Treasure of the Moons - Part 1

Posted on Sat Jun 22nd, 2019 @ 7:36pm by Commander Ichiko Gail & Captain Abigail Laurens
Edited on on Tue Jul 16th, 2019 @ 2:54pm

Mission: Getting To Know You
Location: Starbase 357

The shuttle trip over to her new posting wasn't terrible. She counted no less than four times when the shuttlecraft's pilot broke his glance from the instruments to slide over to her presence in the chair next to him. Though, she knew the reasons why.

She didn't mind, though. There was even a time when she felt like stretching and placing her feet up on his lap. Though, that'd be a little too direct. Besides, if her distraction caused the shuttle to crash, the paperwork would be embarrassing once it reached home. So she behaved, and was content to let the pilot sneak his glances when he felt unobserved.

Once aboard the starbase, she arranged with the local crew to move her packages and boxes to her new quarters aboard the Astraea. She chanced a glance up at the craft through the port windows. A magnificent vessel, to be sure. Say what you will about Federation science, diplomacy, or security... their aesthetics were certainly up to par. Much as she'd like to ensure that her personal belongings were tended to properly, she had another destination.

Crossing over the gangplank to the ship proper, and giving the guard there a nod and a glance at her PaDD, she made her way inward further. Halls devoid of personnel greeted her, a cold stark contrast to the lively starbase she just finished stepping foot off of. She made her way up to the Captain's ready room, to officially report in. Her transfer PaDD in hand, she made her way up with a confident stride up the seemingly endless hallways and turboshafts up to her destination.

Ten minutes later, she stood before the door. She took a breath, held it, and then released it as she tapped the announcer chime.

Abigail had been immersed in transfer notifications and reports for what seemed like hours before the chime disturbed the silence of her ready room. She glanced at the console on her desk, noting the time and shook her head slightly. "Well, so much for lunch," she mused to herself as she stood up, tugging her jacket down. "Enter!"

As Ichiko entered, Abigail cast a glance over the form of the rabbitess and smiled with immediate recognition. "You would be Lieutenant Gail?" she asked, extending her hand toward the Ts'Usugi. "I was just about to get a coffee, can I get you something?"

Ichiko closed the distance between herself and Abigail and accepted her offered hand in the universal gesture of greeting. "I would be." she replied with a nod. "I'll take a cup of tea, thank you." Ichiko accepted, following up with her favored flavor of the hour. Black tea it was.

"I'm to be your new Operations chief, if you'll have me. I've prepared myself for any interview." the rabbitess meant business, but she was just as casual about it as she was professional. Casually professional, if such were a thing. Seems protocol ran in the blood of the children of Ts'usu.

When the tea was brought over, she carefully collected it in two hands, setting her Transfer orders down momentarily. They'd be important later, she figured, but they weren't important now. "Thank you." a nod, before a sampling sip.

Blowing gently across the top of her own chai latte, Abigail sank down into her seat again, motioning for Ichiko to take the other seat. "I will be honest, I was quite intrigued when I saw your profile come up in the transfers list," she said with a smile. "Ta-soo-gee isn't it? Is that right?" Her attempt was genuine, even if she had ultimately butchered the phonetic pronunciation.

Once offered, she took a seat. "Since every experience I encounter is one I'll remember forever, I want to make every experience worth it. Something new. Something bold." she took a sip of her tea. "A mind unchallenged by new experiences sleeps, and seldom awakens. It's one of the reasons I'm taking postings so far from home." she explained. At the attempt to say the name of her people, she gave a soft smile. "Tsuu-Suu-Gee, from the home moons of Tsuu-suu. If it helps, don't worry about the leading 'T'. It's easy for us because we've lived there forever. I take no offense at your attempt, because it was honest." a ghost of a smile. Seemed the children of Ts'usu were reserved about showing full emotions.

"So, tell me, Lieutenant, what was it that made you decide to apply to Starfleet and travel so far from home? I'm sure it can't have been an easy decision to make... and Operations of all fields?" There was no judgement in Abigail's voice, just sheer fascination as she watched the other carefully while sipping her chai.

"Our people are applying for an alliance with the Federation. Joining your ranks was the first step." she answered with a nod, before taking another sip. "Personally, I want to see and learn whatever I can because, well... I have a neurological condition. Grandmother called it a curse." she paused, "Roughly translated, my condition is the Mind That Won't Let Go. I have a perfect memory. I'd even say borderline eidetic. Like I said, every experience is one I'll remember forever, so I want them to be exceptional."

"As for operations, I like bringing order to a disorganized world." she smirked, "Plus, the concept of the 'Daily Grind' isn't anything new or unusual to a Daughter of Ts'usu. Our lives were ruled by protocol. This is just the next step."

"Perfect memory?" Abigail raised one eyebrow slightly. "So remind me to never share too many secrets with you then," she said with an easy smile. "I'm not sure if there are any specific requirements that you have aboard the ship, but if you do just let me know and I'll make sure they're taken care of immediately." She paused, taking a sip of her drink, watching Ichiko over the top of her mug. "So you remember everything? Really?"

"Headspace." She commented, and her ears gave a twitch. She gave a gentle smile though, perhaps it was a joke, "And I'll be certain to remind you." and at that, she gave a more casual smirk.

"And yes. Everything. I remember every triumph, every failure. I remember every fall, bump, scrape, laugh, sob, break up, kiss, denial... everything." she actually didn't sound too thrilled, but wasn't too broken up over it. "I remember everything I ever tried to form even the slightest gap in my memory. Just to forget something, even for a moment. I remember them all." she took a sip of her tea.

"It's ... hard to describe. Think of your memory like a library. Every book a moment in your life. Most people, they walk into their library, ask for a book, and there's a good chance it's there. If not, it's the fault that sometimes, the library has to get rid of old books to make room for the new ones. Or management has specifically requested certain books be removed."