Ensign R’Karr: Solo
Mark P
OOC: Just popping out a little lower-decker solo. ;) Mission post to come shortly.
Following what had been an interesting start aboard the Thor, where he and Ensign Vharo had successfully helped the ship pass its unexpected security penetration test, it was relatively tame. While the academy had prepped him for life aboard a starship, there was the difference of knowing what to expect and living it. The most difficult aspect of it had been the getting flung out to the far-reaches of the Gamma Quadrant.
R’Karr had never been described as a cool cat or social butterfly, but he felt a notable absence of connection here. In fairness, he’d only made an effort with Saeihra after they’d invited him on a tour. Now, his eyes flicking up to the rather spartan lounge, he seemed more inclined to spend time avoiding the crew. In fact, he was ‘working remotely’ here after it had gotten a bit raucous with conversation in the tactical suites.
He was finishing penning a report focusing on the unusually high kidnap rate of the first officer. There was the unexplored territories standard that Starfleet staticians had baselined, and this Herrick guy seemed to throw that out the window. R’Karr had held back an editorial comment on whether the man wore a billboard that said, ‘Take me hostage.’ A slight smile edged at the corner of his lips as the thought crossed his mind, he could be humorous but others rarely embodied the same humour as him.
As he continued to finish the formatting review, he first heard the footfalls approaching him. Another above PADD glance told him that it was the mess’s on-duty attendant, approaching with a tray and a cerulean drink that had smoke floating over the rim, giving the glass an appearance of sitting on a cloud. The ensign thought he recognized the beverage, and this was confirmed when the glass was set down in front of him.
Attendant: One Hijarya Coast.
A Caitian beverage, non-alcoholic but a general fan favourite for most that had tried it.
R’Karr: I… didn’t order this.
Attendant: Never said you did, ::nudging the glass closer:: but it’s yours. It looks like you could do with something to cheer you up. Your one of the more… irregular regulars I’ve seen here.
R’Karr didn’t enjoy the supposition that he needed cheering up, but curiosity always got the better of him.
R’Karr: I need ‘cheering up’?
Attendant: I don’t know about you, but if I plunked my rear down here every day and interacted with no one but the replicator, I’d say something was needed to break the pattern.
R’Karr: And a drink from my homeland was the cure for my ailment?
It sounded a bit harsher than he intended, but he hadn’t been expecting the social interaction nor needing to deal with the niceties of one.
Attendant: Well, at least it sparked something to discuss in this scintillating conversation. I watch people all day buddy, and I can tell that you don’t want to be here, but you’re brand spanking new. Why are you so desperate to get out of somewhere you just arrived?
So far from home, where the only people he felt close ties to were several weeks of recorded comm calls away, in an area foreign fraught with danger and unknown players. Maybe that was it, but this individual didn’t need to know any of that. No, it was rare for anyone to be able to scratch past the surface.
Instead of responding immediately, R’Karr sipped the beverage. The cool tang tantalizing the tastebuds, memories of Cait rushing in. Setting the glass down, he got up.
R’Karr: Thank you for the drink, but I’ll be going.
And with that he strode, man and the mess hall in the rearview mirror. Perhaps he needed to get the box out from under his bed. Yes, some box time would help. That was, after he added the final recommendation that Commander Josh Herrick needed additional away team training lest he further jeopardize the tactical position of the Thor.
[End Scene]
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Ensign R'Karr
Tactical Officer
USS Thor
O240005JH3
he/him/his (player/character)