JP: Ensign Nilsen, Ensign Kovacs, Lt Herrick, LT Arlill, Z.Johnson, Ensign Yinn, 2Lt Maxwell - JOPA: Insert Coins To Play. (Part 4)
Lhandon Nilsen
(Holosuite 1, Deck 5 USS Oumuamua)
Lhandon had found himself on Daytona USA, this was a curious set-up for anyone not versed in the culture of the latter half of the 20th century, two screens stood in front of two steering wheels and attached race seat, this was all combined into one unit that gave the illusion of being in a real race car. The words in English “Daytona USA” were posted on a sign that hung over both screens.
Meanwhile, Arlill was in the other seat.
Nilsen: Tox, something is arriving on a shuttle for me tomorrow.
Arlill: You didn’t order an ice cream maker again? (beat) you know I cancelled that order, two is enough.
Nilsen: You can’t have enough besides…I’ll show you when it arrives but make sure it gets to the OC as soon as it arrives. It’s a present for someone on the ship
Arlill: Oh yeah? You know my birthday is still a few months away.
Nilsen ::Smirk:: let’s just say, an ensign on Starbase 118 owed me a favour, and a certain senior officer will love their own mini version of themselves.
(A little while later)
Josh was leaning against the central bar that seemed to be serving soda and slices of pizza. He’d changed since the DDR game, his civies were full of sweat, so he’d ducked into the replicated restroom and ordered an era-appropriate outfit. He was surprised with what he got; he wasn’t sure he’d wear it normally, but once he donned the outfit it felt rather comfortable.
As he took a small break from the activities, it was interesting watching the other folks socialize. He wasn’t a loner by any means, but social interactions could be draining. It was good on Nilsen to organize something fun; everyone had seemed a bit worn down after their last mission — battle seemed to do that — and this was a good reset. As his mind wandered back to his current standing with Nilsen, in an almost Q like appearance, the man was in front of him.
Nilsen: Jos…Herrick
Herrick: … (a bit awkwardly) Hey… oO Where is this going to go? Oo
More was added to the awkwardness as both men tried to speak at the same time.
Nilsen: So…
Herrick: Look…
A brief silence hung in the air.
Herrick: ::nodding towards Lhandon:: Go ahead.
Nilsen: About…that thing...I shouldn't have shouted at ya
Herrick: I get that… but I’m not a…
He struggled to find the right words; they could be so imprecise at times.
Herrick: I’m not a bad guy, I’m not out to get you, I’m just trying to understand you…
Nilsen: No no, I'm not saying that at all, if anyone was the bad guy here it was me. I shouldn't have snapped at you like I did. I'm so sorry.
And for the first time this meeting, Nilsen was really leaning on his cane. He'd replicated it under suggestion while his brain was rewriting his entire neuronervous system. Humans are not meant to have their consciousness taken from their bodies.
Nilsen: I…we had a good thing going and I was really enjoying the time I was spending with you, and I cared about you and I hoped that was the same from you…and I just wanna fix it.
Herrick: oO Well, this is going a bit better than Kovacs Oo So… Lets.
Nilsen: Just then…you said you were trying to understand me…I…appreciate that, because most people just read the lies that are printed
Herrick: Well, I’m a man of the sciences; I prefer to collect ALL the facts before I make any call on someone. Both directly from the source ::nods:: and what’s out there. ::sweeping his arm as if to reference the universe:: I like making informed decisions.
He wasn’t about to reveal the fact that he was running his own mini-private investigation to the man; it would potentially derail a conversation that seemed to start off well.
Nilsen: So erm…what you wanna know? And this time, I wholeheartedly promise not to snap
For Lhando, it was a weirdly distorted matter of perspective, sure the Echo Squad crash was quite frankly one of the worst things to happen to any person, let alone a 20-year-old kid, but his experience with the Accended Bajoran's taught him that he was of Echo and not Oumuamua. He was finally understanding what that meant, and it was about time he shared and stopped making others pay for it through his temper.
He wasn't a good person, he was sure of that
Herrick: oO For a million bars, what’s the right question? Oo (pause) How about whatever you're willing to share?
Nilsen: So, I was in this group called Echo Squad, it was a program for cadets to prepare them for search and rescue flight operations. It was a toxic hierarchical egotistical mess of a show but I was on top of it. I wasn't a great person back then. So on Stardate 229803.12, we set off on a training exercise, should have been simple. The night before, myself and Prince, his callsign, or Blackwood to use his name, got into a fight. Anyway, back to the mission, about 17 minutes in erm.
Lhandon paused for a moment and moved slightly deeper into the room and gestured for Herrick to join him so that they would be in earshot.
Nilsen: erm, about 17 minutes into the operation, there was a malfunction and erm.
Josh genuinely looked concerned for Lhandon’s wellbeing. He knew that while everyone carried their past with them; for some, the burden was more than others — himself included. As Nilsen continued, he tried his best to make sure his facial expression was kept neutral as the HCO unloaded more facts.
Nilsen: I don't remember exactly, but I think a part of Sh’mais shuttle malfunctioned mega badly, or something on mine. I remember the comms call, and erm I remember the part falling off and hitting my shuttle. So erm…So she was going down, headfirst towards an asteroid and my shuttle was falling apart.
Lhandon’s energy seemed to fade, his ability to talk at warp 9 just gone, he was solemn, sad, his head was low.
Nilsen: So, I disobeyed a direct order, they were yelling at me to withdraw but I had to do somethin’. My shuttle was fracked anyway, fire and yeah. So I set an intercept course, and I positioned my shuttle under hers, I then fired the Ventral thrusters so she wouldn’t hit at 90 degrees, hopefully, so she could just skid along the surface.
Lhandon wasn’t done but this last bit was pushing him
Nilsen: So the shuttles are eventually angled so that our ventral sides are both facing the surface. Her shuttle lands on mine, and rolls off. And that’s all I remember.
It took every ounce of effort for the engineer to make sure his face didn’t react; there was the missing puzzle piece. He knew of Sh’mais from his academy days as they had shared a general academy course together — but she mysteriously disappeared and there were rumours of an incident with another student. He tried to keep his responses short, focusing on listening rather than talking.
Herrick: And, how is she now?
Nilsen: I know that she’s alright, she's recovered but that’s it, she wants nowt to do with me. I don’t blame her.
Herrick: But, outside some of that sensationalism, I don’t recall ever hearing what happened after all that? I mean, obviously, you made it through ::gesturing to the physical presence of Nilsen::
Nilsen: There was a lot of…the press and not wearing red anymore and I don’t know.
It was clear that the man, just 2 months Herrick’s junior, had reached his quota for sharing. Josh wasn’t going to push it any further, lest he end up on the ground again with another officer. He tried to think of something that would express his appreciation for trying to make reparations.
Herrick: Just wait a moment…
He got up and went behind the counter; the holographic staffed seemed to pay him no attention as he moved towards a large upright blue cooler, with the word Coca Cola written on it. Inside, amongst other bottles of beverages, were small boxes of a rectangular shape. He grabbed two and headed back.
Herrick: ::handing the juice box to Nilsen and placing an arm on the man’s shoulder as a sign of solidarity:: Shall we Lhando?
Lhandon smiled. Just what the doctor ordered. He took the juice box and tapped it to Herrick’s as if they were toasting glasses.
TBC
Ensign Lhandon Joseph Nilsen
HCO
USS Oumuamua
O240007LN1
He/Him/His (Both player and character)
&
LTJG Toxin Arlill
Helm, Operations, & Communications Officer
USS 'Oumuamua NCC-81226
Writer ID.: O239910TA4
&
2nd Lieutenant Arturo Maxwell.
Marine Officer, 4/73 Marines.
USS Oumuamua: NCC-81226.
O239311AM0
&
Lieutenant JG Josh Herrick
Acting Chief Engineer
USS ‘Oumuamua
O240005JH3
he/him/his (player/character)