Ensign Tho’Bi - The Dissembled Andorian

[Tobi]

((Deck Five, Section Seven, Compartment Ninety Nine - USS Artemis))

“Meow…”

“Meow…”

“Meow…”

“Meow…”

The young Andorian woke to the steady chime of forlorn meows emanating from the darkness of the rucksack. Dark blue eyes studied the lines of white and blue light chasing across the ceiling. From his temporary sleeping position, he could feel the heightened pulse of the ship's Warp Reactor through the decking and down his back and legs. He glanced across at the small round porthole; stars streaked past in elongated broadsides to Einstein's limits; they were at warp.

“Meow…”

“Meow…”

“Meow…”

“Meow…”

He rolled off the pillow, bringing his face level with the opening of the rucksack; green eyes stared back at him.

Tho’Bi: ::hushed:: Hey, little one. 

In the murk of the rucksack, he watched as the little white and black cat moved for the first time since they'd arrived, but only to turn her back on him and the unfamiliar room.  

The young Andorian let out a long, sad sigh and brought himself to his feet. He felt a little sick as he looked around the room; as though he was falling, and unable to halt the descent. A second shakier sigh escaped him. He shook his head and stepped into the compact adjoining bathroom; his foot landing in the newly positioned, and fortunately for him, as yet unused, litter tray. 

Having seen to the business of his own litter tray, the young Andorian returned to the cramped sleeping quarters. The chime of forlorn meows had ceased with the cat turning her back on this strange, unwelcomed world. As he pulled on the black and gold of his Starfleet Uniform, his antennae sensed the steady rise and fall of the cat's small frame and so, he decided it best not to bother the little one; he unzipped a large grey garment bag, extracting his dress uniform from within, and hung it from the bathroom doorframe, in preparation for the formal ceremony that evening. 

Swoosh! The doors to the communal living room parted. Dark blue eyes looked down at the lonely little rucksack, tucked between rack and side-table. The sensation of falling returned.

Tho’Bi: ::dry mouth:: I'll be back soon, little one.

((Time-Skip: End of the Daytime Shift)) ((Corridor Deck Five, USS Artemis))

It had been a messy day. Routine maintenance tasks had been made messy by an Engineer whose mind was preoccupied by the sad little cat, huddled in the gloom of her rucksack. Routine tasks made messy had, in turn, made the day long; he was late. His one meter ninety centimeter frame dodged and sidestepped, as he hustled his way along the busy corridor.

((Deck Five, Section Seven, Compartment Ninety Nine - USS Artemis))

Swoosh! The young Andorian stepped across the threshold of the communal living room. In stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of the busy corridor, a stillness gripped the small room. The light was low; the only sound, the dull persistent hum of the replicator.

Swoosh! The young Andorian stepped across the threshold of his box-like sleeping quarters. His antennae sensed the steady rise and fall of the cat's small frame, curled up at the back of the rucksack. He placed the grey and bulk of his Engineering Kit onto his rack, and knelt down in front of the rucksack.

Green eyes stared back at him from the gloom.

Tho’Bi:: ::softly:: Hey, little one.

Green eyes studied him, but offered no reply.

He was late. He needed to change into his dress uniform. As he turned in the direction of the bathroom and the hanging dress uniform, he noticed that both the food and water bowl were now empty. He smiled.

Tho'Bi: Hey! Little One… you ate-

His words came to an abrupt halt, his smile caught short. Dark blue eyes stared up at the countless tiny shafts of bathroom light, shining through the countless rips and tears of what was his dress uniform.

“Meow…”, be the meow an admission of guilt or a declaration of pride, the young Andorian did not know; but as he turned back to the rucksack, the small white and black cat was sat upon the open flap of the rucksack, looking up at him with her bright green eyes.

Tho’Bi: Hmm… You did that?

Green eyes stared back. The white and black tail flicked, but again, no response was offered. The Andorian stood and sighed, a long tired sigh. The sick feeling was back, and he was falling. He studied the freshly shredded dress uniform for a moment, before reaching out to it with a light blue hand. 

Tho'Bi: ::shrugs:: maybe it's not so bad. 

The young Andorian had barely given utterance to the thought, barely made fingertip contact with shredded fabric, when the entire dress uniform disintegrated; countless rips and tears, became countless shards of fabric, fluttering down to the decking below.

Beeep! The PADD on his side-table lit up; the Ceremony was about to start.

Tho'Bi: Uh oh.

“Meow!”, the decidedly more insistent meow emanated from the cat, now sat in front of her empty water and food bowls; her small white and black head tilted up at him, green eyes fixed on him.

Water and food bowls refilled, and dress uniform definitely not repaired, the young Andorian Ensign headed for the door.  

Swoosh! He worried for a moment that the cat might make a run for it, but upon turning to check on her, discovered her mid-pounce among the mess of dress uniform shards.

Tho'Bi: I'll be back soon, little one.

Instead of the steady rise and fall of the cat's small frame, his words were met with the tumble and scamper of fabric and fur.

((Elysium - Deck 6 - USS Artemis-A))

The young Ensign barrelled through the double doors of the Elysium in a shuddering mess of sweat and breath; his getting from his quarters on deck five to the Elysium on deck six, a mad dash along corridors jammed with ambling crewmates, excited at the prospect of shoreleave, and uninclined to make way for a hastily moving Ensign. 

With what scant dignity he had left, the regular uniform dressed Ensign hurried to a vacant chair and attempted to not be noticed; no easy task when you're one meter ninety centimeter tall and blue. 

Stars streaked across the darkness beyond the tall archway-like windows; solar systems of lives, bypassed by the fast forward of Subspace.

The Acting-Captain took her position, with Jovenan, next to the table with the boxes, carefully laid out in order. 

Munro: :: to the room :: Welcome :: clears her throat :: Erm … :: pause :: What can I say? 

She looked at the PADD on the pedestal. 

Munro: I had a speech planned out. I'm not very good at these things: dress uniforms and formalities. It's not something I've ever really got accustomed to so I'll make this as quick and painless as possible. 

K’Wara: Hear hear!

Bergmen: Hear with your ears, listen with your heart.

The young Andorian was distracted from the Acting-Captain's speech by a white cat hair on the black leg of his uniform; then another one, and another one.

Ava indicated the table beside Jovenan. 

Munro: These are symbols of your steadfast adherence to duty, it wasn't easy. But you all behaved like exemplary Starfleet officers and on that note the entire crew have earned themselves the Starfleet Investigation Ribbon and the Peacekeeper Service Ribbon. 

Now the young Andorian noticed a black cat hair on the gold shoulder of his uniform; then another one, and another one.

Munro: To start things off, I have a special ribbon for Lt Commander Jovenan. 

Jovenan: Oh?

Munro: I had barely stepped onboard the Artemis before I was tasked by taking on temporary command, and the dubious chore of selecting a first officer. We were strangers then, extending the hand of trust to one another. I'm glad you accepted and I hope we've come away from this experience closer to being friends. I award you the Superior Support Ribbon, Commander Jovenan.

Jovenan: Thank you, sir. It has been a pleasure to get to know you as well, even if it was in these circumstances.

The assembled officers clapped and cheered. The dissembled Andorian clapped and cheered with them. His dark blue eyes studied the dispersal pattern of white cat hair on black uniform and black cat hairs on gold uniform. 

Munro: Please step forward, Lt. K'Wara, Ensign Cole and Ensign Tho'Bi. 

K'Wara: Ah. ::swigs:: Showtime.

oO How did the little one do that? ….wait, what? Oo

Realising late that his name had been called, the young Ensign snapped upwards and rushed to the awaiting Acting-Captain and Acting-First-Officier.

Munro: When we join the academy we're taught that Starfleet is more than our assigned duty posts and it seems we're supposed to be more than the sum of our parts :: looks to Tho'Bi and smiles :: It's a challenge, at times. But each of you showed me that you can rise to that challenge. In dealing with the Boraxian diplomat and :: to Cole and K'Wara :: Andoren :: beat :: you proved those academy professors right in their insistence to teach us all Diplomacy 101. Even if it did make me want to fall asleep. 

K'Wara: Thank you, Commanders.

Cole: ::nodding slightly:: Thank you.

oO Cat hairs… can they see the cat hairs… Oo

Tho'Bi: ::bows awkwardly at Munro:: Thank you, cat-tain ::bows awkwardly at Jovenan:: …Commander.

Jovenan: Congratulations.

Munro: Lt. K'Wara you stay where you are for now. Can Commander Jovenan, Doctor Morgan, Lt. Imril, Samantha Richards and Doctor Jaran join them. 

The young Ensign eagerly made a hasty retreat to the far end of the room. Dark blue eyes stared down at the Ribbon.  

oO Diplomacy? Oo

His mind raced through the litany of blunders, missteps, and broken directives he'd managed to rack up in his first and, hopefully, last foray into Diplomacy.  

oO N’ndar lexthar lesh’ra. …Not everything white is snow Oo

With a wry smile, the young Ensign tossed the coffin shaped box, with ribbon inside, onto the table; it clattered to a quick halt.

Munro: Your efforts to uncover the mystery surrounding the altered crystals and ultimately deliver a safe remedy to the effects it had on the Boraxian population has not gone unnoticed. Each of you is awarded the Scientific Discovery Ribbon. With Doctors Morgan and Jaran along with Richards and Imril earning the Medical Science Ribbon as well. 

Morgan: Thank you, Commander.

Jaran: Thank you, sir.

Richards: Much appreciated. Thank you.

Imril: Thank you, Captain.

Bergmen: Hooray! Congratulation!

Bancroft: ::clapping:: Sam! Imril! Chief! Jaran!

The Andorian watched as the ribbon was handed to Doctor Richards.

oO I wonder… would the little one care? Oo

He smiled to himself and caught sight of his own ribbon, tossed to one side. Did he even care?  

Munro: Doctor Morgan and Lt Imril you are dismissed for now. I'm not quite finished with the rest of you yet. 

Munro: You have all earned the Innovation Ribbon as well. 

Jaran: Umm Thank you. ::beat:: Again.

Richards: It’s not much. But it’s honest work.

Munro: :: good humoured :: Now you can return.

K'Wara: ::winks:: A fair load heavier, Commander. Thank you.

Munro: Can Lt. Commander Silveira, Lt. Storm, Lt. Imril and Ensign Bancroft step forward. 

Imril: ::Whispering to Bancroft:: It’ll be fine. Trust me.

The proceedings began to wash over the young Andorian; one award rolling into the next, like gravity waves traveling through deep space in surge and lull; they picked him up and carried him, as he fell through the darkness, unable to stop, unwilling to fight.

Munro: Old Earth Humans had a popular saying to describe heroic feats, “running into a burning building”. Each of you did just that, you didn't know what you were going to find or discover within it. Or if you'd even come back out again. Yet, you still ran into a burning building. You've earned yourselves a Starfleet Medal of Commendation. Wear it proudly. 

Storm: Thank you, Commander.

Bancroft: Thank you, Commander. ::nodding to his fellow officers:: I was fortunate to be teamed with some very capable officers.

Imril: ::To Bancroft::As we were fortunate to be teamed with you. ::To Munro:: Thank you again, Captain.

More clapping. More coffins. More gravity waves. More falling through the dark.

Munro: Doctor Morgan please step forward again and Lt. Bergmen and Ensign Cole can you join him please.

Morgan: ::quietly:: Oh you've got-

Cole offered Doctor Morgan a shrug.

Bergmen: No need to fret, doctor; it’s just a little sting.

Imril chuckled at that. 

Munro: For staying behind, administering aid to the Boraxian people and upholding Starfleet values you are awarded the Good Conduct Ribbon.

Morgan: ::nodding:: All in a day's work.

Cole: Just did what needed to be done.

Bergmen: And even in the hardest moments, we remained persistent, united in our fidelity and honor.

He wondered what the little one was doing; hopefully still engaged in the casual vandalism of his dress uniform.

Munro: Ensign Cole please remain. Doctor Bancroft can you join her please.

Munro: I shall only be acting Captain for a short while more but I cannot express the pleasure it gives me to be the CO who gets to do this final honour.

Munro picked up one of the wooden boxes sitting in front of her and stepped closer to Cole.

Munro: Ensign Cole, you are hereby promoted from Ensign to Lt. JG :: smiles warmly :: You've earned that shiny new pip, Lieutenant. And try not to blow anything up when you celebrate.

Cole: No explosions ::beat:: I guess I can try that.

Jovenan: Congratulations, Lieutenant.

Richards: That’s my friend!

Tho’Bi: ::smiling quietly to himself:: Hey, roomie ::beat:: Bye, roomie.

Munro: Ensign Bancroft, you are hereby promoted to Lt. JG. This means you'll be expected to do five more kilometres. Well earned, Roy.

Bancroft: ::snapping to attention:: Thank you, Ma’am. 

Jovenan: Congratulations, Lieutenant.

Richards: That’s also my friend!

Tho'Bi: ::smiling quietly to himself:: Crashcart for the win.

Munro: I have one final order of duty to perform. Lt. K'Wara can you step forward. 

K'Wara: Sir?

Munro: I don't have a new pip but you have a new assignment Lt. We are appointing you the new Chief of Operations for the Artemis. Well done. Lt. Vailani will be remaining onboard while she steps into a new role.

((Deck Five, Section Seven, Compartment Ninety Nine - USS Artemis))

Swoosh! Concerned about the little one, the young Andorian had made a quick retreat back to his quarters. He needn't have worried; the doors parted to reveal a white and black mass of paws and claws, adorned with shards of fabric. Laying on her back, with a tilt of her white and black head, the cat gazed up at him with bright green eyes.

“Meow!”, a chime of greeting or pride, he did not know. In the mess of fabric, dark blue eyes spied the tattered remains of his other ribbons.

Tho'Bi: ::opening the box and tossing the ribbon:: You better have this one, too.

In blatant defiance of physics, the small white and black cat sprang vertical, snatching the falling ribbon in mid-air. The young Andorian slumped back onto his rack and watched as the cat scampered and skittered about the cramped quarters; across table and up cabinet, sending object and Engineering project crashing to the deck; hunting fabric and ribbon, without pity or remorse; happy and distracted from thoughts of her Mama and home, at least for the moment.  

He smiled. At least one of them was happy. At least for the moment. 

End of Scene for Tho’Bi 

((OOC: Copurrnicus simmed with permission and approval of Beky))

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Ensign Tho’Bi

Engineering

USS Artemis-A

A240203T11