Posted by Civilian Karilan Massat (Owner, Quill and Parchment Books) in The Quill & Parchment- Second Chances

Posted by Civilian Rafael Torres (Resident) in The Quill & Parchment- Second Chances

Posted by Civilian Karilan Massat (Owner, Quill and Parchment Books) in The Quill & Parchment- Second Chances
Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

Karilan smiled and said “I am happy to hear both of those things.” He took the slips, pocketed them, and the gestured to the sleek, silver slider that was parked at the curb. “Get in.” Karilan said and the hatch opened and he got inside.

Torres eyed the slider with appreciation, though a weird feeling swept over him that he brushed away and ignored. He got in.

The interior of rhe slider was a dark, soft red. Karilan leaned back in a seat as the automated vehicle pulled away. He looked at Torres and said “I’m going to show you your apartment first, then we will discuss the project. Fair enough?”

Karilan

He nodded slowly as he took in the interior and then looked out the window. “Yeah, sounds good.” He wasn’t sure what would equate to an apartment, but all he cared about was a warm and clean bed. Everything else was extra at this point. Hell, he hadn’t even really expected Dash to hear him out. Today had definitely taken a slightly bizarre turn and Raf couldn’t say he minded. At least it seemed to be going in a positive direction. “My pops would like this place. His kind of vibe.”

~Rafael Torres

“Perhaps when you get settled and get a solid routine going, you can bring him out for a visit.” Karilan said. The slider wound its way through the Oed traffic and soon they neared the area of the city where the bookstore was located. The slider pulled up about five blocks away from the store in front of a rather non-descript residential building. A single clear door showed an unoccupied, well-lit lobby inside. Karilan stepped out and then looked at Torres. “Here you go. Your biometrics have already been set. Fourth floor. Apartment 4G. When you are ready, come back down. I’ll wait.”

Karilan

Raf gave a nod and went up to the apartment. He hesitated before pressing his fingers to the scanner, but it unlocked and he went in.

The furnished apartment wasn’t huge but was clean and nicely decorated. Simple but comfortable. There was a bedroom where he set his bag, fishing out the small object from the side pocket and shoving it into his pant pocket. He grabbed his other key items and left the bag at the foot of the bed. In the living area he peered out the large window that overlooked a small park. In some ways it reminded him of the place him and Pops had had when he was really little, though the neighbourhood hadn’t been near as nice.

All of this was surreal and he had a hard time trusting it. It still felt too good to be true. Maybe it was, but his options were few and terrible. For now he would just have to trust that Karilan Massat. Easier said than done.

Heading back out, Torres approached Massat and nodded to them. “It’s a nice place, thanks,” he said quietly.

~Rafael Torres

Karilan chuckled. “Easy, Mr. Torres. Don’t overdue it with the emotions.” they said with a smile. The slider started moving. “Rent has been paid in advance for three months, in your name, to allow you to start generating verifiable residency. After that, we will discuss how you have been doing and where you want to be at that time. If you are doing well but still need a place, that isn’t out of the realm of possibility. But it will depend entirely on how you are doing. Now, I am not the kind of landlord who does inspections or anything. But I do expect you to maintain the place in a clean and tidy fashion. You are welcome to have guests, too. But I would steer away from wild parties and late night noise. Some of the neighbors are… let us say ‘vocal’… about maintaining a serene home environment.” and they laughed softly.

“They won’t have to worry about that,” Raf said with the barest hint of a smirk. Besides, who would he have over anyway?

The trip was fairly quick, and within a few minutes rhe slider pulled into an industrial park. It stopped in front of a non-descript and unmarked garage-type building surrounded by a large, high-security fence. A gate slid open and the slider came to a stop outside a single door.

Well if this didn’t meet the description for a secret bunker hidden in plain sight, Raf didn’t know what would. He followed with definite curiosity.

Karilan got out and walked to the door. A handprint scanner slid open, and an automated computer voice said <Welcome, Karilan. All systems functional and withing normal operating parameters.> Karilan said “This is Rafael Torres. Grant escorted access, please.” There was a chirp and the computer said <Access confirmed. Welcome, Mr. Torres.> and the door slid open and Karilan motioned Torres through.

Inside was pitch black until they stepped in and the door slid closed and locked. Lights came on and filled the single large warehouse like room. All around the perimeter were tools and equipment the likes of which would be found in either the most high-end starship engineering bays or maybe a Star Fleet Engineering Design laboratory. But it was what was in the middle that was most impressive.

Resting on large titanium struts sat a Peregrine-class Maquis Interceptor. It had 9bviously seen better days, and was in a significant state of repair… or disrepair, depending on one’s perspective.

His curiosity about the place became nothing next to Raf’s surprise and awe for the special little vessel before them.

Karilan spoke softly. “This is the project I am working on… if you are interested in helping, I am rebuilding her from the internal supports to the paint scheme. Think you would want to help?”

Karilan

At first Torres said nothing. He moved up to the vessel and reached out, letting his fingertips touch the paint peeling from the metal. The ship was in rough shape. Like him. It needed help. Like him. But it could be something and much like he had said to Karilan earlier, he wanted something to be different. He didn’t want to die some stupidly tragic death of his own making. This ship was a lifeline and in this moment Rafael Torres understood that the ship was one for him that Massat was offering. He pressed his palm to the ship, of is it might feel something from him and looked back at Karilan. “Makes you wander what all it’s seen. The stories it could tell. No matter what someone thinks of the people, you have to admit that the Maquis were creative and resourceful with their ships for what amounted to cobbled together systems. It took guts, really.” He looked back at the ship and patted the hull. “I want to see it come together and fly again.”

~Rafael Torres