The New Roomie

Posted on 13 Mar 2016 @ 11:51pm by Chief Warrant Officer 3 Greg Mitchell & Senior Chief Petty Officer Keval zh'Erinov
Edited on on 14 Mar 2016 @ 3:12am

1,801 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Episode 10 - Symposium
Location: USS Galileo - Keval and Greg's cabin
Timeline: MD 22

[ON]

Keval was having about as much luck in keeping a roommate as he did in keeping a boyfriend. Perhaps even less. He hoped it wasn't his personality. he didn't think so. And he tried to be accommodating, he kept his side of the the room neat and tidy, even the area he used to paint. Some of his paintings were rather dark, but those he mostly kept under wraps.

He couldn't remember the last time he'd brought someone over, even for just an innocent discussion, much less a carnal encounter. He was a good communicator, liked to talk and listen, but knew when to shut up as well.

Whatever the reason, yet another had moved out and he wasn't sure when the next one would arrive. He might swing by and see Manuel a little later,but for now, he was keeping himself occupied by painting.

He was dressed in jeans, and his favorite paint splattered tee shirt, that had at one time been while, but was now multi-colored. His brow was furrowed in concentration, his left antennae, now fully healed, was coked slightly forward and to the left.

Greg walked down the corridor, still hefting his bag and trying to work off the awkward conversation he just had flirting with the counselor. Next time, make sure the lady isn't your superior you idiot. That's twice now. He looked along the walls for the room number. "No, no, no. Ah, here it is." He muttered, looking at the listed number: 04-1007 EN. He walked up and stepped in the door. Inside he found an Andorian male, most likely his new roommate.

"Hello!" He announced, giving a polite smile. "Sorry to just barge in. You must be Senior Chief Keval zh'Erinov." Greg said, hoping he pronounced the name correctly.

Keval turned at the sound of the door sliding open. He returned the new occupant's smile with one of his own and sat the brush down. "That's right, but you can just call me Keval."

He looked down to make sure there was no paint on his hands and moved towards the Warrant Officer, "You must be Greg, Greg Mitchell right?"

"Yes sir, I am." He held his hand out to shake. "I just transferred on. I'm a new security officer here. I've been assigned to Beta Shift."

"I don't think you have to call me sir, I mean I think we're roughly the same rank. And it looks like we're both on the same shift. That should make things, easier for the most part anyway. Where did you transfer from?"

Greg laughed. "Sorry, it's an old police habit." He thought back, "My last two temporary postings were on Jupiter Station, and Starbase 418 before that. But my last actual was on USS Ohio." He thought back to how tough that assignment was. "She's a Sovereign class, so we saw quite a bit of action."

"Really? Well you wouldn't think so, especially with this being a Science vessel, and I'm sure its not the same, but we've seen our share of action here. You know Borg, Killer Trebbiles, Zombies. That kind of thing."

"Borg?" Greg asked, with some hesitation. The Captain had mentioned something similar during their meeting. "On a science vessel...can I ask how you managed to survive that?"

A Nova class vessel is not one to take up against any Borg forces. That's why the Defiant and Sovereign class's were made. Pure, heavily armed, warships capable of taking out any threats to the Federation and protecting it's space. So how a Nova class managed to survive an encounter was truly something.

"You're right, Nova ships really aren't built for combat, especially with the likes of the Borg. But, our Captain is a pretty good strategist. Actually at the time, Admiral Salaam was the Captain, Captain Holliday was the XO.

Some of the crew, including Captain Holiday, were turned into Borg. Not a fun experience at all. I hate the Borg."

"Ah, that explains what he was talking about...." Greg mumbled, making his way to the available bed and placing his bag on it. He made a mental note to immediately punch the Lieutenant on Starbase 418 who claimed that this would be an easy posting. "Did it resolve the same way as Captain Picard?" Greg asked, remembering the abduction of the USS Enterprise's commanding officer almost thirty years ago.

"Pretty much, "came the reply as both Keval's antennae curled forward, "He came out pretty much normal, at least for him. He can be a bit by the book, sometimes maybe a little too much, but he's generally a good guy, and fair. That didn't really change.

So tell me about yourself, what are somethings that I should know about you?"

As Greg began unpacking things, he thought about how best to describe himself. "Well, I was born and raised in Champaign, Illinois. Came into a police family. Joined myself in my early twenties. Worked there for a while, but decided to join Starfleet when the whole 'Reman' incident happened with the Enterprise. Came into Security, and have been doing that from ship to ship for the past ten years or so."

"Interesting," Keval replied, so what brings you to the Galileo, was it your choice, or were you just assigned here?"

Greg explained as he unpacked his uniform clothing, "I...volunteered. I spent my last tour along the Romulan boarder, I figured I could try something else for a change." He pulled out a precious item of his, his Bible, given to him by his father when he was just a teenager. "But, by the sound of it, I may have missed out on....things this vessel would be otherwise ill equipped to handle." He joked.

Keval shrugged his shoulders, "It was interesting, I'll grant you that, but i think I'd prefer if we all missed out on those kinds of things in the future. What is that book you're holding?"

"This?" Greg held it up, "It's just the Bible. I was raised in a Christian family. MY dad gave it to me as a gift when I was fifteen. It's gotten me through a lot of trouble." He laid it on his bunk, "It's gotten me through a lot of rough times."

Keval paused uncertainly. "I've heard of the Bible of course, though I've never really read it. I am glad that you've found something that works for you, so you said you were raised in a Christian home, do you call yourself a Christian then?"

Greg noticed the pause, so he decided to clarify. "Yes, I am. Ever since High School. I was going through a rough patch, but it helped get me through it. Don't worry though, I'm not one of those throw my religion around trying to convert others type of Christian. It's really more for my own benefit."

"That's fair enough, I'm not an atheist or anything, I'm, I don't know spiritual, but I don't know that I've found any particular religion yet. And I'm gay. I know some Christians think that's a sin. "Keval said,, "but don't worry, I'm not going to try to convert you either."

Greg laughed at the last part of the comment. "Well, good. I think you and I are going to get along just fine." He began unpacking other belongings, "So how about yourself? I mean, other than what you just told me. What's your position on the ship?"

"I'm an operations officer. I help fix what the engineers get wrong," Keval responded with a crooked smile.

Greg laughed as he unpacked photos of his family. "Well, between you and me, I guess we will have this ship in better shape than before. You keeping things going, and me keeping people safe."

"That's right, we will. i guess maybe we should set some ground rules for living together."

"Sure thing." Greg responded, and smiled. "Don't worry, I don't snore or anything."

"Well that's good to know, I don't either, so we don't have that to worry about. I'm not exactly a neat freak, but I am pretty tidy. What about you?"

Greg chuckled, "Well that's another thing we don't have to worry about. I'm pretty organized too." He straightened up a family picture to be at a good angle on his shelf. "I like to keep a neat appearance."

"Okay, well so far we should get along fine. I know you're a Christian and all, but I'm not quite sure how you feel about, certain things. So are you likely to bring a lady friend by for an overnight stay?"

At that Greg laughed, "Ha, no. Don't worry about me. I'm old fashioned Navy rules. I don't believe in fraternizing while on duty. No, while on deployment, I won't be bringing anyone in. But if you want to bring...um, anyone special in, just let me know and I'll get out of the way."

The Andorian gave him a wry grin, "So far I don't have anyone special, well maybe one person, but that relationship is somewhat up in the air. And the last time we met, was at his place. But I will let you know if that changes."

"No problem, just leave a sock on the...." Greg looked at the door, which obviously lacked a knob in the 24th century. "...between the door and the frame." He joked.

Keval smiled at the joke, "Just so you know, I just don't sleep around. I'm not the kind of guy that's nice shoes let's, uh, well you get the idea."

"Well, good. Then we have a LOT more in common then it initially appeared." Greg smiled, "I think we won't have many issues living together."

"I think we will. Do you like cookies?"

"Yah!" responded Greg. "I don't really know anyone who wouldn't."

"Well, I'll have to make you some then. What's your favorite?"

"That would be chocolate chip." Greg mentioned, "My mom hates chocolate but my dad and I both love it."

"Well I love it too, so chocolate chip it will be. Do you need any help moving in?"

Greg smiled at the request. "Thanks for asking, but no. Everything I take with me is in this duffel bag. I tend to travel light. A few pictures of family, uniforms, off duty clothing...which basically amounts to t shirts and cargo pants."

"Okay then, I think I'll get back to my paining then."

"No problem. Let me know if you need anything." Greg said. "It'll be a pleasure to working with you."

Keval gave a slight nod, his antennae tilting towards his new roommate. "Same here."

[OFF]

--

CPO Keval zh'Erinov
Operations
USSGalileo
[PNPC Nicholas]

&

CWO2 Greg Mitchell
Security Officer
USS Galileo

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