Special Delivery

Posted on 13 Sep 2023 @ 7:35pm by Commander Scarlet Blake & Commander Morgan Tarin

1,206 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 18 - Cold Station 31
Location: Regula I - Level 2, Transporter Room 2
Timeline: MD 18, 1655 hrs

[ON]

Within the small science facility designated Regula I, the commbadge belonging to one of USS Galileo's senior commanders chirped once, then twice, then three times in rapid succession. The time was almost 1700 hours, mere minutes before the Nova-class' scheduled crew banquet, yet this new alert apparently demanded immediate attention.

Scarlet Blake blinked at the insistent chirping of her commbadge, currently pinned onto a poloneck only. She was running behind schedule herself, on her way back from dropping Lily off with a childminder. She frowned with mild confusion at the timing of it, her steps slowing as she tapped it lightly. "Blake."

A rapid response came from the voice of a seemingly-young person on the other end of the channel. "Uhh...Commander Blake? This is Petty Officer Frovin from Regula I Ops...I need you up here in transporter room two!" The sound of a loud commotion in the background gave urgency to the request. "Please!"

Blake let out a sigh so heavy that it made her shoulders heave. She pinched the bridge of her nose as she came to a complete stop for just a moment. "On my way," she replied all the same, turning sharply on her heals to work out the quickest way to get to Level 2.

When Galileo's first officer turned the final corridor corner and the transporter rooms became visible, a young gold-collared Human operations officer could be seen halfway through the open doors struggling with something. In one hand he held a hefty leash which appeared to tug him back into the room at moments, and in his other hand he clutched a large PADD with the grip of a god.

A deep, throaty rumbling growl could be heard in the background and when he finally spotted the first officer approaching, he frantically waved to her. "Commander Blake! I need to-" he was suddenly jerked backward into the transporter room then recovered and pulled his torso back out into the corridor, "transfer this package to you! Priority transport from Captain Lirha Saalm!"

Blake slowed her steps at the familiar sounds, her eyes narrowing at the way the young man was being treated like a rag doll. "What if I don't want it?" she replied cautiously, her tone flat with her suspicion of what might be on the other side of the door.

The tonality and inflection of the first officer's voice echoed throughout the corridor and into the transporter room. It took only several seconds before a large juvenile targ burst out of the room and ripped the lead from its inexperienced Regula I handler. The muscular multi-tusked animal widened its small beady eyes when he saw and smelled Blake's familiar scent, then charged with surprising speed to close the gap and pounce on her.

"Oh my god noo!" yelled the operations man who scrambled back to his feet. "Snuffles NOO!" he futily commanded.

Blake hit the deck as the targ ploughed into her, the air knocked out of her with the force of the zealous pet that belonged to her now ex-Captain. She struggled up on to her elbows and despite her frosty reception to this unexpected package, a breathless laugh escaped as she tried to calm it down with scratches to its snout and ear. "Okay, okay, okay! Calm down, Snuffles, or you'll get us both thrown off the base..."

The young targ happily tapped his hooves against the floor plating's carpet while straddling Blake's waist and legs. He snorted several times with pleasure at being reunited with a familiar face then pushed his wet snout and saliva-dripping mouth against the first officer's face.

The operations officer scrambled forward then urgently waved the PADD in his hand. "I'm sorry commander! I've been with this animal for six days in my shuttle and I don't know how to handle a targ. Starfleet never trained me for this... I was only told by Captain Saalm that this is an urgent matter and for only you to accept receipt. Here," he extended the PADD he'd been holding. "She wanted you to have this, too."

"You've done admirably," Blake assured with a groan, trying to nudge the slobbery snout away from her face while her arm wiped it down. "Snuffles! Snuffles, sit!" she tapped the floor twice with a rap of her hand before placing it reassuringly on the back of its neck. "I'll take it from here," she assured, reaching up for the PADD.

After the sudden excitement of reuniting with Blake, Snuffles snorted again then laid down across her abdomen - all 180 pounds of him. He'd grown much larger since he'd departed Galileo several months ago and had obviously been fed well.

Petty Officer Frovin respectfully bowed to the commander then sprinted off back to the transporter room to return to his shuttle and hopefully never again return to Regula I with another targ. "I'll inform Captain Saalm personally that her package was delivered...!" he called out over his shoulder.

"Thank you!" Blake called as best as she could, considering her lung capacity was being impeded by the weight of a very solid animal companion. She didn't fight it though. Instead, she tapped the PADD with her thumb to bring up the message on it.

"My friend Scarlet,

It's been many months we've now been apart. I still think about you and Galileo almost every day. I miss all of you and I've never served with a finer crew aboard any starship. I hope Commander Tarin is living up to her reputation and is treating you with your due respect.

I can't disclose where I am or my mission. I hope you understand. I'm sorry we couldn't have had one last opportunity...one last chance to share our company together. I hope in the future we will be reunited again.

In the meantime, please accept Snuffles as my gift of appreciation and a piece of myself to continue aboard Galileo. He's grown since you last saw him as you can probably see. His feeding diet and care instructions are contained within pages three through eight. He's a good targ but needs discipline and a more supportive life structure than I can give him within my current assignment. I hope this isn't too much to ask. Maybe he and Lily will become best friends?

We will see each other soon again, Blake. I promise.

- Captain Lirha Saalm"

Blake let out a long, shaking breath as she read the message from Lirha, and then read it again for good measure. She didn't blame her for the secrecy, not at all. She understood the deal. But it didn't make it any easier to leave her behind. She swallowed hard past the tightness in her throat as she looked down to Snuffles, scratching the top of his head fondly before leaning to kiss it affectionately. "Come on, Snuffles, you can be the new Ship's cat," she teased softly, struggling back to her feet. "I think I know a little girl who is going to be very happy to see you..."

[OFF]

--

Petty Officer Frovin
Operations Officer
Regula I
[NPC Tarin]

CMDR Scarlet Blake
First Officer
USS Galileo-A

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