Wandering

Posted on Mon Dec 2nd, 2024 @ 7:22am by Kerilia Dosivi & Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Marine Country
Timeline: Between Missions
1516 words - 3 OF Standard Post Measure

By Thilia, the ship was massive. Even after being on board for a few months, Kerilia still found it easy to get lost. Normally, she would follow some of the officers and get directions from them to get to class, or meet up with classmates while trying to figure it out herself, but today seemed to be a 'figure it out yourself' kind of day. As such, the turbolift ride seemed to take a little longer than usual, and when the doors opened, she didn't recognize the area. The logical thing to do would have been to stay in the turbolift, but she didn't consider that logic until she had taken a few curious turns, her school datapads held close to her chest. Kerilia turned around, then turned around again, now completely unsure of where she came from. "Computer, where am I please?" she asked into the unfamiliar space.

"You are on Deck Thirty-two, Section Nine," came the computer's reply. Down the corridor, came shouting and laughing as if a group of people were in some sort of competition.

Deck thirty two? That wasn't where the school was. Kerilia opened her mouth to ask for directions, but the commotion down the corridor grabbed her curiosity. Keeping her datapads close, she cautiously followed the sound, her neck craned to try and see what was going on. If it was other crew members, she could ask for directions. At the very least, it might provide some comfort to her racing heart to have someone guide her back.

A group of Marines, in their utility uniforms were doing a relay race carrying weights back and forth across a large open parade deck. Naxea was standing watch over the event, enjoying the competitive and fun atmosphere.

Poking her head around a corner, Kerilia saw a group of people rushing around with weights. What was happening? She cautiously crept just a little closer to watch the commotion, as they looked like they were having fun. The group of people were so distracting that she nearly dropped her school PADDs, and scrambled to catch them.

Catching movement out of the corner of her eye, she turned her head to spot a young alien woman holding PaDDs to her chest, watching. However the girl seemed familiar but definitely not authorized to be in Marine Country. And why hadn't the computer sounded the unauthorized entry alarm? And where was the Deck Duty Officer?

Naxea turned and made a bee line for the young girl. "Excuse me. Who are you?"

The voice made a tiny gasp come from Kerilia, and she looked up to see one of them looking at her. The woman approached fast, making Kerilia step back hesitantly, as if the doorway would protect her. Uh-oh. Clutching the datapads tightly, she answered shyly, "I'm Kerilia. I-I think I'm lost."

As she neared the girl, Naxea could now recognize her as one of Teev's species. Which meant she was likely with him aboard the ship. "I'd say so, Kerilla," Naxea replied in a less threatening tone. Teevs has done nothing but help the Elysium so far so it was likely the girl was indeed just lost. "I'm Colonel Azhul. Commander of the Sixty-Second Marine Detachment on the ship," she offered a hand, hoping it was how her species greeted another.

Dad had told Kerilia about this type of greeting. She remembered that as her instinct wanted to hand her datapads to the woman. Instead, she shifted her schoolwork into one hand before hesitantly accepting the hand offered to her. "I'm sorry, I don't know how I got here," she then tried to explain, feeling like she had to. "I was in the lift, and a lot of people were going in and out, so I think I missed the deck I was supposed to get off on. I thought that maybe the lift stopped at a different spot, so I tried to figure it out, but then I couldn't find my way back."

Naxea grinned as as she let go of the girl's hand. "Well, where are you supposed to be?" She realized in that moment she was a softer person than she had been before becoming a parent. Before, she would had the girl escorted out and her father notified.

"School," was the timid answer. Kerilia recalled her mind's eye of the space, where she had to go once she entered the promenade. "In the promenade."

"Ah, that's on Deck Ten," Naxea explained. "How are you finding school? I know from experience that it can be scary starting school where you don't know anyone and with strange species you've never seen before.". She remembered when she went to school on Deep Space Nine under Keiko O'Brien. She had never seen so many different species such as Ferengi, Bolians, and Vulcans before.

Slowly, Kerilia was starting to relax, a little more convinced that the woman didn't seem upset by her presence. Perhaps she wouldn't get in trouble for being lost. "It was strange at first, but I've made a few friends. I like it more than learning from the computer."

The comment caused Naxea to smile. "That's good to hear, and computers are definitely boring. Come on, I'll walk you to your school," she gestured with a wave in the direction of the turbolift. "I'll let your teacher know that you ran into some ship maintenance issues that caused your delay and you can tell me about your favorite subject."

A quiet 'thank you' came from Kerilia as she quickly followed behind Naxea, still not wanting to risk getting into trouble. "I like the physics and engineering stuff," she said. "I liked to help my dad repair stuff on our ship, but didn't really know what the stuff did, and now I feel like I'm starting to understand it."

"Well then you're already smarter than me," Naxea chuckled. "I only know the basics in understanding how it works but that's it. You know, we have an Academy here on the ship. If your grades are good enough, you may be able to take some early courses in engineering."

Oh, Kerilia had learned about this Academy. It was different from the school she was currently attending, rather it prepared people to work on the ship. "How old do I have to be to go to the Academy?"

"Well, they do offer advance courses to secondary school students," Naxea replied after a moment of having to recall Academy course work. "It's a lot of work but you seem smart enough to handle it. However, I would focus on being a teenager. Enjoy life while you can. This adult thing sucks," she chuckled.

The lighter mood helped Kerilia laugh just a little with Naxea. She was still nervous about being in an unfamiliar part of the ship, but not nearly as much as before. "It sounds interesting," she said. "If my dad and I stay..." That pang of homesickness suddenly hit her, and she fell silent for a few seconds. She really liked these people, they were all nice to her and Dad, but the idea of not seeing her homeworld or family again was scary. It was an ever-present lingering thought in the back of her mind, that someday she would have to choose between everything she knew and these people. "If your ship stays here for a long time," Kerilia rephrased, "I think I want to learn at the Academy, especially if some of my friends at school go as well."

Naxea nodded thoughtfully. They had already been here several months. She wondered if Starfleet had listed the crew as dead. "I'm not sure how long we'll be here and I don't envy such a choice but from what I can tell, you and your dad would be welcome to stay here. But that's a choice for another day. Focus on the present," she smiled at Kerilla.

Focus on the present, Kerilia repeated in her head. Naxea had a point, she was still just a kid. The worrying should be left to the adults, but at the same time she felt like she had to grow up a little faster to help Dad, so she couldn't help it. "Another day, alright," Kerilia agreed. As they turned a corner, she spotted the turbolift and her expression brightened. "I recognize this from earlier, Miss Azhul," she said with a little more confidence in her voice.

"Good. It took me awhile before I remembered my way around the ship," she replied as they neared the turbolift.

Kerilia's pace quickened slightly, a combination of her relief at recognizing part of the ship and a concern that she would be late to school. "I'm going to be late, but this isn't the first time I've gotten lost here, so I think the teacher will understand." A few seconds after pressing the button on the wall, the turbolift appeared, and she practically hopped in. Miss Azhul seemed friendly. Turning around, she gave the woman a wave and a 'thank you' before telling the computer to go to deck ten.