An Almost Date

Posted on Thu 19th Apr, 2018 @ 9:59pm by Lieutenant Anjohl Gaden MD & Lieutenant Commander Alora Baro

2,126 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Brushfires
Location: Orchids & Jazz, Deck 600
Timeline: (BackPost)

There weren't too many other Bajoran's on Vanguard. That did not mean that there weren't some. After all the station was huge, he'd even treated a few, but for the most part, they were civilians. And of course, there was only one Bajoran that had seen him without his clothes on. That had to count for something. So, he had invited her for dinner at Orchids and Jazz. That meant of course that he would be keeping his clothes on, but he didn't mind that, he actually preferred it.

It wasn't a date. Exactly. So rather than pick her up, or have her drop by his place he'd asked her to meet him there, by the entrance at 19:00. It was 18:55 now. He'd chosen to stick to wearing his uniform. It was easier that way.

Alora, for her part, was happy to accept the doctor's offer to meet up for dinner. There were a few Bajorans on station and even a small temple but it was difficult to make the time, especially since this was a stopover point for many. Besides, he seemed easy to talk to and Alora felt she spent so much time at work that chances to get to know others were easily missed. She pushed the memory of his chest out of her mind with mild annoyance at herself, "What are you 16? It's not a date date.". She was getting off of shift and still wore her uniform with a tool belt and random bits in much of the many pockets. At 18:58 she came around the corner and catching sight of him and smiled, "Thought I might be late but fortunately things are on track for once..." Glad to see him in his uniform, she worried over taking the time to change but didn't want to be late.

He's been leaning against the bulkhead when he saw her approach and pushed off of it. He returned her smile, "Good evening, and I'm glad that things are running smoothly for you. I'm glad you chose to wear your uniform. I probably would still be in my cabin trying to figure out what to wear. So, are you ready to go in, or would you like to get a drink at the bar first? I did make reservations."

Alora laughed, "Tell me about it, I feel I'd be the same. It doesn't help I spend most of my time in uniform, I really need to get out more." She thought about the rest of his statement, "Well I guess it depends on the reservations if we've time a drink sounds good." She said pleased he'd planned enough for reservations. The Orchid could be a busy place so it was a helpful thing to plan ahead.

"We have thirty minutes," Gaden replied, things can be pretty hectic in sickbay you never know when there's going to be an emergency, plus I know things in your department don't always go smoothly."

Since the doors slid open he really couldn't have opened them for her, but he did hold out his hand indicating she should go first. "So, how did your day go?"


Alora smiled her thanks and walked in, "Well enough, most of my day is coordinating others and catching up on paperwork but I can still sometimes escape to a repair." She held up the small computer that looked like a kind of arm brace on her right arm, "Portable office, my yeoman wants to find me. He knows how." Just then it lit up showing a schedule, "Another staff meeting tomorrow?" She said minorly disbelieving. She then tapped a key, "There now only emergencies get through. If I don't unplug I'd never sleep, I have a good crew just a lot to keep up on. How about you?" She asked genuinely interested as they approached the bar.


Gaden had seen such devices as Alora used before, he was just grateful that he didn't have to use one now and hoped he never did. Well, I'm only the assistant department head, which means I don't have quite as much of the paperwork. I'd rather play doctor than politics." Then he caught himself, "wait, I think that may have come out wrong. Let's say I'd rather practice medicine than politics."

"My day was a little hectic, one of the doctors on my shift was actually ill. But it wasn't too bad."

By this time they had reached the bar. "What would you like?" he asked.

She laughed at his wording glitch, she'd spent enough time around humans to understand the innuendo with 'playing doctor'. Still, with a smile, she replied, "I'm glad it was reasonably quiet if either of us has a rough day something needs fixing." Her expressive features became slightly more thoughtful as she continued, "Of course in your case, I'd much rather you be bored, people I would much rather not be broken than items." Then in response to his last, "Spring Wine, boring I know perhaps more adventurous later."

"I'd rather be bored too," he responded unless it's life support broken things are a mere inconvenience. That doesn't make your job any easier I'm sure. I know there are a lot of people who when their replicator gives them latte instead of mocha, that they take that personally and take it out on you and your crew. And two springwines it is. We'll see about later, later."

Then turning to the bartender and ordered their drinks. After they had been served, they moved to the nearest empty stools and sat. "So, tell me Alora, why did you go into operations?"

Alora took a sip of her drink after sitting down. She thought a moment, considering the question, "Always had a knack for fixing things, anything anyone would teach me about or let me tinker with I was good. It used to make me a bit sad to see something in poor repair, still does truth be known." She said musingly. Then paused as a memory tugged at her, her ready smile coming easily to her face. "There was this older guy nearby my parent's farm who had trouble keeping stuff fixed on his farm on Bajor. It had been his childhood farm before the First Occupation but he was just too old to keep up so I'd help him out. I remember thinking what a shame it was that these things and himself had no one to help keep things in order. After all, a house can only keep you dry if there's not a hole in the roof. It was always so no matter the tech that to be happy and safe one needs the vital things around them in proper order. Being in Starfleet I can help with that and see the galaxy so it's to quote a friend of mine, 'a grand thing to be sure'." She smiled again, "I must sound a bit off." she said a little embarrassed at having been caught waxing poetic and speaking so passionately to a someone she only recently met.

"No, no, there's no need to apologize, it's good to care about what you're doing and I'd much rather be around people who are passionate, than people who are, I don't know dull, easily bored. Tell me more, if you don't mind."

Alora thought about it, "Ok but you have to ask a question or I'll feel like I'm rambling to no purpose. Then I get to bug you, fair enough?" She suggested with a small smile.


"Absolutely, you tell me your story and I'll tell you mine."

Alora smiled fair enough, "Well..." She took a moment to think back, "My parents were active members of the Resistance during the First Occupation." Many Bajorans called the 50-year occupation of their world by Cardassians as the First since they counted the Dominion 'Occupation' as the second. "So we spent a lot of time in the caves and other hidden places. I couldn't do much this was before I was 8 so I would tag along with anyone who would put up with me, handing them tools and the asking questions about what they were doing." She smiled at the memory, "Even if I didn't always understand, I always asked..."

"I have a similar story, but I was drawn towards people, not machines."

Baro's smile was a slower one of true understanding, pleased he'd gotten the point. "So what happened with you?" She asked curiously, she sipped her drink as she waited for a reply thinking this had been a good idea.

"Well, I grew up in a Cardassian Labor Camp. I was born there, so I heard stories about our world, but I'd never been there, not until later anyway. My parents died when I was ten from Orkett’s Disease. Their deaths, "he paused took a long sip of his drink, draining almost half the glass, "their deaths were not easy ones and when they passed, we were only given an hour to mourn and then we were put back to work."

"My job was to clean up after the dead, I saw way too much death. Death and things worse than that. My sister became a freedom fighter, my brother a priest I couldn't accept either course. I didn't want to kill, even in the name of freedom, and maybe I wasn't spiritual to be a priest. There wasn't much I could do about some things, but I knew that I could do something about death. To at least make some difference."

Alora's smile faded as his story touched her and reminded her of old pains of her own. She'd been somewhat protected and lucky not being in the Camps, still even then not all memories were pleasant. She pushed those memories away to focus on Gaden. "No child should have had to go through that." It was an old anger at Cardassians, something her own faith helped her deal with. She spoke with a fierce sincerity reaching over and touched his hand with one of her own in sympathy. "It would have been easy to take such things along a dark road, your family didn't and each found their own paths..." She'd seen Bajorans who couldn't properly come back from the First Occupation, long after it was over. It was easy to be bitter and angry but Gaden had chosen to be a healer, that spoke a lot to his character.

His hand wrapped around hers in response to her touch, but he held it only briefly before releasing his hold, but he didn't push the hand away."Trust me, I did consider going down that dark road that you are talking about. But, my parents were simple farmers, pacifists for the most part. Giving into the pain the darkness, lowering myself to theirlevel would not have honored their name or their memory if that makes sense."

"But, perhaps we could move onto another topic. Why Starfleet?"

Alora squeezed his hand one more time before letting go of both it and the topic, she understood the desire not to dwell overmuch on the past. "Well." She said after a moment, "What first got me thinking was, I was happy but always curious what was around the next bend. I'd never been off Bajor but I also didn't want to just bum around the Galaxy. The Emissary was Starfleet so I gave that a deep look. A chance to help the Galaxy, travel and work with the most advanced technology out there? I couldn't say no. You?" She'd kept it light but truthful.


"Well, I wish I could say my motives were as altruistic as yours. But Starfleet had the best medical school and I needed an education. It was my best option. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I did and I support the Federation and all it stands for."


"Well I wouldn't say completely altruistic, I did mention the chance to play with some of the most advanced tech out there plus all the other nonstandard tech. I can be helpful and poke at things it's a double win. No reason you can't do both." She smiled.

Gaden glanced over at his fellow Bajoran and held up his glass. "Here's to doing both," he said a smile on his face.

Alora grinned and tinked her glass to his, "doing both." she repeated before taking a drink.

"Excuse me, " a waiter said after clearing his throat, "Your table is ready now."

Gaden picked up his still half-full glass and swung his arm forward, "After you," he suggested.

Alora smiled and stood, thinking this would be a rather interesting evening.


A joint post by

Lt. Baro Alora
Chief of Operations
Starbase Venture

&
Lt Anjohl Gaden
ACMO
Starbase Venture

 

RSS Feed

Comments (1)