PNPC Crewman Jozial Renirs – Not gonna let them stop us
Jovenan
((Turbolift, USS Artemis))
Just a while ago they had been by the Cat Planet, some enjoying their shoreleave, others – those with actually important jobs on the ship, such as Jozial – working to restore the ship to a suitable condition for the officers to keep throwing it at every opponent they could find. They had left the Cat Spacedock to map mouldy dust meteors or whatever, and even then, their officers could find people to kill them: themselves.
Just a few hours ago, Jozial had been bored to death with a lamp maintenance task. Now, her uniform looked like she had been bored to death with a drill.
Kliss'lai: Jozial ... I ... if you ever ... we don't always get second chances ... What I mean is, um ... thanks for not dying. It means a lot to me.
Jozial lowered her head as her cheeks turned crimson. Not all things on this ship, or on this day, were bad.
Renirs: You’re, uh, welcome. Thanks for not dying either!
Kliss’lai: ...welcome.
It had not actually been entirely accurate that Jozial had been working the entirety of the previous shoreleave. Yes, she should have been, but she had chosen to ignore those orders for something better, an opportunity that might not have repeated itself. She didn’t regret the choice; she would still do the same all over again. And she will.
Renirs: It’s possible we don’t get second chances… So while you still get them, it would make sense to go and use them, right?
Kliss’lai: Uh huh.
She looked at her own feet, as she swung one in a small arch like a pendulum, or like kicking an imaginary stone on the floor. Making the same choice would have been so much easier if there hadn’t been something in Kliss that turned her like this. They had already been on a date once! How difficult was it to ask her for another?
Renirs: We could go somewhere and celebrate not dying. Together. If you want. ::looks at her own clothes:: After changing, of course. And you’re pretty, uh, pretty busy, so I understand if you don’t have time and all that.
Kliss’lai: I would like that very much. 1800? I'll come pick you up?
Jozial was surprised that Kliss had not only accepted her suggestion but countered her with a detailed plan. Kliss was so cool. She didn’t get nervous or hesitate and always knew what to do. They could both carry themselves in combat – after all, it had been Kliss who had shot Jozial in the Jefferies Tube – but Jozial wished she could be more like her in these kinds of situations. She was just so…
Perfect.
Renirs: That sounds… Great! You know where I live. ::winks::
Kliss'lai: I can't wait.
Jozial smiled looking at Kliss. She had already forgotten about Kader with a hole in his chest, her bloodstained uniform, the collection of weapons Kliss should probably confiscate from her, and that pretentious Vulcan who she shall not name. A second date! Wait, was it a date? Yes, it was a date! With the coolest girl on the ship!
Kliss'lai: Um, deck 6.
The turbolift fizzled as it finally began to move again. During all this time, Jozial had also forgotten the fact that they were still on the deck Kliss had joined her on her way to her quarters to clean up and change to something with less blood on them. It was lucky that Kliss was more aware of their surroundings. Granted, Jozial wouldn’t have minded staying there with her for a while longer.
The turbolift stopped, and Jozial waved a goodbye-for-now to Kliss as they departed. There was still three hours till 18 o’clock, plenty of time for them both to prepare, at least if the big-shot officers didn’t decide to rip the fabric of the multiverse apart or something else characteristic for them. Better yet, let’s not allow them to stop their date from happening in any case.
She smirked. Even if there were millions of different universes with millions of Jozials, none could possibly be happier than she felt when Kliss had shared a turbolift ride with her.
End scene
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Crewman Third Class Jozial Renirs
Enlisted technician
USS Artemis-A
E239911J11