Old Friends... Maybe
Posted on Wed Apr 2nd, 2025 by Staff Warrant Officer Braxx Esrann & Lieutenant JG Zotras Lazol
1,100 words; about a 6 minute read
Mission:
M02 - The Sixteenth Rule
Location: Quartermaster's Office, USS Hooke
Timeline: Present
Braxx hadn't been on board the Hooke all that long when he found the Quartermaster's office, his office. This certainly wasn't his first ship and he knew it wouldn't be his last either. His job on board a starship was vastly different than when he had been on Deep Space Four and he knew that as well. Braxx wasn't a grumpy person, he wasn't a Tellerite after all, but he didn't like being a quartermaster of a starship. He'd insisted to his wife that he'd have preferred another station instead, at least his job was worth his job.
Braxx wouldn't openly complain beyond that, it was out of character for him, even if it was rather frustrating. Besides that, his time on Bolus had been spent well. He'd gone to the park with his children every day that he was back home, even putting their picture on his desk as he thought about it and smiled. He already missed his children and would have to call them as soon as he had an opportunity. Right before leaving the Cutter he sent them a message letting them know he'd made it safely to the ship.
Then came the sound of the chime, 'Oh here we go,' He thought quietly. "You may enter."
Zotras stepped inside Braxx's office, "Warrant Officer Esrann it's been a long time." He said with a warm smile on his face. The two of them had met about two years ago when the ship he was on did a joint mission with the ship Braxx had been assigned to. Zotras wasn't sure if Braxx would even remember him, but at least he was going to try.
Braxx thought the voice sounded familiar and turned around. The surge of annoyance that Braxx had experienced seemed to wash away almost immediately. He immediately recognized the young El-Aurian in fact, Zotras was the youngest El-Aurian that Braxx had ever met. Braxx had long believed, inaccurately, that they just came into existence already a thousand years old. "Lieutenant!" He said. "I had no idea you were aboard, and congratulations on your promotion I see."
"Thanks," Zotras replied. "Welcome aboard. Are you settling in nicely I hope?" The El-Aurian had sensed Braxx seemed a little annoyed, however, he ignored that for the time being. The El-Aurian officer would only address things like that if they came up as something that needed to be addressed.
"A little annoyed at the moment," Braxx admitted to the Lieutenant. "I'm not a huge fan of being a ship quartermaster just because it's harder to do my job." He added the last bit, "I'll get over that though. How have you been?"
Zotras shrugged, "I've been well," He located a chair inside the office and proceeded to sit down. He knew the Bolian Warrant Officer wouldn't mind if he did that. "They have me pulling double duty right now, however, I'm not super bothered by that." Before the Bolian asked him what he'd meant by that Zotras explained, "I'm teaching the school aged children at the moment, there were three of them. I've had to add an extra desk to the classroom, which is already done and ready to go so don't worry I won't bother you about that."
"Up to four?" Braxx asked.
Zotras nodded, "Yep, up to four. I've yet to meet the new kid, I'm sure she'll do just as well as the other three though. She came with the Cutter."
"I know," Braxx told him with a warm smile on his face. "I saw her a couple times on the trip here, she seems like a nice kid and all. Shame about her parents though," He added.
Zotras was confused, "Her parents?"
Braxx nodded, "Her sister is one of the new officers on board the Hooke that's why she's here instead of on Earth. Their parents were killed in a shuttle accident a few months ago, it was all over the Federation News Network because it was pretty bad. I didn't really talk to either one of them instead choosing to just letting them be you know?"
Zotras frowned when he heard the news, "Nope I missed that part." He admitted. "That's not good news," He added the last part and found himself sighing, "I'll only ask her about it if she brings it up with me. I don't do the whole, counseling my students unless it's absolutely necessary. It sounds like she has a lot to work through," He added with a heavy sigh that followed.
"Yep," Braxx replied. "Don't tell the other kids either, I'm sure they'll find out soon enough. But, she probably doesn't want to be bothered by it just yet you know?"
Zotras nodded, still wearing the frown on his face. "Oh of course," He said. "She'll tell them if and when she's ready to talk to them about it. I think the other three are still trying to get used to the idea of being in class with the others anyway. So at least this new girl is coming aboard at roughly the same time as the other three. I couldn't imagine having to start school right in the middle of the year when everyone knows everyone else."
Braxx didn't know anything about that and moved on, "I have two daughters of my own. They're still on Bolus though," He told the El-Aurian as he continued to put his belongings where they went. Braxx looked at the picture of his family one more time, reminding himself that he needed to call them this evening. "We've never had them live aboard a starship, just a personal preference I suppose."
Zotras nodded, "That's understandable." He answered, "Did you at least get some time with them before you had to report aboard the Hooke?"
Braxx nodded once more, "Yeah I got to see them. I actually boarded the Cutter from Bolus, the ship stopped there on its way to here. I think I was probably the last of the new crew to get onto the Cutter," He added.
Zotras stood up, "Makes sense," He answered. He could tell the Bolian was busy, "I'll talk to you later so we can catch up." He told the Bolian.
"Certainly," Braxx answered with a soft smile on his face. "See you soon." He watched the El-Aurian leave his office, happily having forgotten his earlier annoyance. Perhaps this assignment wouldn't be as terrible as he thought it was going to be, or at least he hoped that was the case.
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