A Fine Mess

[Nijil tr'Korjata 0]

A Fine Mess

Joint log, Nijil and Jylliene

 

Jylliene selected a cup of coffee and turned to look for a seat. There were none to be had. Half the ship must be here. The Bolian twins sat at the table with the best view. A Lieutenant from Cestus III started to get up...only to let someone else sit in his place. A hushed silence fell over the room as if at a wake rather than close to a meal hour.

 

She was all but ready just to take her coffee back to her quarters. She glanced about to see if anyone looked ready to get up, but didn’t see...wait, a seat appeared to be free! It was off to one side and rather in a corner, but she did not care. She ran.

 

Aegis’ newest engineer should have stopped at the fourth cup of caffeinated spice tea, but the replicator could create a nearly infinite amount. His nose was glued to the PADD in his hand. Could this be the good news he’d been searching for all this time? He frowned and looked up. He appeared only a meter away from the far wall. How no one was injured along his trek was unknown. Where was his seat? Whoever took it would be sitting among his other padds and notes. On elements! His notes. He panicked.

 

Jylliene drank her coffee and glanced about her. Someone had left a sizable pile of PADDs about - oh dear. She doubted someone would leave their things behind, so somewhere in the room, someone was going to be heading this way and looking for their chair. She glanced about and spotted the Romulan engineer she had met on the bridge right about the time of the explosion. He looked...slightly agitated? She leapt up.

 

Nijil looked about. Someone jumped up in his peripheral view, but they failed to catch his eye. Best to head to the center and pretend to be just arriving rather than showing everyone he’d lost his seat. He put his best try not to really be looking for my mess face on. He slowly walked ahead.

 

Jylliene watched the man, a somewhat puzzled expression on her face. “Pardon me...Mr. tr'Korjata?” she called to him.

 

“Ie?” He’d been caught with his PADDs down.

 

She gestured toward the pile of PADDs, then to the chair. “Was this your seat?” She stepped back out of the way.

 

Doing some kind of ancient Rihan run, panic and green-in-the-face ritual he arrived at his long lost table. Why was she here?

Nodding in confirmation, “Ie.. I mean yes. These are my things. Notes,” Nijil began to see what she may have seen, “Engineering items...people I know.” He did not have the energy to ask her to go somewhere else. Actually there was no where else to go. “Perhaps we should share this table. It is quite busy now.” The Romulan took the opposite seat, shoving the PADDs into a neater pile, then placed his cup down.

 

Jylliene smiled appreciatively. “Thank you,” she replied, and sat back down, cupping her mug in her hands. “You’ve been busy - the work of an engineer is never done, I imagine,” she added.

 

“Na, it is not. I have to ask, did you see anything on these PADDs?” He looked a tad worried.

 

“No,” she grinned, as she replied, “I only noted that I was surrounded by them. And only after rushing to claim a seat.” She thought about adding a mildly chastising remark about his leaving something he deemed sensitive unattended, but she had no idea if he’d take it in the teasing way she’d intend - so she let it drop.

 

He exhaled in relief. “There are no state secrets here,” gesturing to the pile. “At least I don’t believe so.” Elements, was he actually nervous around this human with a strange pattern along the side of her face?

 

“You have striking hair, Mr. tr’Korjata.”

 

“Oh?” He feels his hair. Perhaps he combed it without remembering. No, it was in bad shape. “Oh.. My activities should not affect my appearance. I’m not sure how we’ll I’d do in Starfleet. It’s this cursed tea I’ve grown attached to.” He rubbed his eyes.

 

“I meant it as a compliment, in a way. It reminds me of when my parents were buried deep in their work with a publication deadline. It reminds me a bit of home - and for that, I thank you.” Jylliene smiled at him again.

 

“Home. Mine is gone on two fronts. These pictures and holo recording are all I have now.”

 

She winced. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to cause further pain.” She wanted to go on, to apologize further, but she stopped there. She doubted she’d have anything she could say that would help at all.

 

 

 

“It’s alright. Many Romulans have suffered and I understand our reputation in the alpha quadrant. Many would turn a blind eye toward our plight. My life is seemingly to become a member of Starfleet. If only my father could hear me say that. The Galae is in disarray, factionalized. Who would have thought.” Nijil takes a sip. “Oh, and our prospects of finding a new home has been reduced by one.”

 

Jylliene nodded. “That was...quite an explosion. I don’t know if they’ll get it figured out or not - the cause - but I have to admit, I’m almost - *almost* glad it’s gone. It was driving me quite nearly mad watching them investigate when there was another planet waiting to be explored.” She sighed. “No matter now, regardless. Off to the next one, and let’s hope this one holds more promise than the previous ones.”

 

“I hope so.” He picked up PADD with only a picture of a young-looking Romulan woman displayed. He laid it back on top of the pile.

 

“Do you mind if I ask who is in the picture?” she asked tentatively.

 

He gave her a look as he pondered her question. “It’s not a bondmate, but my sister. Three months with child.” This clearly soured his mood. His expression showed it.

 

She frowned. “I’m very sorry. I didn’t mean to pry. She is very lovely.”

 

“Yes. Don’t worry about the prying. I’ve not been a typical Romulan for some time. No one has asked. I think Captain Ramson is the only one I’ve spoken to for any length since I arrived. It was a strange experience at that.” Takes another drink.

 

“I’ve had more time with her as my captain since arriving than under Captain Chirakis. I didn’t really expect to spend so much time on a starship after being assigned to a starbase,” Jylliene said. “Seems to be very comfortable in command of the Aegean.” This was definitely a bit of a test - she hoped the change in topic would relax him a bit. Well, as relaxed as she’d ever seen a Romulan, anyhow. Or it would make things worse.

 

He stared at Jylliene right in the eyes. “She did something to me. Something I was not prepared for...a passing of information sprinkled with emotion and memories.” He thought for a moment. “I’ve heard of Vulcan’s and their mind melds, but this was something the war college did not teach us.” She suddenly reminded him of someone, probably a memory not his own.

 

 

Jylliene nodded slightly, a bit surprised at first, until pieces starting coming together in her head - the verbalizer, a memory of a colleague of her mother’s - she’d have to look over the roster a little more closely; she hadn’t really spent much time except on learning about Captain Chirakis and Mr. Dabi.

 

“This universe is not about me. So, what of you?” Nijil had no specific questions, but just curiosity.

 

Jylliene pondered that. “Just a girl out to find herself. Well, not really. My parents were in academia, and I was set to follow in their footsteps. It wasn’t until I quit the preparations for being joined that I decided my path led elsewhere. In this case, to Starfleet. Thankfully, I think my parents are accepting of it -- even if perhaps they had envisioned a different destiny for me.”

 

No bondmate to...tie you down? I’m not sure of the phrasing.”

 

“Bondmate? Oh - oh, no - well, no, I have no bondmate, but that wasn’t what I was leaving. Have you not met a Trill before?” Jylliene replied, smiling. “Joining is being joined with a symbiont. I saw someone I knew well change completely after joining - the symbiont’s personality was perhaps a bit overpowering for him - and I wasn’t sure I really wanted that. That’s what I left.”

 

“Sounds invasive if you pardon my outlook. All of this...” he spread his arms wide,”...is new to me.”

 

“In that particular case, it was. In many, many cases, it isn’t. It’s a joining, not a conquest, if that makes sense? The host gains the memories of the symbiont and, yes, the personality can come through. That’s why there are preparations - to make as certain as possible that the match will be suitable. But - well, I just wasn’t ready to risk it.”

 

“Sounds like you would gain a lifelong consciousness or friend...whatever it is Trill call it. The universe can be a cruel place alone.”

 

She nodded. “You do. You’re never really quite alone. And that is both good, and bad.” Jylliene thought for a moment, and then added, “I suppose it is very similar to a bondmate.”

 

He looked down at his nearly empty tea. “Over the past few months I would have sacrificed much to gain a friend, some ear to listen. My people are slowly breaking apart. My family is lost. It

would be easier if I knew they were dead.” He looked up at at her cup. “Bah. I’m depressing the room.”

 

“If I can be an ear for you sometime - anytime - I will.” She smiled slightly.

 

“It would be appreciated. You still have not touched a quantum singularity yet,” he added.

 

Jylliene laughed. “No, I haven’t.” She glanced up, and her eyes widened. “But I think perhaps next time - how long have we been here??” The room was empty, save for the cook, who was glancing their way impatiently.

 

“What do you... where is everyone? What time.. oh my! I am late, or soon will be.” Nijil placed his head on the table.

 

“Well, that won’t get you there any faster. Can I help you carry any of this?”

 

“Yes, to my little hole-in-the-bulkhead of a room they gave me. I nearly have to sleep standing up.” Nijil began to stand and handed her a selection of PADDs. Jylliene accepted them as she stood, and prepared to follow. The doors opened upon their approach and closed just as silently behind them.

Edited August 3, 2012 by Nijil tr'Korjata