Midnight Grace
Posted on Fri Sep 18th, 2026 @ 11:43am by Enterprise Officer NPC & Commander Ash Randall & Commander Zhora zh'Roothi & Lieutenant Commander Sora Bernadotte & Lieutenant Commander Aidan Datari & Lieutenant Urvasi Elandorn & Lieutenant Rio Kholin MD & Lieutenant Amber Laurell & Lieutenant (J.G.) Dylan Blake & Ensign Sayori Nakai & Ensign Mirakylin Yumerieva & Chief Petty Officer Kiera Targaryen
5,057 words; about a 25 minute read
Mission:
11. Recess
Location: U.S.S. Enterprise
Timeline: 2439-10-21, 02:30
The Bridge of the Enterprise was bathed in the quiet, dim light of the nightwatch as Lieutenant Rrawran stood like an unyielding statue at the main tactical console. At eight feet tall, his massive frame and thick silver-grey fur cast an imposing shadow across the upper deck. His glowing pale eyes were fixed on the sensor readouts, but his thoughts lingered on Deck 7. He had returned to his post earlier after keeping a watchful vigil outside medical isolation, where Commander Bernadotte remained fractured by temporal sickness. Restricted by his Rorworr vocal anatomy from speaking Federation Basic, his fierce loyalty to his crewmates was instead expressed through his silent, unwavering protection. He let out a low, gravelly rumble deep in his throat—a private vibration of sympathy.
On the main viewscreen, the stretched lines of warp travel snapped into fixed stars as the ship arrived at Karemma. The tactical grid instantly bloomed with hundreds of civilian contacts—freighters, transports, and orbital trade hubs filling the busy system.
The intraship channel suddenly chimed, carrying Commodore Targaryen’s voice: "All decks, this is the Commodore. We have arrived at Karemma and shore leave rotation is authorized... Enjoy the suns, rest up, and get off my ship."
A rhythmic huffing sound (a Rorworr chuckle) escaped Rrawran's chest. Bound by honor and his life debt to this flagship, the massive tactical officer maintained his steady watch, keeping his crew safe so they could finally rest.
At the science station, Ensign Sayori Nakai stifled a yawn. "Shore leave sounds nice," she commented. "Still, first item on the agenda is a lot of sleep."
Without turning his head from Tactical console, Rrawran let out a low rumble from his chest. Around his thick neck, the mechanical housing of his universal translator collar flickered, converting his native Rorworr vocalizations into a flat, synthesized voice:
"Agreed, Ensign. Rest is required for optimal performance," the collar speaker outputted in its monotone, robotic cadence. "Aside from rest will you do much else for your leave?"
Sayori shrugged. "Haven't thought about it much, to be honest."
"Kecemen offers extensive cultural concourses," Rrawran's translator collar outputted in its flat, synthesized monotone. "The markets contain vast technological trade hubs. If you venture ashore, avoid the lower orbital districts during peak commercial transit, though. Traffic density creates security liabilities."
"You've been here before?" Ziren asked curiously, "seems to me it could be fun to explore those liabilities and bring them to light?"
Without shifting his posture from the main Tactical console, Rrawran answered in its monotone output. "Negative," the robotic voice synthesized flatly. "I have not visited Karemma. Starfleet Tactical archives provide comprehensive planetary layouts and security threat assessments for high-traffic sectors, though. Despite not being Security Chief, my primary directive remains the protection of this vessel and its crew."
"But that's the primary directive of every security officer," Ziren countered, "all the more fun to examine the probable risks and liabilities."
"Examining liabilities is useful only when paired with mitigation," the collar's monotone voice outputted flatly, Rrawran's pale eyes never leaving the tactical screen. "Uncalculated risk is merely recklessness. Furthermore, as a marked Bloodclaw who violated my own people's sacred code in my youth, I know firsthand that seeking chaos for amusement carries severe consequences," the translator synthesized neutrally. "My life debt and duty are to ensure this crew does not pay for avoidable mistakes."
Shore leave was an opportunity to get off the ship, let one's hair down, and just relax without worrying about the myriad duties on a typical day. For Ash, the myriad duties and their details was what she looked forward to each day, not to mention the occasional challenge or two in the course of things of course. The felinoid rolled over to be, face-to-face, with herself, not really awake and not really asleep, she had heard the announcement as had her doppelganger and there ensued a back and forth about which of them would go ashore when neither of them wanted to. The discussion continued for several minutes with no agreement other than they would explore Karemma, in their own, unique, way and then decide. That agreed, the pair held hands, settled into a joined state, and focused their attention on the world, spinning, below them.
Mira approached the CEO's door with some hope, some trepidation, and some embarrassment. She wanted to go on shore leave but didn't have anybody to really go with. However, as she had been on plenty of shifts with the CEO, she figured it wouldn't hurt to ask. After all, the worse that could happen is she would still be alone.
She approached the door, then rang the chime, even as she wondered if she already missed the wily engineer who had probably already gone hunting those rare pieces for her amazing creations she was always managing to save the ship with. Mira waited, patiently.
Looking up from a nearby secondary diagnostic console, Barbax wiped his hands nervously on a lint-free rag. His wide Denobulan face - facial ridges twitching slightly - softened with a mix of surprise and mild anxiety as he noticed Mira standing near the Chief Engineer's office door.
"Oh! Oh, Ensign... Mira! If you're looking for the Chief, I think you just missed her," Barbax called out, his voice fluttering with his usual cautious, fidgety energy as he set down a micro-spanner. "Commander Randall wrapped up her duty hand-off right after the Commodore's announcement."
Upon hearing Barbax's words, Mira's stance seemed to wilt a little as she started to reply, "Oh, Ok, Thanks..."
"Enter." Ash called, after several seconds, from inside her office.
Mira's entire demeanor brightened as she finished saying, "and not left yet. Thanks Barbax." She touched the door plate and smiled as the door opened to either side. However, she paused, as she did not expect the sight that was waiting for her on the other side.
"Oh! Oh dear..." Barbax squeaked nervously, his hands fluttering in mid-air as he wrung his wiping cloth into a tight knot. "I was... entirely mistaken! My apologies, Ensign!"
The Chief Engineer was in a partial state of dress, at the door to the, abbreviated, living quarters built into her office to accommodate her penchant for, pretty much, living in her office in main engineering. "How can I help you, Ensign?" She asked, quietly, with just the hint of a smile.
Mira blinked, caught up with her thoughts, then smiled as she answered, "Did you want some company during shore leave? I.. *blushing* I know I am pretty naive and I would like to be with someone I can trust to help me through it, and so I thought of you. However, if you have other plans, I can find someone else to go with, no worries."
"No plans yet, Mira." Ash responded, with a glance behind her into the 'bedroom'. Mira's keen ears could hear the, very quiet, rustle of bedding as someone moved about in the other room for a few seconds before there was a muted 'click' of something closing. "To be honest, the only plan I have right now is to catch a nap but, I'd be happy to have you accompany me on shore leave when I head down." she explained.
Her entire attitude was of listening, Mira heard the rustling, but chalked it up to the CEO's personal desires and not dealing with the now of Ash's needs for her friends within the now. A lover versus the needs of friends she would never come between, but a friend versus deep lover for a 'change' she wouldn't mind.
Her tail pointed to within the quarters as she answered, "I would love to be with you for that, Ash, as long as I am not being interruptive of who you are being with. I... am not to be here for being potentially with you, I am here to be wanted by you. I want... but not needed. Please, you want, I only desire... please let me know if you actually want a shore leave with me. I won't desire you if you are with another. I am only the acquaintance, not the 'friend'."
Ash glanced behind her and realized Mira was calculating 1+1 when it was, actually, 1x1 and, without a word, motioned Mira over. If there was someone else in the confined space of the CEO's office and, small, living quarters, the sensitive nose of Mira was not picking up on anyone other than Ash nor any hint of an intimate encounter. The Engineering Chief ushered Mira to just inside the door to the living quarters, the small room dominated by the single bed and night stand with a door to a small fresher. the trademark, black, doctor bag Ash nearly always had with her, lay on its side on the bed along with the portions of her uniform she was not, currently, wearing.
"I know you heard movement in this room, Mira, and your ears did not deceive you any more than your nose is deceiving you when it tells you I am the only one to be in this room." Ash explained, cryptically, while she, casually, righted the doctor bag on the bed and smoothed the bed covers where they had bunched up the direction the bag had fallen over.
Mira's smell picked up exactly what Ash said even as she noticed Ash picking up the black bag and smoothed the covers. Mira blushed once more as she quietly said, "Oh... the bag... the movement was the bag sliding off and hitting the floor, the latch was the bag closing. I.. interrupted your routine... and then my imagination did the rest." She curtsied to Ash, "I'm sorry for the assumption, and putting not only my feet but also my tail into my mouth." She came out of the curtsy, "So, I will wait in my room going over maintenance logs while waiting for you to let me know when your done with Nap and readiness?"
"I just need three hours of down time." Ash stated, quietly, as she set the bag on the bed, opened it, and peered into it for a couple seconds before she looked back to Mira and motioned her over. "Take a look." She suggested, and positioned the bag on the corner of the bed so she could still see into the bag while Mira took a look.
Mira's curiosity was peaked. Ash always had that bag with her, and it contained a lot of who Ash was. She nodded, said, "Thank you", and moved over to look. It.. wasn't.. normal. Inside was more than was outside. And, Ash was inside besides outside. Mira listened intently, took in a long smell, and trusted in what she her intuition was saying. She looked over at Ash, thinking, then said, "Thank you for that glimpse into you. Soooo.. what should happen now?" Mira wasn't sure if she would continue, or something else would happen.
"Just addressing the inevitable questions that were likely to come to mind." Ash offered, quietly from next to Mira while the one, on the other side of the bag opening, continued to look up at her as if waiting for something. "The features of the bag are not, widely, known...though, I never made the technology or its potential utilizations a secret it was not really deemed 'useful'." The Chief Engineer explained, making air quotes to emphasize the word useful. "The opening of the bag is as large as an aperture into the space can be made and have things remain stable. It is just large enough for me to squeeze through but, now I am wondering whether, if the situation called for it, would you be able to squeeze through the opening."
As Mira listened, her brain was already working through the 'puzzle' and its 'solution' and why the 'useful' was not there. She nodded to Ash, then said, "I can see where others would deem that opening is definitely the 'not-useful' part as it limits what can be stored and not stored." She snorted out in a little humor, "However, to me, it is enough as the opening only limits the pieces needed, not the structures or tech that can be build from those pieces." She eyed the opening, then said, "If my whiskers can fit through, I can fit through." She lowered her head through the bags opening, then brought it back up. "Yes, I can fit. I would just have to make sure I am wearing no equipment and bring that before or behind me. So... want me to go in?"
Ash considered for a few seconds and nodded. "Give it a go. I usually go in head first. There's a .4g 'zone' immediately below the opening on the other side so you don't need to worry about landing on your head. It also makes egress less complicated." She explained.
Mira nodded as a light giggle escaped from her, "This sounds like fun.." She divested herself to be just in her clothing, then dove in head first. As she did, she shifted her shoulders so that her right was near her neck while her left was down, her skeletal structure allowing for this maneuver. As her pelvis went through, it could be seen with left side up as right side was down, creating the slim profile that allowed her body to fit through any opening her whiskers told her was 'big enough'. Inside, curled rolled so that her feet were now facing down. She waited to land on her feet, the looked up at Ash, saying, "Told ya."
"Never had a doubt." Ash chimed back, from both above and a few feet to Mira's right with the one in the space with her adding. "Would you care for a tour?" While she gestured around her to indicate the full extent of the space and it was immense and contained things that were much too large to have been brought in, piece by piece. "If it ever seemed like I was in more than one place at the same time, well, now you know how." She added.
When both Ashs' chimed in, Mira giggled with quiet voice saying 'Stereo'. Mira was beaming as she answered the question, "Tour, Most definitely, and, yeah, you definitely fit the meme of 'Being in two places at once' for heavy workers. Soo.. twins? Temporal? Psi Linked Sisters? Other?"
CONTINUED in JP: Engineer Spatial Exploration
At least conscious but still confined to a sickbay bed, Aidan was startled back to awareness from a light slumber at the captain's announcement. Still feeling sore all over, the most annoying part was that the skin across his upper body was extremely sensitive and felt very itchy. He had to resist the urge to undo all the hard work of the medics in healing him by scratching himself raw.
As he struggled to sit up a little, Sherlock stirred and stretched to nuzzle his cheek in needy affection. The little blue dragon had recovered remarkably fast under Kiera's tender care and his scales has returned to their vibrant deep blue colour. As both listened to the message, Aidan wondered to what extend he'd be allowed to visit the planet. If at all.
“How are you doing?” Kiera asked as she walked over to Aidan with a warm smile. “It’s certainly nice to see you looking so beautiful Sherlock.” Hearing the shore leave announcement she doubted she would bother leaving the ship, she’d only just come aboard and had plans to get her quarters sorted how she wanted them. Plus she wanted to spend some time catching up with her uncle.
“It sure is!” Amber nodded in agreement as she walked over to visit Aidan and Sherlock. “It’s good to see you looking better.”
The Trill smiled weakly at the two women. "I'm feeling very sore," he confessed, "and I could do with some of that oil you gave Sherlock... I feel like I'm covered with ants, it itches so bad."
“I can’t say I’m surprised” Kiera offered. “I’ll get you something for the soreness, as for your skin I’ll see what I can do, last thing you need is to be scratching or rubbing it too much.” She picked up a hypo loading it with pain relief she gave him a dose. “That’ll help with the soreness, now let’s find you a suitable skin ointment for your dry skin, and something for the itch as well.”
Amber was giving Sherlock a gentle stroke. “It’s good to see you looking better my friend.”
Sherlock warbled happily, leaning into the gentle stroke, demanding further attention.
Aidan sighed in relief as the soreness subsided. "How did we get back? I don't remember anything after being sent to that junction. My memory is very muddy after we released that pressure."
“We were beamed aboard, evidently we went through a temporal anomaly we were in the planet’s past. Good news is though we saved them!” Amber smiled warmly as she continued stroking Sherlock. “You can thank Sherlock for helping you, when you originally collapsed he kept his wings flapping to keep you cool. We all came back aboard in a mess so it’s not surprising you don’t remember it.”
“Quite” Kiera nodded. “You were in bad shape when you got here, but you’re well on the road to recovery now. Oh and I’m Kiera Targaryen, the new Medic.”
Aidan smiled at her "Aidan Datari," he replied, "science chief, and that needy creature over there is Sherlock. He's bonded to me since he hatched."
Kiera nodded. “I thought I picked up on a bond between the two of you.” She gently stroked Sherlock. “It’s nice to see your beautiful colours Sherlock. I’m glad you’re both feeling better, and don’t worry Aidan we’ll have you up and about in no time.”
"I'm not concerned about that at all," the Trill smiled, "the only thing I'm concerned about is my sight. I'm night blind since I had an incident that concerned snow blindness a few years ago, before Saeri was born, and last mission I was rendered blind, and now I seem to be sensitive to sudden changes in brightness too. Amber can confirm, she's witnessed it down planet."
Amber nodded as Kiera looked in her direction. “Mmm maybe we should look into doing some vision tests. Have you had any tests run recently?”
The Trill shook his head. "No not since recovery from last mission. I didn't know they'd be so sensitive to sudden changes."
“Your eyes can be very sensitive to changes in light levels, but if this is very different and worrying for you I’d suggest tests just to rule out any problems.” Kiera suggested. “It doesn’t have to be now, you’ve gone through enough already.”
"Tomorrow is soon enough," Aidan answered, "I don't want to worry about anything at the moment, I just want to sleep."
“Then I will leave you to get some sleep.” Kiera smiled warmly as she lowered the light level to allow Aidan to get some sleep.
Having closed his eyes, Aidan had already drifted off into sleep, never noticing the doctor's departure or the lowering of the lights.
The CMO was tired. This news was a blessing in disguise and she was glad of it. Kiera had declared her intention to stay on board and Kensington was of the same mind both of which added to the blessings that abounded today for Rio. Packing up some essentials with a stay over in mind, Rio took a long luxuriating sonic shower and did her hair with a much more elaborate style than was usual for her. She picked out some clothes suitable for the warm climate that two suns offered and added in a pretty, patterned, wide parasol to fend off those two suns at their worst, and a collection of hats. She also replicated an evening outfit, just in case this planet was truly as lively and vibrant as it was reputed to be. Having made a last check on all the patients before handing over to Kiera and Ben, Rio checked with Icarus whether or not she was staying on board or 'going ashore'.
"What plans do you have Icarus?" she asked conversationally just before she left Sickbay.
"I'm hoping to visit the planet," the Sivaoan answered excitedly, "what about you? Any exciting plans?"
"Nothing exciting, no" Rio pulled a face. "In fact, if anything exciting comes within 100yrs of me I'm going to break out in an allergic reaction, that's how much I'm up for any of that, thanks" she laughed. "I'm going to reinvent meditation in a new format - comatose! Probably beside a quiet river or in a sparsely populated cove of some kind, by the sea but out of the sun." she finished, chuckling.
Sawbones - sporting a full beard alongside his iconic, irascible scowl - stepped into the bay carrying a PADD. He squinted at Rio’s wide parasol and colorful array of shore-leave hats with mild disbelief, "Sign off on the clearance logs and get out of here, Rio. You’ve worked yourself to the bone these past few weeks, and you damn well earned a rest," Sawbones said, offering a small, reassuring nod. I have Sickbay covered."
Rio smiled, not that Sawbones was meant to do that, if he had his way, he'd ban smiling as being against peoples' health, but he did just have a way of saying things that made Rio smile. "Thanks, Sawbie, that's nice of you. I fully intend to take your advice."
"Good. Now get going before I find some exotic alien rash to quarantine you with," Sawbones grunted, turning his attention back to his PADD with a exaggerated scowl to hide his satisfaction.
The Commodore's voice penetrated Zhora's hazy sleep, pulling her into alertness. She was still in sickbay having fallen asleep following treatment from the incident upon Iocarro. Judging by the low lighting and stillness across the ward it was late, or early depending on one's perspective. She debated which felt correct as she sat up and stretched following the disturbance.
“How are you Commander” Kiera asked fresh from sorting out Aidan.
"Much better thank you, though in dire need of a shower," the Andorian woman grimaced slightly at her grimy appearance, streaked with sweat and the dried blood clung to her scalp like thick mud. "How are the others?" she asked.
“All doing well only Aidan remains in sickbay beside yourself and Commander Bernadotte. Given your trips into the past you were lucky to have gotten home again. I understand those on the surface survived, thanks to all your efforts. Shoreleave has been announced for those who want it.”
"We have Akaathaan to thank for our rescue," Zhora replied meekly. "I, believe my actions shortened our extraction window somewhat, fortunately everyone was brought home in one piece." The Commander was tempted to ask why Berndotte was also in sickbay but thought better of it and returned her attention to the medic. "Forgive my bluntness Petty Officer, I don't believe we've been acquainted."
“You are quite correct Commander, I’m Kiera Targaryen.” She smiled warmly.
"Targaryen?" the XO repeated feeling her antenna twitch uncomfortably. "Any relation to the Commodore?"
Kiera nodded. “He’s my Uncle, but don’t worry there won’t be any favouritism shown because he doesn’t do that, and I wouldn’t want it.”
"I see," Zhora replied. "Perhaps having his niece on board will encourage him to unwind more often."
“I certainly hope so” Kiera smiled. “My mother worries about her brother, so I said I’d look out for him where possible.”
The corner of Zhora's lips twitched with mirth, her previous trepidation now evaporated: "Good, I could do with another voice on that front."
Kiera smiled a wry smile. “Is my uncle still that bad? I’ll do my upmost to back you up.”
"Thank you, though I'm he won't appreciate it," the Andorain smirked at the thought. "Am I cleared to return to duty?" she asked returning back into business mode. "I'll need to put together a rotation for leave."
“Let me check..” Kiera picked up Zhora’s records checking readings and making sure all was stable. “I don’t see a problem with that, any issues please make sure you check in with medical.”
"Of course, thank you Kiera."
Sora stirred from her heavily sedated sleep at the commotion. Shore leave, eh? With what happened on the last mission, she probably wouldn't be allowed off the ship. Not that it mattered much to her either way. She was slowly building a plan. But right now, her mouth was feeling incredibly dry. "Can someone get me a coffee? Or at least some water?"
Rio was already half way round with her tray of soft drinks, initially for the medics but she was prepared to fetch some for the patients as well, especially since the team had worked so hard today with very little in the way of refreshments or breaks. She heard Sora's request and turned, suddenly needing to rebalance her tray as she turned.
"Oh no you don't Ma'am! Coffee has a stimulant in it and you were sedated for a medical reason. You can have water, I won't oppose that. In fact, there's one on here that I was taking to Kiera but you can have it first and I'll get her another." Rio brought the tray closer to the biobed the Lt. Cmdr. was occupying and turned it so the glass with the water in it was closest to her. "The one on the end nearest to you. No, left of that... That's the one! she encouraged. "How are you feeling, apart from pretty woozy, that is?" the CMO enquired before moving on to complete her deliveries.
The Terran chuckled weakly. "Now now, Doctor. You of all people should know that, given the amount of caffeine I consume on a daily basis, the stimulant effect is all but negligible. In fact, withdrawal is probably not going to help the psychological symptoms. After all, not giving me my coffee is a surefire way to piss me off on a good day." She smirked to underline the humourous intent behind that last statement.
"As for how I'm feeling. It's too bright in here, for starters. The main physiological difference between humans from this universe and mine is an increased sensitivity to light in us Terrans. So I'd be grateful if you could turn the lights down. Or give me my glasses back at least, those adjust automatically. Also, this bed, not comfortable. At all. Oh, and can people just shut up and let me sleep?" Sora shrugged and grinned. "Or, you could just give me my coffee, and we'll disregard the other stuff. Except for the light, that really is giving me a bad headache."
Rio rolled her eyes and returned the glasses to Sora but shook her head at the contradiction between the idea of coffee directly before sleep. Turning down the lights in the bay was her next concession which she added as well as finding the glasses and she then made a quick adjustment on the LCARS to the bed to make it softer, completing the CMO's efforts to appease her patient. Ignoring the contentious coffee, Rio asked Sora if she would like analgesic for her headache and plumped up her pillows. "What about a nice soothing Ovaltine?" she offered, not really expecting to have this offer accepted but she had to offer some kind of alternative fluid refill.
Sora grimaced. "Anything but that stuff. If you're that worried about the caffeine content, just get me some decaf coffee. Normally I'd say the existence of that stuff has about as much of a point as a shuttlecraft without engines, but really I just have a craving for that bitter coffee flavour." She sat up slightly and smiled. "Thanks for the adjustments, Doc. And if you're worried about my mental stability, don't be. I can physically feel that we're away from that cursed planet, glory to the Emperor."
She burst out giggling seeing Rio's reaction to the very Terran expression. "Allow me my humour. You really don't want me to go back to how I was while I was being ripped apart on a molecular level by the massive paradox that was happening down there."
"Shore leave sounds good," Lieutenant Dylan Blake's voice was muffled against the pillow as he lay nestled beside Urvasi.
Urvasi yiffered lightly as she snuffled a breath through Dylan's hair. She murred in a sultry voice, "It does, doesn't it? I think we deserve some window shopping and variant morsel partaking... and finding some out of the way areas to be just a little bit naughty." She gave his forehead a kiss even as her tail flopped over his thigh to smack his backside. "So, shower, dress, and find a breakfast nook with hopefully good coffee?"
The human flinched at the sudden strike but smiled at her tone and suggestions: "It will be interesting to see what Karemma has to offer, but did you see the time?" he asked quashing a yawn. "It's early, like three am early...can't it wait a little longer?"
Urvasi looked over at the time, then yiffered gently. "Umm, I didn't notice.. sorry my love. I was going by awakening versus time. It can definitely be for a while longer." She stroked over his hair, while whispering, "Sleep, my love, we will be ready in the morning."
"Mmm," Dylan murmured already starting doze off again.
Urvasi hrmmed out in acceptance. She needed less sleep than Dylan and had gotten used to waking and then just being there while he slept. She telepathically connected to her wrist computer and began going over roster for shifts as well as training schedules. This was part of her role as a Chief department head, but it was so much more enjoyable holding a boyfriend who didn't mind her dating rules and still enjoyed what they could still do together. She waited for him to get the sleep he needed while doing what needed to get done.
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