A New Arrival - Just Passing Through

Posted on Mon Feb 19th, 2024 @ 11:23pm by Gypsy Midnight & Lieutenant Commander Hamish Brott

860 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Ninety-Nine Bottles of Swill
Location: Various
Timeline: Current

ON:

The shuttle parked far enough away that they were seen but would not approach unless invited. Soral sat behind the pilot's seat taking a personal shuttle of Vulcan design. "Bellwether Station this is Commander Soral of the USS Standing Bear. Permission to approach and transport in."

Lieutenant Commander Brott was sitting in Ops and chowing down on some delicious Pad See Ew as he tried to learn the small intricacies of operating chopsticks, but he was still learning and a long way from mastering the wooden utensils. He was taken aback by the sudden arrival of a Federation shuttle at his small station, but it wasn't completely abnormal.

From time to time Starfleet would send someone to check on the station, interview he and his crew at the time, undoubtedly adding to the mounting reasons why the station should be decommissioned or at the very least transition over to being unmanned.

Brott had just pierced a piece of replicator approximated chicken when the sensors detected the shuttle and the Commander's message came through. This was not how to use chopsticks, but Brott found it easier. He immediately straightened in his seat and responded to the message.

Soral he thought for a moment. A Vulcan! and the thought of that made the Bolian beam with delight. "Oh Commander, please do. Oh yes, certainly! This is Lieutenant Commander Brott, aloha...jolan tru....live long and prosper...his arms wide open...Chaka Khan! Hello! Please, beam on over, we are standing by."

Soral reared back. He was a lone so he allowed himself a grimace. "Jolan tru, Commander Brott. I shall join you in ten minutes and twenty-five seconds." He cut the coms and let out a sigh. "If he hugs me I shall have to nerve pinch him." He rubbed his nose.

The jovial Bolian took pride in being a good host and showing the utmost peak performance in hospitality, as he often would note, there's always a p-a-l in hospitality and so Lieutenant Commander Brott quickly made his way over to a food and beverage replicator, ordering what he felt would be a great tea selection as he prepared for the Commander's arrival.

The trip closer to the station felt like a blink. After a few moments to mentally prepare Soral signaled that he was ready for transport. After receiving the transport coordinates he engaged the transported and watched as the world shimmered out of existence.

Lieutenant Commander Brott was there practically the very moment that Soral had taken solid form once again, materializing on the station. "Commander!" exclaimed the excitable Bolian station commander. "What a delight to have such an unexpected visitor. Please, come come, I have replicated up a wonderful tea for you" Brott added as he shoved the mug in the Vulcan's face.

Soral held back a sigh as he took the mug. "Thank you." Politeness dictated tea, he knew. "Thank you, Commander. I shall be glad to have tea with you, lead the way." Perhaps he'd get some info from the Bolian while he was at it.

"We have a small area for crew meals, good for socialization" replied Brott who led Soral down the corridor into the room with a small circular table that fit the whole crew. "Just about everyone is away on a bit of a mission at the moment, please have a seat wherever you'd like."

"Indeed." Soral sat down and waited for Brott to join him. "I have actually come to seek your doctor out."

"She's a bit under the weather," Brott informed Soral. "But I suspect seeing someone who isn't blue would do her some good. I think I'm a bit daunting at times."

He raised an eyebrow. “Indeed, she…has her Vulcan attitude from me I am afraid. But, may I offer some advice?"

Brott looked at the Vulcan. "I'm an open book with big open ears, go right ahead. Give me that Vulcan advice."

“Deep down she yearns for that which she has not had. Family. She is unfamiliar with the concept so your big daunting…is what she needs. Do not give up on her.”

The Bolian smiled and looked gleefully. "I am not going to give up on her or anyone. Different people come and go through Bellwether. Some stay a while, others are gone in a blink of an eye. I don't give up on any of them."

He gave a small bow. “She will be one of those that stays when she feels she belongs.” There was a small pause. “However, she is a stubborn one.”

"You know, they say stubborn is often a negative trait, but I don't. Some would even call me as stubborn. I've served on this small little relay station for several years. Simply, I refuse to leave. This is my home, and I refuse to let it become fully automated."

“Understandable, of course.” He paused. “Well then, I shall see what I can do to get through the stubborn, with your permission of course.”

"While you are passing through, go right ahead. If you need anything, just let me know."

“My thanks.”

OFF

 

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