
pillow with her other hand.
She lay down again, adopted a comfortable position and
closed her eyes, determined that there would be no more
sleepless hours wasted on Lieutenant Colonel PontBrillant.
He could search out another unsuspecting victim because he
would get no further with her.
*** End Log ***
Ltjg Lucy Fleming
Nurse-in-Charge
Infirmary
SB Unity