Challenge: I Need Bigger Quarters

Posted on Tue Jan 28th, 2020 @ 4:27pm by Chief Operations Kendra McIntyre & Tasha Belikov

Mission: Mission 10 - Temperance
Location: Station Above Daucina
Timeline: MD TBA
1393 words - 2.8 OF Standard Post Measure

The news that pinged Kendra's PADD days ago was still just as stunning as it was then. Apparently, some distant descendant related to her brother had found themselves orphaned. The last century and a half looked as though it was a hard time for the McIntyres as Kendra was discovered to be the closest living relative. The PADD had stated to meet the shuttle in this hanger, and the site of the landing craft only served to make that sinking feeling in her stomach even heavier. What was she going to do? While she was still young enough to relate, her time was so long ago.

Jilla was having a bad day. A bad year, actually. She had lost her parents when she was little, not that fifteen wasn't still considered young, and had gone to live with her grandparents. In a family with a history of only children, she didn't have a lot of family and when her grandparents died eighteen months ago she was bounced from place to place. With every family, she got stuck with her outward appearance become more overt resulting in the rainbow-colored hair, facial piercings, and makeup that she put on her fifteen-year-old face. It kept people at a distance and she was fine with that.

If she had to pick, Jilla would argue that this transfer was by far the worst. She had been stuck on a transport for almost two weeks as she was shipped across the galaxy to live with someone that was claiming to be her family. Somehow this women, who happened to have the same last name, claimed that they were somehow related. Well, where had she been nine years ago? or even two years ago? The betazoid hybrid did her best to not project the anger that she felt that hid the hurt of not being wanted. Adjusting her bag she stepped off the shuttle.

The picture on her PADD did not match the person before her, it was probably severely out of date. Kendra looked at herself, dressed in civilian clothing, had her hair in her best Starfleet ponytail, but her style screamed 2240s. This was going to be a fun meeting. The notification that her, who knows how many times removed niece was, had been orphaned had been a shock, even more after the social worker had stated that she was this girl's only family left. Being from a small family, the answer was obvious, she had to help.

Taking a breath to calm herself, she stepped toward the rainbow-haired young lady. Reaching out her hand in a way that did not know whether to shake her hand or wave, Kendra said in a slightly nervous tone, "Hello. I'm Kendra, your aunt a few generations removed."

"You look like your picture," Jilla replied as she came to a stop just shy of the woman waiting for her. Both hands gripped the strap over her shoulder as she looked the women over making no attempt to return her gesture. "You don't look that old," she stated as if it answered a question between them when really it was in relation to how Kendra was dressed.

"I...," Kendra began as she looked down at herself. "I'm 180 years old," she finished. Knowing the next question, Kendra explained, "I was stuck in a transporter cycle for the last 150 years of that." Trying to break up the awkwardness that she was feeling she attempted a little bit of a joke, "I guess 180 is the new thirty?"

The sound that escaped the fifteen-year-old was part scoff part sarcastic laugh. She would sense that the woman was just as uncomfortable in this meeting as she was. She adjusted her bag on her shoulder again making it obvious how heavy she thought it was. "Can we go?"

"Sure," Kendra nodded. Pointing to the bag, she offered, "Let me carry that bag." Knowing that a cramped shuttle ride with a minimal replicator was not the most pleasant experience a person could do, Kendra decided against asking about the trip. Instead, their path took them through the station's Promenade. "Are you hungry?" she asked, motioning with her hands to show the many choices of restaurants.

"Sure," The teen replied as she handed over the bag. It wasn't that heavy physically, it was the emotional weight of the fact that everything she owned could fit in that small bag. "I could eat," she added non-commititally.

"Ummm...," Kendra started. "What about this place? A diner has about everything," she offered as she positioned the strap of the bag on her shoulder. It reminded her of her Academy days, she seemed to always carry her duffle bag everywhere. She was trying her hardest to be nice and talk to the young woman, but also understood the need to not push at this point.

Jilla simply nodded as she followed Kendra into the diner. They were sat by an overly perky girl of an unknown age who called Jilla and her aunt a combination of pet, love, and sweetie. It brought a smile to Jilla's lips as she looked over the menu. "Been a while since I have had earth food." She said almost excitedly. As excited as a rainbow-haired rebellious teen with facial piercings could sound.

The older woman remembered when she came back, all she wanted was a burger and fries. "There is always something about Earth food that brings you home," she stated from experience. Kendra took a few moments to look over the menu. "See anything you like?" she asked.

Jilla looked over the menu. "I am thinking a BLT." She looked up at the other women. "Perhaps with some pickle chips." Despite her desire to keep her surly demeanor a smile pulled at the corner of her lips. She paused letting the silence fill between them before she finally asked. "You?"

"It's been a long time since I've had a burger and fries," Kendra replied, mouth already savoring the meal she had gone without for a century and a half. A career in communications made Jilla's smile impossible to not see, though Kendra decided not to press her luck. "Have you ever been on a Constitution Class starship before?" she asked.

Jilla shook her head in response. "Seen one once." She replied softly. "Is that what you serve on now?" She wanted to ask more, but she kept it to herself.

"It's not in Starfleet, so kind of?" Kendra replied, not really knowing if she was still serving. "It's old, but it's good at what it does," she added, fully appreciating the parallels drown to herself.

"Oh? I thought..." Jilla started as she took a sip of her tea. "I thought I was told that you were Starfleet, but whatever," She replied with a shake of her head acting almost as if they didn't care either way.

"I was," Kendra nodded, "a century and a half ago." Saying it aloud made it seem all the more hard to believe. "When we get finished, we can take a look around the station if there is anything you need or want before we head to the Mary Rose," Kendra offered.

Jilla only nodded. She only wanted her parents and saying that out loud didn't help, nor did she want to weigh down the first adult that seemed to be nice to her. She watched the women, or more correctly she observed her like she was trying to figure out something.

"You know," Kendra began. She started to say something about understanding the young woman's feelings, about how she too had lost anything and everything that had mattered. However, that was never a good spot to begin and she did not know exactly how Jilla felt. "This food really hit the spot," she finished.

Jila finished swirling her last three fries in the mess of sauces on her plate before shoving them into her mouth. She looked up at the women across from her before nodding. "It was really good." The side of mouth curled in a grin. "Thank you, by the way."

"You're welcome," Kendra smiled back. As she finished the last of her fries, she nodded toward the door, "Let's see what else this station has to do."


Kendra McIntyre
Communications Chief
SS Mary Rose

Jilla McIntyre
Brat of the First Order
SS Mary Rose