Ensign Jaran Jira - Welcome To Betazed
Jira Jaran
((Shuttle Griffin – Orbit of Betazed ))
Cole: They’re taking too long for this to be routine. I don’t know what that means yet, but I don’t like it.
Storm: What’s taking them so long? My creds are valid.
Jaran: Just doing what bureaucrats do, I imagine.
Betazed Planetary Control: =/\= Ms. Antares, you are cleared to dock. Please proceed to Station Alpha, Berth Delta-7.=/\=
Storm: =/\= Acknowledged, Planetary Control. =/\= Nat, take us in.
Cole: Gladly. I’m ready to stop negotiating with orbit.
Turning to the two of them, Alex crossed her arms over her chest.
Storm: I’ve had a thought. If I introduced you to Nila, what would you think about splitting up. I’m going to be hard pressed to get to the funeral on time as it is. Maybe the two of you could talk to Nila and see what you can find out, and I can attend the funeral - or what’s left of it.
Natasha looked back and forth, gauging everything in that tactical calculator of a mind she had.
Cole: It’s not ideal, but it makes sense. You’re the one who needs to be seen there. We’re the ones who can afford to go digging. ::beat:: with one condition: the second something feels off, you tell us.
Storm: I don’t think anything’s going to happen to me here, Nat, but if I get a tickle or an ache in the wrong place, I’ll comm you the very second something feels … off.
Jaran: ::quietly:: Seems like a tickle could happen pretty easily, considering what you're going to be wearing...
oO Wrong time, Jira. Oo
But Natasha forged ahead, ignoring the mistimed comment.
Cole: I’m less interested in where he said he was going than in why he chose to leave now. Timing usually tells on people before destinations do.
Storm: He always got along better with his father than with his mother. It’s possible the two of them quarreled. It’s also possible that he found out I was on my way.
Jaran: Sounds like a real winner who just gets along with everyone.
Cole: You go be family. We’ll go be inconvenient. ::wink::
Storm: How long until we have boots on the ground, Nat?
Natasha busied herself with timetables.
Alex stood. She flexed her fingers clenching and reopening several times in quick succession.
Storm: Well, crap! I know why we were held up!
Cole: We should touch down in twelve minutes. What did you figure out?
Jaran: I assumed it was just standard Betazoid tradition, to be honest.
Alex’s hand came up to cover her mouth.
Storm: Kona was on one of those outbound ships.
Natasha’s jaw tightened.
Cole: That explains the stall. We weren’t being processed. We were being managed.
Jaran: Are you sure? How do you know?
Storm: I felt …
Alex sighed out loud.
Storm: I felt him.
Alex turned to face them and Natasha before she continued.
Storm: I didn’t know it was him. It was just … a familiar presence trying not to be noticed. It had to be Kona.
Cole: Then you didn’t miss him. You caught a piece of him without knowing what you were looking at. That still counts.
Jaran: She's right. You can't beat yourself up over catching a familiar scent and not realising what you were smelling until later.
Storm: Response
Cole: Then our first stop stays the same. Spaceport, records, and anyone who thought holding us in orbit was ordinary.
In Jira's mind, whoever held them was suspect, regardless of whether or not they thought it was ordinary. That didn't happen without someone requesting it.
Jaran: If that happened without him having someone inside who owed him a favour, I'll be shocked.
Storm: Response
Cole: Funny thing about clever exits, they usually depend on at least one person assuming no one will look too closely. I’m in the mood to disappoint somebody.
Cole's attitude was starting to rub off. Jira felt the irritation like a physical sensation.
Jaran: Oh, I plan on doing nanosurgery on those records.
Storm: Response
The spaceport was in view now. Natasha had been following their flight plan as filed to perfection, and a voice came in through the comms.
Station Alpha Control: =/\= Station Control. Shuttle Griffin, you are cleared for Berth Delta-7. =/\=
Jaran: =/\= Copy, Station Control. Proceeding to berth. =/\=
Jaran: ::to the others:: Put on your serious faces. It's time.
Storm/Cole: Response
(( Shuttle Griffin, Berth Delta-7, Spaceport Alpha, Betazed ))
The shuttle touched down lightly, Jira transmitted the final landing code to the spaceport's computer, and a merry jingle played through the shuttle speakers.
Betazed Greeting Message: =/\= Welcome, travelers, rest your mind.
Leave your guarded thoughts behind.
On Betazed, where hearts are clear,
Every soul is seen and near.
Feel the calm, no need to hide.
Truth and peace walk side by side.
Step ashore, let silence speak.
You are known the moment you seek. =/\=
Jira turned to look at Storm with a puzzled expression on their face.
Jaran: Does that happen every time?
Storm/Cole: Response
Jira stood and opened the shuttle's door.
Jaran: Fair enough! We have work to do. I'm leaving my bag here. Prophets grant we'll find what we need and be on our way again quickly.
Storm/Cole: Response
Tags/TBC