Horsin' Around

Posted on Mon Nov 30th, 2020 @ 6:32pm by Cadet Senior Grade Kedar Rackthorn & Lieutenant Commander S'hib

Mission: Season 4: Episode 3: Guided by Starlight
Location: Deck 14
Timeline: Current
1027 words - 2.1 OF Standard Post Measure

The day had been a bit of a whirlwind. From leaving Starfleet Academy on Earth to arriving at the station and then to see the Elysium both from space and from the dock itself. Kedar had never had so much excitement. Maybe this was why he froze, overwhelmed at such a moment. His first starship!

He had stood there looking up at his new home, mouth open, tongue out and who would see him? Only his superior officer, Commander Taylor. Well, that's a first impression alright. At least he seemed nice.

Kedar shouldered his bag and headed into the ship, admiring the craftsmanship as he finally set paw onboard, looking left and right to get his bearings. He knew the rough layout of a starship and though each class was different, there were certain consistencies he could rely on. It wasn't long before he found a turbolift and entered. The doors closed and he confidently stated: "Deck 14" and waited for the lift to move, which it did and did so rather faster than he expected, causing his paws to shift a bit.

He had been told Deck 14 was the home of the onboard academy and the cadet quarters so it made sense to head here and find his room. The lift doors opened and he headed onto the deck, his tail flicking behind him, almost getting caught in the door. He looked left and right and back at the PADD in his paw. "35....K...O" he said to himself, reciting it over and over, checking the doors as he passed them, looking at his PADD for some kind of map and then BOOM. He walked into something. "Ow.." he was thinking, but then looked up and realised he had walked not into something, but into someone, someone dressed in Starfleet uniform and as he looked up...and up...and up...the man was tall, wearing the rank insignia of a Lieutenant Commander and his species, some kind of Equine race he had never encountered before.

Kedar almost jumped for joy at seeing someone so unusual but also remembered this was a VERY senior officer and he stood to attention, coughing gently. "Uh Sorry Sir...I wasn't looking where I was going...heh..."

A startled hoof scratched at the floor as soon as they collided with a loud thump, his heart racing at the sudden encounter. "It's not often people don't see me coming, Cadet..." He snorted, craning his long neck back in mock annoyance. "I take it you're new here..." He continued, holding out his oversized hoofed digits for the PADD.

The Caitain, only 5'4, felt about 3 foot shorter all of a sudden as he looked up at S'hib. He handed over the PADD with his slender paw and shifted his weight nervously from his left to right paw. "Yes Sir, Cadet Senior Grade Kedar Rackthorn, reporting for duty Sir..." he said, straightening himself out. He wasn't wearing his uniform yet, so felt a little out of place in jeans and a sweater. There was something about the Sequus he liked, he didn't know what but he felt like he wanted to know more.

He snapped out of that thought while S'hib looked over his PADD.

"Reporting for duty out of uniform?" He remarked, glancing to one side to look at the Cait instead of moving the PADD. "Must be a new policy I'm not aware of..." He added as he put the PADD back between his face and Rackthorns, hiding what little smile was slipping onto his lips.

Kedar blinked. "Well my uniform was sent to my quarters Sir and the Commander told me to go get changed into it now and then suggested I go explore the station but this deck is huge and I have no idea where 35 K O is!" he said, rambling a little as he tapped a footpaw.

"No idea at all? with a map?" S'hib snorted, wiggling the PADD about to emphasise his point. "You did finish the Academy right?" He grinned, his upper lip twitching at his own joke.

The Caitian blushed, looking down at his feet. "No Sir...this is my final year Sir..." he said with the flick of his ears. "I hadn't loaded up the map yet, I was going to but then I ran into you... literally." he said with a smirk.

"Sounds like you need to slow those paws down, can't run before you can walk Cadet... otherwise, you'll spend more time fixing mistakes than making them..." S'hib said as he handed back the PADD. "This way," He snorted as he turned and marched off, his long legs striding effortlessly down the hallway with shallow clicks of his hooves.

Rackthorn took the PADD, clumsily almost dropping it, but he hid it well. He followed the tall officer, bounding along on his dexterous paws as he did so, finally getting to his quarters. "Oh that wasn't too far actually..." he said with a smile, commanding the door to open, then entering and looking around. "Wow...this is comfortable!"

"Yes well, don't get too comfortable..." S'hib said as he leaned under the door frame, taking note of the uniform case on the bed. "I'm going to need you to get changed and head to the station as soon as possible, this and a few other decks are scheduled for grav plate maintenance... understood?"

The Caitian noted the seriousness of tone in S'hib's voice. "As...soon as possible Sir?" he said, taking the command rather seriously and stripping off his jeans there and then. "I uh...probably should have waited til you left huh?" said the young cat with a grin at his superior.

“Red sands...” he cursed as he lifted his muzzle up to look at the ceiling. “Cadet, you have twenty minutes...” with this he ducked back under the doorframe and took a step back, adjusting his uniform with two well placed tugs. “Don’t get lost again.” S’hib snorted before marching off, his hooves clicking loudly down the empty corridor.

Kedar blushed and let out a chuckle. "Show your butt to an Officer...check" he shook his head. "Going great so far, moron..."