LtJG Nilsen, Ens Lahl, Ens Caras, Ens Qurgh'Loq , Nurse Miash, Ens Nis, Ens Kovacs, Lt Herrick - JOPA Bridgerton: Part 3
Lhandon Nilsen
((Holodeck 2, USS Octavia E Butler))
Nilsen: RIGHT…SO.
Lhandon’s voice bellowed across the holodeck, catching the attention of everyone present.
Nilsen: Lets gather around folks.There’s a little JOPA Business to get out of the way. First, that’s what this is, the Junior Officers Protection Association. We don’t know where it started or who started it but it’s our tradition to look up until we get those two coloured-in pips. JOPA is a little outfit for us Lower Deckers in part to chill and hang out, but also to keep an eye on each others’ backs and step in if the big wigs up top are putting too much pressure on us. Sounds great right?
Whether he realised it or not, he was saying, close to word for word, the same thing that Toxin said when he ran the place. Yet even when they were at their coldest and at each other's throat, the influence the chief of ops had on him was undeniable Lhandon was happy with his little speech, he stood up straight. He had taken a degree of ownership of this group since he joined, and he considered JOPA a point of pride.
Nilsen: But before you go boasting to all your friends about this cool new club there’s one primary rule (beat) Like fight club, no one talks about JOPA!
Yinn: You talk about JOPA all the time.
Herrick: (murmuring) Worst kept secret in Starfleet.
Lahl: Let him finish. ::Kimonzi watched closely::
Zarah: You can talk about JOPA, but only to the right people.
Zarah pointed out.
Caras: ::slightly raising a hand:: If we don’t talk about it, how do we know when it’s happening? No written records either right? No logs?
Caras was genuinely curious. There were things like this in Orion culture, but usually they were disseminated in other ways that weren’t a big party. But sometimes… it was a big party.
Kovacs: Just like you did tonight! You get an invite and simply bring yourself, if any senior officer walks in, it just looks like we're having a party. (beat) And we can lean into each other inbetween.
Eli looked up at Lhandon, noticing how confident and proud the man appeared to be, a welcome change from the past few days. He tilted his head toward his boyfriend, who took the signal to continue on.
Nilsen: So. Every junior officer has been a part of this group, right up to the head honchos, but they’ll never admit it! JOPA is a mix of fun and support. You’ll do some fun pranks (beat) more to come on that ::winking:: and also find fellow JOPA members are here to help you make it from young ensigns up to strong lieutenants without ruffling too many feathers…looking at…all of you.
Yinn: Was I supposed to wear feathers?
Lahl: It’s a metaphor.
Loq ran a finger along their cheek. Why couldn’t humans ever just say what they meant?
Zarah: It could have been fun to wear feathers though.
They were getting off track, and their intrepid leader attempted to guide them back to the subject at hand.
Nilsen: Aaaaanyway (beat) New people, you’re going to be split into a few smaller groups. Each group is responsible for pulling a prank on a superior. And the best part ::looking around the room at every set of eyes:: (beat) the groups have already been selected! ::beat:: Now I’ve been particular about this, I like to think I’m good with pairing people up
Lhandon was feeling just a little mischievous at this moment, he had been thinking for a while about this meeting and who he would pair with who, this was a big intake to JOPA.
Zarah: I guess we’ll have to see!
Zarah glanced at Yinn, or at least the Bolian body of Yinn. Her friend was stuck in a really weird situation, but she…he…they were still her friends.
Lahl: Ooh, I’m sure this will be good.
Caras: I just hope it’s not the interim Chief of Security.
Nilsen: So…Nis, Miash and Eli. I know you three have worked together before. You will plan and execute a prank on any lieutenant or higher.
Jania gulped and adjusted her tin ‘halter-top.’ She glanced at Miash.
Nis: Um . . . is that, like, socially acceptable?
Zarah: Oh totally and completely. Many of them have already been in JOPA and know that they could be targets at any time.
Like Toxin. Oooo! Toxin! Maybe they could try him? She cast another look at Yinn, though this one her expression tried to convey far more than she could easily communicate in that moment. If only she were telepathic!
Loq noticed Zarah staring in their direction. Was Loq their next target? Would their pranking partner betray them like that?
Nilsen: Lahl, Caras. You two also have to plan and execute a prank.
Lahl: Excellent.
Caras: Pranks I can do.
Nis: What if we don’t succeed?
Nilsen: If you succeed you're in…if you don't…you’re also in, I’m not your mother.
Lahl: My mother will be very appreciative of that.
Herrick: There has only been one JOPA member that left our gilded halls without having completed their prank… we’d like to keep that number where it’s at. So, it’s up to you all.
Zarah: We’ve had good luck with ours!
Zarah grinned over at her partner in crime. The Director never did figure out who had modified her program to potatoes!
Caras: How much injury can be sustained for it to be called “not a prank”?
Nilsen: But for now, enjoy the party. This theme is off the charts. All this food that’s been brought in has been made by me. I’ve been wanting to do this for a while, so I hope you all enjoy it.
Eli gripped the man’s shoulder and squeezed it tight.
Kovacs: Good job, JOPA cap’.
Nilsen: ::smiling:: I hereby accept the promotion
Zarah: Nice. I’m starving!
Zarah rubbed her hands together, the smooth fabric slipping easily together and shhhshing softly with the motion.
Nis: :: Whispering so Nilsen can’t hear :: Will it be human food? That’s all cow bits and nightshade pastes, isn’t it? No offense or anything, it’s just not our preference.
Lhandon knew that worry, his ears pricked up. The last thing he wanted was to have anyone at his party feeling uncomfortable, or not enjoying the food. .
Nilsen: Don’t worry. ::passes a PADD:: I’ve already accounted for everyone; Here’s the entire list and their ingredients. You might like the Klavaatu, it pairs nicely with the Redleaf tea. You get this realy sweet combination of herbs and tea leaves.
Caras: Time to try one of everything.
Lahl: I’m sure it’s going to be great.
Yinn: The nice thing about having two bodies is between them, I can eat anything.
Nilsen: Oh, one last thing. I nearly forgot…This sod here. :: pulling in Herrick with one arm for a sideways hug:: He’s made lieutenant, which means this is his last JOPA. So make sure you wish him all the best, and erm…after this meeting, he’s fair game for pranks ::looking towards Caras and Lahl::
The chief engineer almost lost his balance when Nilsen grabbed his arm, but recovered semi-gracefully.
Lahl: That’s too easy. He’ll be expecting it.
Herrick: Maybe that’s part of the game. I mean… what’s the worst I could do ::playfully reflecting:: put you on holodeck bio filter purging or nacelle scrubbing for a year?
Josh winked in jest at the young lady in red. As he turned his head and looked at the others, he stopped for a second as he and Eli’s eyes connected. Josh's face felt a bit flush when Eli offered a congratulatory smile and there seemed to be a sparkle in his eye; and then, Kovacs turned away and continued the side conversation he had going on.
As Jania had recently almost died in the nacelle, the idea of scrubbing it for a year gave her some goosebumps of fear.
Zarah: She’s right though. You’re too newly released. We need you in the wild for a while first.
Josh grinned, he expected that he might be a fair target of pranks for however long he’d be stationed aboard — a department chief had higher profile and it seemed like some lower deckers took pleasure in tormenting their bosses from the stories he’d heard.
Caras: There are definitely some people in here i wouldn’t want to be pranked by, or even prank.
The JOPA group was prone to joking around, but Loq felt like the occasion merited some sincerity. They clasped both Herrick’s hands, one with each body, and spoke with their Klingon voice, which they always felt conveyed more seriousness.
Loq: Congratulations, Lieutenant. There is an old saying on Q’onos: To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.
(beat)
Loq: It’s more poetic in Klingon.
Herrick: Thank you, Loq’Yinn! It has been a wild ride. And your quote holds merit; I just show up every day and try to make a positive change, no matter the size. That’s the beauty in Starfleet. (beat) How are you finding the adjustment now that it’s been a couple months?
Loq paused in thought for a long moment. Their Bolian body drifted over, less to join the conversation they were already part of than to cut down on the distraction of having two conversations at once.
Loq: That might be the strangest part about this, how quickly I adjusted. Physically, it took some time to balance two bodies, in fact I’m still getting used to that. But mentally? My brains started working in tandem almost immediately. I don’t ever feel like two people other than… (both voices in unison) you know, the obvious.
Herrick: Are you…wanting to be split up?
It’d been some time since the topic had been discussed, and Josh suspected that the more the pair were intertwined, the closer they got to becoming like Binars — requiring two to function effectively.
As for Loq, this warranted an even longer pause.
Loq: I don’t know. Intellectually, I feel like I probably should. Apart from anything else, Klingons live a lot longer than Bolians, and I don’t know what happens to my mind when one body dies. Do I lose half my thoughts? My memories?
They rubbed the ridge on their Klingon forehead in thought. It was a Bolian gesture, but those distinctions didn’t really exist for Loq any more.
Loq: But that’s also what happens if I get split up. Imagine half your body, half your senses, half your memories being stripped away. Would you want that?
Herrick: ::shaking his head:: I don’t think I would, I just don’t know what the consequences are with being tied together. (beat) I guess, at the end of the day, all that matters to me — regardless of the journey — is leaving a legacy. Some material impact in this universe that continues after heading into the great unknown. Not getting lost to time. Whether that be in one body or two.
Jania touched her belly, feeling Nis inside.
Nis: Nis will go on after I’m gone, yet neither of us would choose any differently. :: Smiling sadly :: If you’d ever like to chat about it, we’re here.
Yinn: I’d like that. You must have some unique perspective on my situation.
Loq found they tended to default to their Bolian voice for softer personal interactions. Which was a bit ridiculous — if their crewmates could adjust to the two-body problem, they could certainly adjust to hearing a Klingon talk about science and emotional well-being. Even before becoming entangled, they had been considered sensitive, by Klingon standards.
Lahl: Indeed, and if you want to talk to me as well, I’m open to talking about it.
As everyone moved to their assigned tables, the single butler glitched slightly and duplicated himself into additional copies each with their own variation. It was weird to see several cowboys, each with different coloured denim jeans, chaps and boots, with the juxtaposition of white service gloves, silver trolleys, and fine china. Spurs spinning as they glided over to each of the tables.
Lieutenant Josh Herrick
Chief Engineer
USS Octavia E. Butler
O240005JH3
he/him/his (player/character)
&
Ensign Elijah Kovacs
Engineering Officer
USS Octavia E. Butler
&
Lieutenant JG Lhandon Joseph Nilsen
Assistant Chief of Operations.
USS Octavia E Butler
O240007LN1
He/Him/His (Both player and character)
&
Senior Chief Petty Officer Miash
Head Nurse
USS Octavia E Buttler NCC-82850
Writer ID.: O239910TA4LT
&
Ensign Kimonzi Lahl
Engineering Officer
U.S.S. Octavia E. Butler
O240107KL4
&
Ensign Morro Caras
Engineering Officer
USS Octavia E. Butler
O240106MC1
&
Ensign Qurgh'Loq Yinn
Science Officer/Diplomatic Corps
USS Octavia E Butler
O240011Y12