Outing with Tara Part I
Posted on Thu Oct 30th, 2025 @ 2:04am by Lieutenant Lily Marlow & Lieutenant Junior Grade Tara Marsh
2,094 words; about a 10 minute read
Mission:
Mini Mission-Adjustments [USS Orcrist]
Location: Florence, Oregon
Timeline: MD 02
Lily was quite happy to be above Earth and have the chance to meet up with her family, however there was one person she planned on doing something with and that was the Assistant Chief of Security, Lieutenant Tara Marsh. She didn't know if Tara had any plans to spend time with her own family. She will have to find out.
=^=Tara, its Lily, I was wondering if you've done surfing before and also have you gone to see your family as of yet? We do have three or four days before our new ship sets out on her maiden voyage.=^=
=^=Surfing? I haven't done much of it, but I'm interested. Then again, I'm from Colorado. More mountains than ocean,=^= Tara replied laughing.
=^=Okay get some stuff together and we'll meet at the exit from the ship, and go from there. =^= Lily responded. =^= Would a half an hour be enough time for you to get ready? =^=
=^= I just need a bathing suit, right? Nothing else, right? If so, won't take but less than a minute. =^=
=^= I will be wearing a wetsuit due to the water temperatures. Still a swimsuit.=^= Lily replied with a smile.
Not too long after Lily met up with Tara.
"Hi there, glad you are willing to come to my neck of the woods."
Tara had already been there waiting in black, one piece suit that appeared to be made more for practicality than any sense of style. The fabric clung to her as if it was another piece of her skin and showed off her toned, muscular figure. There was hardly an ounce of fat on her body. Beaming a warm smile at Lily, she said, "Hey, I'm willing to do almost anything once and I certainly don't mind the water."
"Okay cool then let's go!" Lily giving a grin.
Sometime later on the shores of Oregon near Lily's home, Lily and Tara were joined by some of her siblings. They had found out that she was back for a short time.
Morgan came up, dark hair, hazel eyes. broad shoulders physically fit muscles but not overly muscled. Wearing a pair of dark blue trunks and a light blue tank top.
"Hi there, you're Tara right? It's nice to meet you." He held out his hand towards her.
"Hey sis how are things?" he looked over towards Tara, "This your friend from the ship?" he walked
"I'm Tara," Tara confirmed, beaming a smile at Morgan and shaking his hand. "How did you know? And you are?" she asked curiously.
"I am Morgan, Lily's older brother, and well Lily did tell me about a woman she knew from her ship." The man gave a small smile. "You're in security, from what she told me. I'm a helm officer."
Two other men came up, both dark hair but bore the family resemblance to Lily.
"Hiya sis!" said one.
"Hi Derek, good to see you!" Lily squealing when Derek lifted her up and swung her around in an embrace.
The other man laughed, it was Stephen. "Derek put her down it's my turn for a hug." Stepping up and sweeping his sister into his arms.
"Oh by the way, we've got a surprise for you. Its..." He motioned towards a man who was accompanying two women. "Eric Lereaux."
Lily stiffened slightly when the other man was approaching, she quickly relaxed though her smile seemed slightly brittle.
Taking in a breath, Lily turned to Tara, "I am sorry I didn't anticipate this happening. Welcome to my crazy family." gesturing to most of the people.
Tara informed Morgan, "If you're a helm officer, you must be lost, because I don't see a ship for you to be flying."
She then turned back towards Lily and shook her head, "This is nothing. I have three brothers. I'm used to the chaos." Having noticed Lily's reaction to Eric she sidled up to Lily and whispered, "You have a story to tell me later."
Lily nodded, whispering back. "I do." patting on an even brighter smile.
"Hello Eric, this is such a surprise!" Lily moving forward with outstretched hands. "You are definitely handsome as ever. "
The tall dark-haired man, his dark brown eyes twinkled with pleasure at seeing Lily.
"Quite happy to finally see you again." Eric taking both of her hands, placing a kiss on both of them.
The two women who had come with Eric, went "Ooooh, Lily such a gentleman."
Lily glanced towards them; they were her two sisters. Lily smoothly moved her hands out from Eric's grasp and went to give her sisters an embrace.
"Glad to see you both as well. I'm half expecting mom and dad to come."
"Well Mom, and Dad thought that us kids needed to have some playtime." said Olivia, who had light brown hair. She turned with a smile looking towards Tara, "Welcome to the gaggle."
The moment that Eric took Lily's hands, she instantly disliked Eric. The fakeness and smugness of that man just twisted her gut. It was only confirmed as Lily wriggled out of Eric's grasp.
Tara smiled back at Olivia and answered, "I did not realize that you were geese." She looked at herself and confirmed, "I'm not a goose."
Olivia outright laughed. "Lily you've got a good friend there. I like her, I approve. "
Madeline lazily strolled over to where Tara stood. "Hi, I'm Madeline, pleasure to meet you," she said, holding out a hand. A quick tell could be seen that she worked with her hands. some fine silvery lines upon the back of her hand from being cut or scratched.
Tara took Madeline's hand and shook it firmly, noting the callouses. She appreciated a strong working woman. After all, did she not do that, as well? "Nice to meet you, Madeline. Do you prefer your full name, or a nickname like Maddy?"
"My friends call me Maddy, so you can as well." A beaming smile from Madeline. She leaned in. "He can't call me Maddy." She nodded her head in the direction of Eric.
Morgan called out, "Okay didn't we come to surf? Let's do some! The boards are waiting for us." He led the way.
Down a boardwalk the small group was led. Eric was trying to walk alongside Lily, she started to avoid him then remembered something that Hadir had told her. To make certain she seemed still interested in him.
"I get it, Maddy. I do," Tara told her new friend. When Morgan said that they were to surf, she watched to see what the others were doing. When she noticed they were going to the water, she followed along. However, the moment that Eric got near Lily, Tara interceded and inserted herself between Eric and Lily. She got all the wrong vibes from Eric and she was not about to allow Eric near Lily, if Tara could help it.
Tara turned to Eric and asked, "So what is your story, Eric? You're not part of Lily's family. What brings you here?"
"I was coming to visit her brothers and found out that she was going to be coming home. They invited me. And-" Eric cast a longing look towards Lily.
"I was about to ask Lily to marry me, just I was a bit of a moron and broke things off in her time of need. I-I was hoping that well. The man was blushing. "And that is actually between Lily and myself." Eric giving a pleading look towards Lily.
"Perhaps later Eric, right now we're going to go surfing." Lily answered, with a smile, and a look of promise.
Tara told Eric, "Not that I'm an expert on proposals, but if that was one, I would say that it was unimpressive, and you blew it. Also, you might want to read the room. I don't really think you and Lily are on the same page." She thought for a moment and asked, "Why don't you go play with the boys?"
Tara hoped that Eric would take her suggestion. There was something fishy going on and Maddy and Lily were going to tell her the full story before Tara beat this obvious slimeball into a pulp.
"I was refering to back in college. I goofed." Eric giving a goofy smile.
Stephen gave a friendly punch to Eric's shoulder, "C'mon pal, the ladies want to talk. Besides the waves aren't waiting for us."
Derek and Morgan swooped in and dragged a protesting Eric down to where the surfboards were, doing some friend wrestling.
Olivia just gave out a laugh. "Well that was awkward. Sorry Lily for Eric being sprung on you like that. He's been a good friend to the trio, that well, they thought he deserved a second shot, well at least get the air cleared between you and Eric."
"I know it was devastating when he broke up with you, when you were in the hospital recovering from your injuries. Your brothers wanted to hunt him down and kick his butt." Maddy responded. "Years later they struck up conversations, and he toid them the reason why he left. They were willing to forgive."
Tara growled, "I don't know the situation but I just met him and I agree with the brothers' original assessment. My spider sense is tingling hard when I'm near him. Lord knows what you ever saw in him, Lily. I certainly would like to know what your intentions are with him, because if you tell me that you want nothing to do with him, I'll chop him in two."
Lily watched as her brothers were talking Eric's ears off then the four of them racing to grab a surfboard to hit the waves.
"Back in the day before my best friend had died, Eric, and Annabelle's boyfriend Lucian, and us two girls had gathered together to celebrate the successful performance of Phantom of the Opera. Her boyfriend had proposed to her. And she accepted. I thought at the time, Eric was going to propose. Something had distracted him, and it didn't happen. I was naive, and he was so charming, and well, I fell for him. Then as what Olivia had said he broke up with me. There are other things that I can't talk about right now. But--" she looked at the three ladies, "I need to 'fall' back in love with him."
Olivia went. "Eeew why?"
Maddy shook her head. "What sort of game are you playing Lily. This isn't like you."
Lily huffed slightly, "it is who I am right now. Okay just one more thing, he is under investigation, and I can't say anything more or it will put you into more danger than what it going on. Just play along, and it will help me fake it convincingly. "
Just then the brothers called out, "C'mon slow pokes you're going to miss out on the fun!"
Lily looked at Olivia and Maddy, "I'll join you, I just need to take a moment okay?" giving a bright smile towards them."
Olivia and Maddy gave a nod and headed towards the boys.
Once they were out of earshot, Lily turned to Tara. "Okay, this is something that needs to be talked over with Hadir, but, Hadir has been helping me solve a mystery, I don't like Eric not anymore. Just-Don't tear Eric apart, plans are being made where he is concerned."
Tara balled her hands into fists and put her hands on her hips. "I don't like him, Lily. So, I need in on this mystery, otherwise I feel like I'm going to blow whatever you're doing sky high. I've got to protect you. It is just who I am. You see how my spider sense works."
"Okay, a little bit ago, months ago I found out that someone had tampered with my memories, and I had been followed for some reason. Details were fuzzy, memories of Annabelle were buried. It's a big mess up in my mind." Lily tapped on her temple. "It's getting sorted now. As it stands someone thinks I know something about somebody, especially my friend Annabelle, who I have come to find out is alive instead of being dead for all these years. This is the mess that I seem to have pulled you into. This, though, has to be taken care of on a timeline and definitely away from my family. And I am the bait."
Lieutenant JG Tara Marsh
Assistant Chief Security Officer
USS Orcrist
Lieutenant Lily Marlow
Medical Officer
USS Orcrist
Olivia and Maddy
Lily's sisters.
RSS Feed