Scratching the exterior

Posted on 22 Mar 2018 @ 1:03pm by Crewman Valentina Gagarina & Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim
Edited on on 21 Aug 2023 @ 1:27pm

2,748 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: Episode 16 - A Far Sun
Location: USS Schofield - XO/Allyndra's Quarters
Timeline: MD -12, 0800

[ON]

Allyndra thought that handling the medical records was bad, this was worse especially on a ship in which reports indicated that about half the systems were fully functional, another third semi and the rest problematic.

She had gone through records and noted that they had at least a few new personnel that she had not met before. She perused one particular individual and then pressed her comm badge.

=^=Crewman Valentina Gagarina, please report to the XO office.=^=

Summons were bad. Always. Valentina knew this well. Valentina Gagarina dot dot dot. From the time she was a wee little girl to the centenarian she was now those words were always accompanied by a stern talking to or far worse, to which her memories and marks would all attest to. She was sure this time would be no different. Nobody as high as XO ever wanted to chat. It was always business before and this time would be no different.

“Ugh,” she grunted out as she shunted away from her station, strutting away from whatever and whomever had been around her without so much as the slightest announcement of intent. Well, what could be worse than the nothing I was doing, she assured herself as she made her way to the XO’s office.

It wasn’t hard to find. The door looked the same as all the others, but it felt different. Like a sixth sense (aided by map memorization) she knew she had arrieved.

“XO so-and-so,” she muttered under her breath. The names never mattered anyway. Everyone was a ‘sir’ to her.

The door swooshed open.

“Sir?”

"Ah yes," Allyndra looked up. The woman had that hard look to her. A security officer that one could really count on. "Please have a seat, and for now this is really just an informal meeting. I normally get to greet new crew in sickbay but pulled the duty of the acting executive officer this trip." She waited and then added, "I am Allyndra by the way."

The born-again recruit sat down in front of the XO. Her reluctance was evident, but the offer of informality appeared to help her relax insomuch that her shoulders could be seen to relax and her body seemed to sink into the chair opposite her commander as she took her offered seat. She was half a motion away from her heels making home of the top of the desk, but she wasn’t quite sure what boundaries ‘informal’ had set to them just yet.

“Crewman Gagarina,” came the relevant reply to the trading of names.

"Anything I can get you?"

A good drag, was the first thought that passed Valentina’s mind, but she knew that sarcastic or inappropriate comments to the brass typically ended with a boot on the neck. Instead the went the safe approach. “Nothing, sir.”

"I just wanted to see how things are going, how you are settling in, if any problems integrating into a crew that many have been with each other for a time. Any complaints, things I should know, whatever your comfortable sharing." Allyndra was a bit curious but the stiffness of the body, the wariness told her something was in this person's past. She would not pry too deeply but was more concerned with making sure that she knew that their were people she could eventually trust and hopefully call friends on this ship.

“No problems, sir,” Valentina replied in a to-the-point yet honest assessment of her time aboard so far. “Few stiff upper lips around here. Getting a little bit of the fresh fish treatment like I’m knee high to a Ferengi or something. You know, the usual,” she dusted it all off with a simple shrug.

Allyndra nodded. "Well it should go away. If you have problems let me know. If I may, can I ask a bit about your previous postings, hobbies anything? I know sounds like I am prying but just trying to get to know people. Feel free to ask anything about me as well."

“Did some science. Did some time. Now I find myself in the security business. Afraid there’s no time for hobbies in this line of work.” Vague and quick yet honest. It was about as sincere an answer Valentina could muster, at least for an open line of questioning such as that. An all too open line that for some reason seemed to irk her. “Look, I don’t want to have to state the obvious here, but couldn’t you learn a lot more about me in a much quicker time by looking at my record? Or is it common practice now to get cozy with the enlisted ranks? It’s been a while for me, but isn’t that sort of faux pas?”

"You are correct, but those are just cut and dried notes made by others. That does not tell me anything about you the person. However, I will not pry. I just wanted to welcome you aboard. Still if you need to talk to anyone for anything come see me and the Twins blast rank."

Valentina raised an inquisitive eyebrow. "Huh?"

Allyndra chuckled. "I tend to use things that most do not understand. The Twins are sort of our gods. Basically, if you want someone to talk to, come see me and we forget rank." She doubted it might happen but it was worth the try. "I have learned a few games of chance especially with cards, if you are up to the challenge."

The comment struck a nerve. It was visible. A peaking of the eyebrow and a piquing of interest. “Not much of a challenge I’ll bet,” Valentina sniped back, forgetting about twins and ranks and whatever. “Whadaya play? Texan Hold ‘Em? Fizzbin? Deck or Decked? I’ve had plenty of time to play ‘em all.” It was like a switch was flipped. Starfleet melted away and for a moment all she could think about was the game.

"I have tried the former, and few other variations of the Terran poker games. I have also done Tongo. As far as the later of the two, I am unfamiliar with them. Want to teach me?"

“You’re operating under the assumption that you wan’t to know the rules to those games,” came a chuckle-laden reply from the crewman. “One of them requires a history lesson and a keen wit for bullshit, while the other could land one of us in the infirmary. And I don’t mean for duty. How ‘bout we stick with the Hold ‘Em for now? You got any real cards? I’m ready!” The excitement was evident. So what if she was carousing (or attempting to) with an officer. This could be fun and the doctor cum executive would get what she wanted: to get to know the beast.

Allyndra sat back and laughed. "Well, then, wish I could right now, but unfortunately duty calls. Tell you what, if you are still awake after beta shift come on by my quarters and we can get a game going. Sound like a plan?"

“Right.” The disappointing reality set in as she brushed off the invitation as some sort of half-hearted attempt at generosity. Valentina was on duty and as such the fun and games were strictly off limits and the quick snub made that abundantly clear. Lame. “So. Do you have any questions for me? I’d hate for our meet-and-greet to be unnecessarily boring and short. Or did you just want to say ‘hi?’”

Allyndra's old counselor time came roaring back. "Yes, I do, is there something that has happened to harden you quite so much?"

"It's in my file. Doc. That is if you hold the strings that could get you into sealed files," Valentina pushed back. She could have easily replied with something more revealing or at least more polite, but it wasn't information she ever gave up without some figurative or literal fight. "Do you?" She leaned in, Cocky.

"I do not but could request it if need be. Really I am just trying to get to know the new people. Believe it or not I was for a time a counselor and as such I can see that there are things that have not set well for you especially with authority. As for myself, my society is highly formal, I grew up with it and when I got away from it then I vowed not to let all that get in the way unless it was needed. Rank, officer and enlisted, that is the formality that is sometimes needed, but in the end we are all individuals in a small confined space and that means learning to get along with each other on a more personal level."

Denied. This one wasn’t taking up Valentina’s challenge, which was probably for the best because of all the hills to die on fighting a commanding officer on information she could easily glean from elsewhere was probably not a good choice. She relented. Backed down. Eased her posture a bit. “I did a bit of time. To put it mildly.”

"I see, well obviously it was not enough to keep Fleet from assigning you to the ship and what has happened in the past is just that past. We all have things that we have done and regret." Allyndra was not sure exactly how to approach this woman, then remembered the way she reacted to the mention of cards. She turned to the replicator and asked for a deck of Terran cards to be made. She turned back and put them on the table. "Tell you what, you shuffle, I shuffle and then we draw. You get high card, I won't bother you again, I get high card and you come teach me a new card game. Deal?"

“No dice,” Valentina quipped back. “Not that I don’t trust you or nothing, but you can easily game replicated cards to your advantage. I only play with latinum-chipped cards. They’re a bitch to get anywhere and double-so in the pen, but you learn quick not to be fooled. How about we Keep It Simple, Stupid.” The uttered title of her proposed method probably sounded more an insult directed at the XO then a hearkening back to phrases of old and that was probably exactly as was intended by the coarse old lady. “How about Rock, Paper, Scissors?”

Allyndra nodded, "Tell me how it works, I am unfamiliar with the game."

"Simple," Valentina replied as she held out her hand to give accompanying gestures to the entirety of the game's title. "Rock." Fist. "Paper." Palm. "Scissors." V-sign. "Rock beats scissors. Scissors beats paper. Paper beats rock." She signed the matches with her hands opposing each other. " Tie means we go again. Best of three if you want or keep it quick and dirty and take the first outcome, but the reward stays the same. I win you leave me alone. You win we become best friends and have game nights every Sunday and get real intimate at the end." The last part was to be taken sarcastically of course. "You in?"

"Indeed, I shall accept your terms," Allyndra replied. While things would be quick, compound eyes were very sensitive to moment. She counted on that to determine in the fraction of a second what the hardened crew person would make what symbol with her hand. "Best of three then," she added.

“Best of three.” Valentina leveled her eyes at Allyndra’s. It could have almost felt like a suspecting gaze as she inspected those oddly configured eyes closely, but in actuality she was not only completely oblivious to the complexities that lay within the strange little orbs, but was also momentarily subdued by them, her initial attempt at steeling her gaze failing utterly. She then at once rebuffed, her gaze going cold as ice. No way was she going lose the high ground in the stare-off.

Suddenly. Commanding. “ONE. TWO. THREE. GO.”

Valentina pumped her fist to the count-off then on ‘go’ extended a crude gesture known only to the Pirates of Calixis. It would have been completely lost on the winged woman.

“That was for demonstration. You ready?”

Allyndra was surprised at how fast the woman was and the gesture was not one of the ones that she had demonstrated. She would have to pay very close attention to the subtle movements the moment before the final hand movement. She made a fist like Valentina had shown her and nodded, "Very well."

Without word Valentina fired off the fist-pumped mantra once more, ending without a change in gesture. Rock.

Allyndra was a bit distracted as Valentina again went through the routine. She missed the subtle clues and was a fraction of a second late with a scissors to Valentina's rock.

"That is a loss for me correct?"

“Yup.” Cocky Valentina was beginning to show through. No doubt she thought she had this one in the bag. No need to worry about feminine bonding experiences or strolls through the holodeck or late night reminiscing. You got this, Valentina.

Another reciting of the mantra. The second one was just as fast, it was like dealing with a striking cobra but Allyndra paid more attention. She had seen the 'rock' and figured to do the 'paper' but just as swiftly Valentina changed her hand from rock to paper.

“Tie. Beginner’s luck.” Valentina seemed unnecessarily unhappy given no ground was ceded, but she knew the stakes were high. This wasn’t for a pack of smokes or keeping from cleaning the latrines. She was fighting for privacy now. Not something she normally just left to the odds. Time for another round.

Allyndra squeezed her eyes just a bit concentrating on the movements and went again. This time it was two rocks, another draw according to what the crew man had indicated. She could see the subtle shift in the shoulders and the fact that she thought to have won this by now. Another go and Allyndra caught that shift in muscles in Valentina's arm, should be rock and her hand a fraction of a second later went to flat. "Paper covers rock..." she said and smiled. That seemed to sort of grate a little on the woman.

Wrong. This was wrong. Dammit, Valentina. Her hand seemed to hover in the air and for a moment the rock almost appeared to become more dense as though it were transmuting to something far stronger, but in actuality it was a moment of weakness. A clenching of anger. “Right,” she replied flatly.

"Understood, final one..." Allyndra did not look up but just looked for the subtle clues. Rock seemed to be her favourite choice, the fist, but it also seemed the blade of the paper was next. Very seldom scissors. She figured perhaps whatever penal background that fist and blade where something more ingrained. She took a chance that the alternative to the rock this next one would be the blade of paper. A quick movement and she again caught the muscles in the forearm going into that pattern and she adjusted hers in that fraction to scissors. "I believe you told me scissors cuts paper."

Valentina’s hand came down with a startling slap on the desk. She was furious, but she composed herself. This was fair. This was square. Don’t be weak, Valentina. Be right. “Yes,” she confirmed as she reached out the losing sign in a gesture of congratulations. A simple shaking of hands.

Allyndra took the hand and nodded. "Very good, and we are done here for now. However, it was interesting and exciting. I think there is a lot I can learn, maybe fleece a few Ferengi the next leave."

“Now you’re talkin’,” Valentina almost exclaimed. “So you really do like games, huh? Maybe I could teach you a game or two then. And while we’re at it, maybe fleece a few Ferengi? Deal?”

“Deal," Allyndra responded. She watched the crewman get up and take off and if anything there was a little more pep in her step. She did look forward to learning more games, it had not been a lie at all.

[OFF]

--

Cmdr Allyndra illm Warraquim
Acting XO and CMO
USS Schofield

Crewman Valentina Gagarina
Security/Tactical Officer
USS Schofield

RSS Feed