Posted by Ensign Rand Farquharson (Yeoman First Class) in Arriving at Shuttlebay

Posted by Ensign Kajhel (Security Officer) in Arriving at Shuttlebay

Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in Arriving at Shuttlebay
Posted by… suppressed (3) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
Rand was slightly taken off guard, never would she consider she was helpful in calming someone else’s nerves, though she was exceedingly happy she had been able to do so. She nodded slowly and said kindly, “I understand the feeling. I’m glad I could make the transition smooth.”

“But our tour isn’t done yet, surely?” said Kajhel hoping to lean on Rand a bit more… he wasn’t ready to try out his own wings just yet…

Rand smiled reassuringly, “Not quite yet. And after your medical check they can page me if you want.”

“Thank you,” said Kajhel with smile in his voice. All was well, this on-boarding proved much safer than he had imagined just two hours ago. He felt safe. Rand made him feel safe. Even if Rand was like this to everyone, her demeanour, her kindness and calm and paedagogical instruction helped him to find peace and security in this new, strange situation for him.

From the lab came one of the science officers, a young Ensign by the name of Amelia Scott came out, smiling a friendly smile. Turning to head down the hall, she stopped and her smile widened. “Rand! Hey!” She said excitedly, heading over to the Yeoman and the new Ensign. “Doing one of your new crew orientations, are you? And who’s this?” She asked, gesturing to Kajhel. “I’m Scott, I work in the lab,” she introduced herself.

~ NE Scott, Science

Rand was leading the way across to the recreation room when Scott bounded up to them. Rand didn’t even bother to answer except for a smile and a nod. She wasn’t going to get a word in edge wise anyway. But she totally dreaded what might come out of Scott’s mouth. The ship’s biggest gossip you just never knew.

Yeoman Rand

“Hello Scott,” he said, with the sound of smiling in his voice, reaching out his hand. He would only smile if his physiological instinct would tell him too. Emotions were more indicated by his voice, he had found. This woman seemed human to him, so it would be best to show cultural awareness and greet in the standard Earth way – at least the European–North American way (the only two continents he had lived on while on Earth). Thus he reached out his hand, waiting for her to shake it.

“My name is Kajhel, I am an ensign, just graduated the Academy and have come here on my first posting. Yesterday I was a student, today I am an officer. What kind of lab work do you do? Perhaps our paths might cross in the line of duty?”

– Ensign Kajhel (Security)

“I’m a geologist, but mostly I help out in the biology lab,” Scott said, smiling brightly as she shook his hand. “I work a lot with the first officer, commander Alden. He’s usually pretty grouchy, I mean, really, a total stickler! But not after Rand here visits…”

“You’re not the only one to have warned me…”, Kajhel said with cheerfulness in his voice.

Rand was weary of this argument from Scott. Alden was a stickler, but he was also fair and worked hard with his staff. Scott didn’t like him because he wouldn’t let her gossip non-stop while she was on duty and distract the rest of the people in the lab. And Rand, who found a great deal of comfort in the protocols and regulations enjoyed helping in the lab because of that strictness. She was also tired of hearing Scott go on and on about how she had some magical effect on Alden.

She smiled a great big smile, leaning in and whispering in a loud whisper, “They’re dating,
~ NE Scott, Science

Icy cold dread, embarrassment, and overwhelming anxiety washed over Rand. Along with that there was underlying affection, she cared about this person, but also anger at Scott for making it appear like she was doing something wrong when she was not. And Rand would know. She knew the regulation handbook inside and out, back to front, and sideways.

Kajhel let out a long, but whispered, “ooooooh....” His thoughts went a buzz. Was that even ethical? Are people allowed to date colleagues? And someone in a command role over the other? So many thoughts and questions. Was this a secret relationship? Was this something he wasn’t supposed to know?

He’d been on this ship for less than an hour, and he was already getting a feel of some aspects of the “local” culture… Kajhel didn’t quite like it, while he did take some pleasure in knowing that things do go on behind the scenes, and that people have already begun opening up to him.

Perhaps he could make his home here after all…

– Ensign Kajhel (Security)

Rand would gladly have sunk through the deck plating and crashed unconscious and ended up in sickbay than stand there while Scott ran her mouth. Rand in fact wasn’t doing anything unethical or against regulations, nor was the relationship secret. Rand was just an incredibly private person. She would never do to Amelia what she had just done to Rand. There was absolutely no way to say something to Scott without it turning into either a game or being cruel. And Rand wasn’t going to bandy her personal life in front of a new officer. This was why Rand hated being around people, why she was always so anxious and nervous. She clasped her hands behind her back reminding herself she had a job to do. She couldn’t nor would she, abandon Kajhel just because she wanted to runaway and hide. So she did the only thing there was to do, continue the tour. She could have her total panic melt down later. “Uhh…yes…thank you Scott. We really need to finish his tour before he’s due for his physical.” It was a very short step diagonally across to the recreation hall. “There is a wide variety of materials in here from games to crafting supplies to musical instruments. There is a full list on the ship’s computer and you can put in a request for any of it. Chief Helpful will do his best to get it if it’s not already on the ship somewhere.”

Yeoman Rand

“Musical instruments?” Kajhel felt himself instinctively raise an eyebrow, and this definitely peeked his interests. “I wonder if they have any Aenar instruments… When I was a kid, I used to play an ice-flute. I don’t suppose you know what it is? And I’m rather certain that an ice-flute here would melt!” He laughed. “But any kind of Andorian flutes? I was never any good, but I’d like to take something up in my spare time that’s not just gymnastics related. Do you play any instruments?”

Rand shook her head, “No, I have taken an attempt or two at the piano. My brother plays the bag pipes though.” Rand had to learn a piece here and there on the piano for parts she played, she’d even learned to sing decently, but that was the extent of it.

Kajhel knew what a piano was but he could not recollect ever hearing (of) a bag pipe.

“What is a bag pipe? Is that an Earth instrument?”

He glanced at the list of instruments. Certainly there was an Andorian flute. It pleased him. The tone quality from Andorian and Earth flutes were quite different, and the musical harmony different too. Even if it would be a blue-skin flute, it would, culturally speaking, be the closest thing to his home, and, perhaps, it would let him play some of the childhood folk songs that he remembered.

– Ensign Kajhel (Security)

Scott chose to follow the tour and at the mention of instruments piped up again, “I’ve always liked music, but I never stuck with it long enough to learn any instruments.” Then she gasped and smiled, “An ice flute sounds so cool! I bet it makes very pretty music,” she commented to Kajhel. At least she’d forgotten all about blabbing about Alden and Rand’s love life.

~ NE Scott, Science

“Oh it does! And each flute is unique, with a unique timber and tone. Even if we use the same pipes to make them. So what we do is take a pipe – any kind of pipe of any kind of length, as long as it’s not longer than your arms – a plumbing pipe for example – seal off one end, and fill it with boiling water. The water has to be boiling. And then we quickly bring it out to the surface for it to freeze awfully quickly. It crystallizes the ice in a really cool way, and then we drill a hole right through it. As the drill is not always straight, it also affects the soud it makes. Bringing a ruler, we then mark where we want the holes to be – preferably equal distance from one another, but it doesn’t really matter. And then you can play. And the more you play it, the shorter the flute gets, as it melts in your mouth. It’s like eating a lollipop while making music the same time. Most of these ice flutes are made for fun, and the sound gets rather ridiculous, but some good craftsmen actually make good ones that make beautiful pitches. I never did, we just did it for fun! If we ever pass by Andoria on our mission, we can make one together, should you like.” He smiled, happy that someone actually took an interest in his culture.

– Ensign Kajhel (Security)

Well that was one good thing about Scott. She gossiped non-stop but she could talk to anyone about anything, even if she knew nothing about it. “That sounds amazing. I don’t think even the cold storage in the galley would be cold enough to make one though. Is the music ever recorded?”

Yeoman Rand

“Some of the masters have their music recorded. I might show you sometime, should you like. And I believe you’re quite right.”

Kajhel moved around.

“Where is next?” he said cheerfully, enthusiastic about continuing his first day on board. He’s already had an excellent welcome and couldn’t wait for more to come.

– Ensign Kajhel (Security)