Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Brigette Marshall (Chief Engineer (CE)) in Pre Sim - Mwezi’s Quarters

Posted by Lieutenant Mwezi (Weapons Officer) in Pre Sim - Mwezi’s Quarters

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Brigette Marshall (Chief Engineer (CE)) in Pre Sim - Mwezi’s Quarters
Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻

After the incident in the lower decks, Mwezi was confined to quarters for 24 hours while the healing of his back was completed. It hurt to touch the effected area, so he mostly just lay on his stomach and slept. He was listening to music now though. It was relaxing, and distracted from the occasional twinges of pain that ran down his healing back.

• Mwezi, CTO

Bridie had been aware of what happened to Zi and it bothered her she hadn’t made it up to see him. It was later in the afternoon when she chimed at his door and hoped she wasn’t waking him. She had chosen this late hoping to catch him between waking up from his morning rest and heading to bed early.

Bridie
CE

Mwezi muttered something. Then more loudly, “Enter!”

The door swooshed open, and Bridie was allowed passage into the room. It didn’t look much different from her previous visit, except for the fact that the couch was pulled out into a flat shape and Mwezi was laying on his stomach on said flattened couch, his eyes closed. Some classical-sounding music filled the room at a gentle volume, although the specific song that was playing would be unfamiliar to the CE.

Mwezi, CTO

“Hi, Zi…” She came around so he could see her without moving. She crouched down and lightly touched his arm. “You doing ok? What can I get for you?” She was smiling and her face was full of concern and compassion, not pity. She rolled her eyes to the ceiling and nodded. “Love the music, by the way. What is it?” Her hand was absently rubbing his bicep, away from his wound.

Bridie
CE

“Ballad of the Moons, by Geharu,” Mwezi said with a small smile. His eyes closed as he enjoyed the almost haunting quality of the music. There seemed to be two instruments, a woodwind and something that sounded like a harp, and they seemed to almost circle, rising and falling in step with one another. Sometimes faster. Sometimes slower. “Some water would be nice.”

He wasn’t expecting pity from Bridie. He didn’t blame her for what had happened on the lower decks, so he was glad she wasn’t trying to apologize or take responsibility for his injury.

Mwezi, Sec

“It’s amazingly beautiful. Water it is,” she said and patted his arm before rising. She came back a moment later with a pitcher and glasses on a tray she set on the floor near his hand. “Here, just in case you want some and I’m not here.” She poured him a glass and helped hold it till he could lift up enough to drink from it. “Has Kane seen you yet?” She frowned and added, “Honestly?” The look made him know she was serious about wanting the answer.

Bridie
CE

“As you were there, I am certain you should recall that I was rushed to the emergency room after the accident. Kane was very thorough in treating my injury,” Mwezi replied. Of course he’d seen Kane. How else would he have gotten this thick bandage? “How is your arm?”

Mwezi, CTO

She sighed and moved from her crouched position on the balls of her feet, to sitting flat on her backside. “Seems like so long ago. I’m sorry. You’re right.” As he asked about her arm, she moved it absently. “Ok, I guess. Still stiff. Tried to sleep, but I kept seeing that… thing. I don’t know if I ever properly thanked you for that, by the way. Saving me, I mean. I don’t know how much longer I could have kept running.” She laughed, but it wasn’t in amusement.

“Why didn’t you let him regen your back? Wouldn’t that be better then this?” She smiled and once more, it wasn’t pity, but compassion. She hated seeing her friends in pain. “Though I admit, with you like this, maybe I have a chance at taking you in a sparring match.” This time her laugh was real, and a bit more relaxed than her last one had been.

Bridie
CE

“They did some regen, but it still takes time to get back to normal. Regen can only do so much before it starts doing more harm than good,” Mwezi explained. “I have to go back in tomorrow to get some hair regrowth started, so I don’t have a bald back like you humans.”

He let out a wry grin, then sighed. His U.R.I., the device he kept on his wrist, beeped a few times. Mwezi tapped it with his nose. Galdori text appeared in the air, scrolling past. It was a pretty script, rather flowing.

He looked curiously at the words, then chuffed slightly. “It seems I have a message from Daro. Kula’s brother.” He wondered what the man had to say. Another tap, and the message began to play. The holographic form of a Laleri rose over the watch and spoke, a language Bridie didn’t know but might recognize from when Mwezi spoke without his translator activated.

<Hello, Me'zi. I hope this message finds you in good health. You know I am not the sort for small talk, so I will get right to the point. I am sending this message to inform you that there has been an incident on the station. Kula and her research team have been reported missing, presumed dead. We do not know what this means… but I wanted you to know. Lune's blessings upon you. Stay safe.>

Mwezi stared at his wrist, in shock. “Kula…” he whispered, his ears pulling back.

Mwezi, CTO

Bridie’s hand went to the other man’s arm as if to steady him. “Zi… what is it? What is Kula and what’s wrong?” She had moved to her knees to be closer to him. Something was amiss and she wasn’t going to leave till she knew and tried to help.

Bridie
CE

Mwezi glanced over to the picture frame above his dining table, a set of photographs of himself and several other natives of his world. A photo of him and his Gladori Starfleet Academy classmates in front of a massive curved waterfall. Him and his parents. A much younger Mwezi with another young Laleri. Several other photos. And in the center, a photo of a tan and peach-furred Laleri.

Mwezi had shown Bridie these photos before. When she’d been on her way to her date with Kane several days before. It had been a busy several days since. Days. Weeks? Mwezi had lost track of the time.

His gaze locked onto the photo of Kula in the center. His beloved. His promised. “She was to be my mate… I hers. That was, her brother. She…” He couldn’t say it. Mwezi pulled in a shaky breath. “Killed by an experiment gone wrong…”

Mwezi, CTO

Bridie looked up at the pics. As she did, she recalled the woman he spoke of and recalled his fondness for her. As he choked and spoke of her death, Bridie moved forward to hold his hand and rest her forehead on his temple. Softly she whispered. “Oh, gods, Zi… I’m so sorry. I’d hug you but I don’t want to hurt you more.” She closed her eyes and sighed. “Go ahead and cry. I won’t tell anyone.” It was meant to be reassuring and teasing, but also an admission that things like this weren’t something to keep bottled up. I’m here as long as you want me to be.”

Bridie
CE

Mwezi choked on the tears, but after a few moments began to sob. It was hard to cry with the bandages on his back, but despite the twinges of pain running down his spine, he continued to cry. It was a quiet cry, tears running down his face as he took shaky breaths in and let out small keens. He almost started to howl but stopped himself.

Mwezi, CTO