Watching Our Own (Part 2 of 2)

Posted on 26 Aug 2012 @ 4:08pm by Lieutenant Kiri Cho & Lieutenant Theron Rhodes

3,518 words; about a 18 minute read

Mission: Episode 01 - Project Sienna
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 2 - Mess Hall
Timeline: MD9 1450

[ON]

They stopped in front of the lounge door as it opened. There were quite a few people inside. Both seemed to hesitate. Stepping slowly through the door way. "There is a table over in the corner. How would that be?"

Being in a corner seemed better than being exposed in the middle of the room. Kiri nodded her head, "That is fine," Following him and using him to shield her from the rest of the room. Feeling rather tense now her lips pressed together. Doing this with Brayden was one thing, she knew him somewhat and him her. To do this with a stranger alone, it was scary. She had no support, no help or guidance, given her track record she felt she needed it.

They approached the table. Theron extended his hand for her to take a seat. 'This will be interesting.' he thought. 'Will she take a seat facing the wall with her back to the room, or will she sit so she can watch the room?'

Glancing at him for the offer slid rather gingerly into the nearest seat that faced out towards the wall and the window. Kiri did so without thinking, it would be easier to deal with eating if people weren't able to see her do so. There was also the matter that she always liked looking out into space given the chance. Once seated she looked rather nervous while trying to work out what on Earth she was meant to be doing here.

Theron quickly sat on the other side with his back to the stars. He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. A class on relaxation taught him that if he does the techniques, then sometimes those around will follow, sort of encouraged, and will find it easier to be there. He sat there for a moment with his hands clasped on the table and asked, "Would you like something to drink to start?" He then quickly added, "Maybe some water or iced Tea? AH." He then exclaimed. "What do those on Trill like to sip on while they relax and enjoy their time?"

This was one of the things that make Kiri really dislike being a Trill, looking rather apologetic she answered, "I'm afraid I have no idea." Her shoulders tightened as she looked down at the table, then back at him again. Seeing as he had invited him out and she was the first to sit down, she had to get the drinks. Finding herself out the mouth of a maze she stood up, "What would you like?"

Theron jumped up quickly, "No, no. Please allow me." Gesturing for her to sit. " I have a great idea. It is an Earth drink. Non-alcoholic, of course." He stepped away quickly and said, "Be right back."

At his insistence she sat back down, feeling as if she had made a mistake somehow. She was trying hard, but so far she was just going round in circles, what was she doing wrong? Running around in circles in her head she watched the man she had just met walk across the room. There were so very many questions and no real answers. It felt totally different from spending time with Brayden, but what did that mean?

Theron walked back with a glass in each hand. Tall glasses with ice and bits of red fruit in them. Theron said softly to hopefully not startle her, "Here we go." He set the glassed down on the table then took his seat across from her. "They are called Cherry-lime-aide. An Earth drink I learned about while at the Academy. Non-Alcholic, of course." He finished with a smile waiting and hoping for some kind of positive response. He really did not like this assignment, so he had slightly changed it to just trying to be her friend.

She didn't really go for sugary drinks very often, mostly because of her grandmother. She was a strict woman who held a lot of control over her family. Treats like sugary drinks or even non-Earth food were only for extremely important occasions. Still Kiri was used to a very wide range of fruit teas and cakes never counted as restricted. So the drink in the long tall glass was only passingly familiar, still it looked nice. Giving a small smile she placed her hands near the glass on then table, softly she said, "Thank you." The budding question now was what he wanted from her, most people wanted something right? While she wanted friends not to be alone any more, what was his reason?

She reminded Theron of a stone at the bottom of the ocean. You could offer her a drink of water and she would turn it down. But he continued to try, lifting his glass he took a sip. The lime was a bit strong this time. They never seem to get it right. "Ahhh. Just as I remembered." Looking at her with a smile he realized that they actually had not exchanged names yet. Wow, how awkward. " I guess the next thing is for me to introduce myself."

Kiri slipped her hands around the base of her glass, the coldness of her hands and the coldness of the glass was a nice feeling. It was his excessive expression of enjoyment that brought a small real smile to her face. It was something she wasn't used to, something odd but something that was entirely positive. Still it wasn't the proper way to act as she understood it, being prim and proper in every part of her life. The second part of what he said though puzzled her, they had introduced themselves when they first met. What he said made little sense.

"I am Ensign Theron Rhodes from the planet Tandar Prime." he stated a little self-concious. He let that comment hang in the air for a moment then added, "I am part of security here on Galileo."

Did she want him to know her first name, it was something personal. It felt fine that Brayden knew it, that her superior officers knew it was expected. But a man that she barely knew, meeting for the first time today. To her it was something only for those she trusted. Still it would be rude, maybe he could know it but she could ask him not to use it, that seemed acceptable. Releasing her hands from the glass she looked up at him, "My first name is Kiri, I'm from Earth. I work as a Science Officer and Sensor Specialist," The way she spoke was as polite as she could muster, quiet and reserved with great care on each word.

A look of mild shock came over his face. "Earth? I thought your were from Trill."

Not really sure why this would be shocking or really important in the least she looked slightly guilty. It was her fault for not being clear, "No, I'm sorry I wasn't clear," She was starting to feel very uncomfortable.

"I am sorry. Forgive me." Theron began to apologize. "There is no reason for me to assume a person of a race came or grew up on their home world."

Theron took another drink for the sparkling fruit drink to think through what to say next. "Ahh, that is good." Looking again to Kiri, "So, let me try again." Selecting his words, "What part of science do you enjoy studying?"

Kiri remained quiet, trying to work her head around the conversation that she was making far too complex. Trying to work out the meaning and clues behind the words and actions whether they were there or not. Having still not taken a drink her fingers ran lightly against it, collecting the condensation on her fingertips. These were all things people hadn't asked her before, mostly questions she'd never really considered. Coming across a little more openly she answered, "I like studying the properties of stellar and interstellar objects, physics that interact with them and the mathematics that explain them." Taking a breath she looked slightly sheepish before asking, "Do you have an interest in a field?"

"Well . ." Theron said then thought for a moment, "I understand the importance of stellar objects an how to track and measure their gravitation and other factors and then how that would relate to ships guidance and navigation and weapons fire in and around those bodies." He stopped for a moment and looked at her more directly and added, "But I have to admit I never found the fun in studying them.

She seemed somewhat disappointed by that, it was fairly rare for people to be interested in things she was, still it would have been nice. Looking deeply into the bubbles for a few seconds she tried to think what she was supposed to be acting like. Finally coming to a resolution she looked up, "What do you like to do?"

'Wow,' Theron thought to himself. 'Now we are getting somewhere. She is thinking of someone besides herself.' "Well," setting his glass down, "I am in security, and I have found a particular interest in hand held weapons." shaking his hand in front of himself, "Not that I want to use them, though I am trained with weapons and hand to hand combat. My interest is mostly in the styling and make up of the materials of which they are made."

Kiri watched him talk, was that something she found interesting? She'd seen pictures, even been shown one or two weapons at the academy. There was even a one hour session where she was taught which end of the bat'leth to hold as part of her Klingon lessons. But did she find it interesting, not at the moment. Then again it wasn't something she really paid a lot of attention to. How races used to and still do kill and wound each other wasn't exactly something that she wanted to know more about.

"I have collected several pieces in my short travels since leaving Tandar Prime." Theron then blurted out before he could stop himself, "I could show them to you some time." He was then concerned that he had pushed her to far to accept him. He knew that she would not go with him anywhere private at this stage of them getting to know each other.

At the very least, Kiri knew what it felt like to express an interest in something that wasn't shared, she'd just experienced it less than a minute ago. To give someone else disappointment and discomfort wasn't what she wanted. Other than constraints on her time, there wasn't a downside to pretending to be interested was there? Finally putting her right hand around the glass as if she was finally going to drink some of it she gave a small fake smile, "That would be nice." Then followed a silence as she tried to calculate at what point it would be least rude to start her drink.

'YES!' Theron thought to himself. 'It is a good thing she is not empathic.' He also hope his enthusiasm did not show. "So, how do you like your drink? Would you prefer something else?" he asked sincerely.

The glass still rested in her hand, looking startled she at once lifted it up to take a sip. Only when it reached her lips she was forced to lower it. The bubbles shot straight up her nose when it came close and almost made her sneeze. Now looking and feeling rather embarrassed she tried again, letting it hang on her pallet for a few seconds. It was okay, but not really something she liked mixing. Cherry was okay, but she liked sour things so much more. If it was just lime it would be better. Then she was a person that liked to eat sliced lemons and limes. At least now though she could answer him, "It is okay, thank you."

Theron had enjoyed watching her expressions when attempting to get a sip, and was pleased that she could express them too. "No'ovis da." he replied naturally, then explained. "Oh, sorry. That is a Tandaran expression. It basically mean 'not a problem' or 'it was nothing."

Kiri found herself at a loss again, the question of what she was meant to be doing here still loomed tall over her. Though she had fun on her own, really she was a very boring person, there wasn't much for her to talk about. She knew how but what would he be interested in, what would bore or offend him? Did they share any experiences, a few. He said he was in security, so that was a start, "Did you take part in the fighting?" It wasn't something she had really talked about with anyone yet.

That was not something that Theron expected to be asked from her. He pursed his lips, not really sure how to answer that, but with a simple, "Yes." I . . ah . . was definitely in the fight." His mind was no longer on Kiri, but on the memories of a fierce and deadly battle. Fears and terror that he had experienced in that short time.

Interested in what he had to say she listened, not really sure how to push forwards even if she should. The way she acted wasn't something she was really very proud of, it wasn't something that she wanted to ever experience ever again. Taking a small sip of her drink she waited for him, not really able to work out what he was doing.

'All the blood. The death. His own injuries.' thoughts going through Theron's mind. He looked at the bubbles in his drink then smiled slightly. His eyes looked up with a more peaceful look on his face. "Sorry about that. I did not realize I would get so caught up in that." He looked down at the glass again and then back to Kiri. "Thanks for spending time with me." he said with such a soft, sincere voice.

More so than before Kiri found herself rather confused. Not really sure what he was saying sorry for, or why he was now thanking her. He had asked her here and so far she didn't really know why. If he was trying to make friends with her as she was then that didn't seem to have made much progress. Was this what Brayden meant when he said it took time? Should she be honest, that sort of seemed to work. But she didn't want him to think less of her, she just didn't know. Lips pinched together she showed her confusion, "I, um, your welcome, I think." Did he not want to talk about it? Then she made a mistake, "Sorry."

"No. No need for sorry." He began and took a deep breath to clear his mind. "Your comment just brought up emotions about the attack that I thought I had dealt with. I did not realize that the incident still bothered me. I guess it may for a while." He picked up his glass and took a long drink . . until the ice al fell from the bottom of the glass onto his face and his clothes and all about.

If she wasn't trying so hard to be polite her jaw would have dropped. Given what they had been talking about, she hadn't expected something so unreserved and troublesome. Kiri hadn't talked and tried not to think about what happened. If she did then she might just break down. The distraction of falling ice saved her from that, at once she stood up, letting go of her own glass.

Theron set down the glass quickly and the other hand wiped the cold from his face and he brushed the ice off of him.

Walking over Kiri squatted down and started to pick up the larger pieces of ice. Making a mess or even seeing a mess kick-started more preprogrammed behaviour. It was completely natural for her to clean up any disarray, whatever the cause.

"Hey." moving off the chair and squatting too to help pick up the ice. "You do not hav . . " he stopped as his eyes met hers just inches apart. His mouth went dry and his mind could not focus on anything but the sparkle in her eyes.

Kiri shifted her weight backwards, trying to maintain an appropriate distance, so she promptly tipped over onto her bottom. Looking excessively uncomfortable at the situation she paused only for a instant. Tilting her torso to the right she stood up, ice still clutched in her hand, her face fairly red. For her making friends was a challenge, something she felt would be very hard. It was something that scared her with all its unknowns, unpredictability and random chance. So the primal urge that wriggled in her gut when she was that close to someone her own age, sent a jolt right up to her brain where her defences went into overdrive. Speaking extremely face she gabbled, "I, I'm sorry, pardon, um, yes." Completely flustered she dropped the ice into the glass and at once started to retreat back around the table to her seat.

Theron watched all this with dumb struck awe. He did not understand why he even was acting this way around this girl, any girl. He had had several personal and romantic relationships. They had been wonderful experiences, but nothing had captivated him like this, but then again he was still crouched on the floor looking up at her.

Placing her hands in her lap she remained very still, the thin film of water distracting her brain. As her cheeks faded she remained quiet, not even willing to confront what may or may not be what that incident was.

Theron gathered the remaining ice, stood slowly, and sat in his chair. "I . . I, ah am not sure what just happened. Though," he paused for a moment, "I definitely do not want to apologize for the unexpected feelings I am having." He looked down at what was left of the ice in his glass. "I really did enjoy our time together today."

No. A flash of fear shot over Kiri's face. These weren't things she felt should be talked about, it wasn't proper or polite. Though she was jumping to conclusions, it would be rude to leave though, she wanted to suppress talking about this. Still, would that make him unhappy? This was so complicated, speaking in a practised soft tone she answered, "I'm glad you did, is it over?" Despite it all she was enjoying at least being able to talk a little with someone. She didn't want it to end too soon.

Theron looked down at this shirt a little more wet than he would prefer and said, "Ya, I really think I should go change." He stood up and looked down at Kiri, "It really was nice to spend some time with you. Maybe, we can do it again." he wanted to add the word 'soon', but did not want to push the situation.

Kiri was confused, what he said made sense, if you counted water as a problem. Since that seemed fairly unlikely, she had to fall back to the fact she had somehow offended him. Else he wasn't that interested in speaking with her as she thought. Looking slightly downtrodden she gave a weak smile, "I look forward to it."

Theron was happy that, at least, she said the words. "Okay." He said finally. Smiling, "I guess I will see you around or give you call in a day or so."

Kiri had seen people act like this before, but wasn't used to it having anything to do with her. The problem in her mind was that she was busy, like always, she couldn't just drop things like this to have drinks. She'd barely even had time to touch hers, it left her somewhat jilted. Talking to people was something she wanted, to have just a little bit seemed unfair. This disappointment showed somewhat as she answered, "Okay, I will try to make time."

Again Theron smiled and stepped away from the table toward the door. 'How in the world am I going to put all this emotion into a report?' he thought. 'Life is crazy sometimes.'

Now sitting alone Kiri looked at the bubbles in her glass, watching them gather around the fruit and ice. Had she managed to lean anything from what just happened? She didn't know any of the results other than he had left her, not really knowing why. There wasn't a moment that she felt warranted it, other than maybe how she had reacted to him being close to her. Maybe that was why? Did that mean that next time she had to let people get close even if it made her unhappy. Really though she was as confused by the entire ordeal as she had been when she started.

[OFF]

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Ens. Theron Rhodes
Security/Tactical
USS Galileo

Ens. Kiri Cho
Assistant Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo

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