I Know a Guy...

Posted on Sunday February 10th, 2019 @ 02:17 hours by Canaan Serene & Ares Onasis

Mission: Pixie Dust
Location: Deck 13, Communications Array, Fawkes
Timeline: 1147 MD01
3374 words - 6.7 OF Standard Post Measure

[ON]

Sat cross-legged on the grated deck plating, Canaan leaned forward to reach into the open bulkhead. He passed the scanner over the tangle of balled-up wires and data processing chips. A complete diagnostic of the communication relays had created a rather daunting to-do list that, once completed, would improve the overall performance and efficiency of the system. Most of the tasks were relatively straightforward with quick fixes, but there were one or two that would require more research and time, and possibly warrant the help of the boatswain or engineer. Canaan wasn't one to muddle about in things he had no business touching, yet it was important to learn these systems inside and out. What he was quickly discovering, however, was that the Fawkes was running lean as far as extra parts and components; he wasn't certain who his predecessor was, but it was evident they were forced to take a unique approach in maintaining the relays, something Canaan appreciated after reviewing the inventory.

Placing the scanner aside, Canaan gently pressed the biometric interface of his wrist communicator before retrieving a data PADD. "Canaan to Ares, are you there?" He'd not yet had the opportunity to meet the quartermaster since coming on board, yet had taken the time to familiarize himself with the crew roster since he'd be handling the vast majority of their communique dispatches.

Ares gave herself a moment in her quarters to take a deep breath. It had been a year since Adam's murder but she still felt like she was there that night, watching him take his last breath in her arms. The ring felt cold in her hands as she stared long and hard. She hadn't told him yes yet. She was going to surprise him after the shift just to mess with him. But she didn't. Instead of him giving it to her while he was down on his knee she had to take ring out of the pocket of his uniform pants in the hospital.

So meeting Colt, seeing the striking resemblance between the two men, it was a blast from the past and not something she had prepared herself for. Everything had bubbled up her throat like sour bile as she stood in front of him in the Mess Hall. She had to give herself a moment to pull her crap together before meeting anyone else on the crew. She would be of no use if she fell to pieces in front of them.

The sound of the comm broke her out of her spell. She was slightly confused since she had just set foot onto the ship and wasn’t expecting to have to really handle anything until later on in the day. Keeping a firm grasp on Adam’s ring, Ares stood up and tapped the comm. “Yeah, I’m here. You need something?” She kept her voice steady almost to the point of sounding completely uninterested.

"Hey yeah, sorry to bug you but I could use your help with something; can you join me at the communications array on deck thirteen?" The woman's voice sounded detached, as if the interruption had stolen her attention from the climax of an excellent book. "If you're not busy, that is..." He added, rubbing at the back of his neck as he studied the component list of in-place inventory compared to what was actually presently installed.

Ares looked down at the ring and reached up to place it in the storage above her bunk. However she hesitated, looking at the small silver band and finding great comfort in it. She slipped it onto her left ring finger before acknowledging the request. “Give me a few.”

After a short trip to the Communications Array, Ares looked around the room, spotting the back of the bright white head of hair in the room. “Need help with something?”

Canaan nodded, "Yeah, I do..." He turned toward the woman, towering over her petite stature. "Thanks for swinging by so quickly." He offered an appreciative smile before gesturing to the open bulkhead. "I'm not exactly sure what that is..." He pointed to several different components that had been jury-rigged within the array. "I know I'm green and all, but I'm pretty certain that isn't the required tech needed to get this array running up to spec." He gently handed the PADD to the quartermaster, "These components don't match what's depicted in the schematic and I can't seem to find what I need on board... to complete repairs, I mean." He finished, tucking either hand into the pocket's of his low-riding cargo pants.

Ares raised her eyebrow at the list. "I guess I officially started work." A distraction was exactly what she needed at the moment. She had no idea what half of the items were but learning on the job was her forte. "So you're the comm guy around here?" She looked up from the PADD. The kid didn't look much younger than she was. The captain must've had a thing for keeping her crew obviously young.

"Yeah, I guess I am." Canaan replied with a quirky grin; it was still surreal, he couldn't fathom being here right now. "Let's just say I'm in training though." He clarified. Each member of the crew was new, so he blended in with the other unfamiliar faces as they started this new journey together. Yet he was far from the most experienced on board, probably the least if he were being honest with himself; but nobody needed to know that unless it was pertinent to the situation. Canaan felt like he stuck out from the others, as if the crew could see the naivety oozing from within. Everybody needed to start somewhere though and Mayterial, with sincere intentions, was willing to give him the chance. "And you? I mean, we're all new, but is this your first posting as quartermaster?" He countered.

"Yep," Ares nodded as she placed the small PADD into the side pocket of her black tactical pants. "Let me know if you need anything else, alright?"

"Lunch." Canaan stated rather bluntly, rocking on his heels and grinning at Ares. "Food. Sustenance. Nourishment." He persisted. "Nosh. Grub. Chow. Nibbles." An eyebrow cocked, Canaan looked expectantly at the quartermaster, wondering if she'd accept his invitation to join.

Ares furrowed her eyebrows at the innocent looking young man. "Yes, I know what lunch is, Kid..." She paused for a moment as she tried to figure out the context of his dictionary definition and why he was giving it to her. "Is that a question as in asking me to eat with you or a statement telling me to put it on your supply list?"

"Kid?!" Canaan exclaimed playfully, a crack in his voice causing either cheek to deepen in color. "I'm no kid, I'm a man." He deepened his voice and puffed out his chest, assuming a posture that was reminiscent of a hulked-up weight lifter; he walked around Ares, attempting a pitiful strut that looked like nothing more than unpolished and awkward. "Join me!" He dropped the playful pretense, assuming his normal self as he smiled kindly towards Ares.

Ares raised her eyebrows in concern for the person's mental stability and his obvious lack of self-awareness. But she couldn't just kick him to the curb. Deep down she was far loonier than he was. "I'll have lunch with you as long as you promise to never walk like that again."

Canaan chuckled, "I couldn't even if I tried." He joked. "So, when did you arrive on board?" He secured the bulkhead before gesturing toward the corridor, the pair moving toward the nearest lift.

"Just this morning," Ares stated blandly as she followed him. She was still getting used to the blueprint of the vessel and figured he would be more familiar with it than she would be. "You?"

"Not much longer, really." The two navigated the short distance from the communications relay to the lift. "Just before we left station, actually." Canaan depressed the call button, "I sorta made a mad dash from earth to make it here before the Fawkes disembarked." Although Canaan's words filled the space between them, he could see from the distant look in the woman's eyes that her thoughts were entirely elsewhere. Canaan was a keen observer of human behavior, communication being both verbal and non-verbal alike. He could sense something was weighing on Ares, but they'd only just met, so he could have misinterpreted her aloof personality for something more. "Are you, um, unpacked and what-not?" He wondered, making small talk as they entered the lift and ordered it to deck two.

Ares nodded silently as she stepped through the open lift. She didn't have much, having to sell a good portion of her belongings including her trusty guitar to pay for her way to the starbase, so it took all of about 10 minutes to organize her quarters. She looked over at Canaan. He was so doe-eyed and eager; she wondered what exactly those eyes had been witness to. "First time away from home?"

"It's pretty obvious, isn't it?" He replied with a nod.

Ares's smirk widened into a grin. "It's written all over your face, Kid. People take advantage of innocence, even if it's only perceived."

Canaan laughed, "I had a feeling that was the case. I guess it doesn't really matter how new the crew is, the old hounds can sniff out the newbs pretty quick, eh?" He'd have felt embarrassed at the obviousness of it all had it been something within his control, but this wasn't. He couldn't be something he wasn't and experience came with time. It was a bit odd, however, that he had a look of innocence. "Yeah, no... before a few days ago I'd never left the Sol System let alone Earth. I'm, um... a little outta my depth right now." He confessed, rubbing the back of his neck while the lift ascended to deck two. "Is this your first time in space?" The naivety of the question betrayed a desire to connect with someone in a similar circumstance.

Ares shook her head. “Haven’t been this far out.” She felt the cool metal of her ring on her finger as she twiddled with it in her pocket. “What brought you out here, anyway?” She looked down at her feet. Everyone had a reason to travel, whether it was for a good reason or a not so appealing reason. “Getting away from something?”

"Oh, um, I'm not running if that's what you mean." Canaan explained, "No, I need a break... a gap year before entering the academy. I was supposed to start immediately, rapid admission and all, but it's been a grind for as long as I can remember and I've just been feeling that I need a chance to experience life... out here and all, before committing to Starfleet." He paused, looking at Ares. "Is that kinda like running?" He asked sincerely.

She gave him a casual shrug. “You’re trying to break free from the bubble built around you. That qualifies.” Her lips twitched up in amusement. “Getting away isn’t always a bad thing, Kid. Your parents hard on you about your future or something?”

He didn't immediately answer, a nervous laugh escaping from within. "Yeah... sure." He lied unconvincingly, cheeks deepening in color as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"Kid, if you know you're bad at lying, don't do it," Ares was always very brash and quick to correct. Though she usually did it to her criminal connections, she felt almost a responsibility to help the guy out before he got himself, and potentially her, in deep trouble. "So they know you're here?"

"I know! Lying is the absolute worst!" Canaan groveled, "I'm absolute rubbish at it and it's so much trouble, I mean, who has the memory to remember all of their lies... it sounds exhausting. It's just easier to be honest." The pair exited the lift as the doors opened up onto deck two. "And if I'm being honest, no... they have no idea I'm here. In fact, they um, they don't even know that I've left earth. Advancement ceremonies aren't for another week... so they'll probably find out then, when I don't show up."

The last statement made the woman stop suddenly in her tracks. He was lucky to still have his parents, and for him to just up and leave them when it was clear they cared a great deal about him… she could tell he was a far more sensitive person than she was and she would never wish the emotional pain she had felt on her worst enemy. “You need to tell them you’re here.” Her voice was quiet and serious. “Why would you not tell them? I’m sure they would’ve understood why you would want to be here instead of stuffing yourself with textbooks.”

"I can't... they're going to so disappointed; this was kinda their thing, the academy and Starfleet and all. Not that I mind, I guess I don't... maybe I do, I don't know. But I deserve time to figure things out on my own, right? Like, that's a thing isn't it? They'd insist I return home, which is fine, because I love and miss them... especially after being away in Paris for the last few years. But I couldn't... or, well, I can't. Not yet at least. I will tell them, but I knew if I didn't leave when I did... it'd never have happened. I don't think they'll understand because I don't even fully understand what I'm doing. This is crazy right?! Like, I'm kinda outta my mind?"

“What if you don’t get that chance?” Ares grabbed Canaan’s arm before he decided to continue their journey. “Yes, they will be hurt that you don’t want to be a part of Starfleet, but it will hurt them more to know that you just abandoned them without any warning.” She paused, making sure he kept his eyes on her. “If they were the ones pushing you to get into Starfleet, can you imagine what would happen once they believe that you’re missing? They may not understand your decision to be here but you’d be surprised how quickly they’ll come to understand what makes you happy may be different than what they think makes you happy and the emotional pain would only be temporary.”

"In other words, the longer I wait... the worse the hurt and worry will be." Canaan clarified, "I-I'm not like this you know, impulsive and spontaneous. I'm outta my depth here, in every aspect. I get what you're saying and you're right... I'll reach out... soon, I just need a moment or two to breathe and figure out how to tell them. I guess I could be a little like you, just throw it out on the table. That wouldn't go down very well with my mom though."

Ares nodded in understanding as she took a step back from him. He was getting a bit worked up, more than likely beginning to feel regret for making such a rash decision. The poor Canaan must’ve been under a lot of pressure at home that pushed him to a breaking point. It was time for them to move on to a much brighter conversation. “You like to read, Kid?”

Canaan took a deep breath, letting the tension melt away from his extremities as he nodded, thankful for the sudden change in topic, "Yeah, a lot... and music, I love music. Why do you ask?" He wondered. During their brief time together, Canaan had noticed Ares playing with something in her pocket; the movement was subtle, but just enough to draw his attention more than once. He thought to ask her, but felt to do so would be nosing about too much.

“The Catcher in the Rye... you ever read it?” It was one of the books that spoke to her after Adam had given it to her the day she was accepted into the Federation Police Academy.

"I've heard of the title, but I've never read it, no." The two walked into the mess hall, which was less busy compared to this morning. Unlike breakfast, most of the crew staggered their lunch breaks to ensure there was adequate coverage in each department; this was something the boatswain had been adamant about in the brief orientation held for the crew. Aside from a few deck hands, the only others present were passengers.

Ares tried to swallow the massive lump in her throat as she faced the Mess Hall again. She understood she wouldn’t be able to completely avoid it and had to get used to the idea of spending more time. Maybe at some point it would bring her comfort… She clenched tightly onto the ring in her pocket as she followed behind Canaan. “It’s a coming-of-age tale about a kid who runs away from home and kind of tries to figure out himself and his life. Might want to check it out.”

Canaan led the way to the bank of three replicators on the far wall, "Sounds as if it aligns pretty close to my own situation, I'll add it to the list." He understood why Ares recommended the book; from the brief synopsis offered, it sounded as if Canaan and the protagonist may have shared one or two things in common.

"So, um, like... what's in your pocket?" He asked sheepishly, accessing the menu on one of the replicators and selecting a bowl of spaghetti with meatballs. He added a glass of milk to the order and a slice of tiramisu, as well. "I don't mean to pry... it's just that I noticed you're fiddling with something that's probably none of my business, but I'm kinda curious, too..." He rambled.

Ares immediately stopped, slipping the ring back onto her finger as she kept her hand still out of view from Canaan. Keeping her lips neutral and unrevealing she instead grabbed onto her lucky charm that she kept with her at all times and placed it on the table in front of him gently. “A 7.62 millimeter sniper rifle cartridge used in the 20th and 21st Century Russian military.” Her lips perked up a bit in admiration of her find. “Found it in an antique shop in San Francisco last year,” by ‘found it’ Ares actually meant she stole it from the antique shop. “I think of it as my lucky charm. Helped me get through a thing or two.”

Canaan studied the bullet, transfixed by its dulled casing, still shiny in a few places. "That's a pretty incredible find." He acknowledged, a bit surprised to see such a piece in the real world; usually projectile ammunition, even a single cartridge from centuries prior, would have been locked away behind the tamper-proof glass of a museum exhibit or maybe in the 'to-be-studied' pile of an anthropologist. "My dad still has a few cases of 7 millimeter Remington cartridges for when he goes back country hunting." He added nonchalantly at first before a look of dread washed over his face, "Not that he still goes back country hunting... because that's illegal and all." He deliberately stabbed at the plate of noodles, entangling a few strands and winding them up with a twist of the fork.

Ares let out a quiet amused snort at his awkward attempt to cover up his slip-up. He was young, naive, and new to this world of darkness and instability. But he was also very smart and very quick. She couldn't help but feel a desire to make sure his strengths came forward more than his weaknesses. She'd hate to see someone take advantage of someone so innocent. "Sure, he doesn't, Kid." She smirked in sarcasm as she watched him navigate his large plate of pasta.

[OFF]

Canaan Serene
Signaller

&

Ares Onasis
Quartermaster

S.S. Fawkes

"No legacy is so rich as honesty."