‘A VIP Event’
VIP Lounge, Deck 4
After storming off from the grouch that was Sebastian Templar, Jex began to bounce in her step as she neared Cutler’s cabin. She knew her unbridled enthusiasm annoyed him but it also tended to help his withdrawn character to come out. She reminded herself again that she was so sugary sweet with him because it was all in a good cause and to help out a friend.
Moments later, Jex was hauling Cutler out of his shared berth quarters. “But Jex I wanted to meet my cabin mate. I don’t know who it is it and it’s probably bad form not to wait around and introduce yourself.”
He looked back considering whether he should have deleted his message.
Jex seemed not to mull over his delaying tactic long as she continued to pull him by the arm, “But whoever it is they are probably going to be here at this meet and greet. Anyway, just check with the computer and you will soon know who it is you’re bunking with. I hope he’s cute and then I’ll have an excuse to sneak a look at him whenever I want.”
“Yeah, that was high up on my list of priorities for cabin mates. So long as they keep you entertained!”
She patted his shoulder in mock gratitude, “How very considerate of you Noah.”
“What about you?”
“Mmm? Oh no, I don’t have a room mate. I have my own private quarters.”
“Oh that’s lucky.”
“Hardly, or should I say there’s hardly room to swing a cat. All very basic and low key. Trust me your crewman quarters are the better choice. I can just about sit on the end of my bunk.”
“What, are you used to more luxury?”
“I had been. Koedi Jex was a Lt Commander and rated her own private quarters. The fact that her last posting was onboard a
Galaxy class only served to give her even greater space and luxury. Even with that, all my previous berths on the quarterdeck have been shared. So I’m more use to sharing than cramped privacy.”
“I suppose a Trill has to be use to sharing.”
They started to climb the stairwell from deck six to the VIP lounge on deck 4. “Hey you’re right! Gees you are funny times Noah. Much more than can be said for my neighbour.”
“Who’s that?”
“Sebastian, Mr Crack-a-smile, of course. Imagine he didn’t want to come to this party! He said something about, ‘I’ve had my fill of meet and greets to new ships and of parties’. Obviously, some sort of history there. He was rather elusive about giving anything away.”
“Not everyone is an open book Jex. Remember you’re a Trill so you are used to sharing your life experiences with others.”
Jex mocked, “Oh we are getting all profound and knowledgeable about Trills.”
“Hardly, the concept still makes my head dizzy.”
Musing to herself aloud she said, “I must look up his record and check him out. Don’t look at me like that Noah. It is only natural to be curious and only professional to know a bit about whom you work with. Mind you we only learned a little from others on the transport to Starbase 49 about the Captain and it painted a fairly accurate picture of him.”
“You think so too?”
“Yeah Noah, he’s definitely irascible and unpredictable but he appears very experienced. Think about our tour and his in-depth knowledge of the ship. Trust me when I say you want that in a Captain. I’d love to be like that some day.”
Noah stopped his climb up the stairs. She laughed at him. “Not personality wise Noah but you know experienced and commanding.” She thought of Deodzi and her most recent previous host Koedi and the authority and command they had worked so hard and long to achieve.
Would Leoini achieve such success?
“You’re a con-joined Trill, how much more experienced can people get?”
She considered his point as very valid as she already felt she carried a certain natural authority derived from the Jex symbiont.
“Touché Noah. Look here we are.”
Upon entering the VIP lounge, Jex smiled exuberantly as she took in the small crowd gathered around circular tables of finger foods and harmless drinks.
She did note that the hall was a rather small affair and it brought home that she was back serving aboard a
Miranda. Fond memories though the class of ship held it did remind her of cramped conditions and a yearning for space and the thrill of getting to planet-side in an away team mission.
Looking about they spied a great number of the senior crew from the bridge mixing throughout the informal gathering. Gardner was there but was chomping through the appetisers as if they were his evening meal; which in fact they were, for he was soon about to leave. The engineer’s report did not make for pleasant reading and the Captain’s reaction even less so. The party was merely a pit stop to refuel and then charge back at the list of lists of jobs to be completed.
His fierce chewing and deportment made the other engineering personnel nervous and on edge as they understood the mood and the extent of the report’s findings. They therefore were under no illusions that they would find themselves called back by the Chief to engineering one by one, as the evening wore on.
Holding centre court of the whole proceedings was Cartwright. Checking everyone had a drink and making small talk with passing crewmembers. She held a champagne flute in her hand but drank nothing from it. She was engaged in telling Gardner to slow down before he did himself a disservice or end up with indigestion. He looked up at her as he continued to chew ignominiously and then as if in defiance of her. She decided to ignore his petulance.
Spying Cutler and Jex she started to make her way over to them bidding a yeoman carrying a tray of drinks to follow her.
As she traversed the room, she passed Stanley stood espousing to a science ensign about some interesting fact or other. He turned to see where the Commander was headed, smiling benignly when he saw whom.
“I’m glad our almost guests of honour decided to show up. We were beginning to think the Captain had waylaid you on the way back from Engineering or left you stranded on the hull.” She proffered two glasses of champagne and thanked the startlingly beautiful female yeoman who smiled demurely in reply before slinking away.
“Oh the Captain thought to show us
another route to auxiliary control via the conduits.”
“How very considerate of him.”
They laughed politely. “That said take it all onboard. An intimate knowledge of the vessel you serve aboard is vitally important. Not to mention the Captain is a stickler for it. It will also be very useful knowledge in the next coming days as the engineer’s report is less than satisfactory.”
With that, Gardner with two of his comrades glumly in tow retreated from the mess hall. “Hence the foul mood of our dear engineer – his excuse on this occasion at least. Not to worry you dear.” She placed a hand on Jex. “He’s a whiz in the engine room if not in the personality stakes. I never said that mind.”
She laughed softly, winked and then by turn serious again said to Cutler, “And Mr Cutler you’ll find yourself crawling through those Jeffries and conduits over the next coming weeks as we chase down one errant system after the other. The operating systems are one of the Captain’s priorities. So that will be our priority, understood?”
Cartwright turned them into the room and pushed them forward. “Let’s go meet some people. Where’s Templar at?”
They shrugged in unison. “Ah well his loss.” She reflected on the reasons for the ensign’s absence and inferred much from the jacket she had read on him but mentioned none of this to Jex or Cutler of course.
She steered them towards the mysterious navigation officer. “Stanley our new ensigns. I would also like you two to meet Matt Duffy. Chat to him a bit and you’ll find that even the new ensigns eventually find their feet with us.” She raised her eyebrows as she added with mock severity, “If they survive.”
Cutler laughed nervously. Matt shook his hand then. “Not to worry guys it is a fine ship with a great crew. You’ll soon get to grips with the way things work around here. The first thing to learn is that when a party is being held take full advantage of the fact!”
Cartwright raised her glass and merrily added, “I’ll drink to that!”
They all raised their glasses in good spirits and mirth. Even as they did, another crewmember from engineering tapped his commbadge in response to a call from Gardner. Gardner hadn’t even made it to Engineering himself before starting to call personnel back.
More to herself but not quite quiet enough for them not to overhear Molly said, “Eddie I despair of you at times.”
“So Miss Jex how many hosts have you had?”
In matriarchal tones Cartwright scolded, “
Stanley!”
“Eh ... oh it is ok Commander Cartwright.”
“Why did I say something offensive? I merely enquired...”
“We know what you enquired. It is not exactly good protocol to ask a Trill such a question.”
Cutler added without thought, “Besides if you give it long enough they will soon tell you!” He then looked appalled at his slip but Jex happily laughed at his good-natured and in her case at least observant barb.
“Cutler might have a point there. It is always an honour to be accepted into the Trill initiate and often it is a real thrill. As a girl, I, that is Leoini, but always dreamed of being accepted and becoming a host. There hadn’t been a host in our family for three generations for one reason or another. So it was an absolute thrill to be accepted especially as I was almost halfway through my training at Starfleet. Everything fell into place at the one time and I guess ever since I have been joined with Jex all I can do is talk about her and her past lives. It truly is life altering and no doubt once I got back to Starfleet Academy all I could do was talk to friends like Noah about it.”
“I see. And is it the case with other Trill hosts? I must admit ensign to never meeting a Trill host before.”
“Well for what it is worth I have never met anyone from your species!” There was a pregnant pause and a vacant look from Stanley at this statement. Jex continued, “I dare say other hosts have exercised a greater discretion than me but I see myself as an extension of the Jex personality too therefore it seems only reasonable to talk about myself like anyone would. In answer to your question, this is my fourth co-joining Stanley.”
“How very exciting. And has Jex served in Starfleet before?”
“Oh yes, twice. Deodzi was the first to as a lieutenant when she was joined, rose to the rank of Commander, and served for twenty-three years. The Jex symbiont found the experience rewarding, especially as one of the first joined Trill in Starfleet, though at the time it was something we tended to keep rather guarded."
"Anyhow, after that experience Jex really enjoyed and got a lot from being a part of Starfleet. It’s a great way of experiencing new worlds and people and cultures. As a symbiote, experiencing new things is part of the joy. That’s one reason why ‘Jex’ chose ‘Leoini’ because she was already signed up to Starfleet but was starting out. In fact, Jex’s first berth was also a
Miranda vessel so history is repeating itself. Mind you it was when the
Miranda was the cutting edge of Federation technology.”
“And how did Deodzi die?”
“Now that is inappropriate Stanley! Sorry ensign Stanley sometimes does not have the same tact as the rest of us at times. He means no offence he is just naturally inquisitive and quite innocent of malice of any kind.”
Stanley did not appear to be embarrassed or annoyed at his own indiscretion but blinked blankly. Jex stared at him for a whole minute with him not responding. When she realised nothing was forthcoming Jex decided to change tact.
This however, prompted Stanley to speak. “I apologise ensign. My manners are not always what they should be. Hardly surprising when one considers my upbringing.”
“Your upbringing?”
“As you alluded yourself ensign, you have never seen another of my species before. That is hardly surprising. I am the only one of my kind.”
Molly sagely and sympathetically nodded her head. “I’m afraid our Stanley is a one of a kind. No records. No other specimen of his kind ever seen.” They all looked at Stanley in a new light. Sympathy held in those looks. Stanley grinned widely at the attention unsure of the correct response. “He was discovered by of all people the Captain, alone on a desolated craft devoid of life or evidence of where it had come from.”
“That is correct Commander. The good Captain found me as a small child. I was probably in my teens. I cannot say for sure as I have no memory of my existence before this time.”
“Wow brain freeze! And did they ever glean information from the craft they discovered you from?”
“No, alas it was destroyed in the
Event.”
“Oh right.”
Cutler frowned. “The ...
Event? What do you mean?”
“The time shift event that threw us both into the future by sixty years.”
“Time shift?” Cutler asked disbelievingly.
“Sixty years!” exclaimed Jex.
Ensign Matt Duffy expressed his astonishment at their not knowing. “I’m surprised they didn’t fill you in on the details at assignment detail. By means of making duty on an aging Miranda in the back of beyond border patrol shift seem that bit more appealing.”
“You mean to tell me Duffy that that was your only reason for appreciating your posting aboard the
Kestrel. I am sorry to hear that or should I say you are going to be sorry that I heard that.” The small party laughed at the Commander’s joke. Matt hoped it was a joke.
“Er ... no actually they just sent us packing without explanation as to our posting. Said something about it being a requested posting.”
“I dare say! The Captain, more than any other, hand picks his crew. For whatever reason he finds in your experience, Academy record or personal background an asset he can use aboard the
Kestrel. He has an uncanny talent spotting ability.”
“Kinda blowing your own trumpet there Duffy.”
“Oh sorry Commander I didn’t mean ... I mean ... well ...” He petered out unable to explain himself.
“Yeah whatever. Duffy has a point; the Captain often has his reasons for posting you aboard. However, any Captain tends to carefully review the staffing of their ship. Duffy here is a whizz from his Academy days at manipulating the deflector and lateral shields for any number of purposes. He uses his scientific knowledge to great effect making even hardened engineers like Gardner blush at his ability to strengthen communications, sensors and shields."
"Of course Stanley here is a somewhat personal charge of the Captain’s ever since he discovered him but he also proved to be an expert linguist and a very shrewd intelligence operative even if he has an amazing lack of tact and inability to read people at times.”
“And yourself Commander? If that’s not too impertinent.”
Jex thought she noticed the Commander hesitate, but it was so quick she could not be sure; nevertheless, she found the commander appeared to evade details as she answered, “I’d served with the Captain before. When he saw I was available once more he offered me the post as his executive officer.”
“That doesn’t explain how you served with him before.”
“He was a lieutenant aboard the
Kestrel before I moved on to my next assignment. He must have liked what he saw. Speaking of which on your ship’s tour did you like what you saw?”
“Oh yes. As I said I’d served on a
Miranda class before so it brought back great memories. From the stairwells to the library to the knocking shop bubbles!”
Molly laughed aloud as Jex realised how frank she had been. “I see your previous time aboard was put to good use! You didn’t perchance call the viewing galleries on deck nine the knocking shop bubbles in front of the Captain?”
Blushing slightly Jex demurred, “It may have accidently slipped out at that point in the tour.”
“And how pray tell did he react?” Molly enquired teasingly knowing full well how debauched McGregor was.
“Rather ... cheerily. In good humour.”
“I’m sure. I’m surprised his eyebrows didn’t fall off! Don’t encourage him so though ensign. He’s a tough, smart and deadly Captain but he’s not exactly professional ... or chaste.”
“No I had gathered as much. But he definitely knows the ship inside and out! I might have fond memories of the
Miranda class but I never got such an up close and personal view of a ship before. It looks very majestic when you’re stood on the hull overlooking it all.”
Molly nodded her head too in appreciation. “She’s a tough bird the Kestrel and a beauty in flight. I take it he showcased his upgraded tractor beams.”
“Yes definitely.”
“If we get nothing else out of this refit those tractor emitters will be his joy and blessing. They were always a source of pride for him. He likes the idea that for the little vessel we are we could swing a Galaxy class around like a cat by the tail. So upgraded and strengthened he is going to be cock a hoop about them. He’s just itching to try them out.”
“Yes I think he was going to demonstrate them by grabbing a passing runabout but we managed to dissuade him. Isn’t that right Noah?” She turned to her friend who had remained studiously quiet throughout.
But Noah was miles away in thought. Brought to, he blurted out without consideration for the current conversation, “Mnu Subreliqui? Sorry how do you know that to be your name if you have no memory?”
He's a riot nevertheless.
Glad you like. Yes he is outrageous and probably causes quite a number of Board of Enquiry to formed but I much doubt he'd fall into line because he's told.
Hope they add a little colour to the story and thanks for the comment CeJay. Not sure about a series but do plan a longish story.
