You Can't Stay Here

Posted on Tue Dec 22nd, 2020 @ 3:48am by Lieutenant (J.G.) Rrawran & Patton O'Sullivan & Lieutenant Commander Chire & Lieutenant Dylan Blake & Lieutenant Sonden & Zoey Parker & Lieutenant Quentin Harrison & Petty Officer 2nd Class Corvus Hannah & Civilian Jeyson Zarland

3,679 words; about a 18 minute read

Mission: Cheese
Location: Forward Lounge, Starfleet One
Timeline: 2430-08-29, 18:00

Lieutenant Rrawran sat in the booth adjacent to the central window and stared out at the planet below. As a Security Officer aboard the ship he wanted to be on the Bridge preparing for battle, instead he was one a temporary leave sitting in the ship's bar wishing he was in the center of the action. The Admiral had forced him to take a break after having been on duty every day since the attack on the Starship Spock. Even though he was not aboard he felt a personal responsibility - a personal failure - at the fact that he had not been there to help his colleagues. They nearly died and, worse, so did the President. It was a disaster and it was their fault.

From above Qo'noS was a beautiful, teal colored world albeit a dangerous one. The atmosphere was dense and massive storms covered portions of the surface in maelstroms the size of Earth's North American continent. The remains of the moon Praxis scattered around the world in a makeshift ring system, upon which his keen vision could discern mining drones drilling into some of the larger pieces for dilithium left from ages past. There were a lot of places that an enemy could hide out there. He just hoped that they were ready if some did.

He took a sip of his drink and set it aside on the table top as he glanced out. One of the Inquiry Class support vessels was in his field of view guarding them from potential hazards. He felt a lot better about having them out there with them on this trip, but he also knew that they could also be as easily overwhelmed by the enemy if they got swarmed. He just hoped that it didn't come to that. There had been too much death and destruction for his tastes.

Looking around he wondered what the others in the lounge were thinking and talking about.

Lt. Sondon wandered into the lounge with his characteristic smile. He still had some time before he was due in engineering. The edginess of being on high alert in orbit of Qo'nos did not seem to sink in for the Denobulan. Looking around though he could tell its effect as the lounge was practically empty. Even the bartender, normally good at hiding such things, couldn't help but show extra anxiety. Sondon started at the bar ordering a drink. 

The Bolian bartender slide toward Sondon with anticipation dancing upon the edge of his lips.

Chire entered the lounge, resisting the urge to yawn. It had been a thoroughly busy day but not a bad one, just tiring. She glanced around hoping that she'd see someone she knew as she always felt awkward sitting by herself. Spotting Dylan she smiled and approached, assuming he'd let her join his table as he didn't seem to have company.

Restlessly pushing the last morsels of his meal around the plate Lieutenant Dylan Blake sighed heavily. Was it too early to hit the sack? He pondered with a sour expression, his bunk mate had kept him awake most of night with her constant ramblings leaving him feeling tired and cranky. A distinctive shadow crossed his table pulling him from his reprieve: "Chire," he twisted to greet her. "I thought you'd be on the bridge."

"I changed my duty hours around a little bit. And I was restless for some reason. May I join you?"

"Sure," the human waved to the empty seat at his table. "Though I should warn you I'm may not be the best company right now, I'm a bit tired and cranky." He offered a slight grin: "I swear my bunkmate never stops talking even in her sleep makes it hard to switch off."

"I'm sorry," Chire blinked at him, her blue eyes showing sympathy. "Why don't you use my quarters? I've offered before. I require very little sleep. I could sleep sitting right here in fact and let you have the whole area all to yourself."

"I know, and I'm still going to decline," Blake shook his head. "Though thank you for the offer. It would be inappropriate, or at least it would still feel like it to me regardless of your approval or not." His brow knotted in thought: "Though perhaps you could persuade Captain Bishop to amend the crew quarters assignments...?"

"Humans are strange," Chire said with some amusement. "Did you know that my species mates for life? We only take one mate, even if our mate dies. It seems extreme I suppose but then Human mating habits seem extreme to me especially when you consider all the little rules there are about it. First no one is to know about it, then everyone is to know and you throw a huge party about the fact that you are going to mate. We just decide who we are going to be with and that's the end of it. There is no embarrassment or hiding or rumours. And yes, I could speak to the Captain about it. It does not do well for an officer to be tired all the time."

"Thanks Chire that would be really helpful," Dylan replied. "You make it sound so simple finding our perfect match or mate but it isn't that easy hence the cloak and dagger style secrecy. That doesn't include the Starfleet regulations on dating, they complex things further."

"It is simple to me. May I ask you a personal question?" Chire had learned that this was the appropriate way to approach subjects.

Sensing what was coming Dylan braced himself and nodded.

"Why do you not have a mate now?"

Yep, just what he was expected. At least Chire had the manners to ask politely instead of barrelling headlong into a sensitive topic. "Getting here wasn't easy, I had to really knuckle down so I missed out on spending time looking for someone," he explained. "There have been a...few brief encounters along the away," he smirked. "But nothing long lasting, no one that I saw in that manner."

She smiled as much as a Creoli could. "Hmm," Chire said, the sound coming out as more of a metalic vibration rather than a sing song hum. "I will let you in on a secret. I trust that you won't pass it on. I have not chosen a mate because I don't believe I have ever met someone who wanted me. So I work hard and I try to befriend people which is not easy when you are a large orange bird. But if I had the opportunity. If I thought that someone wanted me and I them. I would take it, regardless of my job."

"And I'm sure you'll find someone one day," Dylan nodded before waving over a waiter who cleared the table and ordered them both drinks. "As so might I. For now I like your philosophy for making friends - they'll quite invaluable - large birds included."

"Agreed," Chire said in response and glanced out at the stars, her very first friends.

Following her gaze Blake watched her for a moment as they fell into a conversation lull. His mind wondered just how difficult her joining must have been to bring her to this point. He'd once believed naïvely he'd been dealt poor cards but Chire, well, she faced those same challenges alone, and perhaps as an outcast. Her strength of personality and persistence would inspirable future legions Cadets he was convinced.

Their view Qo'noS began to change as the ship altered course in preparation to leave the system and warp, the delegation must have returned and hopefully without incident. "Chire," he called softly sliding over the chilled fruit juice laden with fruit pieces he'd ordered on her behalf that the waiter had just dropped off. "You OK?"

She glanced back at him. "Yes, I was just thinking," she looked at the drink and smiled. It was her favourite. It warmed her to see that he'd noticed. "I hope this doesn't have alcohol in it. I might succeed in carrying you off to the top of the warp core."

Dylan laughed out loud.

"A few more sessions with those wings we made I'll race you there," he chuckled. "I assure you its safe, I don't think Zarland will ever make that mistake again."

"Good, because that was one of the more embarrassing moments in my life. I wouldn't like to repeat it. I thought for sure you'd never speak to me again and probably thought I was trying to eat you. But it all worked out." She reached for the drink and sipped some through the straw. It was very tasty. When Dylan wasn't looking she might use her tongue to get up some of the frozen fruit.

"I was more concerned you'd hurt yourself or some one else nearby than my own safety," Dylan shrugged slipping his drink. "I didn't really think much else of it. Though I'm glad too it worked out fine. You certainly make serving here more interesting than I expected - you certainly don't rub shoulders with big yellow birds or the President of the Federation on any other assignment."

"I consider myself orange," she said in mock indignation. "But you are right, this has been an amazing assignment. You're just lucky I guess." She gave him a smile.

Nearly chocking on his drink at her remark Dylan coughed momentarily before blinking finding composure and wiping away a stray tear. "Oh I'm sorry," he croaked still chuckling. "Orange birds, I stand corrected."

She smiled but sipped her drink and didn't respond further on the subject. "Would you like to practice flying after this or just take a walk?" Chire asked him, her head slightly turned awaiting his response. For some reason she did not want to be alone.

"A walk would be nice," he agreed. "Around the arboretum, we could check out the new flora Ensign Dalton was telling me about yesterday. Sounds like it won't be hard to miss, the blooms made her look tiny and she's six foot three!"

"That sounds lovely, provided it doesn't eat birds." Chire sucked down her drink quickly. She never got 'brain freeze' as the Humans called it. In fact she was incapable of getting it so she could drink thinks as quickly as she liked. But she waited patiently for Dylan to finish his.

The human raised a single eyebrow at how quickly she'd devoured her drink like a eager child. He tried to hide his smirk: "As you long you promise not to eat the bees that are drawn to it. I don't think the botanist team or Commander Snow would be impressed."

"You don't have to worry there, they're too crunchy." Chire liked the banter they always seemed to get into, teasing each other. She was certainly pleased with the fact that he liked being her friend.

"Crunchy?" he echoed with increased mirth. "I half expected you to say they'll too sweet or fuzzy."

"Insects are crunchy for the most part. Not that I've eaten a lot mind you. My kind don't generally go for them but I'd eat them to survive. Want to try one?"

Blake shook his head: "No thanks I'll stick to something less wiggly. I'm not fond of live food especially not Klingon." He gulped down the last of his drink with a dramatic finish and gave her a cheeky wink. "Shall I escort you ma'am to the arboretum?"

With a completely deadpanned expression on her face that didn't reveal whether she was joking or not. "Why do I need escorted, do you think I'd get lost?"

Having already risen from his seat Dylan found himself backtracking slightly at her remark uncertain if she was pulling his leg or not. "No, I didn't mean it like that," he explained quickly before feeling heat rising to his cheeks. "I was trying to be chivalrous."

"The ancient Earth knights code?" Chire pretended like she was confused when she was really highly enjoying teasing him. Finally she cracked a smile. "I knew what you meant. Come on. I'll always let you escort me."

With a chuckle and slight shake of his head Dylan lead them from the lounge as the room continued to hum with converstation.

"No, honestly, he did! He served as a 'nurse' during that time. I'm sure he's a much better president than he is a nurse though," Hannah said as he entered the lounge just ahead of the large, muscular petty officer who was a fellow on the hazard team.

"No way! He'd never!" Petty Officer "Brownie" Brownlee said, shifting the two containers of food from the mess from one hand to the other as he automatically looked around the room. Though it was an area that was supposed to be considered 'off duty', he still didn't feel too comfortable in the lounge if too many officers were there. Hannah, though, who seemed to have stories of hobnobbing with commanders, captains, admirals and now - unbelievably - the Federation president didn't seem to have the same reservations. I guess if you boss around the president and admirals, then the rest just weren't worth the anxiety.

Hannah pointed to a fortunately empty table near the plasteel windows, showing a good view of the planet and Brownie nodded, the two making their way to it. As they sat, Brownie put one container in front of each of them. Hannah complained about Brownie carrying everything, he claimed his hands were healing just fine and could handle the work, but Brownie insisted. Their combat medic just returned from forced sick leave after his last mission and Brownie didn't want to chance his fingers weren't completely ready for active duty.

"That's what my Ma said also, she's never been a fan of his, but I tell you he did! He had a chance to get off the Spock and escape unnoticed but he chose to stay. He said he'd share whatever fate we were delivered. I'm telling you, I don't care who they get to run against him, he's got my vote next election." Hannah opened the box and took a moment to look inside. Brownie wanted to come straight to the lounge, maybe just order something from here, but Hannah heard they were serving sloppy joes and real fries in the mess. After spending the last month in Medical 'recuperating' he wanted something that was flavorful, greasy and not at all healthy. The sloppy joes from the enlisted mess were just the thing. "Root beer, please," he ordered as the waiter came by to take their drinks. He started to call the man back as he walked away to fill their orders, but decided against it. He wanted a big, fudgy ice cream sundae as well, but that could wait until after their meal.

"Wow," Brownie said, not sure if he believed the story yet or not. He'd known Hannah since they transferred to Starfleet One together and the medic wasn't known to lie or exaggerate to make himself appear better than he was. Even now his story downplayed the fantastic elements of the situation. It was only brought up because someone mentioned the Federation News Service was going to air another hack job of the president by that raving idealogue Khiryl. He took a bite of his first sandwich (both had chosen to get double portions in deference to their intense trainign schedule for the week) and considered what he would have done had he been in a position to order the president about.

Lieutenant Quentin Harrison had arrived on starfleet one and headed to the foward lounge he saw everyone there and went to the bar and ordered a scotch after the bar tender gave Harriosn his drink he went to meet the crew of starfleet one.

The Rorworr Lieutenant pushed aside his synthale and looked at the Lieutenant that just arrived, "Nice to see you again, Lieutenant." He shifted in his seat below the window and tucked his snow white fur back, "How have you been settling it?" He noticed that Petty Officer Hannah wasn't far away either, or Mr. Sonden.

Quentin said, "I'm settling in fine."

"Good to know," the Lieutenant answered as he took a drink of his synthale. "I usually don't spend much time down here in the lounge. I have a bad habit of never straying far from the Bridge."

"Hey, isn't that Lieutenant Rarwarn over there?" Brownie asked, nodding toward the Rorworr officer.

"I don't know, I've never met him," Hannah said, though he doubted there were two Rorworr officers aboard the ship, though if there were, they'd both most likely be in security. "But he kind of scares me a little."

"How so?" Brownie asked, taking another bite of his sloppy joe sandwich.

"He just looks so intense," Hannah said. "Intense officers are usually trouble for us enlisted. I wish I got more of the fries."

"No!" Brownie said, leaning in as if to be conspirotal but didn't lower his voice. "He's awesome. I heard he ended the fight with that Klingon ship with just one shot! Right in the torpedo tubes! You've gotta be awesome to be able to hit a target like that. It's like shooting batwoms from hundreds of meters away!"

"That was him?" Hannah asked, trying not to stare at Rarwarn. "Pity he wasn't there sooner."

Rrawran's ears twitched as he finished a new drink, thinking he was hearing his name from nearby. The white furred, werewolf looking alien studied the room as he tried to figure out who had said his name. Instead he hiccuped and had the bitter taste of the synthale swarm back through his system. Unlike most races, the synthale did have some deleterious effects on his race. In his case it did make him a bit loopy.

He raised his glass in the direction of the enlistees.

"Screw it, they can only put me on restricted duty," Brownie said as he began to stand.

"What? No!" Hannah said, glancing quickly over his shoulder. He didn't know the lieutenant or his tempermant. Last thing he wanted was for his friend to get in trouble. But Brownie was determined and shrugged away Hannah's concern.

It was only a short walk to the Lieutenant's table but it seemed to take forever. It was only when he arrived that he realized he still held his drink in his hand. "Sorry for interrupting you, Lieutenant, but I gotta know. Did you really punch out a Klingon's torpedo in their tube?"

The Tactical Officer nodded, nearly falling over from the loopy rush, "It's all in a days work." The computer of the universal translator struggled a moment to relay it.

Zoey walked into ten forward after the long day she had, she needed a drink to unwind. Strategic Operations was really busy today. Tracking ships cloaking and de-cloaking constantly, was more than she normally handled. With the President around Qo'noS, they needed to be safe and secure. She walked over to the bar, and ordered a real drink, she did not want any blasted synthenol.

Patton hadn’t had a bad day, it had been busy but that was the way he liked it to be. He had always felt fortunate to have. Job he loved doing. Walking into ten forward he glanced around, a smile crossing his face when he saw Zoey sitting at the bar. He headed over and stopped beside her, a smile on his face. “I was hoping I would find you here.” He said as he took a seat next to her.

"Hey." Zoey said, as she took a small sip from her drink. The sweet taste of her drink, made it very easy to go down. She was very excited to see Patton. The last thing she wanted to do was talk about her day, so she beat him to the punch line. "How was your day?" Joey asked.

“One problem to fix after another,” Patton grinned. “But all in all it was good. Made the day go faster.” He was ready to just unwind and forget about everything but the two of them. “Yours?”

"Can't really talk about the finer points, but I can say that it was an okay day. I completed all my objectives for the day." Zoey said, with a big grin on her face, as she took another sip.

“These are the kinds of days I like,” Patton smiled at her. “Busy, but at the end of the day we leave work there and I get to spend time with you.”

"I glad I can bring a smile to your face." Zoey said with a big grin on her face. She appreciated the comment. Especially after the day she had. It was not hard, just meticulous and time consuming.

“I think that’s one of the best things we do for each other,” Patton said with a smile. “We lift each other up after days like today.”

"Now your starting to sound a little cheesy." Zoey said, with a twinkle in her eye. She loved the cheesiness of it all. But she knew he was a man, and men have sensitive egos.

“Just trying to distract you from the day,” Patton cleared his throat. “I did sound a little cheesy but it put that look in your eyes. Any plans tonight?”

"I was just curl up to a novel, sipping on some hot chocolate." Zoey said, with a warm smile. She really had no plans. So she had no objections, if he wanted to rescue her from her mundane plans.

“How about we trade the novel for a movie,” Patton suggested. “And have got chocolate and maybe some popcorn.”

"Have you ever tried Buttered popcorn with recesses pieces?" Zoey said, with a big grin on her face. She loved the tasty combination of the two.

“I haven’t,” Patton replied with a smile. “But it sounds good, the sweet and salt. Now I have to!” He loved how she introduced him to new things.

 

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