Lt. Commander Yogan Yalu — Out of the Flarn’pan…
Yogan Yalu
(( OOC: This’ll be the last bit of creative retconning for Yogan, I promise. From here on out, he officially rejoins the quantum universe where everyone else is. ))
(( Yogan Yalu’s quarters, Deep Space 224 ))
Yogan averted his gaze, breaking eye contact with Chippy Hipperson and staring instead at the dish of fricasseed azna betwixt them on the dining table. Chippy and Yogan had shared a handful of unremarkable dates over the last several weeks. A visit to the arboretum, a trip to the holosuite to see the Emerson String Quartet, the occasional workday lunch rendezvous at Subway Sam’s. It was nice. But “nice” was about as good as it got.
Yogan thought highly of Chippy, but didn’t feel a spark. After 370 years, nine lifetimes, eight marriages, two domestic partnerships, and a nosegay of passionate-but-brief encounters (thanks, Talos), Yalu’s instincts when it came to romance were far keener than Yogan’s. Each of Yalu’s past hosts had partnered—sometimes more than once—by the time they were Yogan’s age. Yogan wondered if there was something wrong with him for not dedicating much energy toward the pursuit of an inamorato. The occasion of his transfer to Deep Space 224, and the larger pool of potential dates compared to Excalibur, inspired Yogan to stick his neck out and try to date.
The result was Chippy, who was perfectly pleasant and would certainly make someone very happy someday. But not Yogan, and not today. Yogan looked back up at Chippy, who let out a baffled sigh.
Hipperson: You’re breaking up with me?
Yalu: No! No. Not really. ::long beat:: Yes. I’m sorry.
Chippy killed the rest of his drink and set it on the table a bit harder than he meant to. The clatter startled Yogan, but Chippy’s body language indicated that the maneuver was unintentional.
Hipperson: Sorry. I’m not throwing a fit, I promise. ::beat:: But I am a little surprised. And disappointed. I really enjoyed getting to know you, Yogan. I thought we hit it off.
Yalu: We did, Chippy. I like you, and I think you’re a great guy. I just don’t think we feel the same way about each other. The spark's just not there for me.
Chippy nodded slowly. Yogan was relieved at how well he was taking it. He recalled the knock-down-drag-outs that Auzell, his eighth host, would get into with her girlfriend during their many breakups and makeups. Yogan would take an awkward azna conversation over manufactured drama any day.
Yalu: I’m sorry.
Hipperson: Me too. ::beat:: Well, I guess I should probably get going. I always hate that “I still want to be friends” stuff. Maybe someday, but it’s okay if we don’t try to force it right away.
Yalu: Sure. I understand.
They both stood up from the dining table and Yogan conducted Chippy to the door. It wasn’t like they were ending a long-term relationship—they’d only gone on five or six dates. But the breakup was more dispassionate than Yogan expected. Borderline clinical, even. The door whooshed open and Chippy stood for a moment in the doorway. Yogan wasn’t sure if they were going to kiss, or hug, or just turn away from each other like nothing ever happened.
Hipperson: It was fun, Yogan. Take care.
Chippy extended a hand and Yogan shook it.
Yalu: You too, Chippy. Maybe see you around the station.
And just like that, it was over. Chippy turned down the corridor and the doors closed, leaving Yogan alone in his quarters. The fricasseed azna was a terrible idea. It was a disappointing dish to share, but it was downright upsetting to choke down by oneself. He wasn't hungry anyway. Instead of eating a sad, pathetic meal, Yogan put on some music and cleared the table. He had just started to bop to a real earworm, the Bajoran entry in the most recent Fedevision Song Contest, when the comm system chirruped and the computer interrupted the music.
Computer: New message.
Yalu: Read it to me please, Computer.
Yogan’s eyebrows climbed his forehead like mountaineers on Bes Manev as he heard the names of the recipients rattled off in order: Adea, Yalu, Dakora, Silveira, Yellir, Sydin, Jovenan, and Jones. Then the sender: MacKenzie.
Yalu: oO Well, this is going to be interesting. Oo
The computer delivered the news so dispassionately that it might as well have been Chippy reading the message. A transfer to the USS Artemis, effective immediately. A bunch of scattered puzzle pieces finally fell into place. Excalibur’s sudden return to the station. Flarn’pan’s insistence that Yogan lead those trainings. The lack of transparency surrounding where Excalibur was headed next, especially given the state of things in the Borderlands.
The state of things in the Borderlands. If Yogan was to rejoin his old crew, at least he could bring a few bits of knowledge along with him.
(( Captain’s Ready Room, Deck 1, USS Artemis — The next morning ))
The Luna-class USS Artemis was sleek and sharp. Yogan took the long way from the docking port to the bridge, going on an impromptu tour of the ship in the process. Records showed the hull was eight years old and had previously served under the name Doyle, but as Yogan walked the corridors, the place looked showroom new. The polished surfaces gleamed and each control interface boasted the latest technology. Whoever was in charge of the refit did a magnificent job.
The state of the renewed ship lessened Yogan’s anxiety, but only slightly. Their former ship effectively projected Starfleet’s authority in a region where authority was constantly challenged. Artemis, however, was smaller and less powerful than Excalibur. He pondered the optics. How would Starfleet’s enemies in the Borderlands interpret the change?
Yogan tapped the door chime to the captain’s ready room and waited to be let in. When the doors finally whooshed open, he entered to find his erstwhile XO and new CO at her desk. She looked like she always belonged there.
Yalu: Hi. ::beat, mock seriously:: I mean, ::ahem:: Lieutenant Commander Yogan Yalu, Sir.
MacKenzie: response
Yalu: It’s good to see you again. Seems like just yesterday we were painting horga’hns on Risa.
MacKenzie: response
Yogan took a seat on the “for guests” side of MacKenzie’s desk. From his pocket he removed a small PADD onto which he had downloaded his transfer orders. He glanced at the display.
Yalu: Thanks for having me. DS224 was a nice job for a while, but you know how it is there. After a while you just want to go somewhere else—anywhere else.
MacKenzie: response
Yalu: I was surprised when I heard that Starfleet was withdrawing Excalibur from the Borderlands. I’m sure you know that things aren’t exactly de-escalating around here.
MacKenzie: response
Tag / TBC
Lieutenant Commander Yogan Yalu
Second Officer & Strategic Operations Officer
USS Artemis NCC-81287
D238804DS0