Posted by Lieutenant Zoi Haven (Chief of Security) in In-Between Places - Endings and Beginnings

Posted by Ensign Iyun Riani (Scientist) in In-Between Places - Endings and Beginnings

Posted by Lieutenant Zoi Haven (Chief of Security) in In-Between Places - Endings and Beginnings
Posted by… suppressed (1) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Riani was sitting on the bench in front of her family’s home. Her expression was pensive and even a little sad. So much was going through her mind and she found it hard to put any of it into words. Which was part of the reason why she had sought a place where she could be alone.

While she was sitting there, her mother came out of the house and after closing the front door behind her, sat down next to her oldest child. Jadina placed her hand tenderly on Riani’s shoulder and asked gently, “Do you want to talk?”

For a while Ria remained silent, but eventually she said, “I don’t want to leave. I’m going to miss you all so much.” Tears were glistening in her dark eyes and her voice quivered slightly. “I know, sweetheart,” her mother replied as she pulled her close. “We love having you here and we will miss you too. But this is what you dreamed of all your life! And you can’t stay home with us forever. You are a physicist. You should be out there exploring and discovering new stars.”

Resting her head on her mother’s shoulder, Ria looked up at the sky and whispered, “I know you’re right. I just wish I could do both. Or take you all with me.” Kissing the top of her daughter’s head, Jadina said, “I know. But you all have to move out eventually. And it’s not like we’re never going to see each other again.” After a brief pause, she shifted her position so that Ria had to sit upright again and they could see each other properly. As Jadina, continued to talk, her voice was firmer. “We love you and that is exactly why we want you to leave and follow your heart. We had this conversation before, honey, we can’t go through this every time you come home. You’ll be fine and I hope it’ll help you get out of your shell a little.” Cupping Ria’s cheek with her hand, Jadina continued, “I hope you know that I’m not saying this to hurt you.”

Ria nodded, but before she could say anything, her baby sister came running out of the house and flung herself at their mother. “Ammin is mean to me,” Sona mumbled, her face buried in her mothers dress. Looking at Ria, Jadina, said, “We’ll talk more later, okay?” and once Ria nodded, she tried to get more out of the six-year-old to find out what happend between her and her brother.

---

About a week later Riani arrived on Starbase 157, where the USS Ogawa was currently docked for repairs. That conversation with her mother was still ringing in her ears. She knew Jadina was right and yet as gentle as those words had been spoken, they had stung nevertheless. In fact they still stung. But there was nothing she could do about. At least not while she was standing in the middle of a corridor on the Starbase; probably blocking the way. So she adjusted the strap of the heavy bag she was caring and tried to figure out where she had to go to make it to the Ogawa.

Once she got her bearings, she started to make her way towards the correct docking port. Though because the weight of the bag and the fact that there was a lot to look at it would be a while till she actually arrived at her destination. While looking very different, this place still reminded her in some ways of Deep Space Nine. Many fond memories of those years aboard the station came back to the surface of her mind and for a little while pushed the feelings of homesickness and loneliness to the back of her mind.

(snip)

~Ensign Iyun, Scientist

OOC: If someone wants to jump in here please feel free to do so :) ~Silke

OOC: I realised today that the end of my post doesn’t make much sense as the crew was assigned quarters on the Starbase. So I re-wrote the end of my intro post.

IC:
A little while later, Riani arrived at the docking port. A security officer was standing watch there. “Good day, Ensign. I’m here to report for duty on the USS Ogawa,” Ria said as she showed him the PaDD with her orders; all the while trying to sound and appear more confident than she actually felt. Looking at the PaDD, NE Smith said, “The Ogawa is currently undergoing some repairs after being damaged during her last mission. That said, everyone got assigned quarters on the Starbase for the time being. If you give me a moment I’ll see if I can tell you were your temporary quarters are.” Ria nodded in reply. “Thank you.”

It didn’t take NE Smith long to find the information he was looking for. Pulling up a map, he said, “We are here and this”, he moved his finger along the map and then pointed at a different point, “is where your quarters are. Do you think you’ll find the way?” A genuine smile tugged at the corners of her lips and eyes as she replied, “Absolutely. This isn’t my first time living on a Starbase. So I’m sure I’ll find my way. But thank you for asking and for showing me the map. Have a good day.” And with that she turned on her heels and started to make her way towards her temporary quarters.

While walking along the corridors, Ria wondered if it was a bad omen that her first assignment out of the Academy was on a ship that had been badly damaged during her last mission. Well, at least she didn’t get destroyed, she thought to herself. And hopefully that means whatever happened won’t happen again. Or at least not any time soon.

“Ah good! Ensign Iyun.” Came a voice from behind Riani as she started walking towards her quarters. A woman approached her with a fairly quick stride, blonde curly hair and piercing blue eyes. Her pips showed her rank to be Lieutenant and she was dressed in the red uniform of Security. She looked quickly down at her PaDD and made some kind of note. “Well, that checks you off. I trust your travel in wasn’t a hardship. I am Lt. Zoi Haven, Chief of Security for the Ogawa. Would you like an escort to your quarters?”

Lt. Haven, CoS

“Hello Lieutenant,” the petite scientist replied with a hint of surprise on her face. “My journey was fine, thank you. As for an escort to my quarters: I’d appreciate that.” She was smiling, but the smile didn’t seem to fully reach her brown eyes. Continuing down the corridor, she adjusted the strap of her bag slightly and asked, “Do you know how long it will take till all the repairs are done?” Part of her also wanted to know what exactly had happened to the ship, yet if she was honest with herself she was also afraid of that knowledge. Right now her imagination filled in the blanks and maybe that was better than the truth. Then again maybe it wasn’t. Of course she probably wouldn’t find out unless she asked. What a dilemma.

~Ensign Iyun, Scientist

“The ETC, estimated time of completion is scheduled to be in four weeks. Unfortunately, we suffered some serious structural damage due to crossing the subspace barrier and that requires extensive examination of the damage before repairs could begin. I think we would rather wait the necessary time rather than having one of the walls shake loose in the middle of warp 3.” Zoi seemed rather chipper and though she noticed the body language, she didn’t react to it. They were strangers and it was common for a stranger not to genuinely smile.

“Indeed,” Iyun replied, the colour draining slightly from her face.

“Anyway, your quarters are this way.” She said as she held out her arm in the direction of the corridor on their left just before she began to walk, trusting Iyun would follow. “I believe we are getting quite a few new crew members in the month we have so you won’t be alone being new. This is your first assignment out of the Academy correct?”

Haven, CoS

Following Zoi, Ria said, “Yes, that’s right. I only just graduated. I had some time between my graduation and this assignment, though, and got to visit my family on Bajor. It was good o see them in person.” Her voice and expression were tender as she mentioned her family, but there was also a hint of sadness in them. Twisting her right arm behind her back and fidgeting with the end of her braid, she continued, “It still feels a bit surreal to be honest, but I’m looking forward to serving on the Ogawa.” almost in an afterthought, she mused, “I never thought I’d serve on a medical ship.”

~Ensign Iyun, Scientist