[sb118-artemis] Ensign Tho'Bi - Effervescent Ferengi and Andorian Karaoke

[Tobi]

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((Deep Space 3 - Elementary Class One - 238401.12))

Tho’Bi was six years old when he met his best friend, Zee.  Though only catering for less than a dozen children, the young Andorian boy found the chaotic mess of noise and movement of the elementary class too much; he retreated, instead, to set of interactive blocks, each block reacted differently with each other block, in terms of shape and function; the result was an ever-evolving cognitive test of spacial and engineering awareness, designed to prepare young Federation members, for possible service in Starfleet.   

As he worked the blocks, his antennae picked up a pattern within the apparent chaos of noise and movement; six-year-old Tho’Bi looked up from behind his blocks, a Ferengi boy was moving from child to child; he was smaller in statue than the other children, but either unaware or undeterred by this fact; the Ferengi boy spied Tho’Bi, hiding behind his blocks, and promptly strode over.  “Ah!”  The Ferengi gesture with his hand.  “You must be Tho’Bi!” 

Before the young Andorian had time to stutter a response, a sticker with his name had been slapped onto his chest.  The Ferengi boy nodded and smiled a broad, uneven-tooth-filled smile.  He pointed to his own sticker, “I’m Zee!  Nice to meet you!”  “Di-Did the te-teacher tell you to…”, as Tho’Bi’s words ground to a nervous halt, he instead pointed at the sticker on his chest.  “No!”  Without asking, Zee dropped down next to him, “Think of it as… networking!”  The Ferengi made a grand sweeping gesture with his hand.

And so it was with Zee, nothing ever got him down; even less ever slowed him down, that was until the evening he was invited over for Karaoke; in all his long years, nothing would ever leave Zee speechless again, quite like Andorian Karaoke.

((USS Artemis-A - Deck 3, Quarters 1338 - Present Day))

The Andorian Ensign was, for perhaps the first time since arriving on board, close to his comfort zone.  He had managed his engineering tasks and interacted with Lieutenant Syrex and Lieutenant Junior Grade Gnai with, relative to his experiences thus far, a relatively low degree of humiliation; that, though, was about to change.

Gnai: As the most… experienced Artemisian here, perhaps when this recalibration is completed… this can show you both to some of the social spaces on the ship?

The young ensign opted to wait and hear the Lieutenant’s response; he had not had time to explore the ship, and would appreciate the opportunity; but, at the same time, he did not want to impose.  Perhaps he had interrupted a date?  Do Trills date?  He couldn’t remember.  Do Galadorans date humanoids?  Could they date humanoids?  Perhaps by telepathic projection, he mused.  The ensign’s stream of thought was brought back into the room by the Lieutenant’s voice.

 

Syrex: Yeah, I’d love that! Back home, it took a while for me to get into the ship's social spaces, it would be nice to have a guide.

Gnai: This can be that guide then, for both of you, if this is all said and done…?

The Andorian Ensign thought for a moment that he might/should return to engineering, but he heard Zee’s voice in his head, “Think of it as… networking!”

Tho’Bi: Y-yes (beat) it would be c-cool to see the ship ::makes a grand sweeping gesture with his hand:: (beat) ::looks at his hand self-consciously:: (beat) ::puts his hand down sheepishly::    

 

Syrex: Yeah, people don’t always realise that check-ups don’t need to end in a bar. I’m nice to them, but I’m their doctor. You know? It’s part of my job. Still, it helped me get into the atmosphere.

Crouched on the decking as he was, the Ensign could feel the steady pulse of the Warp Reactor through his feet; it felt unhurried, at ease, as it idled in orbit around Risa.  The Trill Lieutenant appeared to carry herself in much the same way; she seemed entirely unfazed by his awkwardness, as she cheerfully moved the conversation forward.

Gnai: It took this a… long while to ever go to the ::air quotes:: bar aboard the Artemis. This isn’t really… accustomed to that sort of an environment.

The Andorian’s antennae were in a constant state of activity; sensing micro changes in temperature, shifting air currents, and the tiniest variations in vibration and modulation.  The Galadoran’s form expanded and contracted in subtle patterns, perhaps reflecting its emotional and/or intellectual state; the young engineer could not be sure.  

Tho’Bi: Bars can be noisy and busy…

Before he could go any further with the train of thought, a Ferengi voice interjected inside his mind, “…networking!” 

Tho’Bi: …But good for meeting new people (beat) ::nods more to himself:: I need to get better at that.

The Andorian Engineer could see his Ferengi friend nodding in his mind’s eye.

 

Syrex: Oh, for sure! Bars are certainly one thing, but I also really love karaoke! On the stage, the limelight on me. In a way, the audience isn’t there, it's just you and your microphone.

The mention of Karaoke made the young Ensign think back to his friend, the effervescent Ferengi, dumbstruck, sitting on the edge of the small make-shift sofa; as he and his mother performed the traditional songs of their Andorian Engineering Clan.

His antennae twitched sensing the rush of movement around him; he’d been so caught in the vivid memory of Zee’s reaction to Andorian song, he not immediately registered the motion of humanoid legs and mechanical travel device, alike.  The Ensign hustled to his feet, collecting his Engineering kit; quietly slipping the broken PADD into the kit, before he closed it.

((Outside of Alyndra’s Quarters, Deck 3, USS Artemis-A))

Gnai: Oh. ::flashing with a bit of apprehension:: This isn’t sure if karaoke is a common practice in Elysium… That’s the ship’s lounge’s proper name.

Tho’Bi:  ::shrugged::

As he did not know the answer, the young engineer opted to stay silent; instead checking he’d shut the engineering kit properly.

Syrex: Response

Gnai: If you want to do karaoke… there’s always the holodeck?

Regardless of its intended import, the young engineer could not help but answer this observation as a technical engineering question.

Tho’bi: ::nodding:: Yeah (beat) and the holodeck can be programmed with any song in the Federation database. (beat)  ::stops nodding/starts speed-talking:: And we can adjust temperature, gravity, and air pressure, so the musical notes resonate (beat) and are carried by the air like… ::becomes self-conscious of the techno-babble:: they… would… be… on their… home… plan…ets.  ::tilts head:: (beat)  Sorry. (beat)  Too much techno-babble.

Syrex: Response

Gnai: There’s also always the arboretum, and the Brew Continuum, they’re both on this deck. ::beat:: Not that this has explored those spaces much. Those could be the first destinations on this ::air quotes with its suit:: tour?

The young Andorian once again opted for short answers, if only to rein-in his tendency for techno-babble.

Tho’bi:  Sounds like a plan.  ::smiles::

Syrex/Gnai: Response

TAG/TBC

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Ensign Tho’Bi

Engineering

USS Artemis-A

A240203T11