Posted by Lieutenant Ky’Laria (Scientist) in Meanwhile… on the Station (for those awaiting the ship)

Posted by Ensign Karina Niles (Doctor) in Meanwhile… on the Station (for those awaiting the ship)

Posted by Lieutenant Ky’Laria (Scientist) in Meanwhile… on the Station (for those awaiting the ship)
Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻

“Quite,” Ky’Laria replied quickly; she had actually not intended to withhold her own identity for so long. She turned to face Karina, and with her ever-confident air stated, “I am Ky’Laria.” It was spoken as a single word, lightly as though with a lilt, just touching at the hard consonants between the melodious vowel sounds. “A standard of professionalism is sensible, especially when it seems we have some unplanned work to do.” At that, she gave a curt, affirming nod before facing forward again in the lift. “I have not specified a destination,” she muttered and quickly declared, “Crew lounge. Nearest.”

“A pleasure, Ky’Laria,” her pronunciation, while not perfect, was extremely close.

Being this close to Ky, Karina had the sensation of being close to a power of more than just rank. There was an aire about the woman that spoke of strength, control and the ability to handle anything that came her way. She had sensed it, in at least some degree, around most Command positional folks of nearly any race. It came with practice at being lead, leading and also making choices that left marks of strength on the person doing the choosing.

This woman had the aire of Command, even if she wasn’t Karina’s Commanding Officer.

Karina
Doctor

“You are obviously not part of my chain of command, and I see no reason to report your informality to your own. It would accomplish nothing, especially in the context of whatever perils they are experiencing in this very moment,” she offered, a hint of authoritative staccato to her voice. “I… won’t tell your boss, if you don’t tell mine,” she added much more softly, clearly sounding as though she were trying out the turn of phrase for the first time.

“I believe it is custom to address medical doctors in Starfleet by the title of ‘Doctor,’ rather than rank. That will make it Doctor Niles, then, since at least one of us is in uniform…” As she trailed off, Ky’Laria wore the tiniest smirk.

-Lt. Ky’Laria (Sci)

A sly smirk turned up the edges of Karina’s lips as the phrase was attempted. “Then we are agreed, it shall stay between us. And yes, Doctor Niles is more than sufficient. Even just Niles will work as well.” It dawned on her that Ky had said something that had struck her as odd.

“Unplanned work?” The two words holding a plethora of wonder and curiosity and not a small touch of excitement. For all her proper etiquette and decorum, one thing that got Karina’s attention was discovery. And this woman had just suggested something that the Doctor definitely wanted to discover.

Karina
Doctor

“Were you planning for your ship to disappear into the abyss?” Ky’Laria asked rhetorically in reply.

The turbolift slowed and then gently halted. Once the doors slid open, Ky’Laria stepped out first this time, glanced to each side, and said, “This way,” with a small hand gesture. “We have been handed an extraordinary challenge simply for the opportunity to report for, or return to duty,” she explained as her long strides carried her toward the door to the crew lounge. “And since we will never be able to obtain any lab time in a situation like this, all we have to work with are a set of sensor data on a terminal you’ve never seen the like of before, and…” She wore a grin bearing a hint of mischief as she stopped at the lounge entrance. “An astrophysicist you’ve never seen the like of before. After you, Doctor.”

The ‘nearest’ lounge proved to be no Ten Forward; it was more of a departmental break room, with eight tables, two replicators, and no bar host; it at least had expansive windows to the vast exterior of space, so one could watch shuttles mill about, or the occasional ship float by.

Lt. Ky’Laria (Sci)

Karina half laughed, “No, I don’t even they planned on disappearing.

When Ky said information and a person Karina had never seen the likes of, the Doc took the opportunity to ask. “Forgive me for asking, if it’s rude. But what exactly ‘are’ you. Because I admit I am a bit lost on the species. And while I am sure I will have your medical file when you bored, well,” she shrugged and blushed at the brashness of her own forwardness as they moved into the small break room.

“You wish to be my personal physician, then?” Ky’Laria asked in retort, smiling slightly. “My species is called, Kuras, which actually means simply, ‘people,’ in our language. And, you’ve likely not seen us before due to the fact that there are, at most, sixty-three of us across all of Starfleet. We are not a member of the Federation,” she explained, seemingly content to do so even after centuries of having the conversation.

“And to be honest, I don’t know any Astrophysicists so I can’t say anything other than that you will be the best one I know.” She smiled and tried to get it to come out as a compliment, even if a bit off.

Ky’Laria chuckled breathily at that, glancing to the window. “I shall be sure to live up to the competition,” she remarked, her tone sprinkled with sarcasm. “Bring me any others you meet; I shall have to eliminate them.”

Karina smiled and laughed softly, “I shall remember to do that.”

As the door shushed shut behind them, it wasn’t as small as it looked because of the windows. Karina headed for the replicator and got a large glass of energy juice. She hadn’t eaten since breakfast and her stress from the shuttle ride was starting to dampen so if she didn’t hydrate, she would certainly not be feeling good in the next hour. “Can I get you something, Ky’Laria?” She asked as she after taking a huge draw from the glass and nearly half emptying it before turning to the other woman.

Karina
Doctor

Normally, there was scarce choice beyond water when it came to Ky’Laria’s hydration needs, but at least for curiosity’s sake, she simply had to ask. “What… is that?” she asked, compelled to shift from ‘aloof’ to ‘aback’ and pace slowly toward Karina as the aroma of whatever was in the glass crashed against her olfactory sense.

Lt. Ky’Laria (Sci)

Karina, usually one to answer questions in the context of the conversation was struck by the last question first. “It’s a simple juice with additional energy supliments and vitamins for a body that is lacking nutrients on a regular basis.” She glanced down realizing it probably sounded horrible. “I drink it when I tend to miss meals, which is more than Doc Gray would like.” They were known to keep another at task for eating, though more often than not, they would go the entire shift with neither of them eating. It was a slightly thick red juice with an aroma of various spices but not in a heady way. A combination of vegetables and additional items Karina spoke of, it bordered on the taste of tomato soup without the heat of having just come from the stove.

She held the glass out, “You are welcome to a sip if you wish. As to being your personal physician. I mean, I imagine you could request it of the Doctor when you arrive. But I merely meant I will have access. I have access to all personnel medical files since sometimes I am around when Doctor Gray is not available, or able to handle simpler things if he is engaged with something more important.”

Karina
Doctor