My World Only Goes From My Head To My Toes

Posted on Mon Jan 3rd, 2022 @ 6:27am by Ships Doctor Hiram Maitland M.D. & Jinx Jorasco
Edited on on Sat Jan 15th, 2022 @ 3:41am

Mission: Mission 14: Holoworld
Location: Ship's Galley
Timeline: MD2 2100
1275 words - 2.6 OF Standard Post Measure

The Mary Rose's new Master-at-Arms was elusive. He ate in the early hours of the morning, and prowled the halls like a ghost, slipping in and out unseen to the point that it was easy to presume that he wasn't even there, if it weren't for the ship's dossier listing his credentials.

In a rare moment, Kol was caught in a vignette. Dark-eyed, clothes to match, chin resting comfortable in the Argelian's hand as he surveyed his tray of food. Wing-slugs and haisha, a bitter combination that would see him energized for the rest of the night.

When he looked up, it was to spy Jinx entering the galley where he'd previously been isolated, and he straightened. "Good evening." It might have literally been the first thing he'd said to another crewmember other than what was perfunctory in his duties. His voice was deep and quiet.

“Oh!” the tiny redhead started. Zambi, the small, cat-sized raptor padding beside her, warily eyed the larger male, relaxing only when the two foot ten alien woman rested her hand on the raptor’s head and scratched her eye ridges. “Didn’t know anyone else was in here,” she said, a smile crossing her freckled face. She didn’t know the man-at-arms that well, having had little interaction with him.

“Jinx,” the small redhead introduced herself. “And this is Zambi.” The little raptor looked at the man and then yawned, baring an impressive set of sharp teeth. “What brings you to the mess this late?” Jinx asked, heading toward the food receptacles.

He appeared to be studying her, as if attempting to work out whether she was actually an adult. "Sight-seeing," was his bland answer. His eyes hooked onto the creature as it was indicated, providing no reaction to it, though they tracked its movements. "What type of animal is this?"

“Zambi? She is what your people call a saurid.” Jinx shrugged. “My home planet has a lot of them. Our large animals are reptilian, not mammalian. Zambi is a domestic breed of raptor, a small breed used for hunting. They come in several sizes. Some we use as mounts. They are very fast, and very smart.”

Jinx opened one of the chillers and withdrew a large targ bone with plenty of meat still on it, which she dropped to the floor. Zambi growled and attacked it, playing with it first.

Evidently not Kol's people, because the etymology was meaningless to him, but he inclined his head all the same. "Where are you from?"

“We call our home Kisongo,” Jinx said. “I am not sure your people have given our system a name yet, not formally. It’s in the Shackleton Expanse,” she explained. “We have only made contact in the last couple decades.”

"I see," was the answer she got. Sorry, Kol was literally the worst conversationalist on board.

“So where are you from, then?” Jinx asked, one of the chattier crew members on board. She grabbed a step stool and carried it over to a replicator to get a hot mug of steaming tea.

"I am from Iro III," he replied, but did not elaborate any further than that. It was unfamiliar even to most Federation species, buried deep in the Beta quadrant.

“I don’t know that,” Jinx mused. “But then I don’t know a lot of the Federation,” she admitted. “I ended up here because I escaped an Orion slave market.” Jinx carefully set down her tea, then scooted up onto the bench. It still meant she sat a bit too far away from the table for comfort. But nothing here was made for anyone the size of Jinx, so she made do.

"It is fortunate you managed to escape," Kol murmured. Jinx could see the back of his hand visibly, where the Syndicate Estate sigil was tattooed against the skin, a delicate silver-bird. Someone well-versed in Yrevish would recognize it denoted a position of respect, rather than enslavement.

Jinx didn’t seem to notice, or recognize, the symbol. “They weren’t used to detaining someone my size,” Jinx said with amusement. “I stowed away aboard a few ships, then ended up in the Jefferies tubes on the Rose before they found me. I figured I could pitch in and help. Obviously not many people are heading out to the Shackleton Expanse for me to hitch a ride home.”

"Indeed," Kol responded, predictably. "Do you intend to remain aboard, or do you desire to return home eventually?"

Jinx shrugged. “I’m seeing a lot of places I normally wouldn’t,” she admitted. “Going home, I’d likely just end up back working on another KDF ship, or on Narendra station. Narendra was cool, and I learned a lot about Klingons and Federation races and things, but… I guess it just doesn’t satisfy my wanderlust.”

"Then it is reasonable for you to stay," the Argelian said in typically quiet, even tones. He lifted his beverage to finish the last dregs.

Jinx chuckled. “Glad you think so,” she said, sipping her tea. “You’re in Security, right? With Angel?”

"I am," he said. He'd yet to interact with most of his crewmates, preferring to remain on the sidelines. He wasn't terribly familiar with Angel, but he knew of the man.

“He’s great, isn’t he?” Jinx said, coloring a little. “How’s he doing? We’ve been on off shifts recently, so I haven’t seen him as much.”

"I am afraid I have not had occasion to speak with him," Kol said, eyeing her thoughtfully. "Is he your spouse?"

Jinx blinked. “Spouse?” she squeaked. “Oh, no! Nothing like that! I’m… I’m not married. He’s… not into me like that,” she said, reddening a bit and shaking her head, trying not to recall the time she spent in Avalon’s body.

Kol just arched his eyebrows, but said nothing in response. It was not his business, and he wasn't very accustomed to the type of dynamic that would necessitate him offering his opinion on the matter. It did, however, seem obvious to him that she was, as she'd mentioned, into him. His expression probably said it all well enough.

Jinx busied herself with checking on Zambi’s progress with the bone The cat sized raptor had cracked it and was enjoying the marrow now, and Jinx filled a bowl with water for the creature.

“So, uh, what about you?” the little alien female asked. “You have a…spouse, or whatever your species calls it? Mate?”

"No," Kol said. It wasn't harsh, or cold, but it was firm in its finality. He did not have any intention of elaborating.

“Okay. Not a lot on board do, I guess,” she said after thinking about it for a moment. “I suppose it could be a challenge raising a family in the life we do,” she mused.

"Indeed so," the Argelian agreed. "A starship is a dangerous place for a family."

Jinx started to gather up the few dishes she had used and replaced them into the reclamater. “It was nice meeting you, Kol. Hopefully we’ll run into each other again. I don’t want to keep you up, though, and Zambi needs her beauty sleep, or she gets bitey in the morning.”

"It would be preferable not to incur the creature's ire," Kol returned, somewhat dryly-a brief evidence that he was a sentient being and not a programmed replicant. He let her go, and returned his gaze to the window shortly afterward.