Bingo Fuel

Posted on Sun Dec 8th, 2024 @ 4:43pm by Major Iria

757 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: The Campaign for Coridan
Location: Enroute to NX-151 Unicorn
Timeline: current

::ON::

It was a small space; this final shuttle ride that would take her to her new ‘home’ amongst the stars. NX-151, designation Unicorn.

Although fluent in Earth Standard, such a word was not part of her lexicon, and Iria had been forced to look up the meaning behind the Earth ship’s name. Unicorn. A mythical animal typically represented as an Earth equine animal, also called a ‘horse,’ with a single twisted, one would presume a keratin-like horn projecting from its forehead. However, the word also signified something that is highly desirable or difficult to find or obtain. Human language was filled with so much ambiguity at times; it was often miraculous that they were able to convey exactly what they desired to one another.

This new assignment—aboard a human vessel--had not been one she had anticipated. The expectation had been to complete the additional education and training afforded her in the I.M.E. and then return to Vulcan, where at that point, no doubt, she would have been assigned to one of the medical ships to serve her own people (and an occasional alien from time to time). It would have been a misuse of her rather unique medical training.

The offer for her to serve in such an unorthodox manner had not been anticipated, but when the opportunity was proposed to her, she accepted without a moment’s hesitation. It was an unexpected chance to travel down a path unhindered by omnipresent expectations placed upon her by the ever-omnipresent Vulcan societal restrictions that one was required to obey.

So here she sat, in a cramped jump seat, surrounded by her meager belongings—and a far larger amount of medical gear—en route to her new assignment. The smell inside the cramped cabin was disagreeable. Human biology unfortunately lent itself to a rather potent scent that was…odoriferous. The nasal suppressants that were supplied worked somewhat, but it deadened her sense of smell entirely, making the consumption of food and drink less than satisfactory. It was all hot mush or cold mush, and ultimately, given the delays in getting out to Unicorn, Iria had run out of the suppressant completely except for a small sample that would be used to manufacture more of it once onboard.

In the meantime, endurance was the word for the day, and as they got closer to their goal and reports were coming in regarding casualties, the smell shifted to a far more acrid scent, one her senses translated as…fear…worry...concern. Iria did not fault them; she too was affected. It was only through the rigorous training forced upon her from her earliest memories that she kept her outward façade completely neutral.

She had attempted to engage on the trip, having observed enough human behavior to know they discussed trivial things to create bonds of camaraderie – but she was an outsider on many fronts…and then 37 hours and 17 minutes ago…

A squeezing discomfort manifested itself over her heart and Iria rubbed at it idly with her off hand, as if somehow the simple touch would dispel a pain no logical exercise could alleviate. Ivek—her mate--had his calling, just as she had hers. They had formalized their bond with a marriage that satisfied both of their families and then…promptly separated for duty. She got accepted to the I.M.E., and he was deployed by the Vulcan Security Directorate to points unknown. They had deferred living together for the sake of their respective duties but with the pledge to one another that they would cohabitate when the timing was more conducive to such things…

She sharply inhaled her breath and gritted her teeth as grief poured through her, registering the unusual emotion as pain as she had did not have the emotional intelligence to ascertain what it was that was causing her to hurt so badly. He was…gone. Their bond hadn’t been particularly powerful, not at its inception, but it was solid and sure and once they had the time it would have strengthened…and now it would be nothing. Sundered. A promise of a future that would no longer be.

Kaiidth. what is, is.

It would take the remainder of what was left of their voyage for her to adequately subsume this most distasteful sensation in order to tackle the next challenge that was rapidly approaching…NX-151, designation Unicorn.

[OFF]

=====

Major Iria
soon to be Assistant Chief Medical Officer
Unicorn NX-151

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