Happy Birthday

Posted on Wed Jan 8th, 2020 @ 1:53pm by Crewman Telleon Venn & Lieutenant Commander William Rogers & Lieutenant Nikki St. John

Mission: Dead Moon
Timeline: 29th December

The PADD chimed as the countdown reached zero. Bill put down his beer and turned his head. He stared out the viewport, eyes fixed on a point so far in the distance it couldn't be perceived against the backdrop of the local stars. This was the direction, the astrometric data had assured him. Look out of this viewport and you will be looking towards the Sol system. The light that reached them was birthed two and a half centuries ago. Though it was younger than he was it had shone on an Earth Bill had never seen. Bill raised his glass and toasted the light. It seemed fitting. Both he and it were far from home and both had started their journeys on the same day in their respective years. This day.

"Happy birthday." He offered. It made him feel less alone.

Nikki had been working a bit short of forever though it had only been four days and so, with visions of security logs dancing behind her eyes, she sought out a quiet spot to have a cup of coffee and relax. She ordered French Roast because she liked the taste and headed toward the nearest viewport where she overheard a Lieutenant speaking to himself. "Happy Birthday, Lieutenant," she said quietly. "Mind if I join you?"

"Thanks. Help yourself." Bill replied, gesturing towards the empty chair opposite him.

Nikki sat down in the proffered chair, tucking one leg up beneath her, hands curled around the warmth of the mug she held. "I'm Nikki St. John. Part of the security team that came on board ..." She paused for a moment, cocking her head slightly to one side, as she considered. "Hmmm. Was it only four days ago?"

"William Rogers, flight control." He drained the last of his beer and signalled the bartender for another. "So you guys planning on staying long or is this a flying visit?" he had to admit a slight curiosity as to the purpose of the new arrivals.

"Unknown at this point," she said as she lifted the cup and paused before her lips to finish her thought. "Once we finish our evaluation, we'll remain on board to provide security support until the counselor says everyone is cleared for duty." She took an appreciate sip and set the cup back down on the table surface.

"Evaluated?" Bill frowned, then nodded as it dawned on him what the reason might be. "Because of the hormone vampire thing. Don't envy you that task."

Nikki shrugged, a slight thing, here and then gone almost at once. "It is what it is," she said quietly. "I'm happy to help."

Bill wondered who it was that Nikki thought she was helping. The fact Starfleet had chosen to evaluate the security of the only ship that had actually caught the aliens made no sense to him. Felt rather like a stitch up. One of the bar staff arrived with his drink and he nodded his thanks. "So, where you from?"

"My grandfather has a place near Tunnels Beach ... Kauai. That's home," she said, one corner of her mouth quirking upward as she added, "... or as close to home as it comes for someone in Starfleet. How about you?"

"Can't say I know it." Bill turned to look out the viewport for a moment. "Brooklyn, New York."

"Never been there," Nikki said as she turned her attention to her coffee and took a longer sip. She studied him for a moment over the rim of her cup. "Well, I should probably get going. Happy birthday, Lieutenant. Its nice that you still notice them."

"Thanks." Bill laughed. "I've got a lot to celebrate."

After returning her now emptied cup for the replicator-version of recycling, Nikki headed toward the door and stopped short as someone was entering at the same time. Not having noticed him before, she stayed where she was rather than give way or go around. "Hello," she said. "Don't think I've seen you around before. I'm Lieutenant St. John."

The blonde human pulled up quickly to avoid knocking into the officer blocking his way. "Crewman Telleon Venn. It's nice to meet you?"

Her mouth quirked slightly at the rise in tone, not unexpected given the reason she was on board. "I don't remember seeing you before, Crewman. How long you been aboard?"

"I'm a maintenance tech on midnight shift, sir. It's rare that I have contact with anyone above the rank Lieutenant Junior Grade." Venn shrugged. "I came aboard after the last shore leave. Which would be, what a couple of months ago?"

"So you've been aboard for awhile now," Nikki said as she stepped back and slightly to the side. Her expression turned softer as she added, "I'm only just starting to understand what you all have been through. You handling it all okay?"

"About as well as everyone else. They left me alone, couldn't tell you why, but it's not nice to think they could just swan around like that, you know?"

Nikki nodded, "Agreed." She cocked her head slightly to one side. "Were there many, like you, that weren't affected?"

Venn shrugged again, a ghost of a movement. "Couldn't tell you for sure. Did hear that nightshift was the least affected overall though." The crewman looked past Nikki to the room beyond. "If there's anything else you want to ask, would you mind if I got some food while you did it, sir? Only I'm due on shift soon and I could use some breakfast before I start."

"Of course," she said. "Please don't let me keep you."