The other Twin

Posted on 08 Apr 2016 @ 11:47pm by Lieutenant JG Noah Khoroushi & Ensign Jaana Voutilainen

876 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Episode 10 - Symposium
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 02 - Messhall
Timeline: MD 92 - 17.30 hours

[ON]

Jaana walked with her replicated tray of food to the last vacant table in the crowded mess hall. With her replicator being blocked, she had to eat in a public area. To avoid falling back in her old habit again. As she sat she noticed someone looking around the room, as if he was looking for someone. He was cute, she thought with a smile. When he looked at her, she quickly turned her head and started eating her diner.

He'd known something was off when he saw the woman across the way from the Mess Hall entrance. She was ... familiar in a way that did not strike him right. As he made his way closer, he realized why. Save for the mundane hair and clothing - she could have been easily been taken for Tuula. It was in the way she held herself at times and, as he drew closer, the facial structure.

She glanced down as he approached, and for a moment he considered turning away, but curiosity propelled him forward. "Good afternoon," he greeted her when he came to the table. "Is this seat taken?"

Jaana quickly rearranged her things before saying. "Go ahead," She extended her hand in a greeting while saying. "Jaana Voutilainen,"

"Noah Khoroushi. You're not any relation to Tuula Voutilainen, are you?" It was too large of a coincidence for this to be anything but. Setting down his tray, Noah took a seat across from the young woman.

"Identical Twin." Jaana said. "What did she do this time?" It wouldn't be the first time Tuula left a very special impression on people.

"Nothing in particular." Other than cornering him in a sauna and stripping naked, but Noah didn't think that was something to share with the woman's sister - twin or otherwise. "Just more of an observation." He was still becoming familiar with members of the ship, though it wouldn't take long, being a smaller vessel than his last assignment. "So, what do you do aboard the Galileo, Jaana?"

"Stellar Cartography," she answered, still wondering what her sister did. She knew that look. "You?"

Noah set his meal out before him. "Operations." He couldn't help but note to himself that Jaana was attractive. Likely her sister would be as well, were one's attention not distracted by ... Decoration. "So, ah ..." Noah laughed a bit self consciously. "Sorry, long night and my brain is still playing catch-up. How long have you been with the ship?"

"About 6 months," she said. "But I've been off the ship the moment we arrived in this system. Had some stuff to work out. Luckily I did before the Galileo embarked." she was going through her food with her food. She didn't want to make a secret of what happened, but at the same time it wasn't something she would broadcast ship-wide.

"Ah," He smiled. There wasn't much more that needed saying; from what he'd heard the mission had been a nightmare all around. Being an old hand at survivor's guilt himself, Noah had no issues with how others handled their own issues. "I'm new myself. Just met up with the ship when she came into the station."

"Lucky you, that last mission really was hell." she said. "People are still looking at me like I'm the devil. Apparently my alternative self left a pretty terrifying impression on people."

Noah chuckled. "Well, lucky for both of us I have no preconceived notions regarding who you are now, or who your other self was. So ... consider me a blank slate."

Jaana tilted her head to the left as she thought about that. This guy was getting more interesting by the minute. "Good to know," she said with a chuckle.

The smile softened, lines at the corners of his eyes crinkling with the expression. "Why did you ask what your sister had done 'this time'? Is she prone to ... antics or such?" While siblings could be prejudiced for or against, Noah knew they also knew more about an individual than any - and being a twin ... all the more!

She chuckled. "My sister is known for her odd behaviour and hobbies" she explained. "There have been some weird situations before. Last time I came on board she managed to scare away my date before I even met him."

That elicited a grin. "Usually it's the brother's job to screen the suitors. I don't think I can match up to the good doctor's talents, though." Picking at a bit of his food, he continued. "So, is it just the two of you, or are there other siblings?"

"Just the two of us, that's probably why Tuula thinks she needs to screen guys for me." She said while shaking her head. "She only ten minutes older and she thinks that gives her the right to play the big sister card all the time."

"Well ... she's only as effective as you let her be - just ask my sisters." Laughing, he held up his glass. "Or better yet, don't. I'm afraid of the stories they might tell."

She laughed. Totally understanding the hardship of having meddling sister.

[OFF]

LTJG Noah Khoroushi
Assistant Operations Chief
USS Galileo

Ensign Jaana Voutilainen
Stellar Cartographer
USS Galileo

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