Around the Block (Part 1 of 3)

Posted on 10 Apr 2017 @ 8:14pm by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Lieutenant Amaranai Franklin

2,535 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Episode 14 - Statecraft
Location: IKS DuJa'Q - Deck 7, Corridors
Timeline: MD 09, 0458 hrs

[ON]

Light yet swiftly-repeating humanoid footsteps could be heard in the distance accompanied by another set of clattering hoof steps that were more in line with those of a small animal. The hour was early and the corridors of IKS DuJa'Q were mostly void of any personnel. The occasional Klingon could be seen in transit on his way to whatever duty station he'd been assigned on Gamma shift, but the starship was still very much asleep.

Beads of sweat littered Lirha's green forehead and trickled down her temples and the bridge of her nose. Strands of the Orion's dark black hair that had escaped her bobbing ponytail now lay stuck to the sides of her cheeks. She jogged at a good pace through the K't'inga-class' interconnecting spar with Snuffles in tow on his leash, and so far, she calculated her laps around the battlecruiser had equated to almost five kilometers. She'd awoken almost an hour ago and, in an attempt to clear her mind and keep her body healthy, had donned a gray tank-top and replicated a set of tight black jogging pants. It seemed like many moons since she'd given herself a proper workout, but despite her breathing heavily, she still felt strong.

Amaranai was still unable to sleep properly. She had gotten it into her head that if she were to begin working out, she might be able to tire herself out and actually get her body to sleep more than just a few restless minutes per night.

She figured it would be a good idea to run around the ship in the middle of the night as there would be fewer people to look at her strangely - there were already enough Klingons that gave her a stange look and her dealings with those Klingons were not pleasant ones.

Putting on what she could replicate for workout clothes, Amaranai stepped out of her quarters and looked around the hallway. It was empty, so she started to walk slowly. After a couple of moments of not seeing anyone, she started to trot and then, a few moments later, she turned the trot into a full jog.

Surprisingly, the brunette felt better than she did when she was stuck in her room. Her body might not tire itself out, but at least she could keep her brain from thinking about too many things and driving herself crazy. It had been about ten minutes of running, passing a Klingon or two along the way, when she noticed someone else a short distance ahead of her. She changed her pace slightly to catch up to the other runner and then noticed it was the general.

"Morning, general," Amaranai said. "I didn't expect to see anyone I knew out here at this hour."

Lirha was slightly startled by the new arrival who came trotting up next to her, and so was Snuffles. The young targ started to nip at Franklin's heels for a few short moments before the Orion was able to give a tug on the leash to bring him back in line. She looked at Amaranai and offered a small smile before speaking between winded breaths. "Likewise, lieutenant," she answered. "Trouble sleeping? Or are you an early riser?" she then wondered out-loud.

Amaranai had seen the beast following behind the general but paid it no mind until it started to bite at her heels. She changed her pace slightly to avoid it and noticed the general pulled on the leash to keep it away from her. Amaranai wasn't afraid of the targ, she just wasn't used to it.

A loaded question, to say the least. Obviously she should answer her commanding officer with the truth but did she want to admit to her problem to her CO and be forced to see the doctor in hopes of being treated? That wasn't something she was ready to deal with yet, so instead, she altered the truth.

"I think someone was being a little too loud near my quarters," she started. "I figured it was early enough that I might be able to go for a run and not bump into too many people." She paused. "Have you been running around the ship like this since you've been here?"

"I just started yesterday," Lirha admitted to the brown-haired security officer. "My leg and hip were wounded when Galileo was destroyed and I am still recovering." Thankfully, Warraquim had been able to do surgery on her to fix some of the make-shift Kreanan medical treatments she'd received, but while the scars on her skin were gone, she had bouts of recurring pains in her femur and abdomen. "I thought it would be good to start running again."

Amaranai was the kind of person that liked to work out on occasion. She at least tried to stay fit and toned because as a security officer, she needed to be able to handle whatever came at her. Plus, being more average height and build, she needed every advantage she could get. But since the Galileo had been lost, she had just been surviving. Now, with her leg healed for the most part, she could at least get some light running in.

"I know what you mean," she said. "My leg was injured during the escape and being on Kreanus without access to quality healthcare didn't help." She paused. "But the doctor fixed me up enough to allow me to start running. I just hadn't gotten around to it."

More like, she was avoiding doing anything because she wanted to stay in her small closet of a quarters and let her mind wonder about everything that was going on from her own family to the Klingons.

"I just felt like today was the day."

She felt a twinge of pain in her leg, but ignored it. She was going to keep up with the general as long as she needed to.

"So," Amaranai started. "Did you get the targ as a welcoming gift when you got here?"

"No," Lirha answered, shaking her head as her hair bobbed more with each jogging motion. "My former wife and I purchased him on my homeworld at the local targ farm," she explained. Memories of Siren began to flood her thoughts and it took a great deal of control to prevent them from turning to sadness. Her ex-wife -- Siren Hex Saalm -- had served with Lirha aboard Galileo for almost a year before Starfleet whisked her away aboard another vessel. Even though they were married, Starfleet Command had never once thought to ask for Lirha's consent before removing her spouse from her own vessel. The rest of the story...well, was a conduit to emotional pain. "He's a good young targ," she added with a forced smile. "He doesn't always obey commands but such is expected due to his youth."

Amaranai continued to run despite listening to the general. She kenw that her commander liked women, based on the coversation she had with Miraj. What Amaranai found interesting though, was the fact that she had been married. Despite wanting to get married at some point in her life, Amaranai had yet to feel a full connection to someone - male or female - that was enough to draw her into that committment. For the moment, though, Amaranai was happy to not commit completely and just have fun.

"Well," Amaranai started. "My youngest sister is probably just as obstinate when it comes to commands, so I completely understand your statement."

Lirha's right leg was beginning to burn, and not in the traditional muscle-workout way. She retrieved her PADD from her belt and looked down at it, noticing that she'd now done over five kilometers. Quite a run for her first time back, and perhaps a bit too much.

"You have a younger sister?" Lirha asked while slowing to a walking pace. Her heart was beating heavily in her chest and she needed a break. "Is she in Starfleet?"

Amaranai was thankful when she noticed Lirha slowing down to a walk. She did the same and could feel the pain in her leg intensify from the change of motion. When people asked Amaranai questions about her family, the only one that she preferred to talk about was Charlotte. She had disavowed her family long ago and how they were dealing with Charlotte was just another reason to keep them out of her life. And though she had not spoken to Charlotte in some time, Amaranai had a feeling that her parents didn't even know that she was gone.

"Yes," Amaranai said. "Charlotte. But she's only fifteen, so she's not in Starfleet just yet." She paused. "I'm hoping she decides to go to the Academy when she's old enough, but I can't force her to do anything. I can only recommend."

Lirha's heart warmed at the mention of Charlotte. She, too, had a younger sister named Nesh who was aboard DuJa'Q but refused to leave her quarters. Nesh was older than Charlotte by about four years, but nevertheless, Lirha could relate to Amaranai's situation. She'd faced the same thing several years ago when she'd tried to convince her own sister to join Starfleet.

"Does she look like you?" the Orion asked, now able to observe Amaranai more closely. She was a very attractive woman with traditional Human features, but the thing Lirha noticed the most were her plush lips and the natural curve of her mouth. They supplemented her green eyes and youthful features almost perfectly.

When Lirha asked a basic question, it took Amaranai a moment to take it in. She hadn't seen Charlotte since she had picked her up from jail and that seemed like forever ago.

"I suppose so," Amaranai said with a smile. "She's almost as tall as I am, if you can believe it, and still growing. She has darker hair than I do, but she gets that from our father. And she also has brown eyes, also like our father." She paused. "My green eyes come from my mother."

Amaranai realized that she explained more than necessary in response to the question but it was too late to do anything about that now.

"So," she said. "Do you have any siblings?"

"Two," Lirha answered, now coming to a halt and bending over to rest her palms on her knees to regain her breath and stamina. "Nesh is the younger, and Livana is my senior." Snuffles took the break in the jog to inspect Franklin further. He trotted around her legs and sniffed at her calves and thighs. "I am sorry, I think I have reached my limit for my run," Lirha then admitted. "But you are welcome to join me for breakfast in my quarters? We can talk more there."

Amaranai listened as the walk eventually slowed to a stop. She watched as the general leaned over to rest a moment. Though Amaranai was tired from just the short run, her breathing was steady enough, but grateful for stopping. It was interesting how the Orion labeled her siblings as younger and senior, but it was probably a culture thing.

The targ began to sniff at the security officer and though it was a little uncomfortable, Amaranai didn't move too much. The general apologized for stopping but then invited Amaranai back to her quarters for breakfast.

"Breakfast?" she repeated.

Breakfast was something that Amaranai hadn't done much of - in fact, eating was something that she was still getting used to on the Klingon vessel - but she smiled and nodded.

"Thank you," she said. "I'd like that."

"Come, then," Saalm replied with a motion of her hand to follow her back to the bulbous command hull. Her quarters weren't far, and it would only take them a minute or two of walking.

Franklin followed the general and her pet as she led the way to her quarters.

When they arrived at the door to Lirha's chambers, she reached out to enter her security command into the door's access panel. The entrance swished open and Snuffles galloped into the living room which was sparsely adorned with several Orion decorations. A couch, desk, data terminal, and dining area were all that were present in the lower level of the room. A small staircase near the corner allowed access to the upper level where Lirha's bedroom and shower were located.

Walking into her temporary quarters, Lirha looked back to Amaranai. "Not quite the feeling of home like Galileo," she admitted in reference to the drab decor.

As the two stepped into the quarters, Amaranai looked around. When Lirha metioned the Galileo, Amaranai was a little sad to think about her former ship. She hadn't even been on the ship very long and hadn't even really decorated her quarters, but it was still sad to think about the loss of the ship.

She nodded. "Yeah," she said. "But I think that's more the Klingon environment, than anything." Amaranai chuckled. "At least your quarters are a good size," she added.

She paused a moment before speaking up again.

"I don't really need much in the way of breakfast," she said. "I don't want to be a bother."

Lirha looked over Amaranai's slim frame. She couldn't help but wonder if the junior lieutenant had been receiving enough nutrition; the food on Kreanus had been less-than-desirable, and the Klingon cuisine was not something most Humans were accustomed to. "It is no bother," she replied. "...Have you been eating enough recently?"

The question was enough to make Amaranai realize she might not be hiding her malnutrition enough. She had been able to hide it from most people as she was still relatively new to the crew and she could just get away with eating small amounts. She turned away from the general for a moment to regard a decorative piece on the wall. Taking a deep breath, she turned back.

"I'm not starving myself," she said. "If that's what you are thinking."

She paused.

"I just am being selective with what I'm eating right now."

Giving a nod of understanding, Lirha walked close to Amaranai and put a comforting hand on the small of her back to help guide her into the dining area. "Come, sit. I will shower then cook you Ktarian eggs and targ bacon." It was the closest thing she could think of to a proper Earth breakfast.

Amaranai was surprisingly calmed by her attitude and by the hand on her back. Her own mother was never empathetic or loving, so it was unnatural for Amaranai to feel. What surprised her more, though, was that Lirha was going to shower and then make breakfast, leaving Amaranai alone.

"I don't have to stay," she protested. "We can have breakfast another time."

"I insist," Lirha reaffirmed in a light yet authoritative voice. "Unless you want me to make it an order?"

Realizing she basically had no choice, Amaranai nodded.

"Yes, ma'am," she said.

To Be Continued...

[OFF]

--

Lt. jg. Amaranai Franklin
Assistant Chief Tactical / Security Officer
IKS DuJa'Q

GEN Lirha Saalm
Commanding Officer
IKS DuJa'Q

RSS Feed