LT Tamio K'Wara - I Remember when I was You
LT Tamio K'Wara
(( Turbolift - USS Artemis-A ))
Tamio wondered what it was with service on the Artemis and being subjected to 20 questions. Granted, this one was far more understandable - any Ensign would have questions about their new posting and the kind of people who served there - and while Tamio had rejected quite firmly to talk about work, they couldn’t quite get around it.
Colleagues were still work, after all.
Tarsan: Well, just one more I can think of right now... Anyone else I should do my best to impress? ::wry grin:: Don't want to accidentally upset the person who's going to put me on scrubbing the hull for the entire tour.
K'Wara: I’d like to think few Artemisians would go that far against a fresh Ensign. But, maybe avoid Lieutenants Vailani and Meyers, and the librarian, until you’ve found your spacelegs?
Tarsan: Are they particularly... uh, grouchy?
Tamio recalled their first encounter with Gertrude Kettleworth. They had never been on a less pleasant first date, and they had been on a lot of Starflirt dates. As for Vailani and Meyers...
K’Wara: Not exactly. Slightly more difficult than most. Did you take any classes with Commander Berin? They’re kind of like that. ::looks up as the door slides open:: Ah. We’re here.
(( Bridge - Deck 1, USS Artemis-A ))
Tamio stepped onto the Bridge of the USS Artemis-A, their eyes almost per instinct gliding to the helm console, before they forced themself to ignore it and look around the wider Bridge again.
K’Wara: Welcome to the Bridge, Gavrin.
They looked back to the Betazoid Ensign, their smile widening slightly as they watched astonishment and awe on his face. This kid was like an open book, and there was a certain charm to that.
Tarsan: Oh---- wow.
K’Wara: Have you done many duty simulations on a Luna class?
Tarsan: ::shaking his head and forcing real words out this time:: Only a few. But this feels so different.
Tamio didn’t move any more, just watching as Gavrin stepped out onto the bridge proper. He stepped towards the nearest console, the auxiliary Engineering/Science console, and ran his hand over it with a reverence that Tamio most often saw in Engineers and Pilots. It wasn’t that the scientists and medical personnel didn’t come to love and appreciate their first Ships, but they were more focused on their own areas.
To people like Gavrin and Tamio, the Ship was everything, and Tamio felt a brief pang of mournful nostalgia as they looked at him as they realized that they would never be that version of themself again.
K'Wara: Is it everything you thought it’d be?
With a blush, the Betazoid turned about and looked at them with wide eyes.
Tarsan: Sorry? Could you repeat that? I uh... sorry.
K'Wara: No, you’re good. ::genuine smile:: Is it what you thought it’d be?
Tarsan: It's just so.. different, you know? Like, it's mine. ::realising how that might have sounded, blustering to talk over himself:: I mean. It's not mine, obviously. It's the Captain's. I mean, it's Starfleet's. Clearly.
Tamio really tried not to laugh at Gavrin for this - they really did - but his increasing panic at the concept that he’d claimed ownership over the Flagship of the Borderlands was hilarious, and Tamio couldn’t stop a chuckle. They did try to hide it in their hand, and after getting it under control, they instead shook their head.
K'Wara: I get what you’re feeling. As an Ensign, I got assigned to a Norway class as a pilot. It was the Captain’s Ship, but... I don’t think it’s uncommon to feel that the Ship is yours too.
Tarsan: Response
K’Wara: The USS Churchill. She was a support vessel to Starbase 118 10 years ago. Beautiful Ship. Home to the craziest sports nuts in the Fleet. Our weekly hockey tournaments were legendary.
Tarsan: Response
K’Wara: ::big grin:: I mostly spectated. Not much for contact sports. ::gestures with their head towards the back of the Bridge:: The Captain’s Ready Room is over in the corner here. You ready?
Tarsan: Response
TAG/TBC
LT Tamio K’Wara
Chief of Ops
USS Artemis-A
A240006GS1