Docks and Departures II

Posted on Thu Sep 28th, 2023 @ 7:11pm by Ensign Sheldon Parsons & Lieutenant Xex Wang & Lieutenant JG Leighton Romanowski

Mission: Stardust and Sin
Location: Hukatuse Tugamik
Timeline: Mission Day 2 at 1800

[The Docks]
[Hukatuse Tagumik]
[MD 2: 1800 Hours – Concurrent with “Docks and Departures”]

“Okay everyone,” Commander t'Nai was saying, tearing Xex's attention from the meaty tableau happening to one side-- Orion pheromones were difficult to ignore. “You've all gotten the details prior to boarding.” As she reviewed them, Xex made sure his mental list matched her. While there were particulars to be worked out, it essentially boiled down to 'find the girl.' And although he'd attempted to keep a professional distance throughout the chase into the starbirth, now that they were aboard the station, he was finding it increasingly difficult to ignore his investment in finding her. He shifted uncomfortably as he attempted not to think about what that investment said about his ego.

His fidgeting bumped his shoulder into the young lieutenant standing next to him. Xex shot him a rueful glance of apology and tried-- mostly unsuccessfully-- to still his limbs. He settled for letting his hands roam the myriad pockets of his trousers, checking each to make sure it held its assigned equipment: tricorder, protein packs, hydration sachets, and the ever-useful metallic strips they would use as currency. A light, reinforced jacket clothed his upper body and hung in such a way that the small phaser he'd tucked in the small of his back did not bulge obviously. Xex nodded in time with Kodak's cautions and smoothly swung the bag slung crosswise across his back around to his front. He made a quick inventory of the medkit he'd assembled into the nondescript bag; he had some misgivings about the amount of gear he could potentially take, but hoped he'd found a decent middle-ground.

Leighton, gave the doctor a nod showing the man had not bothered him. It was obvious that the doctor was nervous, almost as nervous as Leighton was himself. Having joined the Sojourner a few week's ago, Leighton there were still things that Leighton had had to adjust to being in the Delta quadrant. The briefing he'd received at Pathfinder station didn't do his new posting justice. But, as he always did, Leighton learned fast and had spent most of his spare time reading up on the ship's past missions. Now, out of uniform and wearing his best nondescript cloths, he stood with the others to receive the final pep talk before dispersing.

“Good luck, everyone,” Kodak was saying, and Xex snorted. Keeping his voice low amidst the shuffling of folk sorting themselves into the arranged teams, he said to Romanowski, “Stars, I hope we're relying on more than simple good luck.” A little louder, he straightened, his face transforming as if by magic from dubious caution to bright optimism, “Alright, you gents ready?” Gray eyes flicked between Romanowski and the third member of their merry band: Ensign Sheldon Parsons.

"As ready as we can be," Leighton said patting the pocket of his leather coat which held additional forms of currency and the small phaser that had been issued to all. It had been Leighton's job to issue each team anything they might be able to use as bartering, and he'd made sure there would be other types incase the metallic strips might now be enough. Part of laying low was the informal speaking Leighton had used, when normally he would've referred to the older man by his rank or title.

"What about you Sheldon," Leighton asked looking over at their third member.

Sheldon -- or "Shelly" as his Sojo friends had started calling him -- looked at Leighton as if seeing the man for the first time. Blinking hard, he took a gulp of air and nodded. "I-I suppose I'm r-ready," the engineer said, eyes flicking from the Operations officer to Xex as he gave the Doctor a look that was meant to communicate such. Instead, he looked more like a wild-eyed Denobulan tree frog staring down the gullet of a jungle snake. Dressed in an unassuming brown frock with simple black pants and scuffy-looking shoes, the stammering Ensign wasn't exactly the picture of confidence. "Sgothen," his speech came out in a rush, his words slurring together in a nervous rush.

Xex's attempt to hide his smile at Sheldon's tree frog impression was at least partially successful. He managed to make it look more like a satisfied smirk than a mocking grin, at least. He slapped the nervous engineer on the back in a comrade-like gesture that turned into a gentle shove toward the docking bay doors. "Your'e definitely ready," he informed Sheldon. Cutting his eyes back to Romanowski, he added in an aside, "You should have seen him down on Shaddam IVa. Jack of all trades is our Mr. Parsons." As they trailed out after a couple of other more energetic groups, Xex continued, "After that, a space station should be-- what is it you say? A piece of pastry?"

"Piece of cake," Leighton said as he followed the doctor who half drug Sheldon along with him. This was Leighton's first time on an away mission with the young ensign, and he found himself looking away from the man's gaze to hide the smile that he was forcing down. "The briefing at Pathfinder station said there would be days like today before i came aboard," he offered as they stepped through the docking port.

Parsons found himself blushing at Xex's mention of his efforts on Shaddam. "I-I'd never been a nurse before," he said, following the Doctor and Leighton out of the Docks proper. "But um, I'm glad I could help," the engineer said with sincerity but also a little fear that he might be pressed into such service again. "Let's see what happens, I guess," he nodded to Leighton as the trio began to descend towards their next stop: The Gravity Well.


=/\= A joint post by... =/\=

Doctor Xex Wang
Chief Medical Officer
USS Sojourner

Ensign Sheldon "Shelly" Parsons
Engineering Officer
USS Sojourner

Lieutenant JG Leighton Romanowski
Operations Officer
USS Sojourner