A Little Pick-Me-Up
Posted on Mon Dec 9th, 2024 @ 6:38am by Sergeant Audie Fitch & Gunnery Sergeant Tessia T'Lar
Edited on on Wed Dec 11th, 2024 @ 9:09pm
2,985 words; about a 15 minute read
Mission:
Episode 16 - Silent Cries
Location: Empok Nor Promenade
Timeline: MD003 0930 hrs
Audie needed coffee...real coffee with tons of caffeine, not the synthesized stuff most places peddled.
After her dream last night, she'd tried to go back to sleep, but a second dream convinced her that just getting up, even though it was only 0400, was her best option, since she didn't want to deal with the unsettling sensations that the dreams left in their wake.
So, she'd putzed for a time, then finally decided to go out on the promenade, maybe do some shopping, and, find coffee!
The aroma of freshly ground beans drew her to a small cafe at a corner, and she turned to step inside. There were cases of pastries and goodies, and for the first time since her dreams, Audie perked up.
Carrying her double-shot latte and an 'everything' bagel with cream cheese, she looked for a seat, spotting an open place at a long, bar-like table.
"Hope you don't mind the intrusion," she commented to the woman in the next seat. "I won't be a bother, I promise!" She grinned. "At least until the caffeine kicks in!"
Tessia glanced up from her PADD as the newcomer approached. “No bother at all,” she said with a faint smile. “You might actually be doing me a favor.”
"Oh, well, you're welcome!" Audie grinned.
She dimmed the screen and set the device aside, reaching for her cup only to find it empty. With a quiet sigh, she turned in her seat and gestured toward the barista for a refill before refocusing on the woman beside her.
“I'm kind of a regular here.” she admitted with a casual shrug. “This is my third morning in a row here for coffee.”
"I just got transferred from Poseidon Station to the Pioneer, so I'm new." She gave the woman a nod. "Audie Fitch...Sargent in the Marines, a Medic." She sighed. "And after the night I had last night, I need coffee!"
Tessia’s eyes sparked with recognition at the mention of the Pioneer. She smiled at Audie. “It’s nice to meet you, Audie. I’m Tessia.”
Just then the barista set a fresh cup of coffee in front of Tessia. Tessia thanked them, and resisted the urge to take an immediate sip, knowing it was probably too hot. She turned her attention back to Audie. “I’ve found that the best cure for a late night a good strong cup of coffee.”
Grinning, Audie raised her cup. "Double shot! Man, I had some crazy dreams last night, so now I just need to stay awake...I mean, I'm not worried about sleeping tonight, but I have the whole day still..." She sipped the latte. "So, are you assigned to the station?"
“Oh, I see. I thought maybe you’d stayed up for different reasons,” Tessia said with a grin, glancing down at her coffee. Deciding to brave it, she took a sip, relieved when it wasn’t too hot.
She looked back at Audie. “I’m stationed on the Pioneer too. Gunnery Sergeant Tessia T’Lar,”
"I wish I had!" Audie chuckled, then nodded. "Ah, so a fellow Marine! Guess that means we'll be working together! How long have you been on Pioneer? I've met Captain Merrick...any inside tips on how to get along?"
Tessia took another sip of her coffee, savoring it for a moment before responding. “Not very long, actually. About two weeks now,” she said. “I haven’t had much of a chance to get to know many people personally yet, but professionally, everyone seems up to par.” She offered a smile. “So far, so good. I'm sure you won't have a problem fitting in."
"Oh, well, we're Marines, right?" Audie laughed, adding a 'Hoo-Rah!' for good measure. "So, we're both new, I wonder if there are any others? I suppose there will be training, so we get used to each other, how we work."
Of course there were standards, 'guidelines', but every commander had his methods and expectations, and every individual had their preferences, and those had to be melded to make a good team.
"Can't lie about missing my last assignment, but I'm looking forward to this new one. I prefer being on a ship, anyway."
“Improvise, Adapt, Overcome… then Adapt again,” Tessia replied with a smirk, nodding at Audie’s comment about being Marines. “I’m not sure if there’s anyone else. I didn’t know you’d come aboard either but since we’re on shore leave, they might be waiting to make any announcements until we’re all back.”
Audie’s mention of missing her last assignment piqued her curiosity. “Where was your last assignment?” she asked.
"Poseidon Station. Pioneer was actually there not too long ago." Audie sipped her latte. "Crew seemed pretty nice, and they were organized. Professional." Of course, Starfleet demanded 'professional', but she'd run into different interpretations of that, and not all of those were agreeable.
"Guess I'll be going aboard a little later today, finding my bunk and getting settled." And hopefully, no more dreams!
Tessia nodded in understanding. “That’s where I came aboard the Pioneer. I wasn’t on Poseidon Station for long. Just enough time to catch the ship before it set off. The station seemed like a nice place, though. I wish I’d had more time to explore.”
She took another sip of her coffee. “You’ll like the Pioneer. It’s a solid ship with a great crew.”
Looking over at Audie. “So, what made you decide to become a medic?”
"Life...poor decisions, at least until I got into Starfleet." Chuckling, Audie shrugged. "Guess I had a bit of a chip on my shoulder since I was young...ended up living with relatives, and I was too hurt to know how good I had it."
She let out a breath. "Got into trouble, and I was lucky enough to be given the option of joining Starfleet instead of jail." She grinned. "It worked, at least I think it did! What about you?"
“Poor life decisions… but I don’t regret them,” Tessia said with a wry smile, glancing into her nearly empty coffee cup. “My mother’s an archaeologist, and we ended up on this desert world called Anekar because of some ancient ruins she was studying. The place was… let’s just say, not the environment to raise a child. I got mixed up with some colorful characters, and, well, much like you, Marines became ‘get out of jail free’ card.”
"Yeah, I had my share of 'colorful characters', but I was young and easily flattered, not to mention looking for ways to show my rebellion. But, looking back, I learned a lot, and that lead to this place. It all adds up, right? And now I'm going to behave myself until I can afford to buy my own freighter."
Tessia nodded in agreement. “It all adds up, doesn’t it? One way or another, we figure things out.” She leaned back in her sea. “Buying your own freighter—that’s a pretty big goal, but I can definitely see it and once you’re your own boss, you can misbehave as much as you like.” Tessia smiled, a hint of playfulness in her tone.
"Of course, why else be your own boss!" Audie laughed, then took another sip of her drink. "I love the Marines, but it's not something I want to do forever. It's good experience, and easy to save, considering a bunk and food are provided. Are you in for the long-haul?"
She knew there were many, not only in the Marines, but in Starfleet, who were happy to make a career of it, but for Audie, this was just a stepping stone.
Tessia paused, considering for a moment. A few years ago, the answer would have been an easy yes, but things had changed since then. “I thought I was sure, but maybe not anymore,” she admitted. “I’d like to teach at the sniper school one day. That’s still a goal. But after that… who knows? Maybe I’ll head back to Anekar.”
She glanced at Audie. “Or maybe I’ll join your crew when you get that freighter.”
"I'd be happy to have you! A sniper is always useful, even if you don't use them, right? I mean, folks will steer clear of an area where there's a known sniper, so they will leave us alone." Audie laughed. "And an even split of the spoils, of course, after the ship's needs are met."
Tessia nodded. “Of course, the ship always comes first.” She finished the last sips of her coffee and set the cup aside, signaling she was done for now. “You’ll be the brains, and I’ll be the muscle of the operation. Sounds like a perfect partnership.”
"We'll need a crew, of course, but I bet we can find some salty scallawags to fit that bill." Audie laughed. "Do you know of any places that give out letters of marque? Then we can be proper privateers! I even have a one-eyed cat!"
Tessia nodded. “Surprisingly enough, I actually know of a few places that still grant letters of marque.” With her colorful upbringing and a Marine career that had taken her through some of the quadrants rougher spots, she’d crossed paths with more than a few unsavory characters.
"Really? I thought those disappeared centuries ago." Audie mused for a moment. "That does change things, doesn't it?" Then she laughed and shook her head. "Sadly, I'm not really the privateering sort, although mercenary blockade running under the right circumstances might be a consideration."
If there was a good cause, she'd readily break a few rules. "That's still a ways down the road, but certainly something to think about."
“You’d be surprised what you can find out there. You just have to know where to look," Tessia said with a smirk. “But while we put our privateering venture on hold, you can tell me about your dream, maybe?"
"Owning a freighter...the Emerald Rose." Audie smiled wistfully. "My dad owned a freighter, and....Ohhhh...that dream!" Chuckling, Audie shrugged. "It was...well, I don't really remember a lot, like it's in the edge of memory? Someone needed help, I had to get to them, I think I had to punch some numbers on a keypad, but the numbers I needed weren't there?" She shook her head. "It was...annoying."
“I see. That’s... strange,” Tessia murmured, her gaze drifting off as if suddenly lost in her own thoughts. “I had a similar dream. I can’t remember it, but I remember this overwhelming sense that someone needed help.No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t reach them in time.” Her expression tightened slightly. “What stayed with me was the fear, the helplessness... and the pain.”
"Right, right," Audie muttered, nodding agreement, "that feeling of wanting...needing...to reach someone, but you can't, it's just there, out of reach." Audie looked at Tessia and took a breath. "Even after I woke up I felt that way...still do, kinda...can't really shake it."
Tessia met her gaze and nodded. “Yeah, it definitely lingers.” She knew exactly what Audie meant. She’d felt it too, that unease that refused to fade. Her expression shifted to one of curiosity.“Isn’t it strange, though? That we’ve both had such similar experiences with these dreams?” she mused, her tone thoughtful. “Makes you wonder if there’s more to it.”
"Maybe?" Audie wasn't much one to buy into coincidences, but it was hard to deny. "I just kinda wrote it off as being someplace new, not that I've had that problem before." She shrugged. "But if you had it, too...wonder if there are others?"
“We could keep our ears to the ground,” Tessia suggested. “If we hear anything else, maybe then we bring it up to Captain Merrick.” She wasn’t keen on raising any alarms just yet; after all, it wouldn’t do for the two newest crew members to get labeled as odd right out of the gate. Better to wait until they had more to go on.
"Yeah, you're right, probably just overreacting." Audie grinned and shook her head. "I mean, there's all those dreams...falling, flying, naked in public..." She hoped she didn't sound odd, but those seemed to be common things for people to dream about.
"If it happens again, I'll just...I don't know, imagine that I don't need a code, I can just barge through the door with a fire axe...or some C4!" She chuckled. "Worked when I was a kid...now and then I'd dream that there was a figure in my room...a man in black, ominous...scared the heck out of me. But then I got the idea to pretend that he was allergic to cats, so my cat would make him start sneezing and leave. It worked! Never had that dream after that!"
“Let’s hope we’re just overreacting,” Tessia said, though the lingering unease from her own dream was hard to ignore. “Weaponizing your cat to fend off a dream intruder? That’s pretty clever. You were thinking tactically even as a kid. You’ll make a great freighter captain one day.”
She smiled. “And maybe that’s the key. Outsmart the dream. Turn the tables on it.”
"Hopefully." Audie thought a moment, then added, "I think I might actually try to get to the end, you know, find out why I need to get through that door, find what's on the other side that is calling so desperately." She grinned and shook her head. "Too bad we can't dream together, maybe exploring the mystery together, we can figure out if it means anything?"
Tessia wouldn’t mind dreaming alongside Audie as long as it was in Audie’s dream and not her own. Her own nightmares were a burden she wouldn’t wish on anyone. “It’s a shame we can’t,” she said with a small smile. “But maybe I can be there in spirit?”
"Oh, there's an idea!" Audie smiled and nodded. "So, before I go to sleep, I'll imagine you're with me, and together, we can do anything! Take on all the evils of the world!" She grinned. "Of course, if some hunk of guy shows up, I just might have to kick you out!"
Tessia laughed. “Fair enough,” she replied, shaking her head with an amused smile. “I’ll be your backup, but if Prince Charming shows up, I’ll gladly make a tactical retreat. No sense getting in the way of that.”
"Well, I don't think that's really going to be a problem, anyway," Audie declared, chuckling. "At least anywhere but my dreams, not that I'm in a hurry. Now, if Prince Charming wants to haunt me in my dreams, that's better than mysterious, unattainable spooks living behind a non-existant barrier!"
Hopefully, there would be no more odd dreams of any sort, and life would just go on.
"So, are you hunting a dream date, or just happy to let chips fall where they may?"
“I think I’m more of a “let the chips fall where they may” kind of person.” Tessia replied. “Dream dates are nice in theory, but I’ll take reality. Even as messy as it is.”
"Yeah, good point," Audie agreed, "and I think sometimes that trying to hunt down something, especially a soul-mate, isn't such a good idea." She smiled and shrugged. "I'm happy as I am, and I've got that silly one-eyed cat to talk to in the mean time, not that he's much of a conversationalist!"
“One-eyed cat, huh? I bet he’s a good listener." Tessia said.
"Oh, he listens to everything I have to say!" Audie laughed. "He has no choice. But now...does he hear? That's something else! He's very good at ignoring though..."
Audie became suddenly sober, for a moment silent before muttering, "Last night he...dunno, when I woke up from that dream...nightmare...he was staring at the ceiling, freaked out by something..."
She hated going back to that subject, but she'd forgotten about Buster's reaction until now.
“Cats don’t usually react unless something really unsettles them.” She said, but hesitated for a moment, she didn’t want to alarm or unsettle Audie. “Maybe it was nothing.” She looked over at Audie. “You okay, though? That dream seems to be sticking with you.”
Audie shook her head. "Nah, I'm fine. You know they say cats see ghosts or something...well, or nothing, right?"
It was a one-time dream, she was sure, so there was no sense in fretting over it. "At least so long as there's no more stupid dreams! I'll just hope for the Prince Charming kind!"
“Ghosts or nothing. That’s cats for you. Masters of making us question reality.” Tessia said with a chuckle. Noticing the time she realized she’d been enjoying the conversation with Audie that she’d lost track of it.
Tessia gave Audie an apologetic smile. “I hate to run, but I’ve got somewhere I need to be. How about we meet for coffee again tomorrow? I'm interested in hearing if you have another dream. Or if Prince Charming makes an appearance.”
"Sure, that sounds good!" Grinning, Audie stood. "It was great to meet you, and I wish you a dreamless sleep tonight!"
Tessia smiled, and nodded. "It was great to meet you as well. See you tomorrow." She said, before leaving.
A Joint Post By
Sergeant Audie Fitch
Corpsman Team 2, The Cure
USS Pioneer
Gunnery Sergeant Tessia T'Lar
Sniper, Team 1, The Cure
USS Pioneer
RSS Feed