<USS Avalon> Differing Degrees of Lost
- From: TKilyle@xxxxxxx
- To: avalon@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2006 11:49:58 EDT
Differing Degrees of Lost
by Elishvrachen ch'Thane and Joshua Garrity
He'd been on other ships and stations before and there was one thing that
Elishvrachen ch'Thane did on each occasion. He gave himself a tour. He
didn't
usually get lost but, on the rare occasion that he did, he didn't ask the
computer for directions. After all, that was what people were for, he would
tell himself. On this particular occasion, though, there didn't seem to be
any
people about, which seriously made him wonder where he was on the ship.
He walked further, until he heard a noise so soft that another species might
have missed it. Heading in the direction it seemed to come from, he caught
sight of a tall, painfully thin Human with what looked to be borderline
unruly curly hair. Readjusting the portable chess set he had with him
(having
just purchased it on the station), he approached the man. In his whisper soft
voice, he asked, "Excuse me, but where exactly am I?"
"Izar Station, deck one nine two zero, four steps outside critical core
supervisory area, area status restricted," a soft voice, barely audible
answered
with a sigh before turning from the door to face him. Realizing his answer,
though exact, was probably less than helpful, Josh settled on a simpler if
somewhat obvious one. "Lost."
"I think perhaps the second answer was more appropriate," Lish hissed
softly. He lifted his chin, looking around, realizing that the man was
absolutely
right. "This is what I get for not paying attention."
Realizing the man couldn't just go away without some direction, Josh gave
him his full attention, though he still failed to make eye contact. "Where
should you be?" he asked, the slight accent to his voice just noticeable as he
struggled to keep his tone at audible levels.
"The Avalon," Lish replied simply. He watched the stranger from under his
braids, noting that, unlike most Humans, he was not looking him in the eye.
He wondered if the man was either shy or simply well attuned to Andorian body
language, considering that direct eye contact was often seen as an aggressive
sign. "I simply stopped back to the station to make a small purchase
and...ended up here."
Josh switched to Andorian, finding it easier to explain in than Standard, as
he informed the stranger, "B is dead in the water. C isn't boarding yet. Crew
is housed on decks eleven and twelve for now. I'll show you the way."
Lish tilted his antennae forward, acknowledging the offer. "Thank you," he
said softly. "Are you crew then? You wear a shipside uniform."
Josh nodded slightly as he led the way. The gold of his tunic told the rest.
"Then I am pleased to meet you as I am just assigned there. I come with my
bond mate and our child," Lish explained. He sniffed softly in almost
amusement. "Ah and his uncle, who my zhavey feels is necessary to keep an eye
on
me."
Josh's brow went up curiously, but he didn't ask. Reaching the lift, he
gestured for the Andorian to enter.
"It is the nature of many maternal parents to worry after their children,"
Lish explained in reply to the brow. "Mine has yet to grow accustomed to the
fact that I am a full grown adult."
Josh nodded to show his understanding, though it was in truth limited.
Having no recollection of his own mother, and only recently witnessed others in
that position, he could only guess what would be considered normal.
"If I might ask, if you are not station personnel, what were you doing in
the restricted area?" White lashes blinked over gray eyes. "Certainly not two
of us lost."
Josh blushed slightly and shrugged as bright blue eyes took in boot tops
bashfully. He was sort of lost, after all. Perhaps not physically, but still
enough to count. Right?
"Curious engineer perhaps? I have a friend to whom locks and signs mean
nothing," Lish told him. "Of course, she also used to do such things to go
where there were no people and into the pure logic of machinery."
Josh nodded, glad to be saved the need to explain. That was close enough, he
supposed.
"I have no such luxury, though," Lish mused. "I am supposed to talk to
people."
Josh raised a brow at that, and frowned slightly. He'd never manage a job
with that as a requirement. He wouldn't take it. It was more than he could do
most days to converse as much as he did now. He stepped back so that the lift
could close, then shook his head as the man seemed disinclined to move without
him. It would appear he required an escort to the right deck. Sighing, he
stepped into the lift and said softly, "Deck eleven." After repeating it twice
more the lift began to move...
"I am a counselor," Lish explained simply, watching the other man from under
his braids to gauge his reaction. Hardly thrilled but he was used to that.
"I accepted a transfer to Avalon because it had room for families."
Josh nodded, though he found himself wondering if that weren't reason enough
to transfer elsewhere. He bit back a sigh of relief as the lift opened, and
gestured for the new counselor to disembark.
"Ah now this is quite familiar," Lish stated as he looked around. "If I
were of a mind to, I could blame this entire episode on my bond mate's
brother-in-law but I will not."
Josh sighed, nodding slightly as he continued to wait for the Andorian to
leave the lift, uncertain why he hadn't yet.
"In any case, Seren had best find this replacement set suitable," Lish said,
his eyes crinkling in amusement. He offered the engineer a tilt of his head
and antennae. "Thank you for your assistance and I should introduce myself.
I am Elishvrachen ch'Thane."
"Joshua Garrity," Josh answered near silently, eyes on the floor. Fine.
Sure. No problem. You're welcomed. Could he go now?
Lish offered him a slight bow then stepped out of the lift. He held up the
chess set he still had under his arm. "If you are of a mind and care to play
one day, come find me. It would be a pleasure to play."
Sure, Josh nodded slightly. If he ever got in the mood to play a game rather
than doing something productive he could seek out a counselor to spend time
with. Then again, he could just shoot himself and be done with it.
Lish headed back to his cabin (now that he knew where it was), deep in
thought. I believe, he told himself, that I shall not hold my breath waiting
for
that to happen. "That is entirely a shame," he said softly. "Most engineers
are good players."
Josh finally drew the breath he realized he'd been holding since the man
approached. Why did stations always have so many people? Shaking his head
slightly, he instructed (then repeated) the lift where to go, thinking to find
someplace more isolated to be.
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