Please Save Me

Posted on Sat Aug 15th, 2026 @ 1:34am by Ensign Azrael Vaux & Ensign Fiona McCarthy

2,373 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: Die Hard: Chimera Edition (side posts)
Location: Hydra Lounge

Fiona was not sure if it was by accident, but she practically ran into Azrael. She gentle tapped on his chest as she tried not to fall over. "Just the man, I'm looking for." She called out, with a hint of relief in her tone.

Azrael grabbed a hold her her arms from both sides to steady Fiona, a look of worry on his face at the sight of his, her relief palpable from his presence, “Whoa, steady there, Fiona, what’s wrong?”

"I'm trying to get away from the doctor, she hit on me. I told her we're having dinner together." Fiona said, as she managed to gather herself, looking around for Doctor Kellerman. She wondered what in the hell was wrong with the captain and the doctor, both of them hitting on a low ranking Ensign.

“You met Kally.” Azrael nodded slowly, “Yeah, that sounds like something she does on a regular basis.” He gave a shrug, “And I’d make a major wager that the Captain did something similar to that as well?” He evaluated the panic on Fiona’s face as she clearly was making sure that the doctor wasn’t chasing her, “If you make it out of sickbay’s doors, she doesn’t usually chase you, so I’m pretty sure you’re safe.”

"Oh one of us is certain of that. So, will you help me." Fiona asked, hoping he would say yes. So far he was being reasonable with her, and even informing her that this was normal action for the doctor. Which brought up huge red flags in her mind.

"Sure, I can be your Huckleberry." Azrael was proud he'd remembered that bit of obscure Earth lore, even if he didn't know where it was from, "Let's go, then, the mess hall is over this direction and we can get to know each other a bit better. We didn't have much of a chance before, what with you heading to see the Captain and all."

"Whatever works, you can be my huckleberry. Just save me from the doctor and the captain." Fiona said trying not to get annoyed at his huckleberry comment. She did appreciate the fact that he was willing to help her, especially after she blew him off earlier.

Apparently she didn’t understand the reference, but there had only been a 22 percent chance, assuming she had a liking for old Earth vocabulary. Oh well. “You’re safe with me.” He reassured Fiona, “Fortunately the replicators can make anything you’d like, or we could go to the lounge and probably have Michelle make us something more real than replicated fare. I’ll leave the choice up to you.”

"I'm not a fan of replicated food. Let's try Michelle's cooking." Fiona said, wanting to get far away from Doctor Kellerman. She had no idea where the Captain was, however that would be tomorrow concern. The Captain gave her the day off. Now she needed to get Azrael on board with her plan.

“She usually has only limited stocks of the real stuff, but at this point she’s trying to get it out before she restocks during the refit that’s coming up.” Azrael pointed out, steering Fiona towards the Hydra Lounge, but avoiding physical contact. He was a polite sort, didn’t want to make any untoward advances unless he could see they were welcomed, “Do you prefer beef, chicken or pork best? I could make recommendations for each.”

"Chicken, hopefully the Doctor and the Captain are not in here." Fiona said with a nervous tone. They were the last people she wanted to see. She was already out over element. If they were here, she would have to improvise her plan to avoid them.

“They won’t be.” Azrael promised her, “Tonight’s date night for them, they’ll use Holodeck One and be unreachable for anything but emergencies for several hours.” He smiled at her, “You’ll get used to it, don’t worry. They entered the door painted with a 5-headed hydra, which slid open for them as if expecting them. He raised a hand towards the woman behind the bar, “Hey, Michelle! Table for two today, surprise us with something chicken?”

The short brunette gave him a thumbs up, filling a couple glasses and filing them with ice water and placing them on a tray and swept them over to the table by the window that Izzy had chosen, “Well then, Azrael, is it a date for you as well?” She asked, before looking at Fiona, “Welcome aboard, Ensign, anything else I can get the two of you to drink?”

"Whiskey, if you got it. Not on the rocks either. If not something strong, non of that synthehol crap." Fiona suggested. After the day she had, she felt like she earned a shot of whiskey. She then looked to Azrael, and wondered what he was going to order. She hoped it was not some fruity drink.

"Make it two." Azrael wondered how this evening was going to end, "Make them doubles? Fiona here's had a tough day, met the Captain and the Doc. So if we're going to do something right..."

Michelle grimaced at the description of the day, "I'll get those coming right up, I've got some Jack Daniels sitting about just gathering dust. Then I'll get started on some grilled chicken with a lovely mushroom sauce, mashed potatoes and some sauteed squash and zucchini." She gave a smile, "It'll be pretty special, I can tell you that." She was true to her word, heading to the bar and returning quickly with the two double shots of the Jack Daniels, placing one in front of each.

"Allergic to mushrooms, any other sauces?" Fiona asked, thinking to herself that JD we'll have to do for now but it wasn't her favorite type of whiskey. She did not want to be rude, so she decided to drink the JD. She needed to let loose a little bit.

“Is there anything else you’re allergic to? Just so I can make the proper recommendation.” Michelle asked with a smile.

"Penicillin, but I think we're safe unless you put that in your food as well?" Fiona said, thinking to herself, no one would put that in food. No one.

“Then can I interest you in a lemony cream sauce to go with it?”

"That sounds very good, Michelle. Thank you for the substitute." Fiona said, feeling guilty she had inconvenience Michelle.

Michelle finally was able to go get started on the food and Azrael watched Fiona over the lip of his shot glass, taking a sip that handled half the shot contents, “All right, so now we’re here.” He remarked casually, “I know I’m fine with being an excuse for one Dionne’s at least, but I suppose I should ask you if you’re planning on using me as a fake boyfriend to keep both the Captain and the Doc off your case?”

"Sounds great, we can fake date to see if can date for real. You're cute, but I don't know anything about you." Fiona said, hating how this dating came about. She knew that she was way over her head in this facade. To save face for them both, she would try to make the fake relationship real, but that depends on their chemistry and compatibility.

“No.” Azrael stated as he gently placed the shot glass down in front of him, cocking his head slightly to the side as he appraised her, “I’ll grant you this one, because I am a good guy and I can see how those two can be a bit more than overwhelming, but I’m not going to ‘fake’ date you just to keep throwing up a smoke screen.” His eyes belied the smile on his face, “Oh, you think I’m cute, and I think you happen to be rather cute yourself, but dating is a social construct to see if people are compatible.” He tapped the edge of the glass in front of him before picking it up again, “After tonight, we go on an actual date if you want to keep throwing them off with me. We can take it as slow or as fast as you want, but I don’t do fake.”

"Pitty I need a man now, not down the road." Fiona said, as she slammed her drink down thinking it was a little weak. Jack Daniels was not going to cut it. "We could have been one of those cheeky romcom couple, meeting for the wrong reason and discovering they like each other." She said as put down the shot glass. "It was worth a shot." Was all she could think to say. Now she was defensive, she was not use to being told no. It stung, but it was his choice and his right to say no to her.

He tossed the rest of it down, giving her a rather odd look. Did he stutter? Did she? Did she not realize that they had basically said the same thing? “Fiona, who says we couldn’t be?” He asked slowly, “You’re not like them, neither am I. Last I checked, I’m a man, I’m here, I just don’t want you to string me along while you decide IF I’m worth dating.” He placed the empty glass on the table in front of him, “But if you want to trick a Betazoid like the Captain that you’re dating someone, you can’t fake it. I’m not saying you’ll fall in love with me, I’m not saying you won’t. But she’s going to know if you’re fake dating me and if she does? You’ll never be safe from the Captain. Go out on some real dates with me instead, then she’ll never know any better.”

"You don't think I am strong enough to face the Captain? How adorable, she just made me her Yeoman." Fiona said, she wondered, how weak did he think she was? "Is it not the women, that decides, if the man is worthy of her time. I don't know if you are, and if we date now like you want they will think I was desperate to date you, and tear me apart as you fear so clearly. Either option one of us vulnerable. I am strong enough to face the Captain and her horney doctor. I guess I'm in this fight alone."

“You didn’t have to be.” Azrael said softly, giving her an apologetic smile, “But then I wasn’t the one using you as an excuse to turn down the doctor.” He sighed and slid out of the chair he’d been sitting in, “But since you apparently don’t need that anymore? And since I have apparently offended you without understanding why, I believe here is where we part. Ensign McCarthy. I wish you fair winds and good luck, you’ll need it.”

"If that's what you want, go ahead. I need a man to keep me on my toes and romances me too. I was expecting you to say something like, I know you’re strong enough to challenge the captain. It's why we should not fake it. But instead, you want to be my savior. I don't need a savior. I need a man to be there, to challenge me to make me a better and stronger person." Fiona said, with a sterile look on her face.

“Then buck up buttercup.” Izzy said, “If you’re looking for someone who’s going to simper and cower at your feet, there may be one out there, but I’m not one. You want romance? That’s for really dating, not for something that you said would be fake.” He planted his hands on the table as he leaned over it, “All I was saying was why lie to the Captain or Kally about it, when it could be made real. That’s where the real odds are, Miss McCarthy, not pretending. That’s how you become stronger, when you can find someone willing to give just as much to a relationship as the other. I’m no saint, no angel, no savior, I made a fair offer, you rejected it, but if you don’t have a counteroffer?”

"That's better, there may be hope for us, Mister Vaux." Fiona said as she leaned in too. With a smirk she said, "sadly no hope for this Jack Daniels, it's too weak does Michelle have anything stronger?" She was now dangling the bait of her interest. She liked this confident side, but she wanted to see more of it.

“If she does, we are waiting for her to come back and asking her.” Azrael’s voice brooked no argument, “I’m not going to risk getting blackballed by her, because whatever else, she’s a good cook. And if she doesn’t, I happen to know where Fulvia’s still is, because she needed a good chemist to help her with it. I also happen to have some of the most recent batch back in my quarters.” He sat back down, “It’s definitely stronger than this, made with cherrywood and hickory.”

"That would be worth a trip to your room." Fiona said with a smirk. She looked at the empty shot glass. Then slide it over to Azrael. "For a drink. Just a drink." She quickly stated.

“Just a drink.” He repeated, “That’s where we’ll start, at least.” His eyes went to hers, trying to decipher what was going on under that copper-colored hair in her brain. She was a most interesting puzzle, this one, a definite handful. A confident smile crossed his face, this would be a challenge, “We will see what happens from there.”

"Where has this man been hiding." Fiona asked, as she rubbed his arm, she smiled at him with a deep desire in her eyes. Confident Azrael was more attractive than hero Azrael. She continued to rub his arm lightly, as she went on. "Yes we will see what happens."

END

 

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