Middle Decks

Posted on Thu Oct 17th, 2024 @ 4:03pm by Ensign Gazo Daw & Cadet Senior Grade Abigail Gordon & Ensign Gianna Djokovic

1,993 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Interlude 1 Gamma Quadrant
Location: USS Firebird, Deck 5, Crew Quarters

[ON]

Daw was finally in his bunk. Over the last several days, he'd been assigned to five different tasks, none of which he'd actually been trained for. He hadn't seen an engine room in weeks. He had almost been killed by a Lorca, removed a blockage in a sewer system pipe, did an EVA on DS18 to do some repairs on a communications hub, and had almost been killed by a Klingon.

"You know what we need, Gia?" Daw asked and then continued. "We need some holodeck time. I'd love to do some exploring in a lost city or something. That sounds really great.

Gia was in her bunk, directly across from Daw, propped up on a pillow with legs casually crossed. She had a painting hung up that had been given to her by the ship's morale officer depicting a swimming scene and stars falling from the sky. Happy memories, or something more haunting, it was hard to tell at first glance. She, too, had been busy recently and it seemed every time they were in the quarters together, at least one of them was sleeping.

"Mmm," she considered, not looking up from the tactical schematics she was studying. Her fingers lightly strummed the edges of the PADD as though it could help her absorb the details any faster. "I could probably be persuaded to live out a Tomb Raider fantasy as long as I get to wear the fedora." She tapped again, like punctuation in thought. "I heard the holodeck schedule is getting tight. They might implement rationing with all the increased use until the ones on the station are working."

Just outside of what would be her new quarters, Abigail could feel the butterflies chasing each other in her stomach. Relax Abigail, it's Gia and Daw. Can't believe you hadn't remembered his name at first. Well here goes nothing, no tripping, Abigail,

One more step forward and the door swished open and she took two more steps inside, Abigail glanced around eagerly taking in her surroundings noting what was on the wall, Her eyes stopped on Gia first, then slid towards Daw.

"Oh my gosh, it is you!" Moving further in the center of the room. "Hi there I didn't know if we would meet again!"

"Oh my goodness," Gia said slowly as she realized who had walked in after a brief moment of confusion. "Abby?" She hopped down off the bunk, wearing an Academy-issued t-shirt, shorts, and socks.

She wasn't entirely sure. The Academy -- technically she was still in the Academy, but the experience seemed so long ago and they were stranded in the Gamma Quadrant now, it wasn't like people from your past just suddenly showed up unannounced. "I... I haven't seen you since..." Gia had to think a moment, but she eventually remembered with a sudden laugh, "The Great Breakfast Fiasco. How... how on earth did you get here?"

A rather red hue colored Abby's face, her mind flashing back to the Incident Then she laughed, "Uh well that was certainly quite the event wasn't it?! And once again I will apologize for that happening. I had noticed that when I went to the replicator people would steer rather clear of me." giving a nonchalant shrug, then sheepishly chuckled.

"As for how I got here? I well-...that is... " pressing her index fingers together looking a little bit embarrassed, "I got lost. I missed my connection with the USS Constitution, my transport had been late, so I was stuck on the station. And I was on the station when it got attacked. Anyway long story short I found my way to the Captain's office and now here I am. I feel rather ecstatic finding you both!"

Daw sat up on his bunk and let his legs hang over the edge of his bed. "This is the most unexpected roommate assignment I have ever had. That includes Cadet B'rov. Who, if you remember, is the only stinky Vulcan in the universe!" Daw slid off the bed and onto the floor. And don't worry about the eggs thing, we have this four-armed chef named Kalstri who makes the eggs himself. So there's no chance you will get enough eggs to cover all of our faces."

Gia smiled as Abigail told her story of getting lost and then found. That's so Abi, she thought to herself, happy the fellow cadet was safe at any rate. She then cast an amused look toward Daw and hooked her head. Every time he brought up his old roommate, he wasn't sure if she felt more pity for Daw or B'rov. "You know he wasn't doing it on purpose," she chided with a laugh.

"Okay, so," Gia said with a change in tone as she turned back to Abigail. "Daw and I were just thinking about a trip to the holodeck. He wanted to do ruins, but I think maybe something less stressful might be in order until you've had some time to recover. Are you up for it? It's okay if not."

"Actually that sounds wonderful, especially getting the chance to be around you, minus scrambled eggs." Abi gave a light laugh. "And actually I am game for either one. I know that I faced some, well, some challenging circumstances, but something that has excitement and it is under a controlled situation. I think I would be okay with it. " as she uttered those words she went and took the empty bunk near Gia's.

"And Daw, I am sorry to hear about that happening. Poor Cadet B'rov as well," Abi said.

Daw shrugged. "Just part of the experience I guess," he said and turned to Gia. "If we want something different we could do the Pythos moonwalk. It's the one that has those elevated walking paths that weave through mountains covered with greenery and some beautiful mineral deposits. Plus the sky is fantastic. Four other moons of different colors, close enough to see detail, and Pythos itself. And who doesn't love a purple planet?"

"My favorite color," Gia noted with a smile and a light half-shrug as her gaze wandered back to Abi. "I'm in. You?"

"Oh most definitely count me in! And a purple planet. Oh, my gosh, that sounds so pretty. " Abby enthusiastically answered. "it won't take me long to get ready. I'll unpack my other things later on, "she said, feeling the butterflies in her stomach fade away. Just being with two people that she knew, was making her feel more at home.

As she pulled out some clothing that would be best for walking, Abi remarked. "It does my heart good, that I'm bunking with you both. Just making what happened early on go into the background."

[Holodeck 1

"Computer, load program Pythos Beta Sixteen," Daw said, and a moment later the computer replied.

<=>Program Ready<=>

He looked at his two academy friends. "Let's go," he said and stepped forward. The holodeck doorway slid open, revealing a stunning vista. Directly in front of the three of them was a wide walkway, easily big enough for five or six people to walk abreast. The surface of the walkway was gray and made of a rough material to provide a better grip when walking. The walkway itself hung in the middle of a circular, transparent tube that extended into the distance. They were starting in the middle of Python's moons, one of which dominated their view. It was a vibrant orange that contrasted sharply with the deep purple of the planet behind it. To their left was a backdrop of pitch darkness, split at places with specks of light from distant stars.

"Pretty great, eh?" Daw said, spreading his hands and motioning at the view. "Oh, and we can even take side tubes down to the moons if we want!"

"How did you even find this?" Gia marveled as she turned 360 degrees to take in the panoramic vista.

Just like a kid in a candy shop pressing their nose against the window and looking longingly at the goodies on the other side of the glass, Abi was up against the tube staring out at the panorama that was being offered. "Oh my gosh! So many selections. I don't quite know which one I want to look at first!" turning to look at both Gia and Daw.

Daw grinned at his friends' reactions. "I was poking around in the holodeck database a few months ago, looking for any way to alleviate the boredom and this caught my attention. It was created by a former officer named Luka Stern. She made a few really good programs actually," he said. "Let's just walk a bit and then we can choose one. "

Daw motioned for them to follow and began walking. The colors radiated through parts of the tunnel, casting it in deep purple and brilliant orange at irregular intervals.

"Oh, I remember Luka," Gia said fondly as she fell into step next to her best friend. "I never really knew her well, though I do remember thinking she seemed to have everything together. Unlike me, I was kind of a mess back then," she laughed softly under her breath as she looked over at the two others. "I was a different person as a Crewman Recruit. I'm glad you guys didn't know me then."

"Nah, you a mess? " Abi briefly looked towards Gia. "I can scarcely believe that at all. Now you were a mess back when that mishap happened with the scrambled eggs. and that was my fault. However... " turning her attention back to the colors that were playing about them. "I think we all were a bit of a mess during our crewman years, but look at you, you are so poised, well put together. I've always admired you where that was concerned, Gia. And there is you Daw, just something about you gave an aura of calmness."

Daw smiled at Abi's words. "I guess being known for calmness is a good thing. Although, Gia might disagree because not long ago I was screaming and yelling as a Lorcan was trying to kill me," He said and then they walked in silence for a while. He saw a speck of light growing brighter on their left. Against the backdrop of blackness, he saw something moving rapidly, leaving a smear of light trailing behind it.

"Look! A comet."

"Ooh make a wish!" Abi paused to watch the comet cross the sky, then closed her eyes making a wish. Sure it wasn't a falling star but still something fabulous to send a wish upon. Now what that wish was? Perhaps that will be revealed someday down the line. Her eyes opened to look at both Gia and Daw, feeling her heart fill with contentment and peace, Today was turning out to be a great day!

Gia gazed at the comet as it streaked across the sky, feeling a calm wash over her. She took a deep breath, letting the beauty of the moment settle in. "You know," she said softly, "I don't think I've taken the time to really appreciate something like this in... well, a long time. It's easy to get caught up in everything -- the missions, the duty. But being here, with you two..." She trailed off, a small smile playing on her lips. "It makes me feel like things are going to be okay. Maybe we just need more moments like this."

[OFF]

Cadet Senior Grade Abigail Gordon
Nurse
USS Firebird NCC-88298

tag

Ensign Gazo Daw (NPC by Llwyedd)
Propulsion Specialist / Security Officer
USS Firebird NCC-88298


Ensign Gianna Djokovic (NPC by Woodhouse)
Tactical Officer
USS Firebird NCC-88298

 

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