I'm Not Going Anywhere

Posted on Sat Sep 5th, 2026 @ 10:31pm by Uhlan Shizune Nakai Perez & Lieutenant Commander Mila Lynn & Lieutenant Seira t'Reiza
Edited on on Sat Sep 5th, 2026 @ 10:32pm

2,831 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: Chapter IX: Shady Business
Location: Mess Hall, Ourainavassa
Timeline: 2387-10-17, evening

It felt rather odd to Seira to be wearing some of the clothes she'd bought on Cera aboard ship; and even odder to have to pin a set of lieutenant's insignia to them. It was easy enough to focus on duty - if you couldn't, you certainly didn't become a pilot - but off was another matter. She had debated the bar vs the gym, since either sounded better than trying to occupy herself in her quarters, finally settled on the bar, and absent Renee, simply reached over and helped herself to a bottle of wine and a glass before taking a seat at an empty table with them.

"Don't drink and fly, S," Mila joked as she walked up to the table where Seira was sitting. She had come to the mess hall in hopes of finding some company to distract her from the frustration of not getting Nveid's vocaliser to work with his telepathy, and it looked like at least that plan had succeeded. "Do you have another glass? Or do I need to order you to get me one, Lieutenant?", she added with a chuckle as she sat, curiously glancing at Hatham, Perez and Savin over at the bar.

"This is human wine; it hardly counts as 'drinking' unless I guzzle the entire bottle at once." Seira rolled her eyes, but went over and snagged a second glass and handed it to Mila. "Nice flavor profile, though."

Mila grinned as she poured herself a glass and sniffed it. "Seems nice, yeah." She leaned back in the chair and stared at the ceiling for a moment. "Been one hell of a day. Tried to build a voice box for that new Romulan surgeon, the one who says the you-know-who caused him to lose the ability to speak. But no matter what I tried, I couldn't get it to work." She groaned in exasperation. "I mean I get why he wouldn't want surgery, but it really looks like that might be the only way for him to regain his voice. And if he stays silent, he can't work as a surgeon."

"If he were an officer or crewman, Subcommander Kaiae could simply order him to undergo it." Seira shrugged her eyebrows and took a sip of her wine. "As a civilian...yeah, the options are more limited; he has to agree. Especially since he's a Federation citizen." Seira paused in thought for a moment. "My technical skills are mostly as relates to fixing flight craft in a pinch or troubleshooting flight and navigation system issues, so I'm afraid I don't really have any suggestions there in terms of the tech side."

"It's all good," Mila replied as she shook her head. "Just needed someone to vent to, really, given that my brother isn't on board anymore." A mischievous glint came into her eyes. "So tell me, your little date with Miles, back on Cera. He only said it was a nice time, didn't go into details. What did you get up to?"

"I wouldn't call it a date. But we went to a place called 'Olga's', then to an arcade with simulators for space flight combat and for ground car racing. He said you had been there with him before?"

"Yep. Many times, was one of our regular haunts when we were kids. The Sunrider Institute, where our parents worked back then, and I guess dad still does, isn't too far from there, neither was our school. And he probably didn't tell you that Olga, the old lady who runs the restaurant, is our mother's aunt, I think? Or maybe a cousin? Related in some way, anyway."

"No, he did not." Seira smiled nostalgically for a moment. "Though a town or city blanketed with one's relatives both immediate and tangential sounds a lot like the town I grew up in. My parents and grandparents ran the grocery market there; I used to help check out customers when I was about knee-high. And eat the baked goods right off the counter when no one was watching...."

"I do sometimes miss the simple life," Mila admitted. "School wasn't the greatest time, I mean, being smarter than everyone else and at the same time disabled? Was never going to make me popular. But I had Miles, and a handful of actual friends. I met one of them when we were on Cera, actually, he's a pilot cadet in the CDF now. His face when he heard that Miles was going to be his instructor, and seeing me with my Lieutenant Commander's insignia? Priceless."

"All my siblings were adults by the time I was born. I had the usual neighborhood kids I hung out with and such, when I was little, and kids I knew at school." Seira looked down into her glass of wine solemnly for a moment. "I suppose most of them are probably dead, now." She sighed. "Sorry. Didn't mean to bring the mood down."

"I get how you feel, S. Losing basically everything, it must be horrible. But, think of how many we were able to save. That has to count for something."

"Apparently for enough to possibly break records for 'youngest lieutenant'." Seira flushed olive. "Doesn't it...feel really off, really weird? Like the universe has gone mad?" She gestured to her new rank insignia, then Mila's.

Mila couldn't help but laugh. "If you were in the Federation, even with your species' lifespan, Lieutenant wouldn't be too surprising at your age. Meanwhile, I'm a Lieutenant Commander at an age where people usually start their careers as Cadets. Weird doesn't even begin to describe how it feels, honestly. But, think of it this way. You're the senior pilot on this ship. I'm the chief science officer. Those ranks? They're just shiny badges that come with those positions. Which we both worked hard for to earn. Well, okay, I technically got the job by being the only science officer. You actually earned it."

“They are rather more than ‘just shiny badges’.” Seira’s eyebrow tipped upwards. “The ranks and positions alike. Though some of it may get lost in translation a bit between cultural reference frames, I guess. But we definitely aren’t benefiting from one of the other things usually associated with a promotion in either one.” She snicked into her wine for a moment. “Considering I haven’t been paid in a year or so now.”

"In effect, it's all they are, yes. Shiny badges that symbolise authority." The Lieutenant Commander shrugged. "I'm sure if you talk to Kaiae about your concerns, she'd be happy to revoke your promotion, maybe even throw you back down to a cadet, if that's what you want?" She burst out laughing. Then, suddenly, there was a commotion at the bar as Hatham threw a drink in Savin's face. "What in the hells are they doing over there?"

"I'd say they're drunk, but they've been drinking beer, and only a few glasses, so there's no chance. No one is tense enough for it to be a fight, either....I think...?" Seira sounded just as puzzled, until she saw Hathm pin Savin's arm, take a weapon from him, and give it back. "...OK, given that bit, my guess is it's some sort of demonstration or contest. Whether for training, bragging rights, or some sort of bet is beyond me, though."

"Boys will be boys, regardless of species or age, I guess." Mila shrugged. "So long as they're not actually fighting. I'm glad to see the newcomers trying to fit in. Well, at least some of them, anyway." She picked up her glass, and, realising it was empty, poured herself some more wine. "How are you adjusting to being in charge of the flying?"

"That part is great." The sort of grin anyone who had ever interacted in the past with a pilot who had gotten their hands on something particularly fast and maneuverable would recognize crossed Seira's face, followed a moment later by confusion again at the first of Mila's comments and another curiously raised eyebrow. "'Boys will be boys'? Do human females not engage in such contests?" The grin was back for a moment again. "Because Romulans ones certainly do. What better sort of way to keep your skills sharp and ensure your comrades keep theirs sharp as well?"

"It's nothing as deep as that," Mila replied, shaking her head. "Just an old human stereotype that boys are more inclined towards reckless, brash behaviour. Like that." She pointed towards the trio at the bar. "I mean, Perez' presence in the group alone proves that bit wrong." The young scientist chuckled. "And while I have no issue at all with keeping my skills sharp, I do find it rather distasteful to waste a good drink like that."

"If Renee was here, she'd probably make them clean the place after this. Though at this rate without the ability to restock, we'll probably go through whatever was left on board before we get back to the planet, even if no one is using it as a makeshift weapon. I don't think we're planning to let people off onto Drozana, this time, during our stop there." If Drozana was not at all the sort of place a normal warbird's crew would ever be allowed to - or even comfortable to - stop at, there was a bit of regret in Seira's voice at this; somehow over the last year or two the seedy hive of chaos had become somewhat familiar and entertaining.

Mila nodded. "I asked the Captain about that, actually. The plan is for the Captain and Subcommander to transport over once we're in range of the station, while we dock to take on some supplies that she's already ordered. Once the Captain and Subcommander are back on board, and the supplies are loaded, we're off again."

"Hopefully this merchant has at least some idea of where and when his stuff went missing, or it'll be quite the trick to try and calculate their potential positions." Seira's curiosity was piqued to whatever the supplies they were meant to take on were; but being excessively nosy about mysterious orders your commanders made at a seedy stopover seemed like a bad idea; and given the small size of the crew, they'd probably find out soon enough anyway when everyone had to help load them.

"I'm sure we'll get decent info. After all, there's more to the missing cargo than just the weapons we're supposed to get." Mila shrugged. "And have you ever heard of a Ferengi who wasn't doing all he could to track his money?"

"No. It's kind of their whole 'thing'. Wouldn't really put it past them to put a tracker on every single bar of latinum, even." Seira had noticed Savin exit the bar area out of the corner of her eye, and now noticed what seemed to be Hatham and Perez.....kissing? No, the angle was off, and the grab - that was the human gesture, the 'handshake', and this seemingly baffled Seira more than the earlier tossing-of-drinks-in-faces had, eyebrow rising to Mila. "Now what do you suppose that is about?"

Mila shrugged. "I mean, it's a gesture used in many ways. Greetings, introductions, congratulations, commiserations, agreeing upon a deal, gratitude, those are just some possible meanings. In many games and competitions, a handshake between competitors or team captains, as well as the officials, is exchanged before the match as a sign of mutual respect, and a promise that all involved will abide by the rules." She noticed Hatham getting up to leave, and shrugged again. "I mean, we could just ask?"

"Oh, so sort of like some sorts of bow; the mutual respect and agreement thing." Seira said thoughtfully, then shrugged her eyebrows at Mila's next suggestion. "Sure, though...then they'll know we were watching..." Though she seemed to relax slightly as Hatham left, possibly less intimidated by Perez than her reflexive caution and decorum around anyone with a set of centurion pins.

Before Mila could even respond, Perez spotted the two of them, and came over. "Good evening Lieutenant Commander, Lieutenant." They slightly bowed, while trying their best to keep their beer from spilling. "I hope that little display just now didn't disturb you too much. Hatham and I were teaching Doctor Savin some things about self-defence."

Mila chuckled. "We're off duty. Drop the rank, right now. We were indeed wondering what you were up to, what a waste of beer that was."

Seira dipped her head slightly to Perez and gestured at an empty seat at the table she and Mila were sitting at. "The first lesson in self-defense anyone on this ship needs to learn perhaps is to avoid going up against you..." Seira grinned at Perez.

Perez laughed as they sat down. "True. Or Hatham, or Ash, or, well, pretty much anyone. But that wasn't the point, really. He wants to learn the things he was never taught, since he grew up as a Vulcan, apparently. I'll leave that to Hatham, though."

Mila nodded. "Yeah, that makes sense. Was that the handshake, then? Agreeing on the plan?"

"Oh. That. Yeah, that was something else." Perez paused for a moment. "I'm officially changing my name. Taking back my original name, really. I was re-introducing myself." They smiled. "Shizune Nakai Perez. Don't worry, though. I'll still go by just Perez."

Seira sounded out the name, fairly sure she didn't quite say it right; but then again she was also fairly sure she didn't say most of the human names quite right. "Like that?"

Perez shrugged. "Close enough. But like I said, just call me what you've called me this whole time. It's only really relevant for paperwork, I didn't want to keep carrying someone else's name. Long story."

"Explains the gesture at least," Mila remarked with a nod. "Had Seira here confused a bit."

"I've mostly ever seen humans do that when they meet someone new." Seira explained, though she flushed olive a bit at her next words. "And, well, some of us make hand to hand contact for...other...purposes; but the two of you don't strike me as a likely romantic pairing." The viridian blush if anything intensified for a moment at the tail end of the statement, hoping she wasn't insulting anyone with it.

"Ah, yes, of course." Perez struggled to contain laughter. "That is definitely not a likely pairing. I mean, don't get me wrong, I adore the man, as a friend. But that's all of it. Romantic pursuits are nowhere near the top of my priorities at the moment." They tilted their head as they took a sip of their beer. "Sorry if that's a disappointing answer for you."

"They're not at the top of mine, either, right now." Seira downed a third of her remaining glass of wine in one sip. "At the risk of sounding like a Ferengi, the top of my list right now includes 'earning money'. Considering no one in my entire family has been paid since the nova, it's the best way I can help protect them, to try and bring some in. Even if I never would've seen myself hiring out as a mercenary in a million years before all this."

"Yeah, it's definitely not an easy time," Mila agreed. "With Miles staying back and all that, I don't know. Sometimes I wonder why I'm even still here." She shrugged. "Though, the entertainment is certainly one argument," she added with a giggle.

"I don't think there's anyone here who could replace your skill set if you left, actually." Seira said. "Not to mention the collective IQ of the ship would nosedive at that point."

"Listen to the Romulan, Mila," Perez joked in agreement. "I know it's not always the best idea, but here, absolutely."

Mila shook her head in obviously fake indignation. "You know I could pull rank on both of you here. Put you to work scrubbing plasma manifolds with your toothbrushes or something. Since latrine duty isn't a thing anymore in this century."

"It would, respectfully, not be the worst discipline I have ever been subject to, by far." Seira smiled, but only ever-so-slightly, cautious between the pre-existing friendship between them, vs the intellectual understanding that Mila outranked her, vs the failure of the sort of trained reflexes that drove her reactions to the likes of Hatham and Kaiae to kick in faced with an effective agemate of a different species, whose foreign rank translated awkwardly. And I can't speak for Perez; but from what I saw of the rest of the Terrans, I doubt it would be their worst one by far, either, she thought. "And would be well worth enduring regardless, to maintain your crucial expertise on the crew."

Mila looked from Seira to Perez and back, before shaking her head. "You worry too much. I'm not going anywhere."

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