Meeting New People

Posted on Sun Jun 16th, 2019 @ 7:39am by Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea & Lieutenant JG Gallia Norris

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Gym
Timeline: Just after Naxea comes aboard
1227 words - 2.5 OF Standard Post Measure

Gallia had decided today was a good day for Tayalas to start learning to swim, and had taken her to the pool to start the process. After an hour of splashing around one energetic sprog and her exhausted mother took a seat next to the pool for a moment of relaxation, "You're gonna be the death a' me, Tayalas Norris." Gallia playfully griped.

"Sana!" Tayalas exclaimed with a peal of laughter, clapping her pruny hands, turning to the sound of an opening door.

Naxea, entered in a grey one piece swim suit and a towel tossed over her shoulder had been working out in the gym and was now resigning herself to a relaxing swim to help with cooling down. She immediately spotted the human woman and andorian girl which piqued her interest. Her curiosity getting the better of her, she approached the two, setting her towel down on a nearby chair. "Hello," she greeted with a slight grin and a nod. "I'm Marine Captain Naxea Azhul."

"Well, I'm Lt. JG Gallia Norris, and the lady of the manor here is my daughter, Tayalas." Gallia replied, wondering how this attractive and seemingly very nice woman would get along with that Gunny who seemed to be made out of granite and hate.

Tayalas looked up at the other woman and cooed, reaching towards her.

"Uh oh, now ya done it, Captain." Gallia laughed, "She's decided she likes you."

Naxea knelt down to the child, patting her lightly on the head. "Is that right? Well, I've always had a soft spot for children. She's not biologically yours I take it?"

"My sister's girl." Gallia replied, "She passed, Marine like you."

Tayalas wasn't interested in the conversation between the two grown ups, she was much more interested in the new woman's nose. It felt funny when she rubbed it, making Taylas giggle.

"She's discoverin' the galaxy that one." Gallia said, "Startin' to recognize the differences among the people she meets. Sprog's IQ is probably right off the chart."

Naxea smiled at the little girl. "You're a very lucky little girl to have such a good mommy." She turned to Gallia. "I am sorry for your loss. Where is her father at?"

"Somewhere in holding." Gallia replied, spelling out, "H-E-K-I-L-L-E-D-H-E-R..."

Tayalas had no idea why her mother was talking in that funny way again, not that it mattered, her fascination had moved from the new woman's nose to her hair, which was soft and a very different color from hers or mommy's; looked like Kara's, the same color she saw out the window.

"Ah," Naxea replied. She felt sorrow for the small child--one day she would learn the truth of what happened. She hoped that day was far away however. "So, how long have you two been aboard?"

"We been here a few months now." Gallia answered, "Since this one just had 'er first birthday. Aye, that sounds right."

Naxea turned back to the little girl and grinned, wondering how lucky the little one knew she was to have such a care free life. To never have to go to bed hungry or dirty as she had under the Cardassian Occupation. "Your first birthday? Aren't you getting to be a big girl," she gave Tayalas a light tickle. "It's wonderful that you're raising her so well," she said to Gallia.

Tayalas giggled and kissed the new woman's arm, she loved meeting new people so much, they were all so fascinating. Sure, Sib was probably the best, but he was a horsey man, how could anyone beat that?

Naxea stood and smiled at the little girl, letting her continue to play. "She's adorable. So, what do you do aboard the ship?"

"Well, I dinnae wanna be a stereotypical Scot..." Gallia began, "But, I'm an engineer."

The comment made Naxea chuckle. "I've always heard that terrans from Scotland were known for their mechanical prowess but I had always considered that just a rumor."

"Oh, you mean ta say ya dinnae know how rumors get started?" Gallia laughed, "Ya cannae start a rumor if ya dinnae have a wee bit a the truth in there, lass. Aye, we grow some a the best engineers in the galaxy in them misty highlands, there isnae any denying it. The untrue part is that all Scots are good engineers, sadly, we do have some who couldnae engineer their way outta a wet paper bag."

Tayalas giggled and clapped, when mommy started talking like that she always found it so funny...

Naxea took a moment to understand the woman's words through her native accent. Terran accents were very diverse--so much so that she had given up trying to place them all whenever she met a terran. Bajorans had their accents too, but they weren't nearly as pronounced as humans--they were slight and often only Bajorans or those familiar with Bajor would be able to pick them up. She then looked at Tayalas. "Let's hope you don't pick up your mother's accent--that would be too much," she joked with a chuckle.

Gallia laughed along, she knew the accent was tough enough on fellow Terrans, she couldn't imagine how it must be for someone from another planet altogether, "Well, it's probably gonna happen." She said, "My adopted brother, Charles, he's Vulcan, an' his accent's thicker than mine. Ya can take the boy outta Aberdeen, I guess, but ya cannae take Aberdeen outta the boy."

This caught Naxea's interest. "You have a very diverse family," she said, trying to imagine a Vulcan with a Scottish Accent. She had thought her family was bad with having a Cardassian brother.

"Well, ma parents didnae think they could have kids a there own, so they adopted Charles and Lana." Gallia began, "Then along comes me who the didnae expect at all. But one way or another, we were all Scots an' raised in a great family. Our clan is numerous and loyal, I couldnae ask for a better one for me or ma girl."

"You're lucky. I have a younger half Cardassian brother. We've never gotten along," Naxea explained.

"That's too bad. It isnae good when family can't coexist." Gallia sighed, "Though, I certainly understand why there'd be tension. We Scots had somethin' similar in our history as well, with us as the Bajorans an' the English as the Cardies... Healin' didnae come quick, I cannae even lie ta ya 'bout that an' I wouldnae. Hell, it wasnae until thirty years ago when an Englishman finally married inta ma clan, took about nine centuries."

Naxea always wondered about human differences--why they were among the most diverse and judgmental species she'd ever met. English and Scottish were both still humans at least but she wasn't too keen on cultural histories of terrans. "That's a shame," she said finally. "My brother was kind of forced into the family I suppose you could say."

"Mar's the pity." Gallia shook her head, "Hard on everybody, especially the children. Just make the best of it, I guess."

"I suppose so," Naxea replied. "Well, I should get my laps in. It was very good meeting you, Gallia. And you especially, Tayalas," she grinned down at the little girl splashing water and giggling.

"Aye, feel free to drop in any time, Naxea." Gallia replied with a smile.

"See-a!" Tayalas exclaimed, waving to the new person while her mother rolled her eyes.