Crash, Bam, Alakazam

Posted on 29 May 2013 @ 1:46am by Chief Warrant Officer 4 Cyrus Kiwosk & Ensign Im'er Mor'an

2,202 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Episode 03 - Frontier
Location: USS Galileo - Mess Hall
Timeline: MD 08 1300 HRS

ON:

left, right, left, left upper cut, step forward and right elbow, left knee, double palm push, right round house Cyrus finished his routine with the savage roundhouse kick catching his virtual opponent in the side and watched as he bounced once to land four feet from where he had originally started.

Cyrus had gotten tired of the same gym simulation that he had been running by himself for the last two weeks and thought it would have been nice to run a program that had a little more fight. He rubbed his jaw from where his opponent had gotten through his defenses. "Computer, mirror." He ordered and began walking over to where the reflective surface materialized. He had a dark bruise along his jawline from a hook that he had missed and he would have the bruise for a few days, but it was a small price to pay for being able to have an actual person that fought back.

Hopping onto the treadmill he finished a quick cool down and stretched accordingly before grabbing his bag and terminating the program. Starving and sweating he decided that he would make his way to the mess hall before his shower. He toweled off and downed his bottle of water as he made his way to the busy lunch hall.

His duffle bag was swinging from his shoulder, though he tried to tighten up the bag so it wouldn't hit any passer by. He grabbed a tray with a free hand and got into the long waiting line. Well, maybe I should have grabbed a shower He thought glumly as he waited for his food.

Mor'an walked down the corridor, eager to arrive at the Mess Hall soon. She was hungrier than usual because she lost track of time in her quarters while meditating. She had been able to ignore the hunger pains for quite some time, but finally her body had had enough and decided it was time to eat.

Arriving at the Mess Hall, Mor'an quickly got in line try in hand. Ahead of her was a tall, well-built man with a large bag on his shoulder. He kept hefting it up, as though it wouldn't stop slipping from its place. Finally, as though he had become fed up with the bag, he swung it up so that it would land higher on his shoulder. However, it made contact with Mor'an's stomach instead.

"Oh!" she exclaimed in surprise, teetering in her place but catching herself to stand upright. "I am sorry! I did not realize I was in your way!"

He looked over his broad shoulder and cursed his carelessless. As he turned his head he noticed her Cadet pins and chuckled. "You're the cadet that's been on board...Well nice to meet you, let me beat you up with my gym bag some more..." He chuckled weakly, obviously embarrassed and trying to hide it behind humor. "Are you alright? I didn't even know anyone was behind me." He explained honestly.

"I am fine," Mor'an said. She allowed a delicate smile to grace her lips, hopping to put him at ease. "I tread very softly, so it is no surprise that you did not realize I was behind you." This man's bulk made her feel tiny. "I am Cadet Im'er Mor'an," she said as her hand twisting into the Tarkannan gesture of greeting.

Cyrus grinned and gave her a nod and made a rough imitation of the gesture. " It's nice to finally meet you Im'er Mor'an. Cyrus Kiwosk." He gave her a warm smile. He noticed the way she held herself, and her comment about walking softly. "You're a warrior?" He wasn't accusing, simply stating what he observed.

"I am," Mor'an said with an appreciative tilt of her head. "You may call me Mor'an. Im'er is my family name. I say this only because it confuses most people. You say it is nice to finally meet me? Did you know of me before now? I apologize that I do not know you at all before this meeting."

Cyrus shrugged his broad shoulders and shook his head. "Well in that case, a pleasure to meet you Mor'an." He said happily and continued down the line. "It's no surprise, just because there isn't three hundred people on the ship that doesn't mean we are going to see everyone. I didn't think I met our resident cadet until just now." He gave her a wink and asked. "You sitting with anyone? I could use the company."

"I am here alone," Mor'an replied, "So, yes, I would like to join you very much." They were silent for a moment as they moved down the line. "How long have you been on board?" Mor'an asked.

"Since Vega." He replied. He took his full tray over to one of the off lying tables and began walking once Mor'an had grabbed her food. "Before that I was on board a Galaxy-class called the Fitzgerald." He smiled as he remembered the ship fondly. "I was a marine on board, but when I requested my transfer I also switched professions." Explaining as they walked to one of the outlying tables in the mess hall. "What about yourself? Vulcan's don't smile...and the greeting...what are their names..." He tried desperately to remember the race of people. "Tarkan...Tarkannen?" He asked futility.

Mor'an laughed merrily as they sat with their trays. "I am not Vulcan," she said, "I am Tarkannan in your language, Ta'rkan in mine." She peered at her plate, not really sure what is was she was about to eat. "I do not believe I shall ever become used to the food on this ship. It is so very different from the food on Arun R'lantha."

He nodded in agreement. "I know what you mean. It's different from Earth too. The taste is always off. Not much, but just enough to notice." He smiled and popped a strawberry in his mouth. "how long have you been on board?"

"About a year, I do believe," Mor'an said, "I am in my last year at the Academy and I am to be graduating very soon. So, yes, about a year. In that time I have become quite fond of this ship." She poked fish on her plate with her fork, not sure if it actually was her idea of fish. "What are your thoughts on this ship?"

After swallowing another strawberry he replied. " The ship is smaller, much smaller. I've never had the ability to learn the names of almost everyone on the ship, it's not like that on the larger ships. You're more a number to the superior officers rather than a name. Here it's the opposite." He explained and smiled. "It's a nice change and I'm not getting shot at everyday so there's a bonus there too." He smiled.

Mor'an returned his smile. "That is certainly a positive thing," she said, "I am used to close-knit communities, so I do not think I would enjoy being on a large ship. Of course, if I were to be assigned to one I would acclimate myself just fine." She shrugged before changing the subject. "What department are you in?" She asked because he was not in uniform.

She certainly talks like a Vulcan. Cyrus couldn't help thinking before he answered her question. "I'm Security, Lieutenant Rhodes stuck me on Beta shift. " He was taking his time eating his food, uncharacteristic of the large man. "I used to be in the Marine Corps before my transfer onto the Galileo. It's only my second posting since I graduated." He tapped her plate with his knife. "Is that fish?"

Looking down at her plate with a blank expression, Mor'an poked her fish again. "I suppose it is," she said suspiciously, "But it in unlike any fish I know. Arun R'lantha is a pelagic planet, so we eat fish more than anything else combined." She looked up at Cyrus. "I know fish. I would not categorize this as fish." She paused. "Necessarily."

Cyrus made a face and resisted the urge to poke the white slab of mushy...stuff and took a sip of water instead. "I'm inclined to agree. " He answered finally. " I loved most of my life in a province named British Columbia, it's on Earth." He added taking another sip of water, now looking at Mor'an. "I wasn't a fisherman, but I'd like to say that I know a bit about fish." He pointed again. "That's not fish..." He stated and pushed his plate forward. "Take some strawberries. and a waffle. At least it looks better." He offered smiling.

Tilting her head forward, Mor'an peered at the offerings on Cyrus' plate. She had never had a waffle before, though she knew what it was, and she had only had strawberries once or twice before. Transferring the waffle to her own plate, along with a couple of strawberries, she smiled in thanks. She bit into a strawberry, tasting its tang. "That is wonderful," she said, "Nothing like any of the berries on my planet. These would be fantastic with R'lanthan honey."

Cyrus grinned and simply nodded. "I bet! You can't get much better than fresh strawberries, much better than replicated ones, and who can turn down good honey?" He chuckled and cut into his own waffle. " You walk with a fighter's gait...and you have that look about you. You learn that on your home planet?" He asked...always happy to meet another fighter.

Mor'an raised an eyebrow. "I am not a fighter," she said, "I am a warrior. People see my slight frame and believe me to be weak. But, as I have told Lt. Pendleton, as large and strong as you are, I can bring you to your knees in an instant. Your strength means nothing to me in a fight. Of course, I can fight. To answer your question, yes I learned it on my planet. We all do from the time we are born."

He nodded believing everything. "It doesn't take a genius to see that. Obviously Pendleton doesn't fight much. " He added chuckle. "My apologies for the 'fighter' comment, I tend to use the two in the same context. " He added. "It's funny, I've been training Kiri, but the only other person around here that has any training is Theron and he's always busy now. " With a sly grin and a respectful nod to her direction. "I could always use a new sparring partner...I mean, I did give you half my lunch and all." He joked, a big smile on his face.

"Jacob wrestles mostly," Mor'an said, feeling the need to clarify, "As to lunch, yes, you did and it was very kind of you. It would seem to me that you have not met Nenokah Ral, our Assistant Chief Flight Control Officer. She is half Klingon and quite the fighter. Her and I are evenly matched. I think you would find her a formidable opponent."

"Wrestlers." He chuckled. as he listened he became more and more intrigued. " Ral eh? I've had to spar with Klingon's before...seems I'll have to invite some more people." He chuckled. " You and her are evenly matched eh?" He asked, popping his last strawberry in his mouth." Chewing thoughtfully he sat thinking in silence for a minute before swallowing. " Well, I'll ask Ral when I get the chance, but I'll ask you now..." He grinned.

"Want to kick the crap out of each other after work?" He asked with a laugh.

Mor'an chuckled. "Why, yes, I would like to...kick the crap out of you." The human phrase was strange. "Shall it be hand-to-hand or with weapons?" She paused. "I like knives," she added gleefully.

"So do I." He flashed her another smile. "Why not both? And don't think you'll come out on top Mor'an." He smiled. "Not everyone is fooled by small statures." He took another sip of water and finished his coffee. "I'll meet after beta at the holodeck then?" He asked confirming a time.

"Yes," Mor'an replied, "I shall be there." She decided not to make a comment about his boast. She flashed him a grin before bitting into her last strawberry.

Excited that he was able to find a new sparring partner, a new person to test abilities he waited for her to finish up. " Alright then, See you then. " He finished, reaching down to grab his gym bag, he still had about an hour before his shift, which was just perfect to him.

After Cyrus had left, Mor'an marveled at the human males' need to fight. At least, it seemed that way. First Jacob, now Cyrus was asking her to fight and spar with him. There had been numerous men at the Academy that had asked her to spar with them when they found out that she could fight. Not that she minded, really. It just fascinated her. Standing, she left the Mess Hall to begin her duties.


OFF:

CWO Kiwosk
Security/ Tactical Officer
TRT Squad Leader
USS Galileo

Cadet Senior Grade Im'er Mor'an
Red Squad Intern
USS Galileo

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