Things that go bump in the night

Posted on Tue Dec 28th, 2021 @ 2:44am by Lieutenant Myne Redal & Captain Natacha Patani

Mission: Season 5: Episode 3: CAPETOWN
Location: Marine Country
Timeline: MD08 2100
3197 words - 6.4 OF Standard Post Measure

//ON//

For the first time in their burgeoning friendship, Natacha used her command voice on the little Trill, instructing her to be quiet as they went through Marine Country, until they got to Natacha's quarters.

Asking Myne to be quiet on one hand was something that really no one managed to achieve so far. Yet, the promise of learning more about this Human Religion of the Roadrunner, had Myne holding a hand to her mouth in order to quiet herself. Mostly quiet the laughter that wanted to burst out of her as they moved through Marine Country.

As soon as Natacha and Myne entered Marine Country, they were intercepted by the Officer of the Day, who had a PADD they needed the Marine Captain to sign. Next, a lance corporal asked Natacha if she could "open a pickle jar." Natacha led Myne to a compartment with a long lever style switch which two burly Marines were unable to move. After moving the switch from one position to another with a minimum of straing, Natacha instructed the Marines to put the switch back on the maintenance schedule, before leading Myne to her quarters.

Damn it, being quiet was proving such a damn hard task. Myne watched carefully everything that happened, taking in as many details as she could. And why wouldn't she? She had two hosts who fought off Starfleet marines so for her this was basically peering behind enemy lines. And what she saw made Vede inside of her want to burst out laughing.

Natacha's quarters were small and sparse, consisting of a bed, a chair and a workstation. The bed was large enough for two, if the two beings in question were in an intimate relationship.

"Take the chair or the bunk, your choice," Natacha told Myne as she headed toward the quarter's replicator. "Can I get you something to drink? I was going to have the replicator create some popped corn, heavy on the salt and butter."

Once inside Natacha/s quarters, however, Myne couldn't help but have a wide grin plastered on her face and a hard-to-stop chuckle. "Oh my, Marine Country is sooo precious!! I love it!! Why was I ever afraid of you guys?!" She mused as she took the bunk unapologetically. "Oh, I know! Slug-o-Cola and fine, I will try popcorn. But if I implode from it, you're cleaning up the mess."

"I'm curious what you found so precious?" Natacha asked as she had the replicator produce Myne's requested drink, then ordered something call Jarhead Jolt for herself.

"Alright, I will tell you. You've earned this much given how many new things I've learned from you this evening. All the tales about your homeworld deserve a recounting of my own. Just remember, I might be the same person overall from host to host, each new host is a new person as well. That being said..." Myne trailed off thinking of just how much to share.

"One of my previous hosts was a pirate. And he spent ten years avoiding a lot of people, including Starfleet." She began to tell, teasing at a few interesting adventures. "And he had quite a lot of run-ins with Starfleet marines. Which he always saw as his great adversaries. Now, if he had been able to see how marines live in Marine Country, well, he might have had a vastly different opinion. Pickle jars..." And she started chuckling again thinking back of the short trip to her cabin.

"I don't understand the cultural reference of that phrase myself," Natacha admitted, "But I'm not sure I understand it as a source of amusement. As to the careers of past symbiote hosts, as I've said earlier, I'm not well versed in Trill host-symbiote history. I do know there have been incidents where a host is involved in criminal enterprises. I must confess I don't understand why the symbiote doesn't somehow override the host from participating in activities detrimental to other sentient beings. But that is probably due to my ignorance of your biology."

"Well, how do I put this. I still feel Vede's emotions and I have his memories as if they are my own. I feel how afraid he was of the Starfleet Marines and seeing them like this is funny. Because it tears down that barrier of mystique and fear that had formed in his mind." Myne explained in a soft tone and looked down. "Redal, the symbiont is not a different being Natacha. I mean he is physically, but mentally we are one. I am both myself, Myne the mid-twenties merchant's girl turned ops officer and at the same time Redal, a four centuries old being on my tenth host. There are days I know I do feel the weight of four hundred years, and there are days I wake up with the memories of strangers in my head, not letting me sleep. It is in short, complicated."

"It would seem to me the memories of those past hosts would dissuade one from a counterproductive lifestyle. Or even a nonproductive one." Natacha handed a bowl of salted, buttery popcorn to Myne, then took one for herself before taking a bowl herself. "What do you do if a criminal host is captured? Or if it is determined a symbiote is morally corrupted?" Natacha paused, trying to decide how to phrase her next question. "Does the status of the symbiote in Trill society allow for the possibility that a symbiote can be deficient?"

Accepting the bowl of salty, buttery popcorn Myne shrugged. "I don't get to pick and choose, you know? Memories, impulses, reflexes, they all come in like an avalanche upon joining. Then they keep coming and coming." She stared at her bowl as she continued to talk. "The symbiont doesn't really have a morality and if a symbiont is deficient, it doesn't get to be joined. As for your first question. I can tell you from personal experience that the host is executed and the symbiont returned back to Trill. That's what happened to Vede."

Despite the dark tone that little conversation took, Myne popped a few popcorn into her mouth and chewed happily. "Alright, this does taste good and I don't feel like I am dying from it yet! Sweet!! Ah don't worry Natacha about such things, life is to chaotic for them. Listen, the best way to think of a Joined Trill is like a starship. When our Elysium will be too old for service, it will be retired. But the name with be handed over to a new ship, like Enterprise, and with the same Captain, if the captain is alive that is when that happens. Hosts for a Joined Trill are like ships, they change every so often, while the captain, crew and name remain the same."

Natacha made a mental note to research the morality or lack thereof of the Trill symbiote. After listening to the little Trill misinterpret their conversation almost from their first exchange, Natacha had reservations about...well, pretty much anything that came out of the little Trill's mouth. On the other hand, Myne was a commissioned officer who had obtained at least one rank promotion, as well as a position of responsibility. And in all honesty, Natacha was intrigued by Myne's quirkiness and absurdity

Natacha tabled that mental discussion for another time.

"Computer, locate file Patani Zip Zip Hooray," Natacha instructed. Turning to Myne, she said, "As to the 'opening the pickle jar.' that apparently is a fictional reference I have yet to been able to locate. I find it most often used when aspects of my unique physiology are need to be brought to bear on a problem. The original phrase, however, is a reference to a food preservation process that most civilization develop during the later stages of their industrial development."

"Zip... zip... hooray?" Myne asked in disbelief before suffering from a short case of laughter. "That is soo precious!! I thought only I named my files ridiculous things. I have a program meant to swipe trojan horses called Poky. Because the program pokes every system for a response!" She laughed a bit more at seeing the tough no nonsense marine have files with such wonderfully sweet names.

"Aspects unique to your physiology?" The young, smaller Trill tiled her head as she suddenly started to analyze Natacha with a critical eye. "I don't see a sixth finger anywhere. What unique aspect helps you open jars? And why are pickle jars more special than normal jars?"

"I really have no idea why pickle jars are the cultural reference used," Natacha confessed. "As to my physiology, Randeer Three was originally supposed to be a modern renaissance world. So there was a screening of the original colonists to ensure they could rise to that lofty goal. In addition, a high gravity world was selected to colonize, with the original colonists genetically engineered to adapt them to their new home. This was to dissuade others not selected from coming to my home world. When Randeer Three suffered an ecological disaster that killed off many of the colonists and destroyed all connections with Earth, the ruling coalition instituted draconian breeding measures to ensure that each subsequent generation had the best chance of survival."

Natacha was silent for a minute before her voice took a lighter tone. "As to the name of the file, I cannot take credit for that. That was the name given by the file's original creator." Natacha pushed her chair away from the screen on her desk before she gave the verbal instruction of "Computer, play Patani Zip Zip Hooray."

On the screen on Natacha's desk appeared the 1965 animated Road Runner/Coyote short "Zip Zip Hooray."

"I see. I understand now. That makes the pickle jar thing not a nice thing the other marines are doing." Myne replied in a whisper and turned to look at the desk instead. It had been long since she felt the kind of urge she felt in that moment. Among the sea of monsters dwelling inside now shone genuine worry and care. But as much as she felt the impulse to get up and huge Natacha a quick hug, Myne steeled her muscles and remained in place.

Bad things always came when she went too far. Instead, she remained silent as she watched the cartoon unfold in front of her. Recognition of what she was watching was visible on her face as she understood that her belief that the Roadrunner was some deity had been completely false. Which in turn was followed by quite the ashamed blush as she relaxed and ate her popcorn in silence.

"You should have said this was a cartoon. Natacha you had been a big meanie. Letting me think this was a religion of sorts. I know about Earth cartoons, I modified a lot of them recently for the Super Garrett Fan Club!" Myne commented once the animated short was over. As were her popcorn and drink.

"I suppose I am a 'big meanie,'" Natacha chuckled. "But I thought it would be easier to show you than describe it to you. My apologies. As to the other Marines, they're my brothers and sisters. They know my weaknesses and strengths, and I know theirs. It's why we know we can rely on each other. And certain liberties are allowed to brothers and sisters, to family, that aren't allowed to outsiders. The 'pickle jar' reference isn't a derogatory reference to my background. It's an acknowledgment of a strength I give to the Corps, a strength my brothers and sisters in the Corps can rely on. To use the imagery you were evoking earlier, Marines may change, but the Corps remains the same. The Corps draws from traditions from dozens of world, extending back thousands of years. I am connected to the Corps' legacy, a legacy that reaches back into antiquity and stretches forward into eternity." Natacha's posture straightened as it was clear that she was speaking from the heart.

The smaller Trill looked at Natacha with something bordering awe as she spoke. It was an inspiring speech to say the least. "That does sound truly amazing. It must be nice to be part of something like that and it does make more sense why you call this place Marine Country. I get it now. Sorry for being so dense. I am not really good with people or stuff. Machines I get perfectly, but people are too confusing for me most of the time. Glad I kept my mouth shut on the way here, because boy did I have questions!!"

"You spoke earlier of not feeling comfortable with your roommate. I can let you crash here for the night," Natacha offered. "Just for the night, though. Quarters in Marine Country aren't designated for long term multiple occupancy."

"Hey, I didn't say that!! I said I know I am getting on her nerves. Biiiig difference!! She actually ran away from me the first time we met. Thought I was some evil mastermind of sorts." Myne chuckled. "As for staying the night, I am skinny, weak and you're a super soldier. What if you take advantage of me? Without my trusty PaDD I can't even abuse the transporter systems on a whim to make my daring escape!" Thought she was yapping her mouth, for some reason Myne was blushing red. And she just kept talking because her brain hadn't actually learned the healthy impulse of giving short answers yet. Speaking of said brain, in this moment, it was certainly misinterpreting things to a wild degree, too many cheap Ferengi novels for sure!

"Myne, if I was going to force myself on you, I would have done so as soon as the door closed behind you," Natacha observed. "And I'm not a super soldier, I'm a Marine. Which does make me an elite warrior, but no more or less than any other Marine in the Corps." A half-smile appeared on Natacha's face as she continued, "As for my offer, I'm just asking if you'd like a place to relax and do your fifty hour day or sleep or whatever for the night."

"Really? Awww damn it. They always said the ravaging takes place after dinner, not once the door is closed!!" Myne pouted and complained with a loud sigh. Which only lasted a second before she smiled and let out a soft chuckle. "You sure are fun to tease though Natacha. Most people don't have so much patience with me, especially when they first meet me. Starfleet is amazing, isn't it? Bringing so many wonderful people together like this."

"It is indeed," Natacha acknowledged, then bit back a yawn. "So shall I walk you back to your quarters, or do you want to stay here for the night?" Natacha smiled as she added, "Both offers are free of ravishments."

"Not even a little ravishment? Awwww." Myne attempted one last tease before slowly getting up and approaching Natacha. The marine might have the perfect set of skills and instincts to prevent it, but this was a perfectly executed hug! Sneaky, short and on point. "Thank you for the offer, but I actually have a meeting with the Academy Commandant onboard tomorrow. Which means I am a tad too hyperactive to sleep right now."

And true to her word, Myne still looked as fresh as she did when they first met earlier in the day. "I would like to see more of these cartoons some other time. Right now however I am going to do a little magic trick and disappear. If none of your marine friends see me leave, that will spark so many rumors tomorrow! The idea itself is making a former me laugh historically inside my mind right now."

It was barely noticeable, but as soon as Myne telegraphed the hug (and telegraph she did, as sneaky as she was), Natacha flinched. She didn't stop the little Trill from hugging her though.

"Marines thrive on coffee and scuttlebutt," Natacha declared as she stood up. "That's one of our oldest traditions. I'll walk you out back to the Elysium proper, to keep the scuttlebutt to a minimum."

"Come on captain. Give the troops some scuttlebutt!! I still have the transporter locked on me from my calibration earlier in the day. Just one word and I am gone, and you can have all the fun with all the rumors tomorrow!!" Myne offered again grinning mischievously.

"And that single transporter operation would set off alarms from now to Metteyya," answered Natacha. "The Colonel had numerous safety measures put in place after an incident that occurred prior my arrival on the Elysium. Most of those measures are physically independent of the Elysium. Given my druthers," Natacha added dryly, "I would rather not be explaining to the Colonel how a guest of mine set off the perimeter alarms on a whim. And I suspect that, after the Colonel finished tearing me a new one, she'd have a few choice words with your boss."

"Aww, really? Gosh darn it, another system I have to hack. I mean I certainly do not want to upset your Colonel or trigger any alarms!! Guess no scuttlebutting will be had." Myne playfully commended and gave Natacha a playful wink. "Fine, you may escort me back to the normal world. Help me venture the perils of Marine Country in one piece my stalwart guide and protector!!"

"I would highly advise not trying to hack into the system," Natacha advised as she led the little Trill past Marine sentries and to the door leading into and out of Marine Country. "All the access points to the system are within Marine Country and frankly, you would have trouble blending in."

"But if I don't hack into your system, how can I train and get better at it? Also discover any weaknesses needing to be plugged? Or how am I supposed to have any fun?!" Myne asked completely reasonable questions. "Also, come on, tell me I wouldn't make a fierce marine?" She continued to ask making cat claws in the air and doing a silly growl while in a flowery dress.

'Why do I see a court martial looming large in my future?' Natacha thought to herself. 'I really do hate being the coyote all the time.'

"It has been a pleasure meeting you, Myne," Natacha said simply. "We should continue our conversation further at some point in the future." Without an additional word, Natacha stepped back into Marine Country, leaving Myne outside in the Elysium corridor.

"It was a pleasure as well. Thank you Natacha. Meeting you was very refreshing and relaxing. You have a gift you know? You made me feel at ease being myself. Please have a wonderful week." Myne replied softly as she looked at Natacha leave. That last part being almost a whisper. Why did she feel as if she had pushed too much once again? She always did this, Vede was right.

Turning around, Myne began to slowly make her way back to her cabin.

//OFF//

Captain Natacha Patani
Marine Executive Officer
USS Elysium

Lieutenant JG Myne Redal
Assistant Chief Operations Officer
USS Elysium

 

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