Naomi laid on her back. Her eyes locked onto a photo featuring her mother and her, both frozen in a happy moment. A finger traced her own wide smile as she reflected on her decision. Her attention lingered for a few more moments before she rolled over onto her stomach. She placed it on her bedside table where it belonged.

Feeling her frustration loomed over her, Naomi shoved her face into her pillow and screamed.

“What’s got you all twisted up?” Officer Tayna Madi asked.

The dark chocolate skinned woman lifted her eyes from a book and glared at Naomi. She didn’t enjoy having her peace spoiled by the outburst. When Naomi remained faced down, Tayna sighed then marked her book for later. She twisted about and walked over.

Naomi could feel Tay, a nickname she gave the woman, study her. Her skin bubbled into goosebumps before finally tossing herself onto her side.

“This!” Naomi fought the urge to toss her PADD at Tay.

Taken by surprise, Tay managed to catch it before it fell onto the floor. She gave a subtle huff and began to read it. Silence passed until she broke it with a simple question.

“So… you considering it?”

Naomi gave Tay a dark look which melted into exhaustion. Once more she moved to her back.

“I don’t know. It’s been a few years since I talked to her and now, out of the blue, she wants me to come and see her? I doubt that bloody ba-”

“Language!” Tay snapped, interrupting Naomi.

This earned her another sour look, but the woman didn’t care. She crossed her arms over her chest and stood her ground. Mentally, Naomi cursed Tay’s parents for being so strict over certain vocabulary.

“We are adults. You do know this, right?” Naomi pointed out.

“I don’t care. You know the one rule I have is you cut down on cursing.”

“Fine.”

Naomi shoved her face back into the pillow.

“For crying out loud, are you going to be this way all day?”

Naomi lifted her face long enough to answer, “Yes.”

Tay growled then gripped the bed sheets and flipped Naomi off the bed. She landed with a heavy thump on her butt.

“HEY! What was that f-”

Tay didn’t let Naomi finish that sentence as she ripped the blond onto her feet. With a determined pace, she led her into the hall.

“I have a better solution then mopping around all day,” Tay explained, making a beeline for Deck-B.

It took a bit for Naomi to get her orientation, but she shortly realized where they were heading. Recreational Facilities. Naomi arched her eyebrow then asked a question.

“Why are we to the Rec room? How is this going to help me?”

“I recently put in a request for portable punching bags so the crew could keep in shape. I find hitting something or someone tends to help me cool off and resolve things,” Tay explained.

She smirked then added, “Besides, weren’t you the one that wanted to learn how to defend yourself better?”

–ENS Naomi D. Locke, Sci.