Posted by Crewman Ngokav Sega’a (Yeoman / Steward) in Transporter Room - Supper is on Me Tonight (All Welcome)

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Kastarak (Commanding Officer) in Transporter Room - Supper is on Me Tonight (All Welcome)

Posted by Crewman Ngokav Sega’a (Yeoman / Steward) in Transporter Room - Supper is on Me Tonight (All Welcome)
Posted by… suppressed (5) by the Post Ghost! 👻
[Snip, snip]
– Present Day, Chernov Transporter Room –

By the time Sega’a re-materialized on the Chernov, he was already tired. It had been a long two weeks of recertifications, trainings, and arduously long meetings to ensure every line of his reinstatement was accurate and approved by every necessary layer of Starfleet’s bureaucracy. He didn’t mind, though, because he knew with every signature and “Training: COMPLETE” message that popped onto his PADD that he was one step closer to being back where he belonged. And here he was.

Sega’a held his breath for a moment longer before he reached to grab Hago’s carrier from the adjacent transporter pad, prepared to make his way to his assigned quarters before reporting for duty. Stiffening, but refusing to let the inkling of anxiety that crept up his spine have any power over him, he stepped off the transporter pad and made his way for the hallway.

Sega’a

Kastarak had been told of Sega’a’s re-emergence a few days after the sudden (and painful) departure of captain Chris Taggart. It was some sort of warmth to the cold Vulcan heart. Kastarak wouldn’t dare admit it to himself, but he had missed Sega’a, Sega’a’s warmth and carefreeness, his cheerful and very un-Vulcan (indeed, un-human, even) demeanour.

At the appointed time, Kastarak stood in the transporter room, ready to welcome his old friend back.

When Sega’a began energizing, Kastarak raised his right hand into a Vulcan salute, and stood still to greet his friend with all due honour and respect. A prodigal son had returned; this was an occasion to be marked.

Kastarak, Lt Cdr
Acting Commanding Officer; First Officer and Navigations Officer

“Kastarak!”

His name left Sega’a’s lips quicker than he could modulate his tone, so it came out like an exasperated whisper – like he’d been waiting to say it for so long that he’d almost forgotten how.

Sega’a gently released the straps of Hago’s carrier as he set her on the ground, and made a slow approach toward his friend. He studied the man for a moment, looking for any changes or signs of how he was doing, even though Vulcans had always been so good at revealing only what they deemed necessary. Sega’a stifled an inward chuckle at the thought, leaving him with a warm smile.

“It is good to see you, friend,” he said as he lifted his right hand in an attempt to return Kastarak’s gesture. He held position for a second longer, paused, then asked, “may I give you a hug?”

Crewman Sega’a, Chef & Yeoman

Kastarak listened to his body. There was something light and fluffy in his gut, close to his heart. He felt lighter and more in the moment. He regarded Sega’a’s honest question with consideration. Vulcans didn’t do much touching like that, but it was more cultural than anything else. Not engaging the oxytocin would make it easier to regulate emotions. But at this time, Kastarak didn’t need to be super-regulated.

He opened his arms, as if inviting to a hug. “It is good to see you too, t’hy’la. Your absence has left a mark.”

Kastarak, Lt Cdr
Acting Commanding Officer, First Officer and Navigations Officer

In a swift gesture, Ngokav pulled Kastarak into his arms, fighting the hesitation that sneaked into his loosened grip. He wanted to squeeze him—hold him with such fervor that it betrayed the breadth of his joy—but, he contained himself. He did not want to overstep his friend’s boundaries.

‘T’hy’la’…? Sega’a halted. He knew there was a kind of friendship more profound than any one word could name, and so ‘t’hy’la’ carried with it many connotations so that it may honor the relationship it attempted to describe. How Kastarak was using it, he wasn’t sure, but he was sure of the warmth that filled his chest and brought a smile to his lips.

“And yours, too, my friend. I hope you’ll allow me the chance to make it up to you,” he said as he pulled away, missing his embrace before it was even gone, “and to hear about your adventures in these past few years.”

Sega’a turned to grab Hago’s carrier, before turning back to Kastarak. “Are you still on duty, or do you have a few minutes to walk with me?”

— Ngokav Sega’a, Yeoman

Sega’a’s body was warmer than Kastarak expected, and his pheromones up close were truly indicative of him. Kastarak wasn’t sure, on the other hand, what he had expected, as he wasn’t much of a hugger and had very little experience of hugging Sega’a. That said, he did reciprocate, attuning his own squeeze to mirror his friend’s. In Kastarak’s experience, mirroring was a constructive method when unsure of how to appropriately act in a novel situation.

As Sega’a ended the hug, Kastarak let go in the same speed. His body felt strangely cold without the embrace.

“My adventures brought me to the role of first officer, and, regrettably, the discharge of Taggart as commanding officer,” Kastarak replied. “But as first officer, I am always on duty.”

He paused.

“Kastarak”, Sega’a whispered, joy tugging at the corners of his mouth. He wanted to congratulate Kastarak, but as the words ‘I’m proud of you’ were about the befall his lips, he halted. Discharged? He hadn’t expected Taggart would remain forever in command. Still, he could not help the twinge of sadness that sneaked its way into his otherwise excited grin.

“That allows me extensive autonomy in management of my time. At this point in time and space, I shall walk with you.”

Kastarak, Lt Cdr
Acting Commanding Officer, First Officer and Navigations Officer

Sega’a adjusted Hago’s container and turned, gesturing with a nod toward the transporter room doors.

Stepping into the corridors, Sega’a let the muscle memory of the path lead him back to his previously assigned quarters which had, thankfully, not changed. He wasn’t sure how Rorc would react to having him as a bunkmate again, but he wasn’t too concerned with that at the moment. His focus was on Kastarak.

“I’m… so sorry,” he eventually spoke, “I can only imagine how much stress this has put onto you. How are you doing?”

— Ngokav Sega’a, Yeoman

Sega’a’s question was so honest – and it hit Kastarak in his gut. The reaction wasn’t painful, but it nudged him, caught him by surprise in a way, and caused his neurons to fire in various directions. His brain tried to interpret and understand the significance.

“It is not easy,” Kastarak said, diplomatically. He knew he was speaking with a friend, so Sega’a deserved some more honesty. “It is difficult, and I struggle. Your arrival helps me already.”

Sega’a’s expression softened as he extended Kastarak a slow, empathetic nod. He had always known Kastarak to maintain his composure even in the roughest of situations even if it was odds with how he felt. He hesitated to use the word ‘strong’ or ‘resilient’ in this context, because it felt like it took away from the time and energy Kastarak put into working through his struggles, so he chose not to say anything, except:

“I see you. If you want to talk about it, I am here. Otherwise, I’ll always have fresh food available, so you don’t have to worry about meals.”

Across many cultures, food was community. Even back on Vulcan, this was the case. While Kastarak’s family wouldn’t show love through touch, hugs, and words, there would always be food at home. They would always eat together. Now, his family was long gone, dead, and this ship was Kastarak’s chosen family. With Sega’a returning, the family was more complete. He missed T’Aria and hoped she would come back at some point too. Then it would be complete – if he could only figure out a way to handle the Pawl situation.

Sega’a’s offer of food was a kind of love language. He remembered how Sega’a had surprised him with Vulcan foods at random occurrences. That had moved Kastarak – the home-cooked food with actual, non-synthesised ingredients (hard to come across now that the native planet of those plants has been destroyed) had transported Kastarak back home, albeit metaphorically, to the child he once was, eating with his siblings. Sega’a was a brother to him, and T’Aria a sister.

Now Sega’a reiterated that safety and comfort that only the act of making food and eating together would bring.

Kastarak continued walking by Sega’a, realizing he had not reciprocated the question. He rectified it. “And you – what brought you back here? It’s been some time since you were here last. Will you tell me what your story has been since we last saw one another?”

Kastarak, Lt Cdr
Commanding Officer; First Officer and Navigations Officer

“I always intended to come back,” Sega’a admitted, “Command permitting, of course. I suppose Hago’s health had other plans. After our trip to Risa, I noticed that she was having problems with balance and coordination. She wasn’t moving around as often and, when she did, I heard her running into furniture or fumbling about. I was told by Dr. Odraavi, a friend and veterinarian back on Earth, that felines have a map of their surroundings in their brains and sometimes it can be disturbed by changes to the inner ear or to the brain itself, including old age. I assume Hago is 9 – that’s how long I’ve had her – but, I don’t actually know. Dr. Odraavi told me to keep an eye on her.”

Sega’a chewed on his lip, blinking away the negative thoughts that teased the part of his mind that was still scared and guilty.

“A few months passed and it seemed to stabilize. Then, after your promotion party, I came home and found her just… staring. I tried to get her attention by calling her name, offering treats, using her laser toy. Nothing worked. Terrified and, admittedly, a little hastier than I needed to be, I requested leave from Captain Taggart and headed straight for the only place I knew: Earth. It took Odraavi a while to figure out what was wrong with her. They suspect it might’ve been prolonged high blood pressure.”

He sighed, then continued.

“They said it could’ve caused fluid buildup in her brain, putting pressure on the back of her eyes. It’s hard to tell in animals as small as her, but Odraavi treated her with some medication and it seemed to help. It took a while for Hago to go back to being her usual self and even longer for us to get her mobile again. She still doesn’t have great vision, and she probably never will, but she’s back to being a demanding grump, so that’s a good sign.”

As Sega’a related the story of Hago’s ills and woes, Kastarak remained quiet. He would never understand the bond Sega’a had with Hago – he remembered clearly how he had thought Hago was a sentient partner to Sega’a and awkwardly introduced himself to Hago one day a few years ago, only to realize Hago was a pet. With that thought, he concurred with the veterinarian’s assessment. He had often wondered why veterinarians were not trained in interspecies medicine instead of physicians. To him, it would have been more logical. Then again, he was a physician and not a veterinarian. But he could still treat Hago if needed.

Sega’a glanced at the disgruntled feline who had curled herself into such a tight ball that it was almost impossible to see her tucked in the back of the carrier.

“I’m just glad she’s okay. I stayed longer than I needed to, so I could be absolutely sure of that.” He gritted his teeth, but played it off as a relived grin. “Other than watching over Hago, I got to know their husband, Shawn, and two kids – spent a lot of time building forts and making ‘mud pies’ with Nia and Finn. They’re disgusting, by the way. I wouldn’t recommend actually eating them, just don’t tell the children I said that. Anyway, it was nice and they’re good people, but I quickly came to miss my friends here. I’m glad to be home.”

Kastarak noticed the bonding that Sega’a brought up, even if he had no idea what mud pies were and why he tried to have children construct military instalments. Then Sega’a was different, so it would only be logical that random non-understandable occurences would come up in his stories. Even so, Kastarak empathised with Sega’a – that of being different among others. Like Kastarak, Sega’a did not spend much time with others of his species, and they shared a complex relationship to Earth, an alien planet that so often had become their home.

“What about you, Kastarak? I know times have been hard recently, but what adventures have these past few years taken you on?”

— Ngokav Sega’a, Yeoman

“Before I answer your question,” Kastarak said as he stopped in his tracks and looked Sega’a in the eye. “I wish to offer helping to monitor Hago’s health. I know how important Hago is to you, and therefore, to me too. I wish Hago peace and long life, just as I wish you the same.”

“As for me, there have been no adventures outside this ship. There was another clandestine mission to Klingon space, and a boarding of Romulan spies there, and we had sought also to find a cube-shaped ship that was implicated in the disappearance of Dawson’s sister, whom our mission sought to investigate. And Dawson disappeared from us during that mission too, with seemingly no understanding to anyone, only to reappear weeks later with his mind intact as if he had only slept a night. Those were strange days.”

He realised he did not speak about himself, only about the ship and others. Sega’a deserved honesty.

“I have still not resolved the situation with Pawl. I do not know how or whether I wish to. Taggart’s sudden departure is....” He wanted to say painful but settled for another adjective, “.... noticeable, constantly so”.

Kastarak, Lt Cdr
Acting Commanding Officer