Ensign Meris - An Uninspiring View

[Meris/Brian]

(( Corridor – Deck 5 – USS Artemis-A ))

 

Meris stepped into the corridor with their Starfleet duty tunic once again crisp across their shoulders, the Command Division red sharp and orderly. A faint trace of citrus-scented soap lingered in their wake – evidence of a recent and efficient clean-up. No sign remained of the chaotic painting session, though their fingers still felt the phantom texture of pigment against bulkhead. It was enough to make the corner of their mouth twitch pleasantly.

 

They adjusted the cuff of one sleeve, pulling it taut, and then tapped their combadge lightly.

 

Meris: =/\= Ensign Meris to Lieutenant Bergmen. =/\=

 

Bergmen: Response.

 

Meris: =/\= I was hoping you had a moment. There’s a matter concerning my quarters I’d like to speak with you about. Minor, but irritating. It won't take up much of your time, I assure you. =/\=

 

Bergmen: Response.

 

Meris: =/\= I was heading to Elysium. I thought it might be easier to explain in person. Perhaps you could join me for a drink? =/\=

 

Bergmen: Response.

 

(( Elysium – Mezzanine, Deck 5 – USS Artemis-A ))

 

Meris turned right at the next intersection. Elysium's mezzanine sat at the fore of Deck 5 just beyond the bend ahead. They arrived swiftly and stepped through, onto the lounges upper deck. The mezzanine windows spilled ambient light onto this level as they made their way toward a staircase down to the main level. Normally, the view would have been amazing, they imagined. Today, however, the view was anything but stellar.

 

Out the tall forward portholes, only the skeletal outlines of drydock gantries and the slow, floating passage of maintenance drones filled the scene. A DOT-7 drifted lazily past, dragging some sort of hull sensor behind it.

 

Meris squinted.

 

oO Practical. Necessary. Utterly uninspiring. Oo

 

(( Elysium – Main Lounge, Deck 6 – USS Artemis-A ))

 

They moved past the upper bar and toward the mezzanine steps, descending the winding staircase to the main lounge floor. It was only midday, and Elysium hadn’t reached peak foot traffic. A few officers nursed raktajinos or tall mugs of synthale at scattered tables. A Bolian crewman was talking animatedly with the bartender about the merits of seating density. An exotic-looking human – no, a Kantare perhaps – was talking up a Lieutenant in yellow at a nearby table. Meris envied the woman’s cascading golden tresses slightly.

 

The J’naii then chose a table not far from the center of the lounge and eased into a seat. They imagined Bergmen would be able to spot them relatively easily here. One hand drummed lightly on the tabletop – not impatient, just restless.

 

They glanced once more at the forward view. Another DOT-7 drifted by, this one blinking a friendly amber as if to apologize for the poor view.

 

Meris: This is probably the only time I'll prefer the view from my quarters to the view from here.

 

(( Tags/TBC ))

 

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Ensign Meris

Helm Officer

USS Artemis-A

A240207M14