JP: LtCmdrs Tristam Core & Msafiri Bakari: Ship and Shirt
Deliera Jay
((Captain’s Ready Room, USS Garuda))
Egan Manno: ...I have just the duty post for you, Lieutenant Commander: command advocate. (beat) In my time here, I've heard and seen of things I never thought would happen on the front line: Men and women missing -- one of them potentially from foul play; injuries, without time to recover; entire ships disappeared in ion storms. It should not continue. Therefore, I'd like to assign you as a voice, for both the junior officers to me and to the command staff, and from this ship to Starfleet itself. If need be, you'll speak with my authority, but I want to ensure that no one's being lost in the cracks under my command, Lieutenant Commander. Understood?
::He raised his eyebrow at the prospect. Command advocate? However, he’d given her the freedom to choose a post for him, and it’d have been bad form for him to disagree now.::
Bakari: Understood. I will familiarize myself with the role and continue to report directly to you on any additional findings in this investigation as per our previous schedule.
Egan Manno: Excellent. Please do, and let me know when any- and everything of interest arises. I'll hear from you several times a day if need be, Lieutenant Commander. (beat) Dismissed.
::Msafiri walked out of the ready room, and it was only when he heard the doors slide shut behind him that he realized the most startling thing of all that came with this new role: he’d have to put on a red shirt.::
((Runabout USS Murray))
::Tristam didn't agree with the silence of guy sitting next to him. Actually, he found it quite uncomfortable. For the first five minutes of this journey, the two didn't even look at each other. Now, the Terran was casting cautious glances at Tristam as if the Rodulan was going to attack him or something.::
::When the Terran male once again glanced at him, he shut his book with a loud snap, startling the pilot, and then just stared at him - eyes wide with an expression that voiced his displeasure itself.::
Core: Seriously, what is it that's bugging you? Is it the eyes? Would you like me to put something on to cover them? Because that's fine - I don't want you to crash us into something. I mean, I've done this heaps of times before - been in service for five years, and you're part of the very few who seems convinced that I may eat you.
::At that, the Terran laughed nervously, still not giving Tristam any eye contact. Well - if he wasn't going to state his problem, maybe Tristam had to go at this in another direction.::
Core: What's your name, Ensign?
Novids: Harrison Novids, sir.
Core: Nice to meet you, Mister Novids. I’m Tristam Core. I’m a Rodulan, obviously. Are you a Terran?
Novids: Yes, sir.
Core: Nice to know. How long have you been in Starfleet?
Novids: Two months, sir.
Core: Is it what you expected?
Novids: It’s . . . ::he thought for a few seconds.:: Not *exactly* what I expected. Sir.
::Tristam rolled his eyes at the added “sir”. He was a Lieutenant Commander, sure, but he had never really been in charge of anything. But, as if the break the silence that it knew was coming, Tristam’s PADD, in it’s position on top of the console next to him, chirped.::
Core: Thank your Terran gods. ::he muttered, and then pulled over the PADD, smiling as he hit ‘accept’ for the communication.:: Msafiri Bakari - what do I owe the pleasure?
::Msafiri smiled when the Rodulan’s face appeared on the screen.::
Bakari: Ah, there you are, T. Had to go through five different people back at DS17 before they finally realized you weren’t even on the station any more.
Core: Not surprising. I got the order through a PADD message. I am a little hurt by the ‘no one noticed’ thing, though. ::he frowned a little at the sight of the new colour Bakari was wearing.:: Now now, just because you’ve always wanted to be a red shirt, doesn’t mean you go stealing them from actual red shirts. Unless someone needs to fix your replicator.
Bakari: Believe me… not my first choice… ::his eyes widened:: And don’t you dare go telling Ayelet. The last thing I need is for her to find out... won’t hear the end of it til next year I’m sure.
Core: You have to admit, she would find it hilarious.
Bakari: ::nods:: She and several others, I’m sure... ::shaking his head:: I can’t believe you finally left.
Core: It wasn’t as if it was my choice.
Bakari: With you gone now, I think that only leaves Doc Simmons from the original crew. ::He leaned forward.:: So where *are* you headed then, T?
Core: If I remember correctly, and I normally do, I’m headed towards Deep Space 6 to hop aboard the USS Vigilant. A. Let’s not forget the A. But apparently it’s brand new and quite techy-techy.
Bakari: Hmmph. ::He ran through all the various ships he’d encountered over the years with A’s after their names.:: Independence-A, Tiger-A, Vigilant-A...
Core: Just so many ‘A’s. Maybe Starfleet’s building an A-team. ::he shrugged, an amused smile on his face.::
::Msafiri shook his head at the Rodulan’s bad joke. At least, he thought it must have been a joke. Tristam always had a different sense of humor.::
Bakari: Still going to be doing ops over there?
Core: One would hope so. To be honest, I really wouldn’t know. Actually I don’t know anything about my position or the ship - just that I’m going there.
Bakari: You were always one for flying by the seat of your pants.
Core: I . . . well, yeah. I guess so. Since the Pioneer, I’ve just never really cared all that much.
::Since his *accident*, he’s never really cared all that much. An explosion aboard the USS Pioneer in their Engineering department had left the Rodulan without any sort of telepathy and a severely damaged left leg - resulting in a knee reconstruction. All in all, it left him on medical leave for the better part of a year. Readjusting to no telepathic abilities and adjusting to your family being capable of reading your thoughts when they spent the last twenty-six years knowing that they couldn’t.::
::The accident is why he decided to move over to Operations - not that that meant much when being placed on a starbase.::
Bakari: All right, well just don’t go getting yourself into any trouble again. No one left to bail you out now.
Core: Don’t tell me *that*. Just because you’re I-don’t-know-how-many-light years away doesn’t mean I won’t call you for my bail.
Bakari: ::raises an eyebrow:: I’ll be sure to keep that in mind. Anyway… ::Msafiri sat back and pulled up a few stats on the Vigilant-A on his monitor.:: Can’t say I know much about her--the Vigilant--that is. As far as Deep Space 6, that’s Zakdorn territory if I recall.
Core:::He frowned again, thinking aloud.:: And the Zakdorn are just ahead of the rest of the Federation technologically. Nice to know. Maybe I’ll get to send you a postcard.
Bakari: ::chuckles:: What I meant, T, is that the Zakdorn are known for being particularly proud--actually downright arrogant. And you’re not exactly the most…
::He struggled to find the right word to describe his friend.::
Core: Easiest person to get along with at first?
::Let’s face it, when Tristam first got placed on DS17, he wasn’t the most sociable person in the universe. Partly because he was still recovering from everything that had happened, and partly because that’s just how he was. Get past that shell - sure, he’s not actually that bad. He doesn’t cause trouble (not deliberately, anyway), doesn’t deliberately get under people’s skin. It’s just a matter of he doesn’t like being told he’s wrong. And he’s awfully brief when dealing with people he doesn’t know. Which was going to make this transfer to the Vigilant a little interesting.::
Bakari: Hmmmph, that’s an understatement. In fact, I never told you this, T, but it wasn’t until the third round of drinks at Molly Malone's that I decided you weren’t such an @$%#&%$ after all.
::The former security chief of DS17 laughed at the memory. That had been a good night indeed, celebrating Tristam’s promotion to full lieutenant.::
Core: Really? You came to that conclusion by the third round? I’m hurt.
Bakari: Well, I was wavering on the second. Sealed the deal on the third. ::He cleared his throat.:: But what I’m trying to say is try not to pick any fights on your first day over there.
::Msafiri actually was surprised to hear those words coming out of his mouth. They sounded almost... like what a red shirt would say. Dear God. Judging by T’s reaction, he wasn’t the only one.::
::It was everything Tristam could do to not laugh. Actually, he ended up laughing anyway. Cackled, even, to the point where he almost found himself crying. Msafiri? Saying *that*? Sure, he was an ex-Security Chief and all, but . . .
::Tristam somehow found it hilarious.::
Bakari: Okay, wise guy. I get it. I see the irony.
::He took a deep breath in to try and stem the laughing - to some success, anyway.::
Core: Okay, okay. I’m sorry.
Bakari: Psh, no you’re not. But that’s okay. ::Msafiri let out another chuckle of his own.::
::Tristam took another breath.::
Core: But seriously, it’s not as if I go around picking fights. That first week? Those circuits? Not my fault and you know it.
Bakari: I know, the fights just seem to come to you… and the ladies for that matter.
::The Rodulan rolled his eyes. Actually the man hadn’t been in a relationship for a long, long time. Having an identical twin that *was* in a relationship? Painful. And apparently dying his hair a lighter shade of brown did nothing to distinguish himself from his brother - either that, or the people around him were just plain colour blind.::
Core: No. Never had that intimate relationship stuff on DS17. I conversed - that was it.
::Part of that was because he didn’t feel he was capable of connecting to people on an intimate level - at least, not anymore.::
Bakari: You never tried to see if anything would happen between you and Barkett? You know she had a crush on you since the moment she saw you--bless her heart, I have no idea why, mind you. Couldn’t stop grinning like an idiot in your presence at staff meetings.
Core: I don’t like blondes.
Bakari: ::shaking his head:: Always so damn picky.
::Tristam shrugged. Really the ‘no blondes’ thing only applied to Megan Barkett - as mean as it sounded. He knew she liked him - he just didn’t have the same feelings, at least, not on a personal level.::
::As if to spare Tristam though any more gossiping about his love life--or lack there of--Ensign Novids called out to the Rodulan.::
Novids: Sorry to interrupt, sir, but we’re approaching Deep Space 6. Ready to dock on your orders.
Core:::He nodded his head.:: Go right ahead
Novids: Aye.
::The ensign contacted DS6 traffic control and requested for the runabout to dock, while Msafiri knew that meant it was time to wrap things up.::
Bakari: Well, it sounds like you’re going to be on your way then. Good luck out there, T.
Core: You know, I could just carry you and talk to you at the same time.
::Msafiri laughed at the image.::
Bakari: Well, I’m just trying to look out for you. So you can make the best first impression.
Core: My first impression to this crew was my personnel record. They wanted me here, so now they get my personality in the package too!
Bakari: I suppose so. Still, I think it best you concentrate on getting your bearings on your new posting. Be sure to send me that postcard though when you get the chance.
Core: Yeah, yeah. I’ll have some beautiful Risian hand-deliver it to you, shall I?
::Msafiri raised another eyebrow at that, thinking of a familiar Risian he had come to know.::
Bakari: Uh-huh, I’ll believe it when I see it. Oh, and I’m serious about not saying a word to Ayelet. If she finds out, I will get on the first transport over there to DS6 and kick your scrawny Rodulan behind out the nearest airlock. And don’t forget--I’m an investigator, so I know how to make it look like an accident.
Core: Trust me, no transport is fast enough to *not* give me a head-start. And I’d just have to basically go to the Security personnel here and say that you’re trying to kill me and they’ll look into it! So, you know, odds are *not* in your favour there.
::Msafiri grinned. It had been much too long since he’d last gotten a chance to catch up with Tristam. He made a note to rectify that.::
Bakari: Perhaps. Well, in that case, maybe I’ll just settle for another round of drinks when I see you in person next time, T.
Core: Fine. But you’re paying.
Bakari: Still cheap. I guess some things never change.
Core: Hey, only pay for the women’s drinks. And the cute guys, right?
Bakari: Of which you are neither.
::They exchanged a final bout of laughter.::
Core: Talk to you later, Bakari. Don’t stain your shirt!
Bakari: I’ll try. Same goes to you. Take care of yourself.
::Tristam shoved the PADD bag into his bag, in a much better mood than what he was before as he glanced at the ensign next to him.::
Core: Ever been aboard a Hephaestus class ship?
Novids: No, sir. Sounds pretty neat if you ask me, sir.
Core: She is the top of the line in technology, Ensign. Gonna be more exciting than just ‘neat’.
---
Chief of Operations, USS Vigilant-A
&
Command Advocate, USS Garuda