Lieutenant JG Ollie Bergmen - They all know, without me telling them (part 1)
CPT Arianus
(( Leran Manev Spaceport, Trill ))
Finding the check-in desk proved to be more challenging than Ollie had imagined. As he stepped into the busy spaceport, the bright overhead signs flashed with information, but their hurried glow only added to his confusion. Hesitating briefly, he looked at the lively terminal, unsure if he had entered the correct building. The hum of conversations, the resounding sound of footsteps on the tiled mosaic floor, and the occasional announcement over the PA system blended into a cacophony that made it hard to think clearly.
Just as doubt began to creep in, his eyes caught sight of the departures board hanging from the ceiling. With relief, he spotted his connection listed prominently, confirming that he was indeed in the right place. Now, all he had to do was find the check-in desk amidst the sea of travelers and bustling staff, each absorbed in a hurry all over the terminal.
Bergmen: Excuse me, can you point me to check-in B three seven one?
Ollie tried to catch the airport worker's attention, but she remained oblivious to him, her gaze fixed ahead as she hurried through the bustling terminal. Without breaking her stride, she quickly pointed somewhere on the other side of the terminal, before swiftly resuming her hurried pace, lost in the crowd.
Bergmen let out a deep, sluggish sigh as he moved closer to the growing commotion ahead. He glanced up at the ceiling, looking for check-in signs to find his, and the fact that they almost all were open and bustling with hurried passengers didn't help. What started as a few seconds of uncertainty turned into minutes of frantic searching, but eventually, he stumbled upon the elusive treasure he had been seeking—the board that held the magical formula.
Section B, desks 350-380.
Ollie, a little clumsily but confidently, made his way through the busy crowd near the check-in counters and joined the line, above which the number 371 shone. Just then, he caught sight of a staffer behind the closed counter 370, her hand raised in a friendly wave. He paused for a moment, intrigued by her warm gesture, and when she pointed toward him with a bright smile, he raised an eyebrow in curiosity. With a slight shrug of uncertainty, he leaped over the barrier tape that marked the separation to approach the check-in desk. The check-in agent at desk 371 eyed him with suspicion and opened his mouth to speak, but his colleague interrupted him before he could say a word.
Agent: It’s ok. He’s a Starfleet escort, Marq. I’ll check him in.
The second check-in agent just muttered something quietly to himself and went back to the line in front of him, leaving it at that.
Agent: Sir? May I have your voucher?
Ollie flinched when she addressed him and quickly set his carry-on down on the counter to rummage through his belongings for documents. After a brief search, he retrieved the PADD and handed it to her. She swiftly scanned the data with her eyes before stowing it, then began entering his details into the console on the desk.
Agent: I booked you through to Thadia, but you can get your bags off in Orion, as your connection departs the following morning. ::she beeped his PADD and handed it to him back:: And I upgraded you to first class, all the way to Thadia.
Bergmen: Thank you… ::gazes at her in surprise:: Appreciate that.
She let go of the PADD and smiled, with compassion reflected in her eyes, the compassion she felt for his situation.
Agent: Thank you… ::pause for a hearbeat:: …for your service.
Ollie glanced at her for a moment, then turned away, unsure about how to respond. He nodded slightly and stowed the PADD back in his carry-on before looking at her again and trying to smile.
Bergmen: Thanks. Thanks again.
He felt an urgent need to run away as he tightly clutched his carry-on and walked away. The terminal buzzed with activity, but amid the crowd, he could almost feel her gaze piercing the back of his head—a heavy, lingering weight that made him question whether he was just imagining it. Once he settled on the bench by his departure gate, the tension left his body. Perhaps he had the two Bolian kids, who were hiding behind the benches in front of him, staring and laughing while playing a game of hide-and-seek, to thank them for that. Their innocence and the sincerity with which they glanced at her from behind the back of the bench were refreshing. He offered them an encouraging smile before turning his attention back to the carry-on, as he noticed the blue satin bag sticking out slightly. With a sigh, he pushed the bag down further.
Ramp Chief: Sir? Excuse me, but are you the escort?
Ollie glanced over at the man in the overalls.
Bergmen: Yes?
The Ramp Chief reached out his hand, prompting Ollie to stand up to shake it. It was a bit amusing to watch because Bergmen hadn't expected anyone to approach him with such kindness, even though he had.
Ramp Chief: Great, Lieutenant. How are you doing?
Bergmen tilted his head slightly in "so-so" move.
Bergmen: All right.
The ramp chief nodded and let his hand go, tapping him on the shoulder, offering encouragement.
Ramp Chief: Good. I’m here just to tell you, we are about the load, so if you…
Ollie immediately nodded.
Bergmen: Yes… (beat) I need to get down on the loading ramp to watch the loading.
The Ramp Chief's expression was quite telling, suggesting that this was probably not the first time he had handled a situation like this; and his approach to Ollie's uncertainty was subtle, intended to make Bergmen feel more comfortable with what was happening.
Ramp Chief: Sure. Follow me, Lieutenant.
Without another word or encouragement, the ramp chief turned and headed for the side entrance reserved for employees, leaving Ollie behind. Bergmen stood frozen in place for a second, watching him go. Then, he quickly snatched up his go-bag from the bench next to him and bolted after the chief to catch up.
As the lieutenant in his shiny, colorful, and interesting uniform faded into the bustling crowd, the child observing him from the edge of a nearby bench lost interest in what was happening in the terminal. With a soft sigh, they shuffled back to their seat, their small fingers reaching for the tablet with a fairy tale that lay invitingly beside them. Above, the PA system crackled to life, announcing another message, but such interruptions were mere background noise now. Life went on.
(( Flight ES5741 ramp, Leran Manev Spaceport, Trill ))
They both stood by the humming antigrav conveyor, waiting. Technicians around them were preparing the ship for departure, while on the other side, at the second antigrav, they were already loading passengers' luggage. The Ramp Chief, arms folded across his chest, wore a furrowed brow and shifted nervously on his feet, seeming a little uneasy in the silence they both became.
Ramp Chief: Where are you from, Lieutenant?
Even Ollie's shoulders eased a bit when the ramp chief finally spoke up, breaking the silence.
Bergmen: Gideon originally. ::turn gaze to Ramp Chief:: It’s near Alpha Lyrae.
Ollie glanced back at the conveyor in front of him and shrugged lightly, a subtle gesture that conveyed indifference, as if his origins mattered little to him.
Bergmen: But it’s a long time since I’ve been there, really. (beat) What about you?
The ramp chief gave a faint smile at Ollie's feigned indifference.
Ramp Chief: All over, really. My pa was a career Starfleet, so we moved around a lot.
Bergmen: Yea? How was that?
The Chief's glance at Ollie made it unmistakably clear that he could see right through him.
Ramp Chief: I’m kinda miss it now when I’m settled here. Being single is kind of cool when you’re single, and then… You get married, have kids… It’s a whole other deal.
He gave Ollie a moment to absorb what he was saying, then changed the subject as if nothing had happened.
Ramp Chief: You do this escort stuff, mostly?
Ollie kept his gaze straight ahead, as if he was afraid to look at the ramp chief. As if their glances would reveal something he didn't want to talk about.
Bergmen: Me? I work in ship logistics.
The muscles around Ollie's eyes tightened as he kept his gaze away from the man next to him.
Bergmen: I volunteered for this one.
The ramp chief kept his gaze fixed on Ollie, nodding in understanding as he noticed the look on Ollie's face.
Ramp Chief: Hm. (beat) It must be hard.
Fortunately for Ollie, he was saved from further small talk by the arrival of an anti-grav flatbed, gliding silently next to the conveyor. The ramp chief just stood silently beside Ollie, his eyes watching as Ramp Agents disembarked from the anti-grav and stood there waiting for confirmation. In a moment laden with unspoken tension, the Ramp Chief nudged the lieutenant gently with his elbow in a subtle signal. The nudge woke Ollie from his daydream.
Ramp Chief: Lieutenant, whenever you're ready.
Bergmen: I… I need to verify.
The lieutenant approached the anti-grav and checked the palletized box to verify the data, as he was supposed to.
Bergmen: Okay.
The ramp chief nodded and pointed to the other side of the conveyor.
Ramp Chief: Good. You can stand right here.
Ollie stepped back to the designated spot and stood right beside the conveyor, waiting for the ramp crew to turn the flatbed and lift the coffin into place. He straightened his back, smoothed away the worries etched on his face, and rendered honor as the coffin slowly passed him and disappeared into the dark interior of the transport ship.
His eyes met the gaze of the children standing outside the terminal window, watching what was happening on the ramp below. They couldn't have been more than five, maybe six years old, hardly able to understand what they were witnessing. Still, the boy mimicked Ollie when he saw the lieutenant watching them. He gave them a nod and then turned to the ramp chief as the crew lowered the conveyor, preparing to seal the vessel's hold. It was time to board.
TBC
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Lieutenant JG Ollie Bergmen
Operations Officer
U.S.S. Artemis-A
A240009JC1