Making Connections

Posted on 12 Aug 2023 @ 6:36pm by Petty Officer 3rd Class Helliun 'Hel' Inant & Lieutenant JG Fynn Taymor
Edited on on 12 Aug 2023 @ 6:37pm

1,977 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Episode 18 - Cold Station 31
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 7, Main Engineering, then various
Timeline: MD 17, 2030hrs

[ON]

Now that the Warp Core was patched up, Main Engineering had gotten quieter. Sure, there was still things being repaired outside and inside the ship, but right now it was quiet around the Warp Core...and that was what PO3 Helliun Inant loved. Her, and the Warp Core, no one else bothering her...she smiled as she swung closer, to check on the repairs. They were still pretty powered down, but the hum was there, that raced through her and made her feel connected to the ship.

She took a breath before sliding down, her red hair free except the multiple braids that kept it contained. She was done with the main work so it was now allowed free, as opposed to when she had to crawl places where it could get stuck.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?"

The soft voice came from the slim Bajoran leaning against the door frame of the Chief Engineer's office. "A lot of folks think the bridge is the best part of a ship, but they're wrong. The bridge might be the brains, but Main Engineering is its heart." He offered a small wave. "Sorry if I'm disturbing you, I just don't think we've gotten to say hello to each other yet. At least, not one on one. I'm Fynn."

Hel stood, sharply, looking at him with a slight frown before she lifted her chin. And then she realized it was the new Chief Engineer. Her stance changed a little bit, but not too much. "Hel," she introduced herself, before glancing at the Warp Core. "It's as always, one of the most beautiful sights in the universe. Deadly and life giving, all at the same time."

Fynn nodded and moved a little closer, but still afforded the petty officer some space. "Agreed." Standing in its presence was almost as soothing as prayer and meditation for him. In truth, it was the closest he ever felt to the spiritual realm while having both feet planted in the secular. "And each one's unique, too. I mean, they share the same specifications and all... but, still." Not many would get that, but he had a feeling that Hel understood. "How long have you been with Her?"

She watched him, a small smile pulling at her lips now, because of how respectful he was towards the Warp Core. "Not as long as I wish...about six months now." She tilted her head slightly to the side, watching him closely. "I came here from a ship in...trouble. They kept me on."

Fynn nodded solemnly. As he made his way over to the Master Systems Display, he remembered reading something along those lines while reviewing the members of his team, however he was forced to admit he'd paid more attention to damage reports than personnel files when he accepted the transfer. If he was to be an effective department head, he would need to work on that. Perhaps now would be a good time to start.

"Looks like our major repairs are going well... ahead of schedule, in fact. I was going to use this found time to attend to some of the lower priority repairs on our list. If you're finished here, I bet the two of us could knock out a few of these." He paused briefly, then realized he had not made it clear if this was an order or an invitation. "If you'd like to, that is."

Hel gave a small nod, considering it for a moment. What was the options? She'd either work alone or with her new senior officer, so why not take the chance to get to know him. Slight thing he was. She walked over to him, she noticed the height difference between them...but also the clear differences in muscular build. He was so slender, whereas Hel had the body of someone who did a lot of heavy lifting. "Bajoran, right?" she asked, nodding to him. She was still not good at distinguishing species.

"Right," Fynn nodded, stepping over to station to load a PADD with a selection of less urgent work orders. "Do you mind grabbing us a couple of repair kits while these download? But, um, yes. I am Bajoran." The PADD gave a soft beep when ready and he scrolled through the list, deciding they would start on Deck One and work their way down. "Have you served with any Bajorans before?"

Deck 1, Conference Room
Work Order: ODN sub processor link to LCARS monitor

"... and after Vedeks come the Kai. Unlike the other ranks, there is only one Kai. They are the spiritual leader of the faith, and are elected by the Vedeks." Only Fynn's lower half was visible from where they had set aside a wall panel to access the ODN lines. He reached a hand out towards Hel. "Recoupler?"

Hel handed the Recoupler over, watching him before she sat down, frowning slightly at the thought "So there can only be one?" she asked, trying to understand it properly. "What happens if someone else wants to be Kai? Do they fight?"

"Hahaha - Ow!" The mental image of the revered Kai Opaka tossing bloodied Vedeks around an arena had made him laugh so hard he'd almost cracked his skull on the bulkhead. "So, um, no, there is no fighting. Well nothing physical anyway. Once a Kai is elected, they serve until they either step down or join the Prophets. The time for a challenger to speak up is before the election. They are either nominated or put themselves forward, and then there can be debate and discussion."

Fynn made a final adjustment. "How's the monitor?"

Hel smiled as she looked at the monitor. "We are good, praise the sands," she said before she considered his earlier words. "Join the Prophets? Is it like returning to the sands? Dying?"

Sliding out into the room, Fynn replaced the wall panel. "I think so, from the sound of it. Both expressions are euphemisms for death." He gathered their tools, preparing to head to the next repair. "I take it the 'sands' hold religious significance to your people?"

Deck 3, Counselor's Office
Work Order: Replicator repair

"So really, there's three different evolutionary versions of Axans," Hel said as she looked at the replicator, frowning before she shook her head. "Stars above and sands below, this replicator needs a lot of work..." she paused before she opened it up. "There's the Axan'na. I'm one. We look like this in general, skin tones can vary. Then there's the Axan'e, they're usually blue or green and swimmers...webbed feet and hands. They live around the Great Seas, it is their territory. And then there's the Axan'han...legend has that once they were death from above, flying down to kill those that dared coming to the mountains...now, they're just the Mountain Tribes to us. But they have..." she gestured under her arm. "Skin here, that stretches out."

"Wow, that's a lot of genetic variation," Fynn remarked. The Axans reminded him of another species he'd read about, the Xindi. He held his tounge though, unsure if such a comparison would be favorable or seen as an insult. "Does everyone get along? Or do the three, um, types keep to themselves?"

"Keep themselves to themselves, mostly," Hel admitted as she stepped aside for him to have a look at the replicator. "We're...tribal. Different tribes, mostly nomadic...with matriarchs."

Fynn moved closer, reaching inside to fiddle with some connections as he attempted to diagnose the problem. "Fascinating. Are the males in your culture subservient to the females? Or, aside from leadership, is there a form of egalitarianism?"

"Things are changing," Hel said, meaning it as she looked at him. "It has taken a while, but males are slowly getting into leadership, although only in our city. In the tribes, it's more traditional. Males are celebrated as hunters, as protectors. And I hope my son will do well for my tribe, and be happy."

"You have a son? What's he like?" Fynn reached for a tricorder, not being able to spot the issue either.

Hel shrugged as she looked at him, her face serious. "I do not know," she finally said. "He is being raised by the tribe, I hold no claim over him."

Deck 5, Holodeck 2
Work Order: Holo-emitter recalibration

Fynn shifted his weight to maintain balance on the ladder. "So, even though my father had not been a fan of the Federation, he had seen the good Starfleet had helped the Bajorans accomplish. So, when I applied, he had no objections." He wiped a trickle of sweat from his brow as he glanced down at Hel. "How about you? Why did you join?"

Hel let out a breath, clearly considering it as she held the ladder. "I wanted to learn, so I could return home with more knowledge," she admitted, a small smile coming to her. "And I wanted to do something for myself. Just for me, not my clan, my tribe."

Pausing his work, Fynn considered her answer. "I understand. I mean, I think I do." He repositioned himself again, trying to reach the connection on the emitter. "In the refugee camp, everything we did was for the good of the group. When we moved to Bajor, and I started to develop interests of my own, I confess I felt a little selfish. Applying to Starfleet felt selfish, actually, when there was so much I could offer directly back to my people, either as an engineer, or, um, spiritually."

"But would you have been happy?" Hel asked bluntly as she looked at him, holding his eyes with a small smirk. "If you were on Bajor, an engineer or...Vedek?"

"Interesting question," Fynn began, sighing in frustration as he realized his arms were too short. He swiftly descended and looked apologetically at Hel. "Would you mind trying? I can't reach."

Exchanging places so he could now steady the ladder for her, he continued with his answer. "I'd been considering that question a lot, especially during my last year on the Edison. But after much reflection, I can say I would not have been as happy as an engineer if I'd stayed. And I fully intend to return and pursue the path of a, well, probably Prylar when I retire from Starfleet. Maybe Ranjen, if the Prophets are kind."

Hel climbed the ladder, taking over as she stretched. "So, really, what you are doing is the best for your people. You're happy, learning and when you retire it sounds like you are going back to spread your wisdom to your young. You'd feel very at home where I am from."

Fynn felt his heart grow warm listening to her perspective on his journey. "The way you've described it, I believe I would. Any chance we'll get to visit someday? You could show me around?"

"I'd show you the sands, brother," Hel said with a smile, the familiar endearment a translation of one of her planets words. She climbed down and looked at him, the smile becoming the grin. "I know that they did it earlier, but we could do another check of the inertia dampening system. I am curious to see what the lag is, but also to make sure all the field generators are back. One thing you'll know about this ship with time is that it loves extreme maneuvers."

Shaking his head, Fynn let out a playful chuckle. "Isn't that what every engineer loves to hear." He folded the ladder and lifted it under his arm. "Inertia dampening it is. Anything else I need to know about what this ship loves?"

[OFF]

--

LTJG Fynn Taymor
Chief Engineer
USS-Galileo-A

&

PO3 Helliun 'Hel' Inant
Engineer
USS-Galileo-A
[PNPC Rice]

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