Ensign Zenno - Breakfast of Champions
Cobalt Penumbra
((Interior USS Arrow, Junior Officer’s Quarters, Deck 3, Room 11))
Zenno sat and considered his water sculpture. Mother had packed it very carefully for him and while he had initially resisted taking it, he was glad he did. It was the only piece of home that he had brought. Not Starbase 307, but the “real” home as his parents had always said. But Zenno could count on his fingers exactly how many days he had ever spent on Bolarus IX. Together with trips to the Colony on Bolarus XIII he had been planetside less than a month his whole childhood. He and his siblings had always humored Mother and Father with this “real homeworld” business, but none of them believed it. Even Amaddo, a near clone of their father, had never lived on Bolarus IX, choosing the colony instead to be closer to the Starbase for his technical work.
The entire situation with T’Lyra had left him disquieted. Conversely, his relationship with Saava had always been a pure pleasure. Since their first meeting at the Academy, he would make observations about her emotional state which she would shrug off and then she’d return fire with some passive-aggressive comment about him in return. Vratak and Grall got into it on occasion, but she always saved her best zingers for him. Even when they had their Parrises Squares team, the tit-for-tat was constant and even though Zenno knew she enjoyed it, she would never admit to it. They had been inseparable, right up until the day they shipped out: him to Deneva, and her to Advanced Medical Training on the other side of Federation space. No matter what was going on, she was a constant source of encouragement. If it hadn’t been for her letters, he might have even quit Security School.
Zenno had miscalculated that a similar relationship had been developing with T’Lyra. Only Saava’s astute advice had saved him from making a complete idiot of himself. Nonetheless, things seemed to have turned around and he almost believed that he was looking forward to seeing T’Lyra again.
His call with Saava had lifted his spirits considerably. Every one of his little group at the Academy had committed to keeping in touch. Even Grall had agreed, which first required him to admit that he had actual friends, which was a milestone in itself. Zenno thought he might try to call Vratak or Grall, but a glance at the chrono told him he was unlikely to find them awake.
Zenno’s reminiscing was interrupted by a rumble in his guts. He had been eating in his quarters for the most part. The kinds of foods he and most of his kind preferred weren’t considered very appealing to others. To avoid offense, he thought it best to stay away if he was indulging in some Bolian specialties. But he was craving that… comfort that came from having some friends close at hand. Lt Nardello had cautioned against this. But he could certainly rationalize that it was important for ship’s security to have at least a good knowledge of his crew mates.
Zenno carefully turned the water sculpture to face back towards the bed, straightened his uniform and headed out to:
((Interior USS Arrow, Crew Mess))
The food on offer was fairly bland, as was usually the case with replicators programmed mostly by humans. But a nice spicy soup with tomatoes from home would hit the spot. It might make everyone else’s eyes water nearby, but it wouldn’t smell bad to them, at least. ::beep, BOP, bloop:: And out came his soup, she flatbread, and a seltzer water.
Looking around the mess, he spied two other Junior Officers he had not met yet. They were already in conversation but it seemed casual and may be he would be permitted to join.
Zabi: I have no plans. With any down time, I usually train, practice, meditate.
Jacin: Response
Zenno: Greetings. I don’t mean to interrupt. May I join you?
Any: Response
Zenno: I was assigned moments before the last mission. We had not yet had the chance to meet, I believe. And yes, Security, under Commander Serinus.
Any: Response
Zeeno: May the waters bless our meeting, as my people say.
Any: Response
Zenno: My kind is from a water planet. Our language and idiom are full of water references. We have hundreds of words for water and most of our greetings have some kind of reference to it.
Any: Response
Zenno: As I was approaching, I could not help but overhear. You have no plans for shore leave? I was considering just walking around the Commercial District to see what’s there. I’d welcome the company. Or if there is something else, I’d be open?
Any: Response
TAG/TBC
Ensign Zenno
Security Officer
USS Arrow
A240006Z13