My Friend

Posted on 02 Dec 2012 @ 8:32pm by Lieutenant Kiri Cho & Commander Andreus Kohl

3,751 words; about a 19 minute read

Mission: Episode 02 - Resupply
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 3, Kohl/Rice Quarters
Timeline: MD03 - 2001 hours

[ON]

Kiri walked from Ensign Rhodes's quarters feeling less worried than when she had gone in. Things had gone rather well, he had been able to talk with her, set up some things to do and she was more comfortable with him. With Kohl she had already made that leap, if she had to say anyone, he was her best friend on the ship. It was to his quarters that she went now, at least the one where they had placed him for now. With much more confidence than the last door control she pressed the door chime.

Once the doors moved apart, standardized junior officers' quarters were revealed to Kiri. The room was dark. From where Kiri was standing, the only illumination inside was being let in from the passageway. The room almost looked as if it were empty until Andreus Kohl stepped into the swath of light. "Shhhh," Kohl said, as if he were teasing a sister. "Aria is sleeping." --He angled his head to one side and then back to Kiri-- "Or there's an entire pile of clothes on her bed. In any case..."

Kohl stepped into the passageway with bare feet. Wearing nothing but his uniform trousers, he moved far enough aside to allow the doors to close behind him. His teal uniform tunic was trailing him, wherever he moved. Having been in the process of undressing himself, one sleeve of the tunic was still clinging to his right wrist.

Kiri stared for a moment, shirtless anyone was something she did her best to avoid, now it was someone she knew and she was the cause of it. Her face turning red she turned on the spot to face away from him, speaking so quiet it was hard to hear, "I'm sorry, I can come another time." Arms pulled tight to her lap Kiri tried not to think about it too much, "Sorry."

"Cho, is something wrong?" Kohl asked, his voice soft. The nurse practitioner in him was concerned by her posture, mistaking embarrassment for pain. To free up both his hands, he pulled the tunic from his wrist and draped the shirt over his right shoulder. As he started to walk around Kiri, Kohl said, "I missed what you said."

To Kiri there were only three times when you would not be wearing clothes; when changing into a different set, while and directly after bathing and when you were intimate with someone. The idea of seeing bare skin to her was scary, for someone to break from the rules she had, it was wrong. He could have finished getting dressed before answering, he couldn't have known it was her but he came out like this. It was improper, rude and exciting, no she shouldn't feel like that. Lips turning white from the force pushed on them she answered in a panicked tone, turning to keep her eyes off him, "I am fine, sorry, I can come back another time." Her face was getting redder and her legs were shaking slightly, he was coming closer like that.

"Why don't you tell me what brought you here in the first place, and we can decide what time would be best for it," Kohl suggested mildly. When Kiri wouldn't meet his eyes, wouldn't look at him at all, Kohl frowned with concern. He took a step back from her. As he watched her face, Kohl shrugged his way back into his uniform tunic. "It's colder out here than how I keep my quarters," Kohl murmured.

Kiri could hear the rustle of his clothes, turning to peek to see if he was dressed yet. Looking away when she saw it wasn't quite complete, it was getting better. The temperature didn't bother her, under jacket, tunic and vest she was quite warm. Nerves settling a little she was able to speak slightly louder, "I'm sorry its cold, but, would you like to have a drink with some people in two days?"

"I'd rather have a drink with some people right now," Kohl said dryly, but he was quick to go on: "But, yes, of course I would." As Kohl finished closing the tunic up the front, all the way to the high collar, he had another though. "Well," he asked, "Which people?"

Turning to face him Kiri looked rather ashamedly at the ground, so far no one else had replied to her message. There was also the matter of a drink now, it was late, she wasn't going to be sleeping anyway though. Her voice squeaked a little, "At the moment, Ensign Rhodes and Doctor Dhuinn," It was better than no one but she had hoped that everyone would reply and say yes. Forcing herself forward mentally she asked, "Did you want a drink?"

"You can safety assume I always want a drink," Kohl said, and his delivery was deadpan enough to make it unclear if he was joking or not. He tilted his head and he slightly narrows his eyes at Kiri. "Did you want a drink?" he asked, a little skeptically.

No she didn't really want a drink, but if there was the chance to spend some time with someone she liked and that liked her, she should. Relaxing somewhat now he was clothed Kiri nodded her head, "If it is with you," That didn't quite come out how she meant it, how could she correct it though?

Kohl looked at Kiri with a kind of dawning awareness in his eyes. His voice moved by genuine intent this time, he said, "Well then let's go get that drink." --He nodded once, as he said, it but he took a step backwards and pointed a thumb at the door-- "Just, uh, just let me grab my combadge. And my boots." And he ducked back into his quarters for thirty seconds.

Kiri waited, hands at her sides now, flustered by her words, she had to explain. Pursing her lips she took a deep breath when Kohl returned, "I mean, I like spending time with you." While she didn't really know how he took what she said, to her it felt weird, that he might misunderstand her, at least the her she wanted to present.

As Kohl joined her in the passageway, he was affixing his communicator directly to his teal tunic. Although his feet were in his boots, he hadn't bothered with grabbing his uniform jacket. "That's a relief," Kohl said in a timbre that was bombastic and blithe. He finished straitening his combadge and then he looked at Kiri. More softly, he said, "Because I like spending time with you too."

That was a nice reply, one that made Kiri very happy indeed. A real smile cracking across her face, "Thank you." She moved to her normal position, just behind him to follow, her neck extended slightly, grinning. This was the sort of easy interaction she wanted, with reinforcement and conformation that her actions were right. It mattered a lot to her that people liked her, Kohl mattered a more than most.

Striding forward, Kohl pointed in the direction of the next turbolift shaft. He asked, "To the mess hall, yeah?"

Nodding again Kiri followed, wringing her wrists, this was another good thing. There was also the matter she had talked to with her new councillor, he wanted to spend time alone with her. Yet she still didn't know him very well, she must endeavour to find out more.


Deck 2, Mess Hall

"--always told my instructors at the Academy, I wanted to studying diplomacy because I was motivated by the restoration efforts after the Dominion War," Kohl was saying. He was leaning back in his chair by the viewport, and he was toying with his tumbler on the table. It was half-filled with something fizzy and syntheholic. "But really, that was something I had read in an article. My-- my adoptive father, he was a diplomat for the Federation. I think I probably just wanted to do what he did. It seemed satisfying. Seemed important. If it was good enough for him, well, why not?"

He had talked a lot, that was good. He was adopted too, the relationship between his parents and hers was different though, at least so it seemed. Chocolate and lime tea steamed slightly in front of her, Kiri's face one of concentration, trying to focus. The reply she could muster was strained because of this, "I see." Thinking of home wasn't exactly helping her current situation, so far her Grandmother was right, it was too dangerous out here.

"How about you?" Kohl asked. He was raising his glass towards his lips, but he used it to gesture to Kiri, sloshing the beverage inside. "When did you become certain you wanted to work in Science? Or, hey, or in Command?"

Eyes on the fluid, waiting for a possible splash Kiri's tense look turned to one of uncertainty, he had asked a similar question before, "I was always good at Science, I wouldn't mind Operations though," While she wanted to be able to look at the stars, she was enjoying organising her department while it lasted. As far as the future went, "I thought it was a reasonable goal," Sounding less certain of herself, picking up the warm cup of tea, suddenly she felt very Vulcan. A twinge of nostalgia that scratched at her.

"The moment, though," Kohl said, as he placed his tumbler on the table. "What was the exact moment?"

This was much harder, pausing for several seconds Kiri furrowed her brow, "I guess, when my friends made up their mind on what they were doing." They were all making choices about their future and she didn't want to be left behind. This missed a whole lot of little reasons that also added to it but she wasn't aware of almost any of them.

"Your friends from the Academy?" Kohl asked. He phrased it like a follow-up, like a probing question to demonstrate his interest in Kiri's story. Really though, he couldn't entirely imagine an even younger Kiri choosing to have friends

"Well, no, not at the Academy," Other than a few of her instructors Kiri didn't have much of a relationship with anyone from the Academy, "Before, at Highschool, I had friends," Was it so very clear that she didn't any more? It was a rather thorny subject for Kiri and one she really felt rather defensive about. Reluctantly she added, "None of them went to be Officers though."

"How about Command?" Kohl asked. He leaned forward slightly and took a quick sip from his tumbler. "When were you certain --absolutely certain-- that you wanted to be a leader even more than you wanted to look at the stars?"

Looking slightly slightly puzzled for a second Kiri's confidence retreated a little more, reluctantly, "I'm not." It wasn't something she was certain of, it couldn't hurt. As a goal to work towards it struck her as the very best possible on the ship, there was also the matter, "Can't I do both?" There were so many little things. Kiri wanted to be recognised, respected both by herself, her family and everyone else, to have them proud of her. People would like her more then right? She'd like herself more, wouldn't she?

A subtle smile came to Kohl's lips. "Yeah, yeah I suppose you can," Kohl said, and he nodded while he said it. "In fact, the best view of the stars is from that big chair, isn't it?"

"Second," Kiri smiled, relieved her agreed, almost as if she was seeking his permission, "The Stellar Cartography Lab has the best view, have you seen it?" Touching the cup to her lips she almost drank before lowering it, "Would you like to?"

Kohl's brown knit together for a moment of consideration, and then he said, "I would, actually," and he sounded surprised at himself for it. "I mean, I've been to stellar cartography labs before. I'm familiar with the layout and where to find the first aid kit, but I've never seen the lab aboard Galileo."

"It is a little bit of a mess right now," She added reluctantly, it was still mostly functional though, there was a lack of power for the holographic projectors though, it wouldn't quite be the same. She seemed much more comfortable, "When it is fixed, I can arrange a tour," Smiling again she looked into her tea, "Everything is a bit of a mess on Deck Four."

"Including Sickbay," Kohl agreed, and he chuckled a bit. He took a slug from his tumbler and then he looked at Kiri. "After the landing, we couldn't even let any patients in until today. But, uhm, but something good came out of that mess today," Kohl said. This time, it was he who was fumbling for words. His manner was diffident and he didn't know why. He spoke firmly: "Lieutenant Ni Dhuinn has offered me the position of the Assistant Chief Medical Officer."

Kiri looked startled, "Congratulations, well done," They had talked about it on her birthday, that he could be a Chief Medical Officer, even though they hadn't been friends that long she was proud. He was doing well, it was good, "I think you'll do a really good job." Of all the people in the department he was the one Kiri had the most respect for and found the easiest to talk to.

"Thank you," Kohl said with an easy sense of pride. He didn't say anything else at first and there came a moment of quiet. Kohl didn't reach for his glass, he just sat there, and he enjoyed it. It couldn't last too long, though, and Kohl smirkingly asked, "You can tell me now if there's a secret club for Assistant Chiefs, yeah?"

Just about grasping it was a joke Kiri didn't have anything to hand other than the real answer, "There is a monthly meeting, but otherwise, no," Then trying harder, "Not yet," Forcing an awkward smile, "Did you hear about the new Department head then?"

"Heard about her?" Kohl asked, "I met her. I found her to be..." Kohl trailed off. He didn't know what he thought of Maenad Panne, and so he didn't know how to express himself. He breathed in and let out a huff of frustrated air. "She confused me."

For once Kiri found her rather straight forward, she was nice. She'd taken account of both her feelings and the best operation of the ship, agreed with Kiri on a slightly unorthodox set up and was amenable. So far she was looking forward to working with her, "What do you mean?"

Kohl waved a hand through the air to dismiss his opinion. "I don't know. Not really," Kohl said. "People are different in Sickbay. And she's still new to the ship. I couldn't get a sense of her personality. I feel like I frustrated her, irritated her, and intrigued her. All within five minutes." --Kohl looked up at the ceiling in thought for a few heartbeats-- "Actually... I do have that effect on some people..."

Kiri didn't want to say he was wrong, but, well he might be right, "I don't think so," Only one of the things that he said she could apply to herself, "You intrigue me though." Her cheeks flushed slightly, "You are interesting."

"Am I now?" Kohl asked with feigned modesty. Mostly, he was grinning from the compliment behind Kiri's words. Playing along, he asked, "And what would you say is my most intriguing feature?"

Kiri thought hard for a moment before finding an answer, "I think, your spontaneity, at least, it seems you are." She knew full well that her view of people might be completely off from the social norm or what that person thought of themselves.

Kohl had to nod at that with a begrudging smile. Kiri was more perceptive than she thought. Kohl raised his glass and he finished his first drink. He set his glass down to one side of the table. "You like your day-to-day life more orderly, yeah?"

Noticing that she still hadn't even started her drink Kiri nodded, "Yes, but, its nice to have a change, I'm not very good at that." Getting into good order and keeping time Kiri could do very well. Even attempts at being spontaneous were thought out and carefully planned, doing things on the fly lead to mistakes. That she had learned the hard way, in front of all the senior staff.

"What do you mean?" Kohl asked. He shook his head from side to side; either he disagreed or he simply couldn't understand. "How do you apply words like good or bad to adding a little chaos to your day? Spontaneity is. And that's all it is. No?"

How to say, she didn't want to sound crazy, "I think maybe I should do something different, but, then I just don't." Hands tightening on her cup a little more, "It's not efficient, and I can't, I just," Kiri was frustrated. Sliding towards being more emotional, "When I do try, it tends to end badly, you make it seem so easy."

Kohl shook his head slightly and looked down into his empty glass. Taking on a similar timbre, he told Kiri, "That's only because you haven't seen all the times it's ended badly for me."

Kiri didn't have an answer for that, from what she had seen he had always succeeded while she had always failed. While this might not be a true set of data it was enough for her, then there was more. She had caused his mood change, "Sorry."

"Maybe that means," Kohl ponderously said, "All those times I thought my spontaneity ended badly, it really wasn't so bad after all. If that's the case, perhaps your own acts of spontaneity look easy to others. Like when you asked me out for drinks tonight."

To Kiri that wasn't exactly spontaneous, "You said any time, I thought you were implying I should ask you." Letting out a breath that almost became a sigh, "I also thought about it." It was only a few seconds but she hadn't just dived right in.

"It still counts," Kohl encouraged. He shifted his chair backwards, slightly away from the table. "Spontaneity doesn't have to be thoughtless," he said, quire surely. Kohl grasped for his empty tumbler. "I'm going to get another drink. Would you like anything, Cho?"

Kiri hadn't eaten yet, thinking about it she realised that she felt extremely empty. Generally her wants were small, a mixed meal nothing that complicated, right now though. Her tea was barely touched, taking a drink her insides started to wake up more. Starting to pinch at her, ravenous. Standing up she placed the cup down, "I'll get something to eat."

"I'm always craving something sweet," Kohl said, as he rose from his chair. Holding his glass in his left hand, he used his right palm to smooth out the uniform material over his abdomen. "I think there should be room for dessert," he said with a playful uncertainty in Kiri's directly. "What do you think?"

What she wanted wasn't something sweet, a cake or something soft just didn't appeal, it wouldn't fill the hole. Still what she wanted felt rather, crude. It wasn't the type of thing she would normally eat, if she could even go through with ordering it. Nodding her head, "What is it you would like?"

"I'll decide when I get there. Spontaneity, remember?" Kohl said. He brushed off the question lightly, as he strode away from the table and lead Kiri to the nearest of the replicators. He stepped close to her for a couple of gaits, as he turned and squeezed between tables and chairs. Slowly sweeping an arm towards the replicator, as they approached, Kohl said, "Go ahead."

She was extremely conscious of what he might think of her now, ever since she had thought about it though it was all she wanted. It was also starting to feel as if she hadn't eaten in days. In little more than a whisper she lent close to the terminal, "Beef burger, large, no pickles, thin fried potato strips, lots," Watching as the large plate appeared her eyes widened, the smell pulling enticingly on her palate. Taking it she looked extremely guilty as she turned towards the table, trying and failing to hide it with her body.

Kohl returned to the table not long after. He sat down opposite Kiri with another tumbler and a bowl filled with a chocolatey hybrid of pudding and cake. Despite his hunger for his own treats, his eyes locked onto Kiri's hamburger. "That looks like something I need to order next time," Kohl said enviously.

Now she had it Kiri was rather worried about eating it, by design it couldn't be done in small bites. When food was neat she didn't really like eating in front of people, yet, she wanted it very much. Nodding she licked her lips very slightly, "It smells good," Picking it up both hands it looked much bigger, before going any further though she took a final look at Kohl, almost looking for his approval. The one thing she wanted in the world right now was the meat, it was weird.

"Go on," Kohl said impatiently. He had a spoon sticking out of his mouth and there was a smear of chocolate across his front teeth. "I want to know how it turned out."

Mildly repulsed by him talking while eating Kiri turned her attention to the burger that seemed to be staring her down in turn. It was easy to eat when she started, it didn't require much chewing, thick meaty taste, greasy and oily. By reflex she closed her eyes and savoured it just for a second before swallowing, then almost aggressively she followed it with another, then another. Recovering herself she looked uncomfortable but didn't say anything, another smaller bite instead. So far she only felt hungrier.

Kohl stared at her, his expression impassive. He had never seen Kiri like this before. He had never seen her behave as anything more than guarded, let alone expressing any form of naked emotion. He didn't know what to say, or how to react. "Good, huh?" was all Kohl could manage.

[TBC]
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Lieutenant (JG) Kiri Cho
Assistant Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo

LTJG Andreus Kohl
Asst. Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo

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