Long-Time Colleagues

Posted on 09 Aug 2015 @ 8:44pm by Commander Andreus Kohl & Lieutenant Jared Nicholas & Nevedno Lož
Edited on on 17 Aug 2015 @ 2:13am

2,046 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Episode 09 - Empires
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 4, Multi-Purpose Laboratory 6
Timeline: MD 02 - 0005 hours

[ON]

Andreus Kohl had hardly stepped into the lab from the passageway, when he was saying, "Jared! Here you are. Be honest with me: how are you?" Each statement came in quick succession, hardly giving Jared any time to process or respond to what was being said. In his stride, and in his way of speaking, Kohl's manner came across as relatively blithe. It was a front, of course. A calm front. A collected front. A cheery front, even. A front was all he could think to do, when it was his very first mission as Chief Science Officer and his ship had just created an interstellar miracle. As much as Kohl's confidence had expanded in the past few months, interstellar miracles was not Kohl's forte.

Kohl came to sit at the large, circular workstation in the heart of the laboratory, just a few chairs over from where Jared Nicholas was sitting. "I do apologize for not checking in on your sooner," Kohl said; "It's easy to lose track of what's important, when you don't know which way is up, you know?"

"I know what you mean," Jared said unable to keep the worried expression off of his face, "this whole experience has been, well very strange to say the least. Do you have any idea what is going on, where we are?"

Kohl nodded enthusiastically at Jared's question, but his smile was taking on a strained quality. "I have many ideas about what's going on. Too many ideas, in fact," Kohl said. "I could use more facts and fewer ideas, if I could have my way. My favourite theory, from those I've heard, is that we're in the Andromeda Galaxy, and yet all the constellations around us look the same. By coincidence."

"I guess that is as good of a running theory as we have right now. Are the sensors back on line yet? I checked them just twenty minutes ago. And before that I tried from the Bridge. Nothing both times."

Kohl nodded at Jared's question. "We don't have full functionality yet," Kohl said, "but the sensors are operational. Access is limited to Astrometrics and the Science I station on the Bridge for now." As if to put a period at the end of the discussion about dreary things like sensor diagnostics and duty, Kohl lowered a heavy hand on the LCARS interface between them. The interface was dark, which meant all he did was clap against the smooth polymer surface. "How are you doing, though?" Kohl asked, circling back to his original question. He looked at Jared intently with the calculating eyes of a Nurse Practitioner. "Did you make it through the vortex unharmed?"

"Pretty much," he said, managing a small smile."a couple of scrapes and bruises, but that's about it. What about you?"

Kohl nodded quickly back at Jared. "I'm all right. I ended up in open air when the gravity went out. I managed to avoid any serious collisions," Kohl said. His eyes drifted down Jared's body, looking for blood stains on his uniform, or abrasions on his neck and hands. As he did so, Kohl asked, "Have you had your lacerations seen to?"

Jared looked down at his own body as he watched Kohl's eyes. "I'm sorry,"he said taking a closer look at his forearms that were bruised and covered in half a dozen minor scrapes and cuts.

Although Kohl was listening to what Jared was saying, he couldn't help noticing movement somewhere else the lab. Kohl's sapphire gaze drifted away from Jared's eyes to look for that movement over Jared's shoulder. When Kohl found it, he tilted his head to the left and then he stood up to draw attention to himself. "Hello, excuse me? Is there something I can help you with?" Kohl asked. Although, by his questioning timbre, what Kohl was really asking was: who are you, and why are you touching my laboratory equipment?

Is there anything I can help you with, Nevedno repeated to himself in thought. Was it not obvious that he was doing the helping. In the heat of all that had happened had it not occurred to anyone to perhaps tidy things up? Some semblance of order? He shook his head without looking to Kohl. "I'm quite alright..." he spoke with a pause. Would it be 'Kohl?' He rather liked the surprised looks he got sometimes upon knowing someone's name. Or 'sir?' Keep it simple?

"I'm quite alright, sir," he replied. No need for theatrics at the moment. "Just trying to be sure everything is up and running according to expectations. Everything's a mess, but damage is less than I expected." No more questions. Just let me do my work. He stopped and closed his eyes as he awaited further inquisition.

"Whose expectations?" Kohl started to say, but he squinted at Nevedno and cocked his head back. Kohl had no recollection of meeting this civilian before. Although he could have transferred aboard while Kohl was serving aboard Nautilus, Kohl was certain he had reviewed all personnel transfers as soon as he had returned. Nevedno's face was not one Kohl recognized. "Those doors aren't public access. How did you get in here, exactly?"

Further inquisition, just as expected. Lets not get too out of hand here, he thought. "The same way I always do, Commander Kohl," he stressed. "By way of my authorization to be here. Computer, please state my name, occupation, and clearance for the commander."

"Nevedno Loz. Science Technician. Security Clearance: Level Two," the computer replied.

It was strange, but almost every time he heard his name he got a shiver of pleasure down his spine. She remembers me.

At first, Kohl could only squint at Nevedno and frown at himself. Kohl couldn't fathom how there was a member of the science department he hadn't managed to meet in passing, at the very least. Reaching back towards the workstation, Kohl snatched up a mostly-operational PADD and asked the computer to display Nevedno Loz's service jacket. The computer was slow to respond. In time, the requested file scrolled onto the screen, and then it was interrupted by a short video file of Kohl and Nevedno standing in this very lab, while Kohl waved at the camera. Something Kohl had apparently recorded for his own self, in the event he was asking the computer for more information about Nevedno.

Without even trying to hide his bafflement, Kohl asked, "You know me?"

As Nevedno continued his attempts to reset the lab to its pre-disturbence state he answered the commander in a slightly annoyed but familiar tone. As though this was not the first time (or the last time) this question was asked. "Yes, sir. And though your normally diplomatic tone of voice certainly shines through as always I can no doubt tell that you are completely unfamiliar with me." He turned towards Kohl with a simulated smile as he continued. "It isn't the first time, sir. I hope one day we will not have this conversation. You told me once (it was many times, actually) that I should not look back. That I was not going that way. And you were right, sir. Movement is only forward, though I myself seem to be stuck in place. Unable to even move forward."

Nevedno sighed as he ran his hand through his hair, a bit exhausted but still determined, as though he could somehow say something that had stuck a previous time. "Perhaps there will be a day where I find my direction, but for now all I can hope is that I do not go backward." He paused as he looked around the battered lab. "Anything a long-time colleague can do to help out," he questioned hopefully, drawing a connection of familiarity for Kohl so that he would perhaps not think about it as hard.

While Nevedno spoke, Kohl couldn't help himself. It was rude, it was terribly rude, but security matters trumped social niceties. He skimmed through the service jacket on his PADD, reviewing Nevedno's file and looking up frequently to acknowledge what the other man was saying. At the question, Kohl raised a hand to rub the left temple on his head. "Idris may counter this order later, but I want all of our research projects on hold until the ship is repaired and we know we're relatively safe," Kohl said. "I need you to support Operations in restoring any corrupt sensor da--"

Kohl shook his head and he closed his eyes and he said, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. You know Jared too?"

Jared raised a brow. He didn't recognize the other man, but that didn't necessary mean anything.

"No apologies needed, sir. The first time was enough." He had heard it many times, and though it was tiring he had always sensed its sincerity. A small part of Nevedno was almost sorry, himself, for making his superior apologize on an almost daily basis. He then turned towards Jared, answering the question that had been posed. "Indeed I do, though mostly as first-day colleagues, I must admit." He gave a bit of a grin to him. "Perhaps it is comforting to know that I know about as much about you as you do about me?"

"Well, as we have juts met, that is probably next to nothing, or am I missing something?"

"Next to nothing, indeed," Nevedno replied in a reflexive tone that could have almost spelled out that he knew more, but in actuality what he said was quite the truth. He had never quite gotten to know Jared beyond the occasional quips and quotes he said while working with him on occasion.

Although Kohl smiled at them both in succession, it took some effort. It was a front, once again. Something Nevedno had said was picking away at a couple of figurative scabs that were holding down worries at the back of Kohl's mind. "Keep doing what you're doing," Kohl said, in his best interpretation of an encouraging tone. "Inspect the lab and make it safe to use for yourself and your colleagues. Once the hazards are removed, put in requests with Engineering to repair any critical systems. But, as I was saying, I need you both to partner with Operations to recover any additional sensor data that may have been lost during the system outages."

"Yes sir." The pleasantries, if they could be called such, seemed to be over. Nevedno was done with the daily introduction and was ready to return to his duties. "I'm certain it won't take long to get everything up and running again. I would request that the interaction with Operations be left to people who they are more familiar with, but if you insist, I may do so as well," Nevedno said to Kohl as he continued his work.

"I don't imagine everyone in Operations knows everyone in the Sciences," Kohl remarked. He took a couple of steps closer to Nevedno. "We outnumber them by... I don't know how much, but it's a lot. They shouldn't be too surprised to meet a science tech they don't know, especially after the personnel rotations for NIMBUS. I could definitely use your expertise on something more integral than cleaning up damaged labs."

Nevedno replied with a reluctant nod. "I suppose I could meet one of them again, Sir. Who knows, maybe there's one I have not met myself." He doubted it, but with his somewhat reclusive lifestyle it was possible. It'd be refreshing to meet someone he himself did not know. "I will do as you ask. No doubt I count myself amongst those who will do most anything to find ourselves back to familiar surroundings."

"Thank you, both of you," Kohl said, and his sapphire eyes said more than that. He nodded briefly and he began to edge towards the doorway that lead into the corridor. "I'll leave you both to your work," Kohl said, "but I'll be around if there's anything you need."



[OFF]


Nevedno Lo
Science Tehcnician
[Played by Lieutenant JG Jynn, Chief Flight Control Officer]
USS Galileo

Lt. Jared Nicholas
Language Specialist
USS Galileo

Lieutenant Commander Andreus Kohl
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo

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