Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade James Rowe (Scientist) in Pre-Sim/Around Memorial Transfer - Deck 16 Holodeck (Open)
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The bartender returned with Rowe’s Old Fashioned, and Rowe slipped him a couple of bills that the program had included in his costume change as thanks. James took a sip and was met by a drink as stout as he’d expected but he couldn’t help but love the burn it sent across his entire nervous system. As the drink soothed his tired nerves, Rowe relaxed and allowed his mind and eyes to wander as he watched the gathering crowd. Then his eyes settled on a familiar figure, a younger woman in medical blue at the bar. His gaze lingered as he tried to figure out where he knew her from, but when he caught himself staring he consciously chose to look away. That’s when it clicked for him. It was the same woman from the Memorial welcome party.

He didn’t know her, and couldn’t explain why she seemed familiar… but this was twice he’d found himself staring at her… sure she was an attractive young woman, but that’s now what this was. He took another pull from his glass to quiet his mind. He wasn’t going to solve the mystery tonight, so he should put it away. Perhaps she reminded him of someone… maybe he was infatuated… regardless, he didn’t want to make the doctor uncomfortable by staring at her from across a dark room.

Rowe

Talia sat at the bar, legs crossed, with one boot tapping the air to the beat of the music. What a wonderful program! She found herself smiling for no reason as she looked out over the patrons, admiring their clothes. “Computer, change my clothing to something more appropriate.” And just like that, a slinky evening gown in green and gold, replaced her uniform. “Oh I like this!” Her comment was only to herself, but realizing anyone within hearing distance might be a real person, she looked around slightly embarrassed. That was when she spotted Rowe.

Something about him was familiar but she couldn’t put her finger on just what it was. Still, it was enough to prompt her to say something. “Excuse me, have we met before?”

Lieutenant Junior Grade Talia Ren
Doctor USS Athena

bump

Lieutenant Junior Grade Talia Ren
Doctor USS Athena

As Talia spoke, Rowe realized he’d failed to appear inconspicuous. As he looked more closely at the woman he was certain that they hadn’t met before, and yet she felt super familiar. “I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure. My name is James Rowe.” He said casually.

-Rowe

She said the name over in her mind. “Hmm, nothing is coming up on my radar, but you seem familiar for some reason.” Here, she shrugged. “Oh well, I’m sure it will come to me if I wait long enough.” She took the stool nearest him. He probably had 20 years on her but that didn’t matter at the moment. She held out a gloved hand. “Talia Ren, nice to meet you.”

Lieutenant Junior Grade Talia Ren
Doctor USS Athena

James shook the offered hand which felt particularly dainty in his larger one. “Nice to meet you Talia.” He flagged the barman down as he was looking to deliver the martini, but Talia had changed seats. “So doc, what brings you into a poorly lit joint like this one?”

Rowe

She nodded at the barman as he set the drink in front of her. “I was raised on a Federation medical colony that didn’t have much variety to offer besides its specialization in post warp trauma recovery. I craved more…wanted every experience I cound manage. That’s how I came to be with Starfleet and I suppose why I walked in the door to this program tonight. The music sounded soulful and the people are beautiful.” She sipped at the martini and set it back down. “I’m always up for a new experience, so here I am. What brought you here? Is this your program?”

Lieutenant Junior Grade Talia Ren
Doctor USS Athena

Rowe remained silent a moment after she mentioned her colony’s specialization… surely that was purely a coincidence, though Rowe didn’t believe in such a thing. As massive as the known universe was, the chances of ending up on the same ship.... astronomical… he shook himself out of the thought, hoping that it was simply the old paranoia creeping in. “No I can’t take credit for the program, though I wish I could. I just came in looking for good drink and bad music… both are thankfully exceeding my expectations.” Rowe watched as one of the musicians took his time riffing on a stringed instrument.

“It’s nice to be someplace that feels less sterile.” Rowe said casually. “I’m still relatively new to ships… the near perfect sanitary conditions are surprisingly the hardest adjustment. There’s just something atmospheric about unfiltered air.” Realizing he was rambling, the man took another pull from his glass.

• Rowe

Talia traced the pad of a finger around the lip of her martini glass. “I understand what you mean. I’ve spent the majority of my life around ‘sterile’ conditions because of all the medical facilities I’ve been in and grew up around. Sterile air doesn’t have any smell. It’s too clean.” She smiled at James and took another sip. “It’s like water. Do you agree that water tastes differently depending on where you get it from? Have you ever tasted some from a mountain stream? Delicious!” She laughed softly, hoping he didn’t think she was talking like a ‘kid’.

Lieutenant Junior Grade Talia Ren
Doctor USS Athena

“You’re not wrong…” he said thoughtfully. “You have to be careful though and make sure the quality of the stream is up to par… if not… your stomach may want to revolt for a few days.” Her talk of medical facilities hit him again with a strange sense of knowing her more than he should, but he had to keep that to himself… if details around his treatment came out… James took a long pull from his glass choosing to cast the thought train aside for now.

“So have you found any fun diversions on the ship thus far?”

Rowe

“Not yet, but I haven’t been here long. I’m sure there are programs here in the holodecks that would be lovely to get lost in.” She drank most of the martini then and signalled for another. “I know there’s a gym and I like to run–it builds stamina. I’m pretty sure there’s a large arboretum too, so, there’s that. I know it may be silly, but I’m hoping for a swimming pool of any size.” She looked down with a little embarrassment, her long lashes brushing against her cheeks.

“What about you? You said you’ve been here for a little while—what has perked up your interest?”

Lieutenant Junior Grade Talia Ren
Doctor USS Athena

“Well my interests are pretty varied.” He said noncommittally “But I find it’s hard to go wrong with good drink and mediocre to above average music.” His tone was light as he spoke with a humor that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Honestly it takes a bit for me to get settled in, so it has been a lot of routine building. Up early, get a workout in before my body has a chance to revolt, generic replicator breakfast, duty shift, generic replicator dinner, sleep, rinse and repeat. This is a nice break from that norm.”

Rowe

Talia shrugged, “That doesn’t sound exciting in the least. Have you tried signing up for time on one of the holodecks? I’m sure that a ship this size has a lot of programs that are open for individual use. Surely, you could find something that would get your blood pumping. Don’t you think?” Of course, maybe Rowe wasn’t ready to step outside of routine yet. In her experience, the doctor had found that everyone went about independence and social interaction at their own pace if allowed, and times for each varied according to the person.

“Oh I’m sure the Athena has plenty of somethings or someones to get the blood pumping.” He said, unable to catch the inuendo before it slipped from his lips. Rowe thought, ‘What the hell was that James? This woman is too young to say things like that to. You absolutely come across as a creep.’ In the same instant he tried to to transition the conversation in a way that hopefully allowed him to save face. “What have you found to divert you since coming aboard?”

“I like to walk or sit and contemplate in the arboretum—especially if my mind is jumbled. It’s an easy way to smooth out conflicting thoughts and feelings. “Would you excuse me for a moment? I need the ladie’s room.” Scanning the perimeter of the bar, she noticed a sign in one corner and slid down from her stool. The gown formed around her figure now in a more intimate way, highlighting the contours. With a nod, Talia headed off to the area, hoping James would still be there when she returned.

Rowe was unsure if she genuinely needed to use the facilities or if she was looking for a way to make a polite exit, but when she moved in the direction opposite of the entrance arch he blew out his breath in a raspberry. He downed the rest of his Old Fashioned, welcoming the alcoholic burn it sent down his spine and tipped his glass to the bartender to indicate he wanted another.

After using the facilities and while standing at the sink, Talia experienced a mild neural episode. She felt the space around her fluctuating and leaned against the counter, hands planted firmly against it. The neural link showed her a memory of her hand clasped with the patient she’d undergone the Neural Phase Echo Transfer with. On the way to the procedure, she’d held his hand, lending him strength and telling him it would all be alright. In her mind, that’s what she saw now. It was short and innocuous, but the link was active—she could feel it just like all the other times.

It passed after a moment. Talia took a couple of steadying breath and made sure her appearance hadn’t changed, then left the restroom and returned to the bar. After mounting her stool again, she downed the fresh dirty martini that was waiting for her and tried to calm her mannerisms.

Lieutenant Junior Grade Talia Ren
Doctor USS Athena

James had grown accustomed to the near constant creepy-crawly sensation his nerves played out, especially in his feet and legs… he was less comfortable when they showed up in other areas of his body. As he sat alone at the bar waiting for his fresh glass, the sensation started creeping from his left elbow towards his hand… his nerves itched in his left wrist bad enough that he physically scratched at his arm in an attempt to alleviate the sensation. The worst however was when the sensations started in his face or brain. Just left of center behind his brow, Rowe felt an uncomfortable tightness… spreading out from there the creepy-crawly sensation crept across his left brow to his ear and along the cheekbone under his right eye. The man tried rubbing the skin of his left brow between thumb and index finger, but the pressure did nothing to alleviate the symptoms. Then slowly the moment passed, like an ocean swell moving on its way. As the last of the sensation retreated back to his left ankle the bartender returned with a fresh drink. Rowe tipped the man generously in the program’s currency, and took a sip finding comfort in the burn that he could explain.

Rowe

Her companion seemed a little less talkative when she looked his way, which was a disappointment. She’d finally found someone to have a normal conversation with and in her absence to the rest room, something must have happened. “Are you alright?”

Rowe physically shook himself out of his momentary absence, looking again now at Talia not realizing she’d already made it back.

“Did something happen while I was gone?” If she applied the question to herself, her eyes were possibly brighter with tension and her pulse beat harder, but aside from that, Talia thought she must be pulling off her regular demeanor.

Lieutenant Junior Grade Talia Ren
Doctor USS Athena

“Sorry about that, I got lost in the ‘feeling’ of a memory.” He said his own tone made it clear that the concept confused him even as he spoke about it. “One of those situations where the body remembers things that the mind might not… at least initially. I’m cognitively back now.”

Rowe

Her brows knit. That was a strange thing to say, wasn’t it? Lost in the feeling of a memory he couldn’t recall? “Okaaay. If you say so.” She glanced around the bar again and then focused on James. “So what do you do on the Athena? My job isn’t a mystery because I work in sickbay.”

Lieutenant Junior Grade Talia Ren
Doctor USS Athena