A Fine Mess, Part II

[Jylliene 0]

(Log events take place before "Reviewing the Facts")

 

The mess hall was strangely quiet. Well, perhaps not quiet - there was noise - but it wasn’t the usual hum of conversation. People were passing through quickly, grabbing their food, barely sitting to eat before rushing off to prepare for who knows what end.

 

Perhaps everyone felt in the back of their mind that they could meet the same end that had been seen on the viewscreen. While the Aegean had been on a mission for the benefit of the Romulans, one of Aegis’s own fell to the very ones meant to benefit. Who was behind this, and what did they possibly hope to gain?

 

Either way, Jylliene had the same thoughts as many likely did. It’s one thing to join Starfleet knowing that yes, you might give your life in its service. It’s quite another to see someone do just that in what should have been a safe environment, and face your own mortality as you rushed headlong into the same setting.

 

She glanced up and saw a familiar figure just a few steps away.

 

Familiar, but in a much more depressed mood. The sight of what happened earlier on the Aegean main view upset him greatly. It should not have. He knew much of how disruptors worked, much more than he wanted really. And he did not know Jorahl well enough to feel as if a family member met their end for all to see. All of his thoughts of what happened culminated in his stirring and stirring of his tea.

 

“Nijil?”

 

He did not stir.

 

Jylliene touched his sleeve lightly. Like a bolt of lightning Nijil awoke and quickly went for his weapon, only pulling out a small microspanner. His reflexes along with his weapon choice surely placed him in the engineer camp.

 

“Nooo! Oh...I’m sorry.” He laid the spanner back on the table and held his head in his hands. “My apologies.”

 

“I should be the one apologizing. I didn’t mean to startle you.” She paused, then continued, “I don’t know quite how to process it all. I...” She paused again. “How are you?”

 

He gave a quarter smile, “I have been better. I was not prepared for what I saw today. Some Galae soldier I am. Please sit.” Nijil extended his hand, not wanting Jylliene to leave or stand all day.

“I was no more prepared for it than you. Than anyone aboard, I think.” She sat down, touching his hand briefly in thanks.

 

“Did you know him well? I only met him briefly,” the engineer asked.

 

‘I did not. I’ve spent more time since my assignment to Aegis on board the Aegean. I wish I could say I did get to know him at all.”

 

Nijil thought it possible the graphic nature of the death cut deeper than their respective relations to Jorahl. It also reinforced how he knew nothing of his own family’s whereabouts. Were they vaporised as well? Was their end filled with extreme pain, if only for brief seconds? He tried not to think of family, but like a Romulan moth to a plasma flame it’s all he could think about. His eyes averted to not meet Jylliene’s.

 

Jylliene finished her tea. “I suppose we should be preparing.”

 

He only nodded. “I imagine so. You know they are probably all dead.”

 

“Who?” she asked, looking at Nijil quizzically.

 

He shook his head realizing his ambiguity. “My mother, father and sister. I’ve not heard from them since the Romulan disaster. I have been searching for them since I left. I’ve spent a great deal of time searching subspace.” He shook his head again and look at Jylliene. “I have to put that aside.”

 

“For now, it seems so.” She stood, and added, “Be careful. I’d like to share a more casual cup of tea on Aegis when this is over.”

 

“Yes,” thinking for a moment. “I’ve offered my services and experience from my time in the Galae to retake the station. Perhaps I can blend in.” He reaches in his pocket, fumbling for something inside.

 

Jylliene smiled as she turned to leave. Engineers, she thought to herself, chuckling inwardly.

 

Nijil found what he was looking for and tossed it toward her. “Keep this in case I don’t return. Give it to any of my family if they make their way here. Or keep it if they don’t.”

 

She caught the small avian symbol. “I will, but I fully expect that I’ll be handing this back to you later.” Jylliene nodded to him, and made her way out, for her own preparations.