Posted Jan. 16, 2022, 1:32 a.m. by Ensign Ronar (Engineer) (Malcolm H)
Ronar stared nervously out the window of the cramped shuttlecraft. Every star he watched streak by filled him with more and more dread. He hadn’t expected to be assigned on a deep space mission so soon out of the Academy. He’d assumed he would’ve gotten a nice simple posting on an old starbase no one visited anymore. Not very challenging work, he knew, but at least he wouldn’t have to meet so many people.
Turning his head away from the window, Ronar rustled through his bag and pulled out a small holophoto. He clicked it on and softened at the smiling figure of Evrilla. He’d met her a while back, at the Andorian Academy at Ka’thela. He’d taken a specialty semester studying Andorian engineering. The two had run into each other countless times before Ronar had gathered up the courage to speak with her. She was intimidating but they hit it off immediately and stayed in touch even after Ronar went back to Earth. It had been over a year since they’d last seen each other. It seemed longer.
Shoving the holophoto in his pocket, he watched as the shuttlecraft approached the Atlantis. A lump formed in his throat at the sight of the hulking ship. Ronar swore he could see his petrified face reflecting off the shiny hull. He considered hijacking the vessel and piloting it back to Earth but the lump in his pocket dissuaded him. That and his unwillingness to be charged with desertion.
Ronar jumped as the shuttle bumped to a halt in the docking bay of the Atlantis. Taking a deep breath and heaving his bag over his shoulder he stepped towards the door.
“Well, here goes nothing.”
The docking bay was a monotonous grey that seemed all-enveloping. He felt smaller somehow. The feeling soon dissipated as he spotted the familiar figure of Evrilla, her white hair and blue skin standing out in stark contrast to the bleak grey.
“Evrilla!” Ronar exclaimed, hugging her tightly, “God, it’s so good to see you. I thought I was going to go insane. How’s Tatyl? I have so many questions!”
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