Posted by Captain Grayson Rhodes (Commanding Officer) in Arrival & Reflections

Posted by Cadet Taya Lenwa (Security Officer) in Arrival & Reflections
After arriving on the Challenger and clearing security checks, Taya was to report to the main security office to meet her department head. Stepping inside, she nervously looked around. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, her mind went back to her leave time back home before she officially began the last step in her academy training.

[Betazed]

Home. It was a long time since Taya had been there and she was filled with mixed feelings. What should have been the carefree days of childhood, the memories of fun and friends, had been a time of more separation and loneliness than any child should have had to endure.

Of course there were many wonderful days; she was still loved and did have some friends, but when you’re a psi null in a race of telepaths, it was easy to be left out.

It was summer on Betazed where her parents house was, the home where she grew up, and she was in the backyard, standing next to the in-ground swimming pool. She stared at the calm surface of the water that reflected the blue sky. It was like a symbol, reminding her of the contrast between what was and what could have been.

“Well, look who’s here.”

Taya turned at the sound of the familiar voice. She had been so deep in her reverie, she hadn’t heard anyone coming.

“Mychal!” Taya ran over, throwing herself into him, his strong arms wrapping around her in a huge hug. “Okay, I can’t breathe,” she gasped.

Mychal let go and took a step back, his hands on the sides of her arms. “Look at you. My baby sister is all gussied up in her shiny Starfleet uniform.”

Taya smiled.

“I really am proud of you,” said Mychal. “You overcame a lot and it made you strong.”

Taya’s stomach fluttered and her eyes felt just a little bit wet. “Thank you. That means a lot.”

“Though I don’t know about you being in security and having to detain a drunk Klingon.”

“You’d be surprised at what I learned.” Taya held up her right hand, her index finger pointing upwards. “I know seventeen ways to kill you with just this one finger.”

Mychal’s hands dropped to his sides, his face showing he wasn’t sure if he should believe her.

Taya chuckled. “So how are you? Have you asked Tiela to marry you yet? What’s been happening? Tell me everything.”

Mychal harrumphed. “I’m not the marrying kind.”

Taya rolled her eyes. Her brother was tall, strong, and handsome. He never had a problem finding a girlfriend.

“Maybe you should be,” said Taya, poking him in the chest with her index finger. “I don’t see me giving Mom and Dad grandchildren any time soon.”

Mychal took a slow step back, eyeing her finger.

“We’ll see. Enough about me. How long can you stay?”

“I have a week of leave time. After that, I’m taking a transport to meet the Challenger.”

“Then we won’t waste even a minute of it,” said Mychal. “I’ve already reached out to your friends. Bonfire tonight at the Tressia house. You can catch us up on your academy adventures.”

Taya smiled. Lona Tressia had been her best friend for years. She stayed by Taya’s side and never treated her like she was broken. It was sad leaving her the day Taya headed off to Earth.

“It really is great to be here,” said Taya. “I know I visited during each summer break, but my last year was intense. There was the pressure to graduate and the competition to be on the list for a prime duty assignment was so heated, I just couldn’t get away.”

A mischievous smile spread across Mychal’s face. “Maybe you need to cool off.”

Before Taya figured out what her brother was doing, he had scooped her up in his arms, moving towards the pool.

“Mychal, no! I’m in my uniform. Please stop!”

“Welcome home, Sis!”

“You son of a…” Taya’s words were lost as she splashed into the cool water, her brother’s hysterical laughter the last thing she heard before she went under.

Cadet Taya Lenwa - Security

OOC: Hi Allen, welcome to the Challenger! Great first post and insight into your characters backstory, I can’t wait to see how you write her going forward. I’m sure you saw the emails sent to you about how to get started, if not, let us know and we can re-send them. Feel free to start your Department Head check in, Medical check in and Counselor check in when you are ready and if you need advice, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Fantastic start!

-Dave

OOC: Hey Allen! Just want to reiterate what Dave said - great first post! I love unique writing styles like this. Based on your first couple lines, I’m thinking this post is also your Department Head check-in thread, but if I’m wrong, please correct me! I don’t want to interrupt Taya’s reflections, so I’ll wait to respond IC (In Character) until you let me know. Excited to write with you!

~ Gavin