Vesta's the Best - Part IV
Posted on Thu Sep 25th, 2025 @ 3:53am by Lieutenant Commander Rafael Montoya & Lieutenant Rynna Csira
1,491 words; about a 7 minute read
Mission: A Day In The Life
[PREVIOUSLY]
"Actually, if I know Karmen she'd think something was up if we did that. We'd have better luck bribing those two." Playing on the hostess' earlier assumption he offered her his arm. "Come along, dear."
Raf was probably right about the bribe. She'd be suspicious if she were in his sister's shoes. "Yes, my love." Rynn slipped her hand through his arm and gave it a squeeze, then smiled impishly. If she happened to like the gesture, she kept it to herself.
[CONTINUED]
Arm in arm they followed the boy to a table and they took their seats Their drinks follow right behind. Xavier returned to his new tablet and was showing Sam all the details, diagrams, and pictures.
Looking from the pair to Rynna as he lifted his glass, "Well, at least they're not fighting over it."
"For now." She lifted her own glass. "I'll take it as a win." She was pleased the day went as well as it did, but knowing boys, she wasn't sure how long it would last. She would do her best to make sure it continued until they went home.
He raised his eyebrows at the but as he was joining to reply their food arrived. The pizza's smelled fabulous. Taking one of the cutters Raf cut Sam's pizza into slices before slicing up his own. Lifting a slice the cheese stretched and kept stretching. "Now THAT'S extra cheese."
"Perfect." Rynna cut her own pizza after watching to be sure Xavier was good. He seemed to try to pull his pizza to stretch the cheese as far as his uncle's.
She laughed and took a bite of her own pizza, closing her eyes in pleasure at the flavors. This was probably one of the best pizzas she'd eaten. She grew quiet as she focused on her food.
The boys practically inhaled their pizza. Rynna managed to eat half of hers. She was definitely coming back here before they left earth. Or see if they'd deliver to her quarters.
Sam finished off his second soda before leaning back. "Ahhhhh...BUUUURRRPPP."
Rynn tried very hard not to smile. "And what do you say?" she asked him.
"Now I have room for seconds?" he asked.
This time she did chuckle, even while she shook her head. "That may be true, but no. You say excuse me."
Sam grinned impishly. "But you didn't burp... Did you?"
Rynn put a palm over her face as she laughed.
Raf and Xavier were laughing hard when a sharp burp echoed and Xavier clapped his hands over his mouth.
That made Rynna laugh harder. When she finally stopped, she looked at all three of them. "Okay, kids, are we ready to leave?" She didn't want to, but they should let someone else have their table, and she wasn't sure when Raf's sister expected her boys to return.
Raf put his glass down after a final drink. "How about we walk around this level and see if we can find some suitable souvenirs and then maybe some ice cream before heading back?"
"Yes," Rynna replied quickly. She was enjoying the day far too much to want to go back just yet. "We could target specific places, or just wander around and see what we find."
"Let's wander and see what we can find. How does that sound?"
Hopping, after getting hopped up on root beer, "CAN WE GET ICE REAM FIRST?!"
"No, I think we should walk off dinner first before we get ice cream."
"I agree," Rynna said, agreeing with Raf. "You never know what you might find on a promenade. I hear this one has some interesting shops." She hoped to distract them from dessert for a while.
They wandered for just over what had surprisingly been almost two hours. Xavier now wore a jacket with a big 'Vesta Development Project' patch on the back and was carrying a bag with several starship models. Sam also had a jacket and slung over his back was a nerf phaser rifle. Raf had picked up a Utopia Planitia challenge coin to add to his collection. Rynna found a leather bomber jacket and a plush Snoopy in a bomber jacket, white scarf, and goggles she couldn't resist. She'd been introduced to the comics by a roommate in the Academy who was a fan of old earth cartoons. She arranged for them to be delivered to her quarters on the Orcrist so she wouldn't have to carry or wear them.
It was long past due for the ice cream that had been promised to be true to his word. He found an ice cream shop along the route they needed to take to get back to the nearest transporter station.
"I think we should all get ice cream cones, so we can eat them on the way to the transporter." Rynna raised an eyebrow at Raf, as it was his decision.
Raf completely agreed and was going to suggest cones himself. "Perfect! You guys know what you want?"
"Carmel waffle cone ice cream."
Raf looked over to Xavier, "Waffle cone ice cream in a cone?"
Smiling, "Yep."
"Okaay...Sam?"
"I want Chocolate, pistachio, brownie."
"Ohhh..."
"I think two is enough." Rynn suggested. "A double cone should be just about perfect. In fact, I'm going to have cookie dough and vanilla with blue raspberry stripes on a sugar cone." She turned to Raf, grinning. "And what will you have?"
Raf looked to Sam, "You were talking about chocolate ice cream with pistachio and brownie in it right?"
Sam was shaking his head, "Can I get it in a waffle cone?"
Pointing to the Bolian at the counter, "You heard him. And I will have Mint Chocolate chip with brownie, also in a waffle cone."
"Coming right up."
One by one, they were each given their cones. Rynna, unfortunately, had a weakness for ice cream and planned to enjoy every bite of her double cone. She watched the boys with a smile. This had been a lot of fun and a part of her was sad to see it end. But, the boys had to get home and Raf probably had to get back to sickbay. She didn't need to go back just yet and contemplated if she should wander around a bit longer or not.
Ice cream in hand, they made their way to the transporter hub to get the boys home. After giving the operator the coordinates, they all said their goodbyes.
"Uncle Raf are we gonna see you again before you go?"
"I plan on getting down to the Hacienda as much as possible before we leave so I'm sure you will."
Sam looked up at Rynna. "Are you gonna come too?"
She felt her cheeks grow warm and hugged Sam to hide her blush. "That all depends on your uncle. He may want to just spend time with his family." She'd definitely go, if asked, but she wasn't about to put any pressure on the doctor to include her.
Then she hugged Xavier for good measure. "You have both been great. I loved spending the day with the three of you."
Raf watched a they said good-bye. Knowing the boys had certainly made a new friend. "Go on you two, before your mother comes up here looking for ya. Don't forget your stuff."
Watching the two step up on the pad, Sam waved with a few fingers as the transporter cycle began. "Woooo...."
Raf laughed as he moved nearer to Rynna. "Thanks for today. Those two are never gonna forget it."
Neither was she. "It was my pleasure. I had a lot of fun today." She paused before adding, "Thank you for letting me join you."
"Anytime. Got any plans for the rest of the day?"
A slow smile spread across her face. "Except spending it with you? No."
His own slow grin appeared. "I'm flattered. Where would you like to go?"
She thought for a moment, then shook her head. "I have no idea. Is there somewhere you'd like to go?"
"We're explores aren't we, so let's explore," giving her a subtle wink.
She laughed in appreciation. "Ah. A man after my own heart. Lead the way."
[Earth - Home of Xavier & Sam]
Karmen watched as her boys materialized seeing the boy wearing their new jackets and both had bags of other items. Sam ran up to his mother and began rattling off all the things they did.
Xavier used the distraction and turned, quickly stuffing the last of his ice cream into his mouth before turning back.
His dad, who had come up looked at him, his head cocked knowingly, and Xavier grinned sheepishly.
He put his finger over his lips and gave him a wink before taking a seat to listen to their adventure.
A post by
Lieutenant Commander Rafael Montoya
CMO
Xavier & Sam Larson
Raf's Nephews
Played by Montoya
Lieutenant Rynna Csira
Chief Operations Officer
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