Pre-Launch Party, Part 5

Posted on Sat Feb 17th, 2024 @ 3:53am by Captain Remy Johansen & Lieutenant Commander Nash Winters & Lieutenant JG Ta'Feel Anith Usskik & Ensign Cha'joga d/o H'gren & Civillian Sara Winters
Edited on on Sat Feb 17th, 2024 @ 4:32am

1,950 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: The Menagerie: side stories & mischief making
Location: Ten-Forward Pre-Launch Party
Timeline: The Night Before Launch, After Part 4

Lt JG Ta'Feel had heard of the party in passing when one of the patients that had entered Sickbay had been discussing it with someone else. Ta'Feel decided that, being new to this ship, actually this being Hir first assignment, that watching all the beings interact would be something that would be very beneficial to Hir knowledge. Sei found a table near the entrance, ordered a Mielcelovo nectar, and sat quietly, watching as everyone interacted.

Remy noticed the new Chief Medical Officer step into Ten Forward. She was glad. She was using the evening as a way to catch up with officers that she hadn't been able to have formal meetings with in the the whirlwind of events over the past three or four days. She approached the table where the doctor had taken a seat.

As Commander Johansen was approaching Hir table, Ta'Feel's had been communicating telepathically with the members of her family unit, which were currently still located in their quarters. Anyone that was looking at Ta'Feel could see Hir eyes change from their normal aqua color, to each eye independently go through a series of poly-chromatic color changes for a very brief time, before reverting to their normal color.

As the Commander approached, Ta'Feel indicated to Hir "spouses" that Sei would be communicating with other beings in the lounge.

"Dr. Ta'Feel?" Remy stated on approach. "Am I correct in that's how to correctly address you? I'm Remy Johansen. The current Commanding Officer of the Astrea. I apologize I didn't get down to meet you today."

Ta'Feel stood up as the Commander approached. Sei had decided that, in this informal situation, Sei would communicate in what was considered informal .Chix'alk, which meant using simple sentences instead of compound sentences .. that is, unless the other being preferred formal communication.

After a quick double-blink, Ta'Feel's eyes went through very quick poly-chromatic change, while, at the same time, she uttered an almost inaudible monotone series of words. This was followed almost immediately by a response being sent from Hir comm badge. "Commander Johansen is addressing Dr. Ta'Feel correctly." Another quick "blink/speak", as it had been labeled back in Hir Academy days, then another response. "Dr. Ta'Feel is pleased to meet Commander Johansen." This sequence of events continued during Ta'Feel's response. "Ta'Feel acknowledges Commander Johansen's position." Blink/speak. "Commander Johansen's apologies to Dr. Ta'Feel are not needed."

Ta'Feel motioned with Hir right hand, the one that had an opposable thumb, for the Commander to sit at the table. This was accompanied with a blink/speak "Dr. Ta'Feel offers for Commander Johansen to sit."

"Thank you," Remy responded taking the offered chair. "Have you had an opportunity to meet your Sickbay staff yet? Dr. Beckett was particularly worried that you weren't going to be here in time for launch. -- That's sort of meant to be a joke. He doesn't like having to fill in with administrative work at all."

Ta'Feel responded, "I have met the Sickbay staff. It was for a short time period." "Dr. Beckett did say something about the timing of my arrival. He also did mention something about a slight aversion to administrative work." "It may take me some time to understand the customs of each individual. In the mean time I will just observe and self-educate."

Remy sat back in her seat a little. "You came aboard with family, am I right?" She asked.

Ta'Feel responded, "Commander Johansen is correct about Dr. Ta'Feel having family on board." "The .Chix'alk family unit must remain intact as a unit." "The other family members have not been assigned to their departments." "Nallee Anith is awaiting Vis assignment for Vis avocation in the Engineering realm." "Shakal Anith is awaiting Tem assignment for Tem avocation in the Guard." "Zetchurl Anith is awaiting for Eir assignment for Eir avocation in the Science realm." "This will be the first time any of Dr. Ta'Feel' family to have assignments."

"I'm sure that won't take long, things have been a little last minute, a lot of 'moving parts' I'm told," Remy made air quotes with her fingers around the words 'moving parts.' She added, "Though, your family members are always welcome at these events. The Chief Engineer brought his wife earlier."

"Dr. Ta'Feel understands about the many steps needed to finalize their assignments." After a quick tele/speak (where Ta'Feel's eyes cycled through color changes, but Hir horns did not, and there was no vocalization), Sei responded, "My family members had some other activities to attend to before they could attend this function."

"I understand. Well, don't be shy. Everyone is still new here for the most part," Remy said gesturing to the room. "I'm going to say a few more hellos, but then I'm on my way out to wrap a few things up before I turn in for the night. Let me or Commander Lorut know if you need anything though."

-------

"Don't worry, you will find our conversation worth your while." She promised him. "So tell me about yourself, handsome blue one, starting with your name. I am Cha'joga, daughter of H'gren!"

He tried to look back over his shoulder to see if Cormus was going to come after him but couldn't quite turn far enough. At least he had his drink with him. "Grexx. Petty Officer Grexx." It was a weak attempt at best to hope his rank would somehow save him and get him out of this situation. "It's a, a pleasure to meet you Cha'joga, daughter of H'gren." He spotted a couch across the way along the wall under one of the windows "Why don't we take a seat over there?" Truth be told he didn't want to be carted around longer than he had to be and preferred to be bit more comfortable.

"Please, we're all here to party, are we not! Which means your rank's at the door, dear Grexx." Cha'joga grinned and sat him down on the sofa. She crossed one leg over the other and smiled a gleaming white smile at him. "So tell me about you. Anything about you. I shall do the same in exchange." She requested. "A handsome man like you surely must have tales to tell!"

"Well uhm, currently I'm just studying for our upcoming mission, but in the past I was a field medic. I did a couple of rotations attached to security squads and marines. So needless to say I learned to patch folks up pretty quick. What about you? What do you do here on the Astrea?" Grexx took a long drink of his ale and just before setting his drink down he couldn't help but notice a waiter making his way towards the couple with another drink for the both of them. But they had just started. And then he saw it. That smile. The Fletcher smile that was never up to any good. And his friend raising his glass in a toast before turning back to go find trouble of his own.

Cha'joga too had picked up on the ploy at hand. She'd caught sight of his friend grinning at them from a distance away before the waiter approached unprompted with a drink for each of them - not that she was at all complaining about being given the opportunity to tease the handsome young Bolian to her heart's content. She raised her glass in an imaginary toast back to him before turning back to Grexx. "I am a helmsman. My father inspired me, may he battle gloriously in Sto-vo-kor for eternity." Cha'joga tipped back half her drink with a sigh. "No matter! I am not here to discuss my family woes. You were a field medic in the past, you say? What do you do now, then? Are you a nurse in sickbay? Surely you must be, with so much experience in emergency treatment." She added.

"Actually I'm part of the Diplomatic Ops group, we help with taking care of the civilian operations in our area if assignment, so we focus on culture government, infrastructure, diplomacy, resources, a lot. We do our best to advise the command to make the most informed decision. Not exactly as glorious but a lot less bloody at the end of the day, so a nice change of pace. I don't think I could be cooped up in a sick bay all the time." Feeling himself beginning to relax some, the tint in his skin began to darken, with thin horizontal purple and royal blue stripes beginning to appear.

"I quite like Bolians, you know. So many stripes and lines." Cha'joga grinned. "But also so good-looking. Is it true that medical staff treat saying the word quiet as an invitation of bad happenings? I find human superstitions so quaint. If quite amusing."

Grexx shrugged, it wasn't something he'd run across. "Maybe. Most of the superstitions I ran across involved a lucky phaser grip or knife of sort. Or undergarments. On the flip side though you Klingons sure do know how to throw one hell of a party."

"Lucky undergarments! Oh, humans are simply hilarious sometimes!" Cha'joga guffawed. "You've attended Klingon parties before, I presume, to know how grand they can be! Tell me more! I'd love to hear. Hopefully you escaped with all your limbs intact, hm?"

"Parties that had Klingons at them, yes. A couple where they hosted. Always barrels of bloodwine and copious amounts of alcohol. And some interesting music. One learns very quickly how to survive such engagements, traumas included." The Bolian took another drink and glanced around once more.

------

As they made the rounds, Sara smiled and greeted everyone warmly. She had learned-and didn't mind-long ago that her job as Officer's Wife was important, and she liked this kind of thing. Still, she was a little antsy. She was still new and it would take her a little bit to make friends. She was nice, though, and friendly, and it wouldn't take long, she knew.

She stood up as tall as she could to whisper to her husband. "Take me home soon..." she said, her breath warm against his ear. Her intentions were clear if he really knew her, and he did, she was sure of that.

Nash gave Sara a devilish sort of smile and gave her a little peck on the cheek. “I will if you insist. You seemed to be having a good time talking to everyone. But at the same time, I can’t say no with the way you look at me. Come on, pretty one.”

"I insist; Dr. Lorut left just a moment ago, and I don't think anyone else will miss me. You, maybe, but not me," she said. "Let's go," she said, leading her husband out of the room. They'd said hello to everyone, so she didn't feel that bad about leaving. Next time, they'd make sure to stay the whole night.

Nash lovingly put an arm around Sara’s waist and they walked together into the lift that would take them to their quarters. Inside the turbolift, Nash backed his wife into a corner of the car and kissed her passionately. He was longing to be alone with his beautiful wife.

"MMM," Sara moaned lightly, and then giggled. "Let's do a bit more when we get home? I am sure Alex will be in her room, if not already asleep," she said.

>>>> To Part Six >>>>

Nash Winters
Chief Engineer/Second Officer
USS Astrea

Lieutenant JG Ta'Feel Anith Usskik
Chief Medical Officer
USS Astrea

Petty Officer 3rd Class Grexx
Civil Operations Specialist
USS Astrea

Ensign Cha'joga, d/o H'gren
Support Craft Pilot/Helmsman
USS Astrea

Dr. Sara Winters
Civilian Researcher
Mae Jamison Center

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