I'm Walking In This Cloud Upon Love

Posted on 21 May 2018 @ 7:31pm by Lieutenant Amaranai Franklin & Lieutenant JG Rizil Chaya
Edited on on 22 May 2018 @ 2:26pm

1,732 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Episode 15 - Emanation
Location: Rigel II - Avondale Production Facility, Security Offices
Timeline: MD 100, 0800

ON:

Chaya was not, shall we say, a particularly punctual person. Nay, most would consider her downright tardy. Perhaps nothing encapsulated this more than the simplest fact that she was due to report in to her direct superior at 0750, and sure enough, ten minutes later, the chime to Franklin's office chirruped cheerfully. Chaya appeared almost windswept, her short-cropped hair messily blown back across her forehead and a few wrinkles in her uniform which she smoothed out self-consciously. With a bright, almost fake smile, she entered the room once the door opened. "Morning, sir!" she enthused, eyebrows arched hopefully. Ah, yes, in the hopes that she wouldn't be reprimanded, that is.

Why had Amaranai suggested an early morning interview with the new security officer? Sure, before her shift started was always better so she could be focused on her job, but this was damn early. Or was it that she just didn't want to get out of bed? Too many variables led down a path she was not ready to follow, so she kept those thoughts away for now. Instead, she looked at the chrono. A few minutes before 0800 and the lieutenant wasn't even there yet. This was not going to bode well for her.

While she waited, Amaranai consulted the datapad in front of her that listed the girl's Starfleet record and basic information. The chime rang and Amaranai - checking the chrono once more - answered.

"Enter," she said.

When the lieutenant entered, Amaranai could see the woman pulling at her creases, almost as if she had trouble getting wrinkles out of her uniform.

"Good morning, lieutenant," Amaranai said. "Please come in and have a seat."

Ahem, Chaya cleared her throat self-consciously, lowering herself into the indicated chair, and squinted at Franklin. She couldn't have been much older than 25. Though reluctant to admit it, the mentality of deferring to senior officers half her age wasn't ever going to become familiar. Private thoughts, private thoughts. Outwardly, Chaya crossed her legs and sat up straight nonetheless, adopting a determined aura of professionalism as best she could. She met Amaranai's eyes when they landed on her, and offered another closed-lipped smile.

Amaranai, in turn, stood, and moved to the replicator.

"Hot coffee, two sugars."

She returned to her desk with her cup and sipped it, still not saying a word to the new arrival. After a moment, she picked up the datapad and looked at the woman in front of her. She nodded her head approvingly.

"If you are going to perform well on the Galileo-A, lieutenant," she started. "You are going to have to work on your timing." She smiled. "If you would prefer, I could page you every single morning at random times to ensure you would be on time for your duty shift."

"Oh, that won't be necessary, sir," Chaya assured, raising her hands palm-up in a display of repentance. "I apologize for my tardiness. Let's just say Avondale has a scourge of rat-tailed swihline." They were spiky, alien tumbleweeds with bug-eyes and little feet. Most commonly, pests. They liked to creep into the air ducts and bother people. "Hopefully, they won't follow us out," she quipped. Amaranai seemed nice enough. Maybe she could get away with a little humor. Grease the wheels, so to speak.

Amaranai grinned. She had heard the stories of the vermin wandering about the station but had yet to really discover any. It only made her more grateful for where she was staying until they got underway.

"It's alright, lieutenant," she offered. "I'm not mad. I just want you to remember your timing once we get aboard the Galileo." She paused. "Your record indicates you've been a good officer and I want to keep it that way."

Another pause.

"So, Rizil, what do you hope to accomplish or bring to your post that will help you stand out as a security officer?"

She appeared to genuinely consider it. "I guess the most succinct answer I can provide is that I try to be reasonable, and crew-focused. I want to make sure the place where I serve is safe, and that the crew know I'm there to help them, not to bully them or boss them around. In many circumstances, words are a much more effective tool than a phaser."

Amaranai listened to the lieutenant answer the question. Her response was better than most people's she had heard and was grateful for that. It made her wonder if it was really a byproduct of the fact that she was older than she appeared. It had amazed Amaranai when Rizil stepped into the office because even though she had seen the photo in her record, it was hard to believe that she was nearly twenty years older than she looked. Inwardly, she tossed those thoughts aside. Age and looks were not what she was talking about at the moment.

"Good answer, lieutenant," she said. "We try to bully the cadets and ensigns only." She chuckled. "Seriously, though," she continued. "We prefer to use force if necessary, not all the time."

"Of course," Chaya nodded. "I'm fully capable of doing so if the situation requires it," she assured. "I'm gathering that the application of security on the Galileo might be a unique circumstance regardless. The ship is incredibly small, and most crewmembers are of a specific temperament. I can't imagine heavy-handed tactics are the norm, at least shipside." Away teams and exploratory missions aside, of course. One couldn't necessarily predict the behavior of hostile life forms. "I've been making an effort to ingratiate myself in the crew's daily affairs, keep my finger on the pulse so to speak." Chaya smiled.

Amaranai thought about what Rizil was saying about the ship and its crew. It also struck Amaranai that the lieutenant would begin to understand the crew before she was fully onboard herself. It spoke to her need to be thorough and know her crew as best as possible.

"Good," she said. "And you are correct in that there are not many requests for security when it comes to the crew itself, but that doesn't mean you get to simply sit around." She paused. "Our crew are explorers and the scientists are squishy and often don't wear armor when on an Away Mission. That's where we come in."

She glanced down at the service record on her PADD and was impressed by all she read.

"Is there anything you would like to know about the ship, the crew, me or anything else?"

"How long have you been aboard the Galileo?" Chaya asked after a few moments, leaning forward to rest her elbows on her knees and peering up at Franklin with interest.

The question came and then the woman's posture changed. It was interesting, to say the least, but Amaranai chose against saying anything.

"Honestly," she started. "I've technically only been aboard the Galileo for a few months." She paused. "Shortly after I joined, the ship was attacked and we were captured. I'd give you more information, but it's mostly classified for one reason or another that are way above my security level." She smiled a moment. "Obviously, I survived but not without the standard emotional and physical scars that come with such an experience."

Chaya grimaced sympathetically, nodding along. "That's pretty rough, I'm really sorry to hear that. It seems a lot of folks are tip-toeing around similar issues, sounds like you guys faced a lot of this as a crew. Hopefully that will help in the long run; you'll be able to heal as a crew as well. How have you found getting back to duty?"

Amaranai nodded at the comment.

"Yes," she said. "We've all been told what we can and cannot say and for the most part, we can't say anything without fear of being removed from the galaxy at all possible haste."

She paused as she took in the second question.

"I'll be glad to be back on a starship," she started. "After the rescue, we were stuck on Earth. I wasn't even sure if I was going to be reassigned to a starship after what I had to endure, but then I was sent here and eventually assigned to the Galileo."

Amaranai noted she hadn't really answered the question.

"Desk work is no fun," she continued. "I prefer to be very active while on duty. And if I'm not, I find that I can get antsy."

"Oh ho, you are preaching to the choir," Chaya laughed. "Patrols are my favorite part of the job. If I sit still too long I can feel my soul try to leave my body." She faked a shiver. "Uh, not that I don't, you know, love paperwork..."

Amaranai chuckled at her statement about paperwork.

"I used to think that being an Assistant Chief would be a great. You know, boss people around, get to do my job. But no. There is a lot of paperwork." She pointed at the PADDS on the other desk behind her. "And I would much rather choose to leave it alone."

"Well," Chaya grinned, "let me know if you ever need any help with it, or just want to shuck it off on the resident lackey." She jammed two thumbs into her chest in a cheesy motion. "All hands on deck, and all that."

Amaranai shook her head and smiled at the gesture. Chaya was definitely interesting and different than most security officers that Amaranai had dealt with, even on the ship. She could feel that Chaya was going to be a good change of pace in the Security department.

"Thanks, but no," the brunette said. "I'm sure I can find plenty of things for you to do."

"I look forward to it," Chaya said sincerely.

"Great," she said. "Do you have any other questions?"

"Not at the moment, but I'll contact you if any crop up!" Chaya said, her features once more smiling reflexively. "I suppose I'll head out on my second patrol, then? Unless there's anything else?" she stood, dusting off her uniform and stretching her legs.

"No, lieutenant," Amaranai said and stood up. "Thank you."

[OFF]

--

Lieutenant Amaranai Franklin
Assistant Chief Security / Tactical
USS Galileo-A

Lieutenant JG Rizil Chaya
Security/Tactical Officer
USS Galileo

RSS Feed

Comments (1)