Ride Free Part II
Posted on Wed May 20th, 2026 @ 3:37pm by Lieutenant Vura & Ensign Millicent Ambrose
Edited on on Wed May 20th, 2026 @ 3:38pm
1,648 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
Episode 17 - Going Home
Location: Libby, Montana - United States - Earth
Timeline: MD026 1000 hrs
Millie went with some green tea then she set to eating some of the cookies, and also eating some of the mini tarts that her grandmother came up with. Her favorite was lemon, her next was, quadruple berry tart. Yes she loved the chocolate chips but there was just something about lemons she loved. Then again there was the saying 'When life hands you lemons. Make lemonade!' Or even more not to sweet, take the lemon and squeeze it back in opponents eyes. Millie had a closed mouthed smile when she thought of that.
Vura waited patiently for her tea and once it was in front of her, she surveyed the sweets before her. "Where to start? Where to start?" she wondered aloud. She triangulated her fingers and tapped them over and over again while she was trying to decide. However, she noticed Millie's grin and wondered, "What's that grin all about, Millie? You're thinking something devilish."
Millie looked at Vura, her eyes going innocently round. "I am not, thinking of anything devilish at all. I am thinking purely innocent and angelic thoughts."
Mabel gave out a slight huffing chuckle, reaching up above Millie's head as if to adjust something.
"My dear Millie, your halo slipped." She then took a bite of her own lemon tart. Mable concentrated on eating her tart, with a twinkle in her hazel eyes.
"Grandma! I am innocent, trust me, I am innocent!" Millie trying hard not to laugh.
Mabel quirked up an eyebrow.
"Oh, alright I will tell you, at first the saying I thought of was if life hands you lemons make lemonade. Then...there is the other one.... When life hands you lemons, squirt the lemon in your opponents' eyes," Millie replied, sharing her thoughts.
"So who is your opponent, then, Millie?" Vura asked with a devilish grin before finally snagging one of the chocolate chip cookies and placing it on her plate. She then reached for some bread and also placed it on her plate before blowing on her tea.
"Well not everyone needs to be my opponent. It can be used against someone who was being mean as well." Millie stated. "Just depends on who that ends up being mean. Then again..." she mused aloud, picking up a piece of bread and adding some butter to it. "If I squirted a lemon into someone's eyes that would be a total waste of a lemon which could be used to make one of these delicious lemon tarts." She laughed.
"I can't say as I have not tried one yet," Vura replied, still having difficulty choosing what to start tasting.
"Sinfully delicious chocolate chip cookie then go to the lemon tart. That is what I suggest." Millie responded, with a grin. "So no wrong choice there."
Vura took the chocolate chip cookie off her plate and placed it near her mouth. She then delicately took a bite out of it and closed her eyes as she chewed slowly on it and then allowed it to hit each one of her sensory glands in her mouth. She moaned lightly as she savored it and then finally swallowed the cookie bite. Opening her eyes with a soft, "Ahhh," she took up the cup of tea with her right hand while putting the cookie down with the left. "That was lovely...."
Mabel watched with great interest the way Vura savored the bite. it was almost like she was wine tasting. "Now, try the lemon tart, and see if you like it."
While Vura was tasting the goodies, Millie was blissfully chewing the morsel she had bitten off, enjoying the buttery sweet taste of the bread. It was divine. "Oh Grandma, this is so delicious. Wish I could take you with me back to the Pioneer."
Mabel chuckled, "I am quite happy right where I am. I will though send a nice batch of goodies back with you and Vura, so you can enjoy them."
Vura took one of the lemon tarts and the process with the chocolate chip cookie repeated. The only difference was when she tasted the lemon across her sour taste bud she exclaimed, "Ooh!" excitedly before opening her eyes taking another bite. She then hummed lightly as the tart slid down the back of her throat. "You are generous to share your goodies with me. I could not impose," Vura insisted, though her eyes told a different story.
"Oh it will not be any imposition at all." Mabel reached out giving Vura a companionable pat on her covered arm.
"It has been a while since Millie's had some of my goodies and the delight you have shown in the tasting of my wares gladdens my heart." She smiled from ear to ear. "And to think my delectable treats will be reaching beyond the confines of Earth."
Millie was just beaming at her grandmother, "Thank you, Grandma." She moved over to give her an embrace, feeling so happy at this.
"And... can I get some of your recipes too? I would like to try my hand in making them. Just for the scent and memories." Millie really wanted them.
"I've got one I put together for you." Mabel rising from the table disappearing into her office.
Millie's eyes widened at that news then said to Vura.
"I can't believe she had something waiting for me containing her recipes."
"She must love you a great deal," Vura observed. "She anticipated all of your desires."
A thought occurred to Millie, before her grandmother returned.
"Vura have you ever done any cooking or baking before? I actually don't know a whole lot about you, except for how kind and caring you are, plus your great fashion sense. And how you take time to enjoy things in life."
"I've cooked and baked," Vura confirmed. "I'm not going to tell you that I have any particular talent in those things, but I've done them. Why do you ask?" Vura tilted her bald head slightly to the side and then took a thoughtful nibble of the chocolate chip cookie.
"When the time comes I want to do some baking of the recipes that Grandma will be giving to me, and I want to do that with you." Millie responded with a smile. "I think it would be fun."
Mabel came walking up carrying a large book constructed like a loose leave notebook, its cover dark green and on it was the title, 'Millie's Cookbook' she handed it to her grand daughter.
"Here you go, love." Mabel having a rather fond smile.
Millie opened it up, her eyes lit up, then filled with tears.
Inside were the words 'All my love and hopes for your future. Love Grandma Mabel.'
Included was an image of Mabel wearing an apron holding a bowl and spoon, beside her was a younger Millie, cuddling up to her, an arm around her grandma. just beaming.
"Oh Grandma, this is wonderful!" Millie giving the older woman a bear hug.
Giving a chuckle, Mabel wrapped her arms around Millie. "Enjoy it my dear, enjoy it." after a few moments she released her granddaughter.
"I wish you could stay longer but I'm suspecting that you don't have too much time left." Mabel wistfully said.
Millie looked over towards Vura, then back to Mabel.
"Mom is wanting to spend sometime with me and yes, Vura and I do need to get back. Plus need to give one more ride for Vura, on Trouble."
"We could bake together," Vura replied with a smile. "Not sure how good that will be for my figure, but some sacrifices MUST be made," she told Millie confidently.
When Mabel returned, Vura agreed, "I'm all for trouble."
Mabel gave Millie and Vura a care package of goodies along with the cook book.
A hug for each of them, it was safe where Vura waws concerned with her being mostly covered with the riding gear.
Walking the two of them to the door of the shop.
"It was lovely meeting you Vura."
And then turned towards Millie. "Make certain you send me message from here on out. All right? No more disappearing like you did earlier, I-" her voice had a catch in it. "was worried that something terrible happened to you." planting a kiss on top of Millie's head.
"Don't worry, I'll keep in touch more." Millie gave one more warm embrace to Mabel. Tucked the goodies and the book inside the saddle bags of the motorcycle.
Slipping on her helmet, Millie looked to Vura, "Let's go, and ride free."
Vura told Mabel, "Knowing your request, I will make certain that she sends you a message and has regular subspace communications." She gave Millie a serious look that told Millie that she had better do as she was told or there would be a counselor in her quarters in an unpleasant way. "Thank you for your hospitality. I hope that I will have it again and with some new baked goods, too," the Deltan said with a small wink.
"But now, I suppose I will have to accede to a parting motorcycle ride," Vura replied with a ravenous grin. She gave a small wave to Mabel and said, "Thank you again."
"You are most welcome" Mabel giving a tearful wave towards her granddaughter and Vura.
Once Vura was back on the motorcycle, Millie gunned the engine and they were off, racing the wind.
A Joint Post By
Ensign Millicent Ambrose
Engineering Officer, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Vura
Chief Counselor, USS Pioneer
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