Lieutenant (JG) Thea Kairis - The Universal Constant of Exhaustion
Quinn Reynolds
((Transporter Room, Deck 8, USS Gorkon))
Rarely had Thea been so pleased and so grateful to leave a place behind. When the shimmering light of the transporter's confinement beam faded, she felt something leave her body. Her shoulders sagged, spine curving into an expression of weariness that would have invoked her mother's immediate displeasure, had she been present to witness it.
She was not, of course. Small mercies.
But there was someone. A cautious smile pulled at her mouth when she saw Rix standing by the transporter console. Conversation passed between the other members of her team — Sevo, zh'Tisav — and Chief Yisen at the controls, but none of it managed permanence in Thea's thoughts. The Trill and the Andorian made their way out, possibly to sickbay, possibly to the nearest shower unit. It was then Rix moved, striding across the transporter room, his posture everything Thea's was not: straight and proper, hands clasped behind his back. Yet he looked like a man on the sprinter's block, primed and ready to surge forward if given a reason.
Kero: Bruised, but not dead?
Kairis: My shoulder is lodging a complaint with the rest of my body. ::She smiled a little.:: But otherwise, I'm all right.
She pulled the helmet free as she spoke, the air in the transporter room cool against her skin. It helped to wash away the grimace the movement of said shoulder had invoked, though perhaps not quickly enough to avoid Rix's evaluating gaze. He looked as worn out as she felt, his earthy brown eyes dulled with fatigue and rimmed with red. Thea was suddenly glad of the helmet occupying her hands. It gave her something to hold on to, rather than reach for him the way instinct demanded.
Kero: I heard you come through. On the feed, when the gate reconnected. ::His lips twitched.:: Starfleet really does undersell the job.
Kairis: None of this was in the recruitment pitch, that's for certain.
At the console, Yisen finished his work with a crisp gesture. He picked up his PADD with a quiet cough to clear his throat. Thea finally looked away from Rix, her eyes settling on the Melthusian transporter chief.
Yisen: Log's done. ::Already on the move, he nodded.:: Sir. Lieutenant.
Kairis: Thank you, Chief.
Rix: Response
She watched the doors close behind Yisen. Sickbay would be wondering where she was soon, but she couldn't quite bring herself to move. Instead, she turned back toward Rix, adjusting her grip on her helmet and shifting her weight on sore feet. Fatigue broke over her in waves, each one a little harder to put aside.
Kairis: You look tired. Are you all right?
Rix: Response
Kairis: Well. ::She smiled, though it took a little more effort than before.:: Standing watch over the chaos isn't in the recruitment brochures, either.
Rix: Response
--
Engineer (Damage Control)
USS Gorkon
simmed by
Commanding Officer
USS Gorkon
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