The First Outing

Posted on Thu Mar 13th, 2025 by Charlotte Preston & Lieutenant Choyi Zaimu & Paige Cohen & Katelynn Bancroft

1,275 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: M01 - The Hooke
Location: Logan City, Terra Nova
Timeline: Present

To say that Kate was nervous about hanging out with Paige and Charlotte would have been rather accurate if she were being completely honest with herself. Despite that, when she spoke to Rebecca, the other girl had told her to absolutely go hang out with the girls on board the ship. When her father failed to say no to the trip and Rebecca had insisted that it was a good idea, Kate could only go along with it.

She didn't quite feel like a third wheel anymore, after all the new ship's counselor had offered to watch over them. She looked over her shoulder as they walked along the sidewalk to see Counselor Choyi behind them. Kate turned and looked forward again. Nobody had really said much to her since beaming off the ship, and honestly Kate wasn't complaining to anyone about that part. She didn't quite know how she felt about Charlotte or Paige. Even as they rounded the corner and went inside the coffee shop, Kate was still not sure about them.

Zaimu stepped inside the coffee shop last, "I'll be right over there if you three need anything okay?" She asked, "After I get something to drink of course, I think you'll like it here. And we can go anywhere afterward too."

Paige grinned, "You can sit with us if you want to Counselor Choyi." She remarked.

Zaimu shook her head, "Nah, I'll let the three of you have time to yourselves while we're here. I don't think any harm will come from that at least." Zaimu didn't want to intrude on their conversation with each other, though she had certainly picked up on Kate's discomfort.

Charlotte nodded, "If we need anything we'll let you know then Counselor Choyi," She said. Charlotte didn't mind the counselor sitting with them either honestly. However, she wouldn't argue with the older woman and simply fell silent.

Zaimu nodded, "Of course," She answered before stepping up to the counter and getting her drink. She found an empty table and went to sit down. There were other reasons she wanted to be seated alone, and withdrew a data pad to begin reading something. It wasn't much, just a psychological journal meant to help her in her new position aboard the USS Hooke.

Kate watched the older woman for a moment before stepping up to the counter and ordering a drink. She found an empty table for the three of them to sit down at, and proceeded to sit there.

After Paige sat down she asked Kate a question, "How is your friend doing?"

Kate barely noticed, "Wha-..." She registered the question then smiled warmly, "She's well," Kate pointed out. "I mentioned that you both had invited me on this adventure and she was really excited that I was getting off the ship for a little bit and hanging out with the two of you."

Paige grinned, "Have you two ever met in person?"

Kate shook her head, "Nope." She answered.

Charlotte frowned when she heard the answer, "Well maybe someday, hopefully, you'll get to meet each other in person." She looked at Paige then looked at Kate. "I'm glad you came along with us Kate." She told the other girl. Charlotte had been trying to make friends with Kate since they'd come on board and so far she felt as if she were failing in that endeavor. She'd hoped that this would help turn that around.

Kate continued to smile warmly after she'd taken a small sip from the hot decaf coffee in front of her. She didn't like the taste and managed to hold off scrunching her nose from it. "I'm glad I came along too." She lied and hoped the other girls didn't catch her in that. Kate was actually rather uncomfortable, and based on the expression she'd gotten from Counselor Choyi, it seemed as if the counselor was aware of that.

Kate hoped the counselor didn't question her on it later. She didn't really have any answers to begin with, "I've never been to Logan City." She assumed the other girls had never been there either, "The Eisenhower was mostly a courier ship, transporting dignitaries to places and what have you. The only place I ever got off the ship for was Deep Space Nine."

Paige found herself really interested, "You went to Deep Space Nine?" She asked.

Kate nodded, "Yeah," She answered. "My Mom and I walked around the promenade for a while before we returned to the ship. We weren't there for more than a day so I really didn't get to see a lot. Also, I was only six when we went so I barely remember it."

Charlotte found herself quite interested, "Well tell us what you do remember?" She asked, "The station sounds interesting, at least more so than the outpost where my parents used to be stationed."

Kate had forgotten Charlotte had lived on a space station. She wasn't jealous, however, it would have been nice to have more space than growing up on a small ship. "Oh um, well..." Kate really had to dig deep to remember what it was like there. "The day we were there it was really busy. I don't know if it's like that every day, but there were a lot of ships docked." She hesitated for a moment longer before continuing to speak.

"My Mom bought me this," She flipped a necklace from underneath the blouse she was wearing.

Charlotte leaned forward and studied the necklace with a smile. "Oh that's cute," She said genuinely. Charlotte leaned back in her seat afterward. For a moment she looked outside at a group of Novans that were walking by, the city seemed to be a busy place. Charlotte often wondered what it would have been like to be on a bigger station, though she found that perhaps she wouldn't change anything.

"Thanks," Kate answered.

Paige was still looking at the necklace. She didn't have anything like that, mostly because she never really got to be off the ship. Her father was somewhat protective of her sometimes, though she had learned to accept that small fact. Now she was the daughter of a ship Captain, and Paige didn't quite know what that meant just yet. "I think I want something to snack on." She told the others, "Does anyone want anything?"

Kate shook her head, "Nah I'm struggling to drink this." She said, "I should have gotten tea instead." She laughed nervously.

"Oh," Paige said as she stood up, "I'll get you some tea." She told the other girl. Then she looked toward Charlotte, "Is there anything you want?"

Charlotte shook her head, "Nah," She answered.

Paige nodded then went and got back in line, the shop was starting to get slightly more busy than it had been. She made a point to wave toward Zaimu so that the Counselor could see where she was at.

Zaimu looked up in time to see Paige standing in line, smiled, and nodded. She went back to reading the journal article that she'd actively been reading. There was little information in it on what she'd been looking for, but it was still interesting nontheless.

Charlotte had leaned back in her chair. She had a number of questions for Kate, however, she chose to simply not ask them just yet. Charlotte didn't want to overwhelm the other girl. The longer they sat there the more it seemed like the other girl was somewhat uncomfortable around both Paige and herself. Charlotte was growing slightly concerned about that as she sat there. However, she continued to keep that to herself.

 

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