The Dude Collides

Posted on 22 May 2017 @ 7:22pm by Lieutenant JG Cameron & Calaban Bel Asher
Edited on on 24 May 2017 @ 5:23pm

1,562 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 15 - Emanation
Location: Starbase 001 - Promenade
Timeline: MD 02, 1230

[ON]

Earth dock, despite its sleek minimalist design and clean lines kept sparkling by a small army of bots and volunteers, was feeling crowded. Several large ships had arrived at once, depositing their passengers into its halls, filling them with tourists ambling, politicians striding, bureaucrats scurrying and Fleeters moving with purpose. You could tell it was the semester break at the Academy. Not only were there more than the fair share of cadets off to enjoy their break, but more than a few actual officers and enlisted, their tours of duty up, were moving on to new berths. It was cramped and crowded and loud and chaotic. It was very...human.

"I don't think I've ever seen it so busy!" The former Starfleet Lieutenant Aren Markussen exclaimed while she sped ahead of the Vulcan-Xenexian behind her to get a good look over the promenade. In the meanwhile, Lieutenant (JG) Cameron heaved an inaudible sigh in a way that seemed to contradict the fact that the last forty-one years of his life which had been devoted to a servitude to logic without emotion. Coming up behind the Selkie, he convinced himself to humor Aren’s brilliant curiosity of a place they had visited together countless times during his tour on Luna.

It was busier than usual. Even with the academy on spring break. That revelation caused a brow on Cameron's forehead to raise slightly.

Aren looked over to him. "Oh, what... are you not talking to me now?" She waved her hands in a fluid display over the crowd. "Are you afraid that someone might catch you talking to someone who they can't see?"

“It would raise suspicions.” Cameron replied stoically.

Sticking her tongue out at him, she reached over and grabbed him by his elbow, dragging him back into the busy line of diplomats, hustlers, entrepreneurs, and wanderers. "Careful, Cam. You're sounding a little too much like a Vulcan," she complained. "Don't forget that I know there's a whole 'nother part of you that I know about now that I'm in your head."

Cameron grunted noncommittally.

"I have no suspicions, man. Live and let live, that's my motto." Just to one side of Cameron was a heavy set man about six feet tall, dirty blond hair hanging shaggily to his shoulders. There was a mark in his forehead, a circle enclosed by two long arrow heads pointing in opposite directions, a Risian clan mark, a tan coloured goatee, with a couple of white hairs. He wore flip flops and baggy shorts, and an old fashioned t-shirt. it had a picture of a box with a green glow coming from it, marked with a nuclear radiation symbol. Above the box was the caption 'Erwin's Cattery.'

Cameron looked over. Aren had to lean over the railing and past Cameron to get a good look of who'd caught on to the conversation. The area of her face where eyebrows would be had she not been an aquatic species furrowed sharply in confusion. "Hey, I think I've seen this guy on a vid before..." she pointed out.

"Excuse me sir, to what are you referring?" Cameron asked.

"You said something would raise suspicions. I thought you were talking to me." The man was fractionally taller than Cameron and he brushed his hair back behind an ear. "But if you weren't, that's my bad, its all cool."

Cameron regarded the man for a moment, pivoting the man with a sort of whimsical reflection. "I was..." he paused, catching himself before he could arise further suspicion. Had Cameron thought it possible, he would have administered a sharp glance in Aren's direction. This is why I am cautious, he thought to himself. "Are you a member of Starfleet?" Cameron then asked the man in front of him. Given his manner of dress, Cameron doubted it. But a half-Vulcan could never be too sure.

The man nodded, looking slightly impressed. "How could you tell, man? Thats some spooky Sherlock shit, right there."

Aren leaned even further over the balcony. So far, in fact, that she might have fallen had she not been careful. But the look on her face was slightly incredulous. "Uh, hello? You do see those pointy things on either side of his head, right?"

Cameron made an effort not to pass a disapproving look to the Selkie woman behind him. "An educated guess," replied.

"That must be like, Dean of the Vulcan Academy of Science education then, cos I'm totally in my civvies." The stranger insisted with a jovial tone. "Thought I was travelling incognito."

"Well then," Cameron started, knowing that he had to report to Starfleet Command within the next few hours for details on his next duty assignment. A brow rose in distinguished Vulcan fashion once again. "I will leave you to your being..." Cameron examined the man whose name he still hadn't learned, nor had he any desire to learn. "... incognito."

"Absolutely, man." The stranger gave Cameron a grin. And ambled off in exactly the same direction as Cameron was heading .

Aren pursed her lips. "Awkward..." while she followed Cameron who was still proceeding adjacent to the unidentified stranger. Cameron tilted his head in her direction, and the small corner of his lip tugged in such a way that might have been construed as a smile had it not vanished so quickly. After several long seconds, and about a dozen more footsteps, they arrived at the shuttle bay. The Vulcan/Xenexian hybrid stopped... as did the stranger.

"It seems we have a similar destination." Cameron pointed out simply.

"Yes it does," The man said with gnomic wisdom. "Or it's like time. We all think were going in the same direction. But because we have limited ability to perceive, it just seems like that."

Cameron's brow furrowed this time as he tried to make sense of what the stranger had just said. Inevitably, the Vulcan/Xenexian hybrid decided not to delve any deeper. The odds were very good that they wouldn't see each other again. Several footsteps more in, Cameron felt his path begin to deviate from the stranger's. Their direction was about to split. Cameron felt compelled to at least exchange one final bit of pleasantries.

"Might I ask your name?" He asked.

The stranger held out his hand. "Calaban Bel Asher, late of Risa, gentleman of science. Traveller, Explorer, Raconteur."

Heaving an audible sigh at the notion of having to make skin contact with someone whom, despite their status as a member of Starfleet, seemed more like a vagabond, Cameron concentrated on maintaining the stoic expression expected of Vulcans as he extended his own hand to shake. "A pleasure." He said simply.

"And do you have some sort name. preferred title? You can call me Cal. Most people do."

It took Cameron a few seconds to process the similarity. While he didn't prefer the name, and although Aren tended to use it regardless, the Vulcan/Xenexian hybrid permitted another semi-smile to appear before evaporating. "Cameron... although some call me Cam."

"Well, Cam. Since you're coming this way, I am assuming you're for Stafleet HQ. New posting?"

Cameron nodded. "It seems that way." He had volunteered for a new assignment as soon as it was heard that a new Galileo would be christened to replace the one lost several months earlier.

"Me too!" Cal beamed. "Of course, im hoping this one actually shows up. I was supposed to head out to the Cartegena, but that vanished. Then i was supposed to head for the Galileo and that went awol too. Feels like I've been living here, waiting for my ship to come in."

Aren reappeared by Cameron's side, nudging the hybrid with her elbow. "Well, let's just hope he doesn't end up wherever we're going." Once again, Cameron made an effort to ignore her presence. Or to at least not let Cal be made aware that something was distracting him. "I am aware of the Galileo's recent destruction, but I am not familiar with the Cartegena. What happened to it?" Cameron asked, realizing that their separation would be delayed a bit longer. But having not served on a Starship since his cadet cruise, he was curious.

"Just vanished, man. One day there, the next gone. Like the Fara Soi . Thats a ghost ship legend from Risa" he explained. "The captain bet the souls of all his crew to a demon that he could be home before dark, sailed into a cloudbank to do so, and was never seen again. The ship is supposed to haunt the Gendry sea."

Cameron shrugged off a sensation of annoyance. Meager superstition had no basis in fact. Heaving an inaudible sigh, Cameron decided to cut their conversation off short. "Ah, I see," He said, failing to hide his lost interest. Cameron glanced in Aren's direction in a way that would tell her what he was thinking, without making it appear too obvious that he was looking at someone in particular. "Well, if you will excuse me. It was... agreeable, to speak with you."

"You too, man. Hope your ship comes in." Cal gave him cheery wave before turning for the transporter pads that were dedicated to transports down to Starfleet HQ.

[OFF]

--

Lieutenant Cameron
Chief of Ops

Calaban Bel Asher
Gentleman of Science
[PNPC Derani]

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