Kiri Cho's Great Expectations, Part Three

Posted on 05 Aug 2012 @ 3:06pm by Lieutenant Kiri Cho

1,984 words; about a 10 minute read

Earth, South China, Shin Pel
Stardate 62048.28

"That is a good idea," Sellen was dressed in a form fitting green robe, her stance ridged and quite similar to the shorter girl she was talking to. Her black hair was cut into a cheek length bob cut, skin a light tan and her face mostly expressionless. The girl she was talking to was one that she'd known for two years now, one of the humanoids that was the least disruptive and most compatible than most. In that sense, she was her friend, someone she cared about and wanted to see develop.

Kiri was dressed in a grey pinafore dress, black long sleeved dress and of course black tights that covered her legs with black pumps. She nodded her head in answer, "Thank you." It was two days since her confrontation with her grandmother, her mother had repaired what damage she could but it still left Kiri very uncertain. So she came to the one person that she could trust to give her an answer she could trust, one unclouded and truthful. That person had given her exactly what she needed to hear, that the choice was right. Kiri was able to breath a sigh of relief and even relaxed slightly. In the street behind them a scattering of people walked past, a mix of races but mostly human.

That matter dealt with Sellen started to walk again, her hands held behind her back and their pace slow. Kiri followed at her side, a smile on her face and for once she was looking around at the people around them. They were silent for almost a minute before she spoke up with another question, "What are you going to be doing now?" While Kiri was going to the other side of the world to study in San Francisco, what of her closest friend? It was something she'd been afraid of asking. A large part of her didn't want there to be an answer, that things would stay just has they had done for the last two years.

Sellen peered around the corner of the street, looking for traffic, "I am going back to Vulcan to join the Science Academy, I'll be leaving in four days." She knew of the effect this would have but had no intention to hide it. Sellen had learnt a great deal about her friend in two years, one of them was that Kiri tended not to dwell on what was given as fact. If it was plan a clear, it was something she could accept and move on from.

Kiri had a feeling that it would be something like that, while it wasn't far it was still another planet. Being emotional was something her friends tended not to be, her understanding was that they should be repressed. That was expected, intrinsically right. Still, she wanted to be close to Sellen, to know that she wasn't going to be forgotten. She had friends here, it was hard to make them and she had struggled, wouldn't the academy be the same? Still her soft normal tone was slightly more downtrodden, "Have you told the others?" They were the people she felt closest to outside her family, they had all been quite busy the last few days though.

"Yes, T'Nell is going to Mars with Trisha to join Starfleet, Hurn is studying food technology in Madrid , Visha is going to San Francisco," Seeing that it was clear she started to cross the road, Kiri following after her, the sky was starting to grey though it wouldn't rain today. The climate control was almost flawless, something that Kiri's grandmother complained about no end.

Kiri had been hiding in a way. After her grandmothers treatment of her decision she had remained quiet and alone. Hiding in her room while she tried to work out what was really right and wrong. It was her mother that had forced her out today, this was why she hadn't spoken to her friends, even if they were busy. Because they might also tell her she was wrong, then where would she go? At least Sellen she trusted to tell her to go ahead. Now she knew exactly where everyone else was going, the problems was that only one person she really knew would be going with her. Visha wasn't someone she knew very well though, she was Trisha's friend, louder and more excitable, prone to being promiscuous as Kiri saw it. Her voice was stilted now, "Will we still be able to speak?"

"Yes," Sellen tilted her head slightly, the question was a silly one. She considered saying so until she heard a beep from the sleeve of her robe. Fishing it out she glanced at it, "Trisha is here," She indicated towards the public transporter pad few streets away. They walked in silence in that direction until Sellen went on, "I can send you the communications protocols tonight, you can send me yours when you receive them." Looking around as some children ran out in front of them, chasing the trail of a low-lying shuttle. "Did you look at the problem I gave you?"

Kiri plunged her hands into the front pocket of her dress, pulling out a small pink isolinear chip, "I came up with a solution, different from T'Pak's or T'Vekk, it still can't be proved with the Bachmann-Howard ordinal but it is very slightly more accurate. There are still too many variables, I would need more time on it." Often Sellen would bring her things that were pretty much impossible, still she could at least normally make some ground on them. Sometimes it was hard to keep working when finding a real solution was something that never happened. It felt indulgent to try solving easy problems that already had answers, even if that might make her feel better. Kiri was like a bull elephant with some things, however hard she might find it she would charge on without pause or thought to herself. It was when other people were involved that was hesitant, or things she found unpleasant that weren't required and no one would notice she avoided.

"I will take a look at it, be free to keep trying though," Sellen was generally surprised by the young woman, these problems couldn't be solved by the most prominent minds in the Federation. Being able to come up with different ways of working towards the solution was at the very least useful, sometimes it was in ways no one else had put forward. More often though Kiri was Sellen's way of checking her work. It was how they made friends and the reason they remained so close, it was quite beneficial.

Managing a weak smile again as she handed over the chip asking, "Will you keep sending them to me as well, if I find any for you I can if you want." Kiri didn't really know what else to do, being so far away there was little she could do for her friend. She had to try and be useful somehow though, that was one of her grandmothers teachings; Never contract friendship with a person that is not better than yourself. It meant a huge amount to Kiri and she assumed most other people operated that way. She was able to justify what she found useful and good in her friends, people she could learn things from.

"Yes and yes," Sellen turned her head slightly before looking up as the third member of their group bounded towards them. With each step Trisha's extremely curly light brown hair bounced, that wasn't the thing that stood out about her though. Wearing a black and gold sari with glittering swirls and a large necklace, make-up to accentuate her face. Like she often did, she made Kiri and Sellen seem bland, this was somewhat more than normal though. Sellen cocked an eyebrow, Kiri looked around apprehensively to see if anyone else noticed. She was thankful that most didn't, those that did didn't stare too much.

Trisha had a bright white smile to go with her outfit, seeming out of place with the more practical clothes of those around her. Her pace was fast and quickly she was upon Kiri and Sellen, looking at them deep with large black eyes. With most people she could read the surface of their minds with ease, with these two it was harder. Sellen exercised her mental defences around her which Trisha respected and didn't probe, Kiri was both extremely ordered and a complete chaotic mess. Emotions she could pick up, normally negative, sometimes not. What the Trill thought though, she rarely discovered, reams and reams of numbers and facts, even in her own head though Kiri's personal thoughts and feelings were buried deep inside. Right now though, things were positive, from what she could tell, "Sellen," A smile and a nod made her eyes twinkle slightly, "Good afternoon Kiri," Placing her hand on the girl's shoulder. After a second she removed it, clapping her hands together, "Tea?"

Kiri smiled, "Good afternoon Trisha," This was her example how the rest of the world interacted. While Sellen was her example for work, Trisha was her example of how to do things she rarely did. Playing, socialising, enjoying things that she denied herself while still being as Kiri saw it, a hard working person. Trisha was going to be studying biology and ecology with Starfleet, in her free time though she did make Kiri uncomfortable sometimes. In response to the question though Kiri differed to Sellen, looking to her.

"Very well," Sellen was slightly reluctant but didn't really have an objection.

"Excellent," The smile turned into a beaming grin, "So how have the maths wizards been?"

"Optimal," Answered Sellen, finding the small talk a bit of a waste of time.

"Good," Answered Kiri.

Trisha could already tell it was a lie though. Pressing on it here would do nothing, normally anything she acted on just make the Trill close up further. So the Betazoid just went on acting as if nothing happened, "So Kiri, have you made your mind up?" Placing her hands on her hips while she looked down at the smaller girl.

Now slightly nervous Kiri answered, "Yes, I'm going to be joining Starfleet Academy, as an officer cadet," It still felt strange to say it, her mind was still made up though. This was what she was going to do now, it was made easier if people would accept it though.

Trisha liked this answer, that Kiri was growing up. Looking delighted she swung around and lifted placed her arms around her. Kiri let out a gasp as she was pulled close, as surprised as Sellen was who looked startled herself. Trisha squeezed, "That is excellent," The rather large question of if the shyest person in their group was capable of it remained unsaid. It wasn't like Kiri could read her mind see it. She knew what her home life was like, that this could only have come from Kiri and she rarely made her own choices. Letting go she kept her arm around her shoulder, "I'll buy yours then." Letting go they walked in silence towards their normal caf, all three observing.

It was Sellen that broke it as they entered, "Is there a reason you are dressed so formally?"

"Ah, well," Trisha answered, "My grandparents came for a visit before I go back to Betazed for a month, so my mother felt the need to be spangly." She held the door open for the other two, still smiling from the resolution, "Sellen gave me a chance to escape."

Picking a table the three sat down, Trisha talking at great length about the problems she had with her grandparents. Kiri being quiet, Sellen being quiet, both quite happy to listen and just be around the others for the last time in a long while.

RSS Feed