Posted by Civilian Kasper Brown (Adventurer) in Wandering Around

Posted by Ensign Jhalae Ynuchausti (Acting Chief Engineer) in Wandering Around

Posted by Ensign Jhalae Ynuchausti (Acting Chief Engineer) in Wandering Around
Posted by… suppressed (5) by the Post Ghost! 👻

Snip

Kasper was a smooth talker, a trait that was no doubt a result of his profession, but Jhalae liked it. He didn’t seem to be shy or afraid of women of different species as most Human men were, but then again he wasn’t all human. “Well I can’t have what I prefer,” she cautiously looked around then leaned and whispered, “A good Romulan Ale Fizz. I don’t know why Romulan Ale is illegal. It’s stupid. I think it’s because of the whole Romulan conflict that happened back in the day or whatever.” Kasper could discern that Jhalae had general intelligence and was unpretentious. She’d never attempted to appear smarter than she was.

“Yeah I agree. I think it might be because since that conflict, and with the Romulan planet going, you know,” he put both his hands up in front of him and made them into fists, then pushed them together. Mouthing a silent ‘boom’ and exaggerating opening his eyes wide, he slowly parted his hands while spreading the fists out into flat palms with fingers wide, mimicking an explosion. “The Federation probably considers Romulan Ale a no touch thing now that the Romulan Empire is scattered. Personally, I think if the Romulans licensed a Federation manufacturer to produce Romulan Ale and sell it under license, they could use the royalties to pay for rebuilding many Romulan colonies that have fallen into hard times.” He shrugged, “But what do I know, I’m just a courier.”

“What do you mean you never worked someone’s schedule have you been a smuggler all your life?”

“Woah with the harsh words,” Kasper laughed, “I prefer the term, ‘freelance courier,’ although I did manage to get the Serenity registered as a Diplomatic Courier. That means its’ illegal for Federation law enforcement or any allied species or a species with a Federation treaty to scan the contents of the ship. That helps with the, you know, discreet delivery service.”

Jhalae smiled and said, “Well Mr. Kasper, isn’t that the same difference? I, as an Orion, know how important a good play on words is. And thank goodness for loopholes.

“Yay for loopholes,” he laughed. “Without them my life would be far more interesting, in a stressful way.”

Leaning back in his chair Kasper placed one ankle onto one knee and relaxed. “And ‘never’ might have been not quite accurate in working to someone else’s schedule,” he admitted. “I studied for a few years at various universities when I was younger, got some qualifications behind me, earned my flight credentials. But after that, I found I was much better at giving myself direction than I was at taking direction from someone else, so, I went solo. Working as a courier, scouting unexplored systems privately, investigating places where old civilizations used to live. I keep busy and it’s an interesting life, always seeing something, somewhere and somebody new.”

This made Jhalae a little jealous. She’d only gone into Starfleet because she thought it would provide an interesting life. It had on some level but it was not what she expected. What Kasper was doing was more intriguing.
She looked at the waiter then at Kasper and said, “Hmm I probably should not be drinking while I am technically on duty but hey, if you haven’t noticed by now I am kind of a rule breaker.” Addressing the waiter again she said, “I will take an Aldebaran whiskey. I am sure you have had it, Mr. Kasper. It is my favorite drink because it’s green.” she said with a smile.

Ynuchausti, Engineer

“Green is good, I like green.” He nodded and raised an eyebrow along with the corner of his mouth in a grin, then looked at the waiter and signaled for two of the drinks. Leaning forward slightly, he picked up one of the forks lying beside the plate and delicately speared several pieces of the Jalapenos onto the forks from the top of the nacho dish. “Like these little green spicy pieces of adventure,” he held up the fork to show the overloaded contents. “everybody thinks they can handle them but, now and then, you find one that has just a little extra spice than you expect.”

“You are absolutely correct,” she said with a laugh. “However…” just then the waiter came and brought their drinks.

The two drinks were placed on the table in front of each of them and Kasper slid a slip of Latinum towards the server as a tip. He didn’t seem to reach into his pocket anywhere, but it was suddenly there on the table with Kasper pushing it towards the waiter with his fingers. “Thank you, quick service.” Kasper smiled and turned back to Jhalae.

“You know, seeing as you haven’t checked in with medical yet, they haven’t technically cleared you for duty so, feel free to enjoy the drink without any guilt. As long as you check in before you are due to officially start work, you got time.” While the Ktarian had never said he had been part of Starfleet, he certainly seemed to know the protocols well enough.

“Good point. You sure know your loopholes, don’t you?”

“Yay for loopholes,” Kasper said again, winked and raised his glass in a light toast towards Jhalae. “They come in handy when your a smuggler.”

“So what happens after you do get cleared for duty?” He asked her, looking at the whiskey with an appreciative eye. “Going to keep your head down and work for that promotion? Try to get selected for all the away missions? Or, I hear the lower decks is the place to be on the off-hours, complete with a secret Still hidden away making bootleg vodka to the CMO’s own private recipe.”

Kasper

“Nah, to the promotion and yes to the way missions!” she said as she took a sip of her drink. Then she placed it on the table and explained, “See don’t think I am not ambitious. I am, but not in that way. I don’t think there is a rush to be a department head or anything like that. I just want to be where the action is and live in the moment.”

Kasper nodded and sipped at his drink. Jhalae was easy going and unhurried, and he liked that. He had the feeling that she was a more than competent engineer and despite the rebellious streak she claimed to have, he was pretty confident she was good at being Starfleet. She knew what she liked and wasn’t afraid to pursue it, which to him hinted at the right amount of spontaneity and desire for adventure. He felt like that was a good part of the both of them.

Jhalae raised an eyebrow, “The CMO? Are you sure? The Captain’s wife involved in unseemly activities?” She smiled and said, “Maybe I will like it on this ship after all. I was afraid everyone on here were typical square Starfleet personnel. You know the type to try to excel beyond all measures and they always have their eye on the Captain’s chair? Nothing wrong with that but…boring! That is so so so boring.” She laughed, “If the first thing that comes out of man’s mouth is *Someday I want my own Starship”, I will immediately get up and walk away.”

Ynuchausti, Engineer

“Thank the stars I already have my own then,” Kasper said out the side of his mouth as if he was talking to someone beside him, then grinned.

“To be honest I don’t think the Captain is the type to entertain by-the-book Officers. By all accounts, his own adventures when he was a Cadet got him into plenty of trouble, but his methods worked well enough that he graduated and was fast tracked into Command positions, usually on ships that did things less by the book or that were in locations that needed a little, cowboy flair or crossing of arms and saying ‘no’. I think you might be in the right place for those adventures.”

Looking down, he picked up the fork loaded with jalapeno’s he had filled earlier and slid it into his mouth, taking the fork out and spinning it around his fingers gently and chewing for a moment while he looked at Jhalae. “There is something about that Captains chair that some people just can’t resist you know. For me, on my small ship, it’s the freedom I get from going where I like. Its’ kinda intoxicating. Like you and this whiskey both.” Kasper threw out the light flirt casually, put down the fork and picked up his drink again. “I think you are going to be just fine on this ship, Jhalae. I think you know exactly what you want to achieve and how to get there, on your own terms.”

Kasper

Jhalae smiled, appreciating Kasper’s words. She took a sip of her whiskey, savoring its warmth before responding.
“I appreciate your confidence in me, Kasper. It’s true, I’ve always had a desire for adventure and a drive to make my own path. The idea of being on a ship with a Captain who values unorthodox methods and a little rebellion certainly piques my interest. It’s refreshing to know that someone like him has made it to a position of command.”
She leaned back in her chair, contemplating the allure of the Captain’s chair that Kasper mentioned. “Freedom and the ability to chart one’s own course are powerful motivators. I can understand why it’s intoxicating for you on your small ship. And just like the allure of the Captain’s chair, I believe it’s essential to pursue what we desire on our own terms, to stay true to ourselves.”
Jhalae’s gaze met Kasper’s, a playful glimmer in her eyes. The light flirt was a welcomed compliment. “You seem to know the Captain well. Are you two close? Like best friends or something?”

Ynuchausti, Engineer

“Not in the least,” Kasper smiled but immediately leant forward and began carving out a decent helping of the nachoes for himself. “First time I met him was today in fact, but the two of us do have some mutual friends so he’s not unknown to me, and if you do your research before meeting someone important its’ surprising what comes to light. Believe me I’ve said nothing that isn’t known or talked about on the ship already, aside from delivering something for him on the quiet. That one was privileged information for you.” Kasper grinned at her as he shoved a selection of still crispy nachoes into his mouth.

“Which reminds me, actually,” he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small card, looking at it for a moment before sliding it across the table to Jhalae. “If you ever want something, delivered or, sourced, that’s where you can find me.”

The card wasn’t fancy or eye-catching, it simply held a communications address alongside his name and Kasper went back to the drink as if he hadn’t just given her a way to contact him at any time. “Freedom and charting your own course, staying true to yourself, is a definite upside of the business,” he leaned back in the chair and looked Jhalae directly in the eyes as he spoke. The Ktarian yellow iris’ and horizontally slit pupils maybe slightly at odds with his human features. “But the life isn’t without its’ drawbacks. No job security for one thing and no certainty I’ll pass somewhere again. You leave a lot of people you meet behind. For a person that enjoys people, that’s not so great at times. Sometimes I think that serving on a ship like this has more upsides than downsides. It’s easy to romanticize what I do and ignore what you lose. Sometimes I envy people like yourself in Starfleet.”

Kasper

Jhalae felt a wave of relief as Kasper revealed that he didn’t have a close connection to the Captain. The possibility of her words reaching the wrong ears and jeopardizing her position on the ship had been a nagging worry. However, she couldn’t help but trust Kasper’s discretion, sensing his ability to keep things secret. She reached for the card he slid across the table, briefly examining it before stowing it away in her pocket. “Thank you, Kasper. I’ll definitely keep this in mind. It’s always valuable to have reliable contacts.”

Taking a contemplative sip of her whiskey, Jhalae empathized with Kasper’s experience of leaving people behind during his travels. She knew that such a life could sometimes be accompanied by feelings of loneliness. “I can imagine that saying goodbye to the people you meet along the way can be difficult, and perhaps even lead to moments of solitude. As a Starfleet officer, I’ve experienced my fair share of challenges, but there’s a strong sense of community and shared purpose that brings comfort. We forge relationships and serve together, forming lasting bonds.”

“Some people are far harder to say goodbye to, others not so hard,” the man smirked slightly then his face grew serious as he considered it. “Starfleet does have it’s allure, I’m not going to lie. Sometimes the hard part of what I do isn’t saying goodbye, it’s the times you sit alone in empty space thinking of the people you left behind. Their voice, their touch, their scent. The very presence they had when you were with them and the way they smiled or laughed with you. That’s the hard part. Nothing lasts forever but when the choice to leave was your own, you have to live with the consequences. Freedom, exploring and being self sufficient, and going where you please, really does lead me to happiness and a sense of fulfilment but, there can be long gaps in between that.”

Leaning forward, her expression thoughtful, Jhalae acknowledged the allure of the freedom Kasper had mentioned. The opportunity to explore, take risks, and live life on one’s own terms was undeniably enticing. “Indeed, there’s something to be said about the freedom you spoke of. It’s a trade-off, isn’t it? Each path carries its own set of rewards and sacrifices. Ultimately, it’s about finding what resonates with us personally.”

Jhalae’s playful smile returned as she continued, “And who knows, perhaps our paths will cross again in the future. It seems we share mutual friends and a deep appreciation for adventure. Our journeys may intersect in unexpected ways.”

“There is a pretty good possibility of that,” Kasper smiled easily, almost mirroring Jhalae’s own. “Seeing as the Captain here knows I can deliver I’d expect him to make use of my services again, plus, if you need anything, you know where to find me.”

Raising her glass, Jhalae proposed a toast, a glimmer of excitement in her eyes. “Here’s to charting our own courses and embracing the limitless possibilities that lie ahead. May we find fulfillment in the vast expanse of space and in the connections we form along the way.” Then she threw back all the remaining whiskey in the glass.

Ynuchausti, Engineer

Kasper raised his own glass, the smile having returned to his face and added to the toast. “And may the memories we make with those connections fill the times in between with happiness and comfort.” He lifted the glass to his lips and emptied the rest of his whiskey down his throat, making a slight face as he swallowed the liqor and placing the empty vessel between them.

“You know, I’ll pray to whatever gods of whatever planet I’m on next that you get that spot of adventure in an away mission,” he laughed as he pushed the empty bowl and glass aside, arranging it neatly for the waiter to collect. “Doesn’t hurt to ask for a little divine assistance from time to time, right? As long as they don’t actually have some Omnipotent entity ruling over them of course, that could get awkward if I unleash a God on the Federation.” The slight curl at the corner of his mouth was a clear sign he was teasing.

“How long do you think you have before that serious sounding Klingon comes looking for you, by the way?” He asked as he looked around him to see how many people had either entered or left as they talked. His focus had been so heavily on the Orion woman that he realized that he hadn’t been paying attention, which was generally unlike him.

Kasper

As Jhalae listened to Kasper’s words, she found herself drawn to the sincerity behind his stories and the spark of adventure in his eyes. She responded, her tone contemplative, “You’re right, those in-between times can be a challenge. But it’s in those moments that we learn and grow, finding strength in our memories and experiences. And I wouldn’t be surprised if the universe had more in store for us.”

Kasper raised an eyebrow as she finished speaking, the corner of his mouth again rising in a playful grin. “In that case I shall consider our meeting along the lines of one of my favorite words, serendipitous, and look forward more than you know to when the Universe or whatever divine power decides it’s time for us to meet again.”

She laughed at his playful comment about divine assistance, her eyes glinting mischievously. “Well, let’s hope the gods are on our side when the time comes. And as for Commander Gralok, I suppose I should make my way back soon before he sends out a search party. But before I go, let me leave you with a piece of Andorian wisdom: ‘May your stars always shine brightly, and your path lead to new horizons.’”

“Spoken like a true explorer,” Kasper smiled warmly at her. “One day, I hope you follow your heart to the stars. That’s a piece of wisdom from me, Ensign Ynuchausti.” He dipped his head gently in her direction, the mans’ Ktarian yellow eyes never leaving hers as he did so.

With a graceful nod, Jhalae rose from her seat, “Until our paths cross again, Kasper.”

“I will be waiting, Jhalae,” Kasper rose as she turned to leave and placed his hand on his chest. He bent forward slightly giving the woman a slight, formal bow.

As she made her way toward the exit , she couldn’t help but feel a sense of kinship with the adventurous soul she had just met. The universe was vast and unpredictable, but perhaps that was what made their journeys so entwined with excitement and possibility.

Ynuchausti, Engineer

Kasper waited as Jhalae left the lounge on her way to her next appointment, then sighed with a smile as the door slid shut behind her. Turning slightly as he stepped out from behind the table he picked up his the jacket from the back of the seat he had been sitting on and slid it on, adjusting the collar and sleeves as it settled in place. Pausing a moment, his face took on a thoughtful expression and he absently chewed a lip as he ran something through his mind, then raised a hand to his lips. On the underside of his wrist was a small communicator, made to look like a simple decorative bracelet from the top.

== Serenity, how are we looking for departure? == He asked and turned for a different exit, this one a more direct route to the Saracens shuttle bay.

== Systems are nominal and prepared for departure, Captain Moor == A voice came back through sounding female, yet with a hint of artificialness. == Shall I power the core and prepare for immediate departure? I detect an elevated pulse and norepinephrine levels, are you in trouble again, Captain? ==

== What? No nothing like that, mind your business and stop spying on me, it’s rude. I have one more thing to do before we leave, but I’m on my way back. == He left the lounge as he spoke and made his way towards the shuttle bay. == You know it’s creepy when you scan me like that, right? I thought you were advanced? We need to have a conversation about personal space, Serenity. ==

== Captain, you are my business. If we are going to have a conversation about personal space, may I remind you that you inhabit mine. == Somehow the voice that came through the communicator sounded smug.

== Point taken == Kasper sighed in defeat

...............Later..................

When Jhalae eventually returned to her quarters, there was a small basket outside her door, wrapped in sparkling green wrapping paper so that only the wicker handle was exposed. On that handle was a small, hand written card that read:

Something small to say thank you for a nice time. Remember to follow your heart to the stars.
Kasper

P.s. Don’t open it among company

The basket itself had a little weight, so clearly the basket itself wasn’t the ‘something small’.

Kasper Brown

After her medical evaluation, Jhalae made her way back to her quarters aboard the Saracen. Despite the medical officer’s less-than-pleased disposition upon her somewhat inebriated arrival, Jhalae had successfully obtained the essential clearance for duty. Her thoughts remained in the lounge and the fun brief conversation she’d had with Kasper, and she held no regrets for the time she had spent with him. Their engaging conversation and Kasper’s magnetic charm had left a lasting, positive impression on her.
As she approached the doors to her residence, her contemplations were momentarily interrupted by the sight of a small basket positioned just outside her door. Initially assuming it was intended for her roommate, she knelt down to pick it up and then entered her quarters. It was only when she opened the card that she discovered the gift was indeed intended for her, a heartfelt gesture from new friend Kasper. His words on the card brought a warm smile to her face. With anticipation, she unwrapped the sparkling green paper, revealing the carefully concealed contents of the basket.

Ynuchausti, Engineer