Author's Note: I was looking through my old incomplete drafts from some time ago, and I found this old sequel in progress to "Chantilly Five Lashes" which believe it or not was my first win for the Original Captain and Crew Award for the ASC Awards. It's not done, but it's interested me enough to put it out for possible more. It has some notes at the end that lead me to believe that I can have a bit more fun with this, as well as providing just a bit of crossover with a certain other series, so I've resumed plotting it.
In "Chantilly Rose" we return to the USS Oklahoma to find out what happened to the two abused girls that Captain Ossana rescued as well as dealing with the aftermath of Chantilly's placement as an acting officer at the helm, much like Wesley was. Chantilly's not a genius, and has a lot of issues, not the least of them being that she's a teenage mother, but she's also not a quitter and has a lot of support. Not everything will go well. Not everyone likes her, and not everything will go well.
So, let's check in on the USS Oklahoma, an Ambassador Class Starship, just about six months after Captain Ossana took command for ...
Chantilly Rose
Prologue
Counselor Tivan sat down across from Chantilly Santana. It had been about four months since Chantilly had given birth. Her maternity jumpsuits had been replaced with the black and red of Star Fleet's Command track. He adjusted his own black and red uniform, once he was seated. Since he'd taken on the job of acting Second Officer, he'd had less time for what he considered his primary job, Ship's Counselor. Fortunately, he had been informed that he was getting an assistant when they arrived at Star Base 23.
Chantilly seemed to be adjusting well. Her daughter, Chloe, was a very well behaved baby. Chloe slept though the night early, and could be amused for hours by her mobile. Chantilly had used her time well, both before and after her baby had been born, keeping her schooling up, and finishing the field officer's training. Captain Osanna was allowing her to take a couple shifts a week on the bridge, usually at the helm. In general, Chantilly had recovered well from her eighteen-month ordeal at the hands of her father. She would probably never fully recover, an event like that at a young age left a permanent effect on a young girl, but she was quite well adjusted, considering.
"How is Chloe, Chantilly?" he asked. Chantilly sudden had a big smile. The fourteen-year-old may have not wanted to get pregnant, but none who had seen her with her baby could say that she didn't love the girl.
"She turned over on her own yesterday," Chantilly said. "I think she's developed a dimple on her right cheek when she smiles. It's really hard to leave her when I have to go to the Bridge."
"Are you still glad you convinced the Captain to let you keep your Acting-Ensign's rank?" Tivan had been a little worried when Chantilly had asked to remain an Acting-Ensign beyond the week that it had taken to prevent the last bit of legal maneuvers.
"Yes," Chantilly said, with conviction. She held herself up straight and proud in her uniform, as she sat on the plush sofa. "It's been a lot of work, on top of what Chloe demands, but I'm glad I can still wear the uniform."
"Have you had any trouble with any of the officers and crew members on board?" Tivan asked. Tivan had consulted with several other ship's counselors after Chantilly finished her field training and began taking some duty shifts. Most of them reported that the interaction between the young officers and the adult crew had been a problem.
"Are you kidding?" Chantilly exclaimed. Her expression was one of astonishment, laughter fleeting through her eyes. "I'm posted as Alpha Shift Emergency Helm Relief. Generally Lieutenant Hauan and his friends like when I arrive. I can only think of one officer I encounter on a regular basis that hates me. You know all about Ensign Hastur."
Tivan did know about Ensign Hastur. Ensign Hastur was a deeply religious woman who took both the Captain's daughters having babies out of wedlock very personally. The Ensign had several reprimands on her record from the past couple weeks when various officers had come upon her rebuking either Chantilly or Habiba. The reactions of the girls had severed to rally the crew around them, against the Ensign. Hastur was now a social outcast on the Oklahoma, and a problem for Tivan in both his roles. "Has the Ensign been at it again?"
"Are we blue or red at the moment?" Chantilly asked. The counselor's dual roles sometimes required such a question. The uniform color had quickly become both the question and the answer.
"Consider me the Counselor while we're here," Tivan said. The balancing act was a bit tough, but he thought he was handling it.
"No more so than usual," Chantilly said. She shrugged. "She's still asking me when I'm going to get married, and breaking into that standard shame before God spiel. Like I'm getting married any time soon. I haven't even had a date yet."
"You really should socialize a little more, perhaps even ask a boy out," Tivan said. It wasn't good for her to spend all her time among adults.
"They'd never say yes," Chantilly said. "If it isn't the ensign's rank it's the fact that I call the Captain, Mom. Besides, I don't know what I'd do on a date. I'm not like Habiba, who just wants to kiss."
Tivan had heard about Habiba and her sudden fondness for kissing. Apparently a young boy had heard that Habiba hadn't been kissed and decided to make sure she got kissed, before the last mission. Whatever else you wanted to call him, and there were certain people who had plenty of words for him, Hasin Das apparently knew how to kiss. "Perhaps, we should arrange what they call a blind date for you, if you believe that your rank and relations are holding you back."
"I don't know," Chantilly said. "Can I think about that?"
"Certainly," Tivan said, looking down at his clock. "I believe you're expected on the Bridge in ten minutes." Chantilly immediately stood up. "We can continue this later." Chantilly nodded and the girl left the Counselor's Office in great haste.