Delivery

Posted on Fri May 1st, 2020 @ 4:56am by Lieutenant Commander S'hib & Cadet Freshman Grade Tavrus Saral

Mission: Season 3: Episode 4: Cause and Effect
Location: Deck 14 - Cadet Quarters
Timeline: MD1
1022 words - 2 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

A slow methodical clicking echoed throughout deck fourteen, confusing cadets until they caught sight of Lieutenant S'hib, his ears barely a foot from the bulkheads and lighting above.

His size was often the first thing to surprise someone who had not seen one of his kind, but from their reactions, he was starting to get the impression some of these cadets had barely seen anyone as truly alien as he.

It mattered little as long as they kept to their side of the corridor he thought, snorting loudly when groups approached and watching them scramble into single file did put a smile on his face.

"Ah, here we are." He muttered to himself, reaching for the door chime with a stubby hoofed digit.

Tavrus glanced up from his unpacking as the chime to the door went off. His bunkmate wasn't around, and he hadn't even met them, but he highly doubted the person he'd be sharing the space with would ring the chime, so he turned to face the door. "Enter," he called out and then waited for the person outside to enter the room.

The door opened swiftly, disappearing into the wall cavity to S'hibs left. "Cadet Saral?" He questioned, ducking under the door frame with two audible hoof clicks.

Tavrus felt his eyes widen slightly at the sight of the being that strolled into his quarters, but he recovered quickly, noting that this was a species he'd never come across, one without even a designation in his memories. "I am Cadet Saral, yes," he said. "How can I help you?"

"This is for you," He replied softly, lifting the large silver case he had been carrying by its handle. "I'm not entirely sure what's inside but I was told It's quite important."

"Please, place it on the floor, Lieutenant, I will open it so you can see," Tavrus said, striding towards the other person.

S'hib raised what could be considered eyebrows for a Sequine, a slightly bemused look as he realised he was being ordered about by a Cadet, though the slight excitement behind the man's voice gave him no cause for concern.

"Of course." He snorted lightly, bending his long legs and leaning down slightly to place the case down.

Once it was on the floor Tavrus knelt and put in the correct code, which he'd been given prior to his leaving for his posting. He heard a soft click and the lid swung open effortlessly. Inside was a small, perfectly cubical device. It was so dark that it seemed to be created of something incapable of reflecting light. That all changed as soon as Tavrus touched it, however, as the small device instantly lit up a vibrant green and unfolded into a sort of scaffolding that wrapped around his forearm.

"It's my regeneration cube," Tavrus explained. When it's time for me to regenerate, instead of using an alcove I use this. Lets me have more normal quarters and somewhat more normal life..."

"Well, if you figure out how to have a normal life... tell the rest of us please, that's an order." S'hib quipped before fully registering the fact that Tavrus had been a former Borg drone.

Tavrus felt himself smiling, and nodded. "I will, sir!" he said, and then took on a more serious expression, "But I don't know that it will ever be completely normal. Still a lot about all of this that has me baffled," he added, waving his hand around, meaning the ship around him, and not just the room.

"And you see that as a problem?" S'hib said curiously, crossing his arms over his broad chest. "You're still a cadet, along with all the others at the academy... so what's stopping you being better than them." He said with a sly smile at the corner of his wide lips.

"Lack of social skills, nervousness, preconceived notions about what an Ex-Drone will be like, and the fact that in many areas I will have to purposefully hinder myself so that I will not appear to be 'showing off'," Tavrus replied, completely seriously. It never even dawned on him that the question might be rhetorical.

S'hib opened his mouth several times as Tavrus spoke, pointing a finger up as if to ask for a moment to speak himself before retracting it back into a fist. "Yes well... I think you will find that everyone else has a list similar to yours, myself included."

Tavrus realized that he'd pretty much run rough-shod over the other man and nodded sheepishly. "I'm sorry, guess I'm just overwhelmed," he admitted. "I'm really looking forward to this experience."

"Good, and if you get any problems from anyone... report it, understood?" S'hib said softly before moving back towards the door.

"I will do that, Sir. Thank you,' Tavrus replied, and then watched the other man move towards the door. He hadn't known what to expect coming into this situation, but so far it had seemed to be a very pleasant experience.

"One more thing," S'hib mused as he turned back ever so slightly. "make sure you keep that case locked every time you leave this room... I know what other cadets can be like." He said with a reassuring smile before finally ducking under the door frame and back into the corridor before his voice suddenly filled the corridor, echoing into the quarters.

"No running on this deck!" He roared, storming off in the direction of the offending party and out Tavrus's sight.

Tavrus watched the man leave, yelling after a bunch of junior officers who were apparently having a little too much fun and suppressed a smile. He placed the cube on the small table beside his bed but vowed to heed the man's warning. It wasn't likely anyone on this ship would be able to even activate the thing, not without Borg tech inside them to do so with, but still, better safe than sorry. Sliding the case under the table so it would be handy he returned to his packing.

OFF:

Lieutenant S'hib
Security Officer
USS Elysium

Cadet Freshman Grade Tavrus Saral
Intelligence Cadet
USS Elysium