Distant Chosen

Posted on Wed Jan 1st, 2025 @ 1:40am by Captain Malcom Llwyedd & Lieutenant Gale Deekros

1,114 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Interlude 1 Gamma Quadrant
Location: USS Chionthar
Timeline: 10 years ago

[ON]

“It’s not quite the Enterprise, is it?”

T’ara frowned, and was that a hint of a hiss Gale heard? Evidently, his closest friend didn’t share his reservations. “And what good would the Enterprise be if only one of us was on it? I would rather have a fifty-year-old ship on convoy duty with you than to breathe in rarefied air with Captain Picard.”

Gale held his hands up as they strolled through the Chionthar’s halls, both of their duffel bags swaying along in the rhythm of their stride. The ship had done well in its allotment of recent graduates, as Gale recognized a few familiar faces. “That’s incredibly touching, though you know I wouldn’t begrudge you if you’d been posted there. I mean, you could have put in a word for your incredibly brilliant friend who’d be a credit to any ship’s science division.”

“It’s sounding like you wouldn’t have minded being there alone, even if you weren’t with your friend T’ara,” the Caitian said. “Really, Mr. Deekros, what would your mother say if she knew how ready you were to abandon me on our first posting?”

“I’m not abandoning you,” Gale said, his voice a little louder and higher pitched than he intended. “And I already know Mother would take your side like she always does.” His mother Morena had been utterly charmed by T’ara the moment she met her and her family, and even if Gale was her child by birth, he knew T’ara was her child by choice. “But it’s not what she would say, or even what you or I would say,” Gale continued. “It’s what Arel would say. I just keep wondering what she is thinking, right at this moment.”

“If only there was some sort of technology that would allow her to tell you what she was thinking, right at this moment,” T’ara said, with her trademark withering sarcasm, especially for all things related to his field docent – and more recently, also his lover – Arel Miztra. “Though that would require her to genuinely care for you.”

“I’ve told you, it’s not like that,” Gale said, rubbing at his clean-shaven cheek, at a face he knew still looked younger than his 22 years. “She has to be demanding. She has to expect more out of me. I might be her next host, and Miztra has always expected and gotten the best of the initiates.” He sighed, turning the corner, his sharp memory guiding his steps to the ensigns’ quarters. “And I was just thinking, maybe she’d be more impressed if her next host was assigned to the Enterprise.”

“The lower decks on the Chionthar are just as below the bridge’s notice,” T’ara said, shaking her head. “I know you are painfully eager to prove yourself. But why not prove yourself here – with me, and the friends I hope you’ll make – and save the Enterprise for a more glorious stage of your career when you’re Gale Miztra or whoever you’ll become.”

A slight shudder ran through her shoulders, ruffling her reddish-brown fur, and Gale knew no matter how much he protested, she’d never shake her fear of losing him to his future, Joined self.

“I’ll still be me. Still Gale,” he insisted, gently bumping her shoulder with his own. “Just a better version of me. Like I’ve been telling you for over twelve years.” He frowned and brought them to a stop, steering them to the side of the hallway to allow the other crew – sparse, thankfully, while the ship was at Spacedock – to pass. “What’s brought this on now?”

T’ara tightened her jaw as she ducked her head, and Gale saw a paw go to the collar he knew was beneath her uniform turtleneck, and to the aquamarine pendant that hung from it. He’d given it to her, at her coming of age, and she’d declared it the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen, from the dearest friend she could ask for. He doubted she’d taken it off much since.

“You aren’t getting any younger. Neither is Arel. I know the day she will ask you to do your duty as her chosen is closer, and even though you say who you will become will be better than you are-” T’ara paused, and a low, keening growl came from her chest. “I’m not ready to lose the person you are now. I don’t think I ever will be.”

“Oh dear,” he murmured, drawing the smaller Caitian into his arms. “I’ll still be there. No joining could ever change that. But what matters more is that day hasn’t come, and instead of worrying about it, I propose we drop these far too heavy bags in our quarters-”

“I did suggest we could have your books beamed directly onboard.”

“And risk losing them in transit? Having words or pages transposed? Perish the thought,” Gale said with a chuckle. “But yes, let’s safely deposit my books and your things and see if we can’t get a syntheholic bottle of Blackstaff to celebrate our first commission.”

“Well, that doesn’t sound awful,” T’ara said, the hint of a smile exposing one of her canines. “Besides, I thought I smelled a Betazoid or two back in the hall.”

“T’ara-” Gale rolled his eyes as they resumed the now short walk to their quarters. “Stop threatening to eat every Betazoid you see.”

“All I want is the tiniest nibble. We have dermal regenerators for a reason.”

“I don’t think that’s the reason.” Gale slowed as they approached a door, and let out a low ‘ah-hah!’ of triumph. “Here we are! And the doors should be already coded to our biosignatures so-”

The doors slid open with the almost trademark Starfleet whoosh. Gale entered, and a moment later was bumped into the tiny, cramped, and one could say almost dingy quarters that were to be their home. Two bunks, a desk that wasn’t nearly big enough for him, much less the two of them, the barest sliver of a viewport, the door to what he was certain was an equally disappointing head and refresher, and worst of all, no bookshelves.

T’ara let out a disappointed yowl as she peeked around him, trying to maneuver into the room. “Well. It’s not quite the Enterprise, is it?”

[OFF]

Lieutenant Gale Deekros
Science Officer
USS Firebird NCC-88298

 

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