Vacation a Go-Go! Part 2

Posted on Thu Jan 30th, 2025 @ 9:30pm by Lieutenant JG Kate Kono & Lieutenant JG Benjamin "Ben" Dalton

Mission: Training Cruise
Location: Earth, various locations
Timeline: Christmas Time

After leaving the International House of Rice and singing terribly off key to their heart's content. Ben and Kate went in search of something equally as exciting and fun, all while visions on bone jumping danced in their heads.

"So where to now Kate?" Ben asked as they walked among other tourists, while holding each other's hand.

"I'm up for anything! Your choice!" Kate turned and smiled at him.

ben grinned at her, "My choice huh? Okay, I know what we're doing next." As he turned and guided Kate toward the beach.

Kate smiled and skipped behind Ben happily. The beach was one of her favorite places to be in the world and she was with her favorite person.

"It's going to be hard to go back to work after all this," she admitted with a giggle.

"Ssssh." Ben teased looking back at Kate, "Don't use words like work while we're on vacation. It ruins the good mood."

Kate nodded and kicked all her clothes off the moment they got to the beach. In a mad dash she slammed directly into an incoming wave and left a small but brief Kate-Sized hole in the surface before the wave curled over into a white-capped splash.

Ben watched as Kate in rapid fire movements kicked off her clothes and ran into the ocean, her small frame ran straight into a wave that crashed over her, momentarily obscuring her from sight.

Kate swam to the top after the wave passed by and waved at Ben happily, waiting for him to jump in, too, or at least hoping that he would. The warm salty air felt amazing as she swam along the surface.

"Wish we brought goggles! But at least the water is super-clear!"

Ben's smiled went from ear to ear at seeing Kate and her unbridled enthusiasm he gather her clothes and put them in a neat pile before removing his and running into the water to join her. "Wow Kate! You are right! The water is crystal clear."

Kate jumped into Ben's arms the moment he got into the water and laughed while kicking her feet.

"Some people just retire to these kinds of places and are never heard from again!" She winked and giggled. "But I guess people like us would get bored of nothing but fun and sun without the rest of life's challenges. Still! It's great to enjoy it for a little bit of leave though! We need to replicate a surfboard tomorrow."

"You are so right Kate. This good right now in short doses but as you said after a while we would become bored and grow to despise this." Ben answered as he held Kate and kissed her passionately.

Kate nodded after the kiss and held her arms over his shoulders to stay afloat.

"Yeah. I think ultimately people need to feel useful or else they lose meaning in life." Kate said with a ponderance of expression. "But it's great to have that break!" She proceeded to kiss him again and giggle while kissing.

"I couldn't agree more Kate darling and I know I need you." Ben said He kissed her again." You make me feel useful." He said with a chuckle.

"Yeah you're useful! You're much taller than me so you can reach all the top shelves and the back of the replicator," Kate joked as she winked at Ben. "Just kidding. But yeah, we're both pretty useful people" Kate kicked at the water playfully.

ben laughed at Kate's statement, "Well, I am glad i have my usefulness. For a minute I thought you were keeping me around for my good looks among other things." As he winked back at her and swung her in his arms as the warm water swirled around them. This was indeed paradise, and he was spending it with the one who made his life complete.


"I'm glad you know I'm just kidding about the mundane tasks," Kate said as she kicked around in the water. "You're one of the smartest and loving people I've ever known."

"Oh, Kate darling, you don't have to say that but I'm glad you did!" Ben said with a laugh. "For the record, I think you are an incredible person with an amazing sense of humor and I'm glad we're together."

Kate swam back over to Ben and kissed him.

Ben returned the kiss passionately and held Kate in his arms as the waves crashed over them.