>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Mission: You Can't Go Home Again Day: 8 Stardate: 2444.06.08 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< (Mars Facility, Workout Facility, Ensign J. G. Quinna Solice 00 02:00) (Mars Base - Personal Quarters - Ensign JG Billy Alexander - 0300) (Mars Facility, Mystique Airlock - ENG/OPS, Ens(jg) Vex’ahlia & Luma’lenai - 12:30) (USS Mystique - ENG/OPS, Ens(jg) Vex’ahlia & Luma’lenai - 1241) (Ship Yards - Outside Berth #17 - aACEO - Ensign JG Keira Merek - 1917) (Mars Facility – Willliams-Verin Family Quarters - Ensign JG Trip Williams and Civilian Ashlyn Jones- 20:00) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< (Mars Facility, Workout Facility, Ensign J. G. Quinna Solice 00 02:00) Quinna made her way to the gym. She leaned up against a structural pole and looked around. She hoped the time would allow for a private exercise. She sigh of relief came upon her as she started to take her shoes and socks off and then placed a hand on the pole she was leaning on and spun around it. It seems sturdy enough. She pulled on it twice and it did not move. “This is perfect.” Quinna said to herself. She often talked to herself when she was alone. Quinna lifted her leg and rested her foot on the pole. She thought back to her teen years. While living with her grandmother, she would often go with her to pole dancing exercise class. The class became a great way for Quinna to strengthen her body and especially her core and upper arms. She usually played music of inspiration. Tonight she felt like a little girl power. “Computer, Play I will Survive from Gloria Gaynor. As the music began, Quinna climbed up the pole and wrapped her legs around it. She let her hands go and fell back so she was hanging upside down. She then curled her abdomen as she came to an upright position. She was then able to hold her body horizontally with her hands on the pole. As she swung about the pole she shut out the world and started singing with song. When her feet hit the ground, she forgot the pole and started to dance to the music and sang at the top of her lungs. Though her singing voice would give her a plethora of responses indicating that she should not quit her day job. Quinna did not care as to what she was doing as she since she verified she was alone, Quinna let herself go. Swinging on the pole or dancing on the floor, Quinna was happy. (Replies if you want to join in) (played my Kris) Mars Base - Personal Quarters - Ensign JG Billy Alexander - 0300) It had been a fun night for Billy, hanging out with his cousin Trip and some of the other guys. It was overall a good day. However, he was feeling a bit guilty about the retaliation that he had done to Erin Cortez. Was beaming her off the Starbase and down to the hangar on the planet's surface the most mature thing to do? No it was not. Could it have been perceived as escalation? Yes it probably could have. Was he sorry for having done it? Yes, he was. So sorry in fact that he was planning on apologizing to Erin the moment she returned from the camping trip. He knew Trip was going to be baking cookies before Sy returned, so he figured he would probably see if he could get two dozen cookies. One dozen cookies for himself, a dozen for Erin. It would be a perfect apology. Besides, he found her very attractive and would like to stay on her good side just in case. That was however, until he discovered what she had left for him. [Flash! Ah-ah, Savior of the universe!!] Billy was jolted from the most wonderful dream in which he was a superhero, saving the world, by the wonderful synth sounds of the classic 20th century Earth Band, Queen. ~The hell!!~ [Flash! Ah-ah, He'll save everyone of us!!] Billy turned in his stupor to see that it was 0300 hours. He wasn't planning on being up for another four hours. [Flash! Ah-ah, He's a miracle!!] ~Flash....where have I heard that before...Flash, no it wasn't my halloween costume from last year....it was recent.~ [Flash! Ah-ah, King of the impossible!!] ~You have to be kidding me, Flash, who else calls me Flash, and this is the famous song from Flash Gordon by Queen. Erin Cortez, you little minx. You just couldn't let things be. Did she change my alarm tone and time?~ "Computer end Alarm and reset for 0700 hours." [Acknowledged] "Alright then Time Bomb." Billy said with a sinister grin. "It is time to cancel the apology, and I know just the person to talk to for the idea for retaliation." (reply none) (posted by Will) (Mars Facility, Mystique Airlock - ENG/OPS, Ens(jg) Vex’ahlia & Luma’lenai - 12:30) Vex had been on Mars for little under a day and was finally coming to terms with what her main role was going to be. When she had been summoned back to the Academy and told to pack up her things and report to Admiral Remae Ktell, the relief that she’d finally been given an assignment was extraordinary. She’d ran back to her apartment, picked up a bag which she’d pre-made for such an occasion and high tailed to an off-world transport station. Using some of her new found inheritance she’d paid for a direct flight from Earth to Mars base, but even then it’d taken the best part of several hours to travel there. In the meantime she’d begun reading up on the base, it seemed like Starfleet was ready to reactivate some of their defunct facilities and ships, starting with this one. There would be plenty for an Engineer such as her to do, she wouldn’t have to think about her family affairs or involve herself in her father's political machinations. So the conversation she’d had with the Admiral upon arriving was entirely different to what she was expecting. To find that she’d been given the assignment to Mars on the basis of her blood and ancestry rather than her qualifications and knowledge had momentarily hurt her feelings. She’d thanked the Admiral for the opportunity and spent the rest of the meeting inside her own head, trying to decide whether what he was asking was simply crazy or intriguing. After the meeting with Admiral Remae, Vex took a few hours to unpack and then repack her personal belongings. In that time she began thinking back to the techniques she’d learned as a child to ready her mind, calm herself and prepare to meet such a unique creature. She still hadn’t decided whether this was a good or bad thing, but she had to meet with Luma at the very least. Admiral Remae had mentioned that a Vulcan by the name of Sekal was the current temporary mind-bond mate for Luma so she had began there. Seeking him out and having a discussion with him about Luma herself and what other information he could share. He enlightened her on who Luma was, based on the brief encounters he’d had so far, explained why he wasn’t suited as a permanent mind-bond mate and also briefly mentioned about how they were looking into how they could potentially extract Luma from the ship and place her elsewhere. This sparked Vex into life, this could be a way for her to help, something she’d been trained to do, rather than just born to do. Still, she had been stood in this airlock for a good 10 minutes now, too anxious to enter the ship and finally meeting Luma’Lenai, the being she’d had a crash course on, in the last 12 hours. She’d gotten clearance from the Security Chief, an Ensign Peters to go onto the ship, he’d offered a security detail to go with her, an offer she’d declined after explaining that she needed privacy to speak with Luma. She took a breath and stepped through into the USS Mystique. (USS Mystique - ENG/OPS, Ens(jg) Vex’ahlia & Luma’lenai - 1241) The ship was currently undergoing all sorts of repairs and was therefore not as empty as she’d hoped. Vex kept her mind entirely shut off from those around her as she made her way onto the ship initially. She smiled and nodded as she walked past people she’d never met before, curious glances went back and forth so she kept her head down, being the new girl at work always sucked. She asked the computer to guide her to the quarters she’d been assigned to whilst on the ship, walked in and then dumped the backpack by the wall. If this was going to work, she’d decided earlier on in the day that with the permission of the Admiral she’d sleep and work on the ship for the rest of the time it was in drydock. The room itself was homely, yet entirely bare of any personal belongings. A small interior room, with a desk and terminal and then an archway which leads into a small bedroom and shower area. Vex went and sat down on the chair took another deep breath, closed her eyes and expanded her mind. She could immediately feel the mammoth like presence that she assumed to be Luma, it came from all around her, she was everywhere and everything. She’d never been particularly religious, but sitting there in that moment the thought occurred to her that this felt like meeting a somewhat godly creature. ::Luma’Lenai?:: Vex projected in the hopes of making a successful first contact. Luma watched the flame haired Betazoid walk onto the skin of the Mystique and was intrigued by this new small one. She seemed to possess skills of engineering as well as being a strong telepath. Luma was careful though, and cautiously touched the mind of Vex ::Yes, I am Luma of the Lenai:: accompanying her name came the visual of a snowflake like crystalline entity with glacial blue eyes set near the top of the crystal. The Lenai in their base form were beautiful and not humanoid. There was a quick mental shuffle of photograph like images of their homeworld, which had been arctic until the binary began to implode, causing the world to super heat, and for the Lenai to free themselves and leave the planet. Not a numerous race, only a handful of the Lenai managed the transition. Lastly came the void of emptiness and loneliness that had been her reality. ::The Admiral said that you have the strength and skill to bond with Luma. A bondmate is a partner, a best friend, a teacher, an authority on the ship and the culture. It means that Luma will always be a part of you. It means you may destroy your psi centers. A past bondmate did, although she recovered after many years to do one final mission:: Hope, concern, love, and a slight indifference as if the alien was afraid of being hurt and rejected. Vex openly frowned when she heard Luma talking about the destruction of her psi centers, it sounded painful and something she’d prefer to avoid if at all possible. ::Luma needs help. A lot of it.:: The last was a whisper, almost inaudible. ::The Sekal tries, but like his Sire, having to touch the skin is inefficient. ::Luma broke off for a second and Vex had a sensor view in her mind of someone in the computer core and Luma trying to talk to the human male and make sure that the place she 'lived' was safe. When the guy refused to listen to Luma, the entity removed him to the runabout that had been brought up to the Mystique. The fact that the guy was now trapped in time out with a few other people who had refused to listen was something that needed addressing. Luma needed an advocate. Vex opened her eyes, this was going to take some time to get used to. She couldn’t deny that she was intrigued by what she was hearing and seeing. Having the ships sensor scans plugged directly into her brain as Luma tried to communicate with the Engineering officer was odd and strangely thrilling, she said, ::You must understand Luma, whilst I have the necessary skills to bond with you- I’m still young myself and because of that I probably would not have the same levels of life experience or authority that you were used to before. I’ve also been told that I’m not terribly personable for a Betazoid, I suppose if you decide to bond with me that is something you will be able to help me with- ironically I’m used to working with machines, not people..:: Luma's voice seemed eager, ::We could learn together? Luma was told by the Sekal that she was not allowed to influence you, but… it would be very difficult for Luma to sail without a proper bondmate.:: the impression that Luma gave was that Sekal was not a great choice for any number of reasons, among them that he did not understand the great fear all Lenai had of death. Luma gave flashes of the pain of losing bondmates in the past and of vast age and experiences. ::Balance?:: Luma asked, hopefully. ::Balance:: Vex thought and then continued.. ::Before we go any further, shall we deal with our friends in that runabout? I imagine they’ve got some important work to be doing and having them sit there unable to do it, will only push our departure date back. I assume you’re eager to leave this place and travel?:: ::Yes, but they do not listen and treat Luma as inferior. The Sekal said Luma could not harm them but they act like being in time out is doing so. Luma scanned many parenting texts. Isolating those who cause issues is acceptable in many species.:: She sighed mentally. ::But the stimulation of so many here is exhilarating:: She shared with Vex the what so many people felt like to her - little candle flames in the dark. Luma knew where every person was and what they were doing. ::If you’re agreeable beam me to the runabout and we’ll straighten out the issues with the people you have put there.:: Vex couldn’t help but smile at the thought of several people transported into a runabout against their will, simply because they couldn’t understand what Luma was saying to them. Luma smiled back, the shaft of emotion delightful understanding. ::The Vex will bond with Luma? Will help Luma? Be…:: she searched for the right phrase, ::Be advocate?:: ::I’m certainly open to it Luma, let’s go for a dry run with these people in the runabout and then we can get to know each other a little whilst you talk me through bonding.:: ::The Vex should stand. In the stories and teledramas that Luma watches, it is best for the one who is Authority to have their head higher than the other small ones:: The vast majority of Luma's experiences in the Federation had been through books, holonovels and teleseries. No wonder they were having communication issues. Vex stood up and began flattening out the creases in her uniform. She hadn’t checked in with her immediate superior in Ensign Merek yet, so she hoped stepping in now wasn’t going to get her into trouble. ::You may beam me when you’re ready:: ::Luma is unsure of her rank, but Luma is sure that she is the Chief of her department and when you bond there will be two of us and we will be equals rank with the aACO:: Luma pronounced it he a-achoo and it was adorable. Within moments Luma had Vex in the runabout with five unhappy npc people, most of them engineers although one was a medical officer. Luma kept a very light touch on Vex’s mind as she waited to see how Vex would deal with them. Unusually it was the medical officer who spoke first, a sarcastic tongue in his head, “What sin did you commit to the tin-faced goddess to end up in the cage?” His snark was palatable. “I tried to remove the emh projectors without her permission.” He shrugged. “I didn’t believe that an alien was infecting the computer and made a joke about curing the computer of her. She didn’t take kindly to that notion.” Vex smiled slightly, she could feel Luma hovering in the back of her mind- clearly eager to watch what she was going to do. One of the engineers complained next, “We NEED to replace those damaged gel packs in the computer core and SHE will not let us touch them. This ship can not fly with so many damaged bioneural gel packs and even one damaged is too many let alone the FIVE that I managed to locate.” This was the one that Luma had been tangling with most recently, the one who wouldn’t listen when she tried to explain that they needed to be replaced one at a time and allow her time to integrate each new one before the repairs could continue. Since Luma essentially lived in them and the computer core, it made a whole lot of sense that she felt threatened. The Engineers problem, Vex felt she could deal with easier- at the very least she understood both sides of the argument. It was more efficient for them to remove the bioneural gel packs and then move onto another job, instead of spending time waiting for Luma to integrate into the packs. Since she was wearing an Engineers uniform and was of a higher rank, she assumed the officer would take what she would say as an order, “Whereas I understand your eagerness to get the job done officer, you’re going to need to remove and replace the bioneural packs one by one...” She noticed an immediate shift in the mood within the runabout, it’d had gone from derisory and jokey at Luma’s expense to an understanding that perhaps Vex hadn’t been put here for doing something wrong. ::How long do you need between each pack being installed?:: ::About 4 minutes per pack. The least number I need to function is 6 that are linked but it is bad. ::Sekal had experimented. Being cut off from the ship had felt like death and the Lenai were phobic on the subject as had been seen in the past. ::Why is Luma a joke? They act like she is humorous but the thoughts pattern is not kindness. Luma has only really operated with people who understood her. This is… new. Change is frightening. :: The Lenai huddled in the back of Vex's mind, taking comfort in the other woman. Vex continued speaking out-loud, barely seconds after she stopped, “... You only need to give Luma around 4 minutes per pack before moving on and continuing on to the next one. This shouldn’t slow you down too much.” She said, talking to the Engineer. “Oh, that’s what she was trying to say.” He said, looking down towards his feet and then back to Vex, “I apologise, Sir.” Vex nodded, “I’m not the one the apology needs to be directed to,” she said as she looked at him. “Er, right. Sorry Luma?” the Engineer said looking around the Runabout Luma's physical voice came from all around them, =^= Removing too many at once takes the senses away. Luma is afraid that while blinded more small ones will hurt her.=^= Sadness in her voice. =^=Luma will try harder to explain. Parenting For Dummies says that it takes the two to make conflict. Luma will try harder to explain. =^= “::You may beam this one back to his work if you’re happy with the apology.::” Vex both said out loud and to Luma privately. Luma spoke aloud, this time through the engineer's comm badge =^= Stand still so Luma may teleport you back to work. Please be careful of the interface and do not disturb it. It may be a…=^= She searched for a word, =^= Relic but it is important =^= The engineer was gone before he could say anything in reply. Once the Engineer was gone, Vex turned to the Medical Officer. “And for yourself, why were you even trying to remove the EMH emitters?” she said quizzically. "There are new ones that Dr. Bracken managed to scrounge up from some ferengi in the town near the base. We have enough to upgrade sickbay, science and the bridge." He stood and tugged down his shirt. "I am pretty sure my problem was the joke I made. You gotta admit, there is nothing like her anywhere else in the fleet. Most of us think she is some kind of advanced AI, like an android." Luma was growing unhappier with the Doctor's words. "But anyway, Miss ah, Lenai, I am sorry I upset you. I will try and make sure my colleagues understand you" he then muttered something about the Admiral having kept Luma secret being the real issue. Secrets lead to misinformation and rumors kept the walls of a building up with all the hot air. It was a well known fact. Luma sent an inquisitive shaft of emotion towards Vex. She was unhappy/unsure/confused. ::We have a lot of work to do, if we’re to bring everyone up to speed on you:: Vex said to Luma, ::I’m sorry but I think you’ll see a lot of this attitude, just because they don’t understand and when people don’t understand something, sometimes they can be unnecessarily cruel:: “If you have a problem with the way the Admiral has dealt with the information surrounding the ship, I suggest you take it up with your superior officer- the Dr. Bracken you just spoke about I presume?” she then said to the Medical Officer. “I trust you’ll be kinder and more careful with your words and thoughts in the future.” Vex added on at the end. Luma sighed and teleported him back to work. The other 3 issues were dealt with as quickly, small matters that had escalated quickly due to misunderstandings. Luma was very excited about being able to leave but she was not happy with the attitudes of the people working with her. ::The Admiral said that most of them have not been on a ship at all, and some not in a very long time and Luma is supposed to allow them to make mistakes. Luma does not like mistakes. Mistakes lead to broken:: Another sigh until Vex was alone in the runabout. At least Luma had picked the one with a working replicator. ::The mistake would be to ignore quantitative evidence from yourself that proves they’re about to do something wrong.:: Vex said as she sat down inside the runabout, ::I’d suggest that what the Admiral means that you should allow the crew to learn how to operate a ship by themselves. For most of their careers going forward, they’re unlikely to have you to lean on. If however someone is about to do something which would harm you, we’ll have to stop or avert that.:: She’d only known Luma for a small portion of time was already feeling oddly protective. ::Tell me more about being your bond-mate Luma, tell me about your previous mates, about your life. I’d like to know more about you and what to expect.:: Luma flooded Vex with images, feelings and experiences, slowing down and concentrating on her and Winters. The way the Captain could direct Luma, showing how to do the micro jumps that had allowed the Mystique to rescue so many at Geneva, showing the precision flying and station holding. The finesse and control. How Luma could tell what was wrong with the Mystique instantaneously. She shared the difference between a vulcan bondmate who had to touch certain panels that had been altered to allow the contact and a betazoid who had a firmer, constant contact. ::It would be similar if we were on a base, but not the mars base currently. That base is too old, the wiring is not conducive. Luma does not know how it works with the bond-mate not the Captain. Even on the colony ship, what you call a generation ship, the bond-mate always had a position of authority. It is different now, the Admiral said HE must command.:: This was new and new was so difficult for her. Underlying it all was anxiety. Luma needed Vex to steady her. As best she could Vex focused on a calming experience, she knew the imagery would mean little to Luma but the emotions that would pass back to her, would hopefully calm her down. ::The Sekal said Luma should speak with the Counselors. About the anger that simmers:: The Vulcan really had no idea how to handle the ship who was all emotion. ::Does the Vex speak to the Counselors too?:: Luma had many bondmates over the centuries, and of those only Winters had burned out when Luma fed the warp drive engines through Winters in a massive psionic lash to kill the other Lenai, the last known male of Luma's species. After that was the beginning of the end for Luma, less than a standard year of duty, then the abandonment. ::Is the Vex afraid too?:: Vex looked around, a tear was slowly making its way down her cheek. The emotions and images Luma had shared with her over the past few minutes were a lot to handle. ::Afraid I may not be up to the task.:: she responded, ::You’ve had such wonderful partners in the past… Sekal may be right, it may be beneficial for both of us to speak to the Counsellors. Perhaps some couples counselling” she jested to lighten her mood, ::Though I’ve only ever spoken to a Counsellor once before, just after my Mother died suddenly. So that’s something we’d be learning together.:: ::You are young. We can grow together. Luma is young in the ways of these Starfleet small ones.:: accompanying the phrase was the difference in how one of the Lenai were viewed, as much larger, brighter flames as opposed to the candle light like flames of humanoids. ::If you do not want Luma, Luma will have to stay with the Sekal. :: Her voice was so sad. Though Luma was much older, the conversation had parallels in Vexs mind with a conversation of that with a child. ::I know too well, the feeling of not being wanted.:: she told Luma sourly. ::Honestly I think this may help me as much as it helps you, I've been alone most of my life:: ::Does the Vex possess weapons skills to help protect Luma?:: Luma was avoiding the concept of Vex's family dying, the Lenai did not celebrate or mourn their dead, although they did celebrate the creation of new life. Luma quickly shared what it had felt like when the intruders had invaded her and knew far too much about her, her capabilities and how to circumvent them. ::I have been trained in basic combat Luma.. I should probably seek lessons in how to defend myself and you more effectively if you think it could be a regular occurrence. But as a part of Starfleet we'll have many Security agents and colleagues which will help defend you.:: Vex said as she watched the events unfold in her brain as Luma showed her what happened. ::You know this already though, Sekal and Security did a good job the other night once called upon.:: ::Luma likes the Carson and the nameless blue skin the records call Taya. :: Images accompanied the names as well as empathic projections. Carson was steady, solid, competent. Taya was cool, with an inner fire that burned continuously. And Luma liked and trusted both of them. ::With Security's permission I plan to live on the Mystique here with you between now and the launch date. I'll be able to help fixing the ship and learn more about you:: ::The Vex will stay with Luma? Be Luma's bondmate and friend?:: ::That seems like the best thing to do, we can get used to working and living with each other this way… how do we do this Luma?:: ::How do we bond? It happens over time. With Sekal it had to be a mindmeld to start it, but with Betazoids it is the continuous touch, the willingness to share, to be a part of another. Sometimes it was forced as with the Vanyssa Winters, but it is best for it to grow deep. It is trust and care. Luma thinks it is perhaps why the Vanyssa was injured, the bond was not stable. Luma would prefer the Vex to remain aboard the skin. It will help the bonding if the Vex is not too far away.:: She had thought as much before talking to Luma, ::It is settled then, I’ll stay aboard the Mystique and help with the repairs.:: Vex said, the decision finally made and a weight suddenly lifted. ::I’ll need to report into my Senior Officer for Engineering and explain the situation:: she looked around and remembered she was inside the runabout, ::Luma can you open the runabout doors or is it down to you to transport me out?:: the thought still bemused her that Luma had been giving time-outs to those officers who weren’t capable of listening or understanding her. Luma laughed and beamed Vex back to her quarters. Already Luma was in a much better mindframe, knowing that Vex was now here to help her. It was a good beginning to an excellent partnership. (Reply None) (Posted by Jono & Mel) (Ship Yards - Outside Berth #17 - aACEO - Ensign JG Keira Merek - 1917) Having completed Ensign Ire Williams work order to the best of her ability at this time, Keira set herself to the task of the primary engineering survey of the Mystique and her systems. She had gave it some thought after Ensign Sekal's briefing at the mission meeting, Luma resides in the ships computer core and all of her systems, they referred to the ship as her "skin" in numerous reports. Ergo, the ship is HER. According to numerous Starfleet medical regulations, sentient beings have to consent to examination and treatment if they are of sound mind, and Keira had no evidence supporting that Luma was not in her right mind. So there was but one way to go forward. ~ I hope this isn't as crazy as it sounds in my head.~ She tapped her combadge, and spoke, "Ensign Merek to the USS Mystique." (Reply Luma) "Hello, we've never met, I'm Ensign Keira Merek, I've been put in charge of Engineering on Mars by Admiral Remae." She eased into communicating with as far as she knew a unique entity. (Reply Luma) "Yes, I would like your permission to come aboard and take a look at where you might be damaged or hurting to see what steps we might be able to take to get you back on the mend," she explained. (Reply Luma) "I'm sorry, I just don't know enough to answer that question, I don't know it it will hurt. I can describe to you what I intend to do, before I do it and inform you every step of the way." She spoke how she remembered the colony doctor did when she broke her arm from that fall when she was a child. She had nothing but fond memories of the Caitian "Doctor Kittie". (Reply Luma) "Just show me where it hurts. One to beam up." She stood up straight and waited for the transporter beam to take her to where she needed to go. (Reply Luma, any) (Posted by Todd) (Mars Facility – Willliams-Verin Family Quarters - Ensign JG Trip Williams and Civilian Ashlyn Jones- 20:00) You reap what you sow. That was a saying that Trip had heard many times in his life, and now he knew what it meant. He was home alone on an off night while Sy and Lynn were off on a date. He could have gone to the Holodeck or the Sands, or gone into town. Instead he was restricted to quarters. Restricted quarters for one mistake, a mistake that he thought meant something, but now, he felt stupid and slightly used. He had spoken to Alex. She was awake, she was going to be fine. But she was facing some serious rehab and relearning some basic motor functions. She was going to ok in the end, but Trip wouldn’t be around to see it. When he told her he was going to Trill soon, she broke up with him, said that she didn’t want to be the one to hold him back, that maybe the universe would bring them back together again, or maybe not. She said, while he was a good man, he owed her nothing, and she was gonna set him free before either of them got hurt emotionally to match the hurt she received physically from the explosion. She told him she didn’t blame him, she told him to keep on flying. But that it was best for both if they part ways now before anyone got seriously hurt. So while everyone else was having fun doing whatever the wanted around base or the local town, he was alone. He was enjoying a cold beer, just sitting, listening to rock music playing in the background. He had pizza box on the table in front of him as he was sitting on his couch and he was perusing some old books he had finally taken out of storage from some old earth game called Dungeons and Dragons. The door chime went off. “Enter,” he said. He was wearing his gym clothes and no socks. It was evident he was just content to not leave his quarters until the next time he had to go back to work. It had come as a surprise to Ashlyn, that she had ended up having clearance to walk the entire base. As a Civilian, normally, there were zones that one was not allowed to enter, or restricted to. Ashlyn’s covered the whole base. It was as a result of the peculiarities of her role, Logistics, it seemed, covered a multitude of things, none of them, anyone wanted to delve into that deeply. It had been a while since she’d first seen Trip and she smiled shyly to herself at the admission that she’d enjoyed his company, even though most of the conversation had been considerably awkward. Summoning the courage, and putting on her work face, she’d hit the door chime, and entered on the voice of permission within. “Trip...I’m sorry, I was at the end of a shift, and didn’t fancy going back to my place just yet.” “Oh hey Ash, come in, sorry there is stuff on the floor. With Sy being gone tonight, I figured I can be a little bit of my slob self until she comes back.” ~Maybe I’m lonely, maybe she did write weird fanfiction about me, but maybe I don’t want to be alone.~ “Come in, have a seat, grab a beer. I’ve got pizza. Pepperoni, Ham, Bacon, onion, Jalapeños..” Ash allowed herself to be coaxed in, and picked up a beer from the cooler. “I can’t remember the last time I had actual beer.” She said, a gentle, sad smile on her face. “I had the Sands deliver it. Just trying to keep myself busy while my sister and Lynn are out on a date. Please have a seat." She tilted the bottle, and regarded it for a moment, “I shouldn’t, all things considered.” she said, opening the bottle, and throwing the cap across the room to the bin, where it hit the rim, and went in. “but…” she raised the bottle. “To friends, both here and absent.” Trip was sitting on a part of the sectional and motioned for Ash to sit across from him. “Was just hanging out solo but company seems more fun. What are you doing here anyways, I thought you lived off base.” She sipped at the beer, gassier than she remembered, or perhaps preferred, but one person’s taste... “I do, but, in truth, I didn’t want to go home this evening.” She shifted on the settee, her head leaning on the headrest. “Couldn’t face another evening with just me and Bob.” “Wait, I thought you weren’t seeing anyone. Damn girl, you move fast.” She laughed, sorry. “He’s a goldfish. I talk to him, ask his name, all he ever seems to say is ‘Bob’...Yes I know terrible joke.” “That was so funny I forgot to laugh.” Trip just stared off into the distance and took a sip of beer. “Sorry, only humor I can appreciate right now is irony.” “That you get a medal, but don’t get to play outside with the other kids?” Ash winced. “Sorry...that was catty.” “No its fine. I mean, do the crime do the time I guess. I don’t know. I heard from Alex about an hour ago. She dumped me, said that she didn't want either of us to get hurt, and with the trip to Trill soon, and the distance, and her recovery, it was best to end it quick and painless. Except it's not. She’s only the second person I’ve ever had sex with. That kind of intimacy means something to me, and I shouldn’t have been so cavalier with it. Especially knowing that she was well traveled. But I confessed to the impropriety of what we had done, got punished for it, and now here I am reaping what I sowed, and I have no Russian bombshell to show for it. Just me, Pizza, beer, and my wounded pride. Oh and dungeons and dragons.” He then motioned to the myriad of books in front of him. Ash nodded. "That's about the way it is yes. An empty flat and a stack of reading material." “It’s not just reading material. It is a portal to an interactive world of my own design. Just me and my friends, who are currently non existent.” Trip let out a slight chuckle. Ash drew a sharp breath. “I’d forgotten that about you. You used to run those games at lunch, sometimes out on the rec, other times in the old AV lab. ‘Boogers’ Anderson was always a Paladin, perhaps ironically.” "Poor Boogers'. You eat one booger in 1st grade and it sticks with you for life." "So...if you don't mind me asking...why the Fleet? You seemed to have spent a long time trying to avoid it? Or perhaps I've misremembered." “I never wanted to avoid the fleet. I just didn’t want people to think of me as a clone of my dad or grandpa. I wanted the freedom to make my own legacy, and I became a bit of a jerk trying to not be them. Turns out, I want to be them. I mean, their legacy is their family, not their career. Took me a bit to figure it out. That is a legacy I want to be a part of. Having a family that is. As for the fleet, I was going to join it no matter what. Though, I let that angst of not wanting to be trapped in their shadow make me do some stupid things.” Ash took a drink from her beer, and picked up a slice of pizza, taking a bite, chewed and swallowed, and dabbed her mouth with a tissue. “I understand that. We always become what we try and rebel against. It occurs to me that you weren’t the only one. I remember Ailynn being like that, she seems to have settled into herself too.” "She's a great surgeon. Saved my life." Ash swallowed the second mouthful, "oh? How so?" "I was an amateur cage fighter in my angsty days. And got a little overzealous in a fight and beat the daylights out of a guy. His upset friends decided to take it out me and jumped me. Stabbed me ten times with makeshift knives and broken bottles. I was bleeding out. My dad got me to Lynn in time. She stitched me up. But botched the dermal regeneration and now I have ten scars. You ever want to join the fleet?” Ash listened as Trip answered her. It had been so long since she'd just been able to sit down and talk about anything, nothing even. "Probably, no, it is my biggest regret. I liked the idea of being in the Fleet, but I suppose that I never had that belief." "Why do you say that?" Trip was legitimately curious. She smiled "that I could do it. That I even had a chance of competing. It's okay though doing a job that is more important than I ever imagined, and truly I love it." "I'm glad you feel fulfilled. But I think you're smart enough to have made it through." Finishing her pizza, she slid back into the sofa, holding the beer in her lap. "Maybe, that was a lifetime ago though." She smiled shyly. "Did you ever play Dungeons and Dragons Ash. You strike me as someone who would play as a dragonborn sorcerer, or maybe even a bard. But not a warlock, and definitely neutral good. Your kind compassionate and caring, not selfish, you don’t want to screw anyone over. But you won’t follow oppressive rules just because.” Ash shook her head. "I never did, but it always looked interesting. I love that kind of stuff." “Well you should give it a try sometime. It’s a lot of fun.” Trip then shifted gears. “So what really brought you by my room tonight?” She felt her heart fall, but recovered. "Honestly? I enjoyed our catch up. It's been a long time i spoke to anyone who wasn't on the make." She motioned to the door. "I can go if it was a problem, i should have messaged. " “No please stay. I may say I want to be alone right now, but I don’t really want to be alone right now. I would love some company.” "As long as you're sure." She drank at her beer again. "So tell me, dragonborn I understand, why a sorcerer?" “Simple, they’re special. They don’t learn their magic through a book like a wizard or make a dark pact like the warlock. They have a special birthright, a bloodline that allows them to do so. You seem like the kind of person who would want to use magic, and I figured sorcerer, because I think you’d want to play out someone who was fated for greatness through birth, who despite being dealt a bad hand in life, was fated to be some great hero, fulfil some great destiny.” There were those that she wouldn’t accept such things from, most people actually, but she’d know Trip a long time, and she knew that it wasn’t a play to carve another notch. “Or maybe, its because I think you can achieve more than what you think you can, you are fated to do more than you think you can. You went from a nobody to a best selling author. The sky is the limit.” “I appreciate that, truly I do, and that’s why I actually love my job. Sure, I’m a civvie, and a midrange one at that; but without me doing my job, not one of you from the Admiral on down could do theirs. Throw in contacts with local leaders and Councils, then this girl from 2 and eight skid row hasn’t done bad.” She laughed. “Dragonborn Sorcerer. I like that.” “Everyone has their types. I usually play as a human fighter.” ~Probably because sometimes I wish I was full human.~ “You still run these...games?” She hesitated to use the word game, as it inferred childishness, but she didn’t know another one. “Haven’t run one in a few months. Most of my gaming crew is spread out all over. But I’m thinking of starting up again. Why do you ask?” She shifted in her seat, stretching her lower back slightly, and shrugged, “I don’t know, no reason, but it’d be fun wouldn’t it? There must be others that would be interested, it would be sort of macabre almost. Few beers, dark room.” “You definitely have a seat at my table if you want Ash.” She smiled, happy at the thought of being included. “You should ask around. I wonder what the admiral would be? Dark Elf Grand Warlock?” “We’ll never know. I don’t invite the boss. People won’t feel like they can be themselves if he plays. My guess is probably a rogue.” Ash laughed warmly, a flush running to her cheeks. “You are in enough trouble already.” “Exactly! Man, I’m so happy you came by. I forgot how much fun you were to talk to.” As she regarded herself, it was as if for this moment, she’d forgotten that she was painfully introverted. She’d forgotten how shy she was deep down. “It’s nice just to talk, with a friend. Someone who just gets me, and isn’t out to impress.” “Well that is because I know I don’t need to impress you. I know where I stand with you.” She smiled at him. “I should move, I’ve enjoyed this. When you’re allowed out I’ll show you the town. Put you in touch with some locals. Sienna and Ailynn as well. There’s good people nearby.” “Or maybe it could be just us.” Trip paused. “I kind of don’t mind being around Sy, cause she’s my sister, and Lynn, she’s my best friend. But right now it is just weird being around both of them together. I feel like a third wheel, if that makes sense?” She nodded. “If that’s what works.” “Know any good tattoo parlors?” “I know of an exceptionally good one actually, one of the ladies on the resident’s committee has the most beautiful anklet done. The detail is amazing. You thinking of new ink?” “I’m thinking of getting on my right wrist the latin phrase, Dum Spiro, Spero. As I breath I hope. Then get a red chinese dragon coiling around my right forearm. Then on my left forearm, I think I want to get the Classic starfleet insignia. Just because.” “Very poetic. I’m sure that they’ll be able to sort you. I can pass their details. I suspect that you can get a decent rate too - an inside track into the base trade will help the entire community.” “I do consider myself somewhat of a poet, so of course my ink has to be poetic.” Trip said with a wink. She smiled, and looked at the time, sighing. “I really had better get going, this has been nice. Nice to talk.” “Can’t you stay a little bit longer.” Trip said trying not to sound too desperate. “I was going to start a movie before you got here. From 2132. The Dracolich of Mars. An evil zombie Dragon rises on mars and turns everyone into a horde of the undead. Never saw it, but heard its a great B movie.” Trip went up and got some popcorn from the replicator and sat back down. Once more, she laughed, happy to be included in a moment for no other reason than to be wanted to be there. “Okay, deal. However If I fall asleep, then you arrange me a lift back to my flat.” Trip patted the seat next to him inviting Ash to sit. They were then both seated across from the wall view screen in the common room of Trip and Sy’s shared suite. “Computer,” He said, “Play the Dracolich of Mars.” The View screen came to life as the movie began to play. It was a pretty basic and standard movie. But a lot scarier than Trip could have ever predicted. The acting was wooden, the plot cheap, but the jump scares were legitimate and the gore intense. The first on screen death happened within ten minutes and the heart rate monitor on his watch had beeped to tell him his was high. Around the thirty minute mark he turned to Ash to see how she was handling the movie. If anyone were to have asked her later what had happened, she would have said ‘ I don’t know. It was good.’ However, it was with a completely impasse smile, and a sense of relaxation, and inclusiveness, that she sat here watching the film. She knew that she’d jumped at bits that she was supposed to jump at, and got cross with the actresses who seemed to think that running back toward danger availed themselves of the better protection. However, she caught Trip’s face, and smiled back at him, throwing a piece of popcorn at him out of the corner of her eye. As the popcorn hit his head, Trip tried not to laugh. He was having fun. Legitimate fun. For the first time in hours he didn’t care about Alex or the fact he was restricted to quarters. He reached down into the cooler and grabbed a piece of ice and very carefully, passed it from his left hand to his right. Then very stealthily placed it right at the back of Ash’s neck for a few seconds before tossing the piece of ice to the floor. “AAAAAHH! I SWEAR if that goes down my back I will end you Trip WIlliams.” Ash laughed. "You are terrible. Bad bad person.” She scowled at him in mock fury, but then laughed again, and threw more popcorn at him. At that moment, on screen, probably the goriest, scariest scene appeared, as a mutated zombie appeared out of nowhere to devour the thought safe protagonist into itty bitty pieces. Trip’s heart skipped a beat and he turned to see how ash was doing. “Ewww Gross..” Ash hid her face behind the cushion that she had forgotten that she was holding. “Also, how are the rest going to get out now? They were the only one who knew how to drive the truck. Pick a plot line!” Trip smiled to himself. The movie progressed, and a heroine thought dead in the first half returned alive. Standard bait and switch. Another major jump scare and gore scene happened. Almost as if on instinct, or perhaps because he could feel her emotions, without thinking, Trip reached out hishis arm linked it with Ash’s and held her hand so she could have something to squeeze as one of the zombies slowly ripped out the wicked mayor’s eyes. It would be fair to say that Ash had had a great evening. Good beer, good company, and a terrible movie with some decent jump scares. She found herself on edge as they neared both the climax of the movie and the last big scare. She found herself becoming more and more on edge as each moment passed. Trip linked arms with hers, and unthinkingly, she held onto his strong, warm, hand. As the credits began to roll, Ash let go of his hand, smiling deeply. “That was so much fun, I haven’t seen a movie like that in how long.” “Well if you have time for another, I have a cheesy rom com from 2143 on my que, Martian Holiday. It promises to half 100% less gore than the last one.” Ash answered, her voice hinting regret. “Next time. I really need to head off. I’ve had fun, but if I don’t move then I will be asleep here. “Well, maybe we can make this a weekly thing you know. Get together have some popcorn, watch a cheesy B movies and just forget about work.” Ashlyn smiled, the sense of acceptance warming her. “I’d like that. I’ve no friends really outside the base.” “And who knows, if I ever get, for lack of a better term, ungrounded, maybe we can pick up some takeout at a local restaurant and watch the movie at your place. I’ll even let you pick.” “That would be good. I have an amazing take away place just on the corner of the block. Really good Kung Pao chicken.” She stood up, Yawning slightly. “I’d better go, but this has been good. I’ve had a lot of fun.” She smiled, honestly. She turned, and walked down the corridor, calling for a turbolift when she reached the doors. A while later, back in her own flat off base, she slept soundly, dreaming, amongst other things, about being a sorceress. (Reply none) (posted by Will and Mark)