The Oddities

Posted on Thu Feb 19th, 2026 @ 8:58am by Ensign Jara'kani & Captain Nigi Latar

1,460 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Chapter One - Arrivals
Location: Orbital Ship Yard 2 - Observation Offices
Timeline: 240002.16

Nigi looked out onto the ship below. She was a Nova with a fresh batch of paint where her old name used to be, indicating two things; she was used, and she was still fighting the good fight. In her usual curved lettering, the name was spelled out as USS Lenora with the registry, NCC-79015, matching the same curve below the ship's name. Nigi brought a cup to her lips and began to take a sip of the Bajoran sweet tea that filled the cup. It was part of her newly developed habit of trying a new tea every week until she was bored with it. Her personal replicator was filled with nearly a million different varieties, keeping it always interesting in her cup. She looked up to see the shuttle bringing the first batch of arrivals to the shipyard, which served as her temporary office until the ship's interior was cleaned of baryon particles, a process that took several days to accomplish. It wasn't long after that she heard the chime of the door and responded in kind, "It's open."

Jara'kani knew something was up the minute that Intelligence agent who came to her dorm room and very kindly helped her pack up her belongings in entirety before loading her onto the shuttle told her to report to the Captain immediately. Now, that's not terribly unusual under normal circumstances, maybe, but instinct told her that the conversation ahead of her was not going to be a particularly short one. She was, after all, quite literally the only one of her kind to exist.

Nonetheless, it wasn't as if she had the luxury of questioning why certain orders were given - so she'd disembarked from the shuttle and been escorted about halfway by that same agent before walking the rest of the distance herself. Hearing that the door was open, however, she stepped through the door, put her bags down on the floor to either side of her and stood in front of the Orion officer at parade rest. "Ensign Jara'kani, reporting as asked, Captain." She stated.

Nigi nodded, "At ease, Ensign. Can I offer you something to drink?" she asked as she studied the fresh Ensign. Overall, she was impressed with the paperwork that Jara'kani came attached with, so to speak. Her academy days were impressive, as was her backstory. Nigi wanted to know more than the statistics behind a person. Especially if they were going to spend some time together in a tight ship.

"Hot chocolate. With marshmallows." Jara'kani requested at once. So far, so good. The Orion wasn't trying to pick her apart at least, which was good on all counts. Would things stay that way? She had no idea.

"Please, have a seat," Nigi said raising her glass to the couch near the observation window for the vessel below. She moved over toward the replicator and began to punch in the commands. "I have requested that the replicators on board the Lenora also contain natural additives rather than leave them out. Might make the doctor a little more busy, but if we cannot have some of the finer things in life like caffeine, then what's the point in living?" As the machine produced the liquid with the marshmallows, she took the cup and followed Jara'kani. "This is Starfleet's attempt at healthy cocoa."

"I don't mind it, Captain. It smells and tastes slightly off in comparison to traditionally made hot chocolate, but I consider it an acceptable substitute." Jara'kani responded as she picked up the cup and took a sip as she sat. "If the alternative is the ruin of my waistline and a failure on the physical fitness test I will gladly take a substitute if the alternative is not available."

"It is, of course, optional. But I feel that it encourages people to be more social. The only thing the replicator does not have in its authorized categories is alcohol. That is something I personally tend to frown upon. Everything has its place, however. Tell me, what do you think of the ship below us? From both a personal and an engineering standpoint. " Nigi asked.

Jara'kani took a moment to look out the window at the Nova class starship out the window. "It is smaller than I originally wanted." She stated honestly. "I would have loved to be assigned to a Nebula class with its plethora of amenities. I am a frequent swimmer; it would be nice to have an actual pool."

"However." She set her cup down with a smile. "A smaller ship means a more closely knit crew and more opportunities to connect with others. So I consider it a trade: volume for quality. I am good at making the best I can with what I have, Captain. I will do that here as well. "

"That is good to hear. I will start everyone off with the standard holosuite 'rations,'" she said, adding quotes where applicable. "and people can use them as they need. If slots are open from people chooseing to not use them, they can be offered up in free hours where people may come and go as they please." Nigi stated.

"Yes, ma'am." Jara'kani responded. "Was there something you wanted to ask of me specifically? The lieutenant that brought me here acted as if this meeting was of crucial importance."

"There is, yes," Nigi said, setting down her tea on the table in front of the couch. "Given our mission profile, if we encounter something similar to your history, will you be able to assist in an advisory role?"

Jara'kani's hand froze halfway to her mouth as she pondered the idea. Thinking about her past and how exactly she'd been brought into being didn't exactly bring back good memories, period. And truth be told, she'd rather never revisit those times if she ever had to.

"I... don't know, captain. Most of my time then was spent in a sort of haze." She admitted. "I can try, but I don't know how much help I'll be if Starfleet already has logs of my rescue. But if I can stop any more science experiments from being used as toys, I'd gladly do what I can."

"Good. That's what I like to hear." Kelly said with a smile, "How's your hot cocoa?"

"Also good." Jara'kani responded with a smile. "It reminds me that the universe is not all morally scant people like my father. It was one of the first things I tried the day Starfleet Intelligence found me."

"Sadly the universe could benefit from more saints. I am no saint, but I aim to do right for the right reasons. All fall short even in the best of times. We just have to root out all that's left of the darkness and bring it into the light." Nigi realized she was ranting and chuckled, "In any case. A couple more days and we will be setting off on our own adventures."

"Yes, ma'am. I look forward to it. I hope not to run into any of my... brothers... on the other side of the wormhole. I think that is an encounter I might not survive." Jara quipped. Ha, if only that were just a joke - imagine sending her over on mission only to overturn the existential doctrine of her own people. Now that'd be a tragedy.

"Our missions will keep us within our own boarders, so I am told. Bajor is a long way from where are are headed I am pretty sure. But never say never." Nigi said raising her glass before taking a good gulp down finishing off the tea.

Sensing that the meeting was probably already near its natural end, Jara'kani finished the last dregs of her hot chocolate. All things considered, this meeting had been the most cordial meeting she'd had in months. At least her new captain cared. That was honestly all she could ask for.

"Do you need anything else from me, Captain?" She asked politely.

"Not at the moment. You're dismissed. Thank you for stopping in," Nigi said before plopping herself on the couch and staring off into space.

In that moment, Jara'kani couldn't help but feel like there was far more on her captain's mind that she wasn't letting on - and no, it wasn't just that she now had a freak of science on her ship. Living on Risa she'd grown accustomed to noticing when people had issues and simply refused to speak of them. This... well, suffice to say it was all too familiar.

Nonetheless, she stood, returned her empty cup to the replicator and departed in silence. Perhaps someday she would learn of the weight on the Orion's mind - not today, however.

 

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