DEV BUILD (branch: master) - NOT FOR PUBLIC USE
 

Check out our latest Fleet Action!

 

Part of Starbase Bravo: The Homefront and Bravo Fleet: The Lost Fleet

Perfect Strangers

Junior Officer Quarters, Sector Kilo-Indigo
March 2401
1 likes 542 views

Dawa hummed to herself, a tune she couldn’t place, as she meandered around her quarters and poked at the furnishings and pre-installed tchotchkes. Her new roommate was due to arrive at any time, and the anticipation had completely ruined her ability to focus on anything, so she settled on making sure all the cleaning bots had completed their tasks correctly (they had).

Her own meager belongings were stashed on the wall and shelf next to her bed, but she had a single plant on a low table in the center of the common area. Ideally, it wouldn’t be hers for much longer; she’d procured it from Joshua’s vast collection when she’d asked his suggestion for a nice, easy-to-care-for plant to present to an unknown roommate who may or may not know the first thing about horticulture. Hopefully, it would be well-received.


Scooting down the corridor dragging her belongings behind her, a young Orion looked more than a little flustered as she nearly collapsed into the doorway of what (she hoped) was finally the right address. She’d tried three separate quarters already and none of them had been hers – much to her embarrassment. Dropping the strap of her duffel bag, she took a deep breath and then slammed a hand onto the wall controls.

Dawa literally jumped at the sound of the chime and trotted across the room to manually disengage the lock, so that she was face-to-face with the stranger when the doors slid open. “Hi! I’m Dawa Vlček!”

She restrained herself from actually hopping up and down in excitement when she saw the young woman’s luggage. “You must be my new roommate! Can I help you with your bag?”

This new woman, supposedly her roommate, was a bit of an assault on the green-skinned youngster’s senses, but that didn’t matter to her anymore. She was home, and she couldn’t wait to sit down and put her feet up. “Ummm, sure? If you wouldn’t mind?” she smiled sheepishly. “I’m Dalaa,” she added whilst stepping aside to accept the gracious offer.

“Nice to meet you, Dalaa. Ha! Dalaa and Dawa, that might get confusing.”

Dawa lifted the duffel bag with a grunt and marched it over to the previously-empty bedroom. “I’ll just put this on the bed for ya,” she called over her shoulder. “There’s a small replicator to your right if you want a drink.”

There was a soft whump sound of the bag on the bed, then Dawa darted back out of the room, still talking. “Your tattoos are beautiful, by the way! Do they mean anything?”

Dalaa looked a little overwhelmed at the continued interest in her by this new roommate of hers, but in a way, it was actually quite… nice? She felt this way because she wasn’t used to people being so amenable to her, and it was actually a refreshing change, even if she wasn’t entirely sure how to deal with it all. Running a finger under her dark, red lips, the Orion coyly smiled.

“They’re a celebration,” she told,  “in honor of my heritage, and my ability to escape the slavery of my ancestors.” Gesturing to the small diamonds beneath her eyes, her coy smile was replaced with a genuine beam of excitement. “These are the most recent,” she added, “honoring my immediate family members that I hope to liberate in the years to come.”

Dawa was finally rendered speechless for a brief moment as she tried to process the implication of Dalaa’s words. “Wow,” she said, fidgeting her hands in front of her. “That is some heavy stuff.”

Unsure of how to properly respond, she reminded herself: ‘When in doubt, be sincere.’ “Well, Dalaa,” she said, “I sincerely hope you do.”

Not wanting to draw the moment out into awkwardness, she quickly turned back to the center table and retrieved the plant she’d left there. “By the way, this is for you! It’s a welcome gift! If you want it. It’s an Earth plant called Zamioculcas zamiifolia. My friend Josh, who’s a big plant geek, says it’s really easy to take care of.”

Reaching out, Dalaa took the gift and smiled in thanks, before a sudden realization dawned. “I’ve never had to keep anything alive before,” she smirked, “other than myself of course. Thank you. That’s very thoughtful. I’m sorry I don’t have anything for you…”

“That’s fine!” Dawa waved her hand in dismissal. “Your presence is plenty enough! I’ll tell you what, if you really want to, you can pay me back by hitting up one of the bars or holosuites with me later. It would be great to finally have another friend on the station! None of my squad members are interested in ‘fraternizing’,”—she emphasized the word with air quotes—”Outside of duty hours. And Josh is great, but our schedules conflict a lot, plus I need more than one person to socialize with, or else I risk completely sapping their life force! Metaphorically speaking, of course.

“Oh, and protip: you can program one of the cleaning bots to automatically water that li’l guy for you! Some people consider that cheating, but I say if you’re gonna cheat anything you might as well cheat death!”

At that moment, the strangest thing happened. It was as if the young Orion’s enter demeanour changed with the smile that filled her green-skinned face. “Later?” she shook her head. ”Why wait? I’m not due on duty again until tomorrow and I’m told there is a whole station of eligible young adults that can have the life force sapped from them after a drink or two…” with that, Dalaa grabbed her new roomie by the hand and dragged her towards the door.

“Oooooookay! Well!” Dawa allowed herself to be dragged along and out the door by her reinvigorated roommate. “I thought you might need to rest up first, but now is good!”

She wasn’t sure if Dalaa was being facetious and following up on her hyperbole, or if the woman just didn’t understand metaphors and was actually ready to wreak havoc via life energy (she’d heard conflicting accounts of questionable veracity about Orion women), but she was exited to find out.

Comments

  • FrameProfile Photo

    I really liked reading about the blossoming of this new friendship. With all of the insights you've shared into their backgrounds, I can tell they're going to be fast friends. It was a shame to hear Dawa has been a little isolated from her squad members. Dalaa describing Dawa as an "assault on the senses" is a hell of a character description. (Also, I was deeply amused by the image of Dalaa stepping into three wrong quarters. Ha!)

    May 19, 2023
  • FrameProfile Photo

    This was a really fun read. The short paragraphs made it easy to read, as I sit here scrolling through your story on my phone. I really felt the social interaction by the way you described the characters, and how they bounced off one another.

    May 20, 2023

Load Time: 0.46 seconds

Total SQL Queries: 105

2 SELECT post_id, meta_key, meta_value FROM wp_postmeta WHERE post_id IN (78806) ORDER BY meta_id ASC
1 SELECT wp_posts.* FROM wp_posts WHERE 1=1 AND wp_posts.post_name = '78806' AND wp_posts.post_type = 'story' ORDER BY wp_posts.post_date DESC
1 SELECT post_id, meta_key, meta_value FROM wp_postmeta WHERE post_id IN (47905) ORDER BY meta_id ASC
1 SELECT wp_posts.ID FROM wp_posts INNER JOIN wp_postmeta ON ( wp_posts.ID = wp_postmeta.post_id ) WHERE 1=1 AND ( ( wp_postmeta.meta_key = 'member_user' AND wp_postmeta.meta_value = '2374' ) ) AND wp_posts.post_type = 'member' AND ((wp_posts.post_status = 'publish')) GROUP BY wp_posts.ID ORDER BY wp_posts.post_date DESC LIMIT 0, 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 47905 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT post_id, meta_key, meta_value FROM wp_postmeta WHERE post_id IN (47074) ORDER BY meta_id ASC
1 SELECT wp_posts.* FROM wp_posts INNER JOIN wp_postmeta ON ( wp_posts.ID = wp_postmeta.post_id ) WHERE 1=1 AND ( ( wp_postmeta.meta_key = 'member_user' AND wp_postmeta.meta_value = '2374' ) ) AND wp_posts.post_type = 'member' AND ((wp_posts.post_status = 'publish')) GROUP BY wp_posts.ID ORDER BY wp_posts.post_date DESC
1 UPDATE `wp_postmeta` SET `meta_value` = '542' WHERE `post_id` = 78806 AND `meta_key` = 'views'
1 SHOW FULL COLUMNS FROM `wp_postmeta`
1 SELECT meta_id FROM wp_postmeta WHERE meta_key = 'views' AND post_id = 78806
1 SELECT user_id, meta_key, meta_value FROM wp_usermeta WHERE user_id IN (1759) ORDER BY umeta_id ASC
1 SELECT user_id, meta_key, meta_value FROM wp_usermeta WHERE user_id IN (1036) ORDER BY umeta_id ASC
1 SELECT wp_users.* FROM wp_users WHERE 1=1 AND wp_users.ID IN (1036,1759,2374) ORDER BY user_login ASC
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 15539 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT post_id, meta_key, meta_value FROM wp_postmeta WHERE post_id IN (34940) ORDER BY meta_id ASC
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 34940 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 135915 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 135016 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 85186 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 45547 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 134177 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 64893 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 50922 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 49736 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 135423 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 141086 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT post_id, meta_key, meta_value FROM wp_postmeta WHERE post_id IN (141086) ORDER BY meta_id ASC
1 SELECT wp_posts.* FROM wp_posts INNER JOIN wp_postmeta ON ( wp_posts.ID = wp_postmeta.post_id ) WHERE 1=1 AND ( ( wp_postmeta.meta_key = 'member_user' AND wp_postmeta.meta_value = '2644' ) ) AND wp_posts.post_type = 'member' AND ((wp_posts.post_status = 'publish')) GROUP BY wp_posts.ID ORDER BY wp_posts.post_date DESC
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 120200 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT ID, post_name, post_parent, post_type FROM wp_posts WHERE post_name IN ('donate') AND post_type IN ('page','attachment')
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 86412 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 13085 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT post_id, meta_key, meta_value FROM wp_postmeta WHERE post_id IN (122202) ORDER BY meta_id ASC
1 SELECT wp_posts.* FROM wp_posts WHERE ID IN (122202)
1 SELECT wp_posts.ID FROM wp_posts INNER JOIN wp_postmeta ON ( wp_posts.ID = wp_postmeta.post_id ) INNER JOIN wp_postmeta AS mt1 ON ( wp_posts.ID = mt1.post_id ) WHERE 1=1 AND ( ( wp_postmeta.meta_key = 'event_status' AND wp_postmeta.meta_value = 'In Progress' ) AND ( mt1.meta_key = 'event_type' AND mt1.meta_value = 'fleet_action' ) ) AND wp_posts.post_type = 'events' AND ((wp_posts.post_status = 'publish')) GROUP BY wp_posts.ID ORDER BY wp_posts.post_title DESC LIMIT 0, 1
1 SELECT post_id, meta_key, meta_value FROM wp_postmeta WHERE post_id IN (140618,140922) ORDER BY meta_id ASC
1 SELECT t.*, tt.*, tr.object_id FROM wp_terms AS t INNER JOIN wp_term_taxonomy AS tt ON t.term_id = tt.term_id INNER JOIN wp_term_relationships AS tr ON tr.term_taxonomy_id = tt.term_taxonomy_id WHERE tt.taxonomy IN ('group_news_category') AND tr.object_id IN (140618, 140922) ORDER BY t.name ASC
1 SELECT wp_posts.* FROM wp_posts WHERE ID IN (140922,140618)
1 SELECT wp_posts.ID FROM wp_posts WHERE 1=1 AND wp_posts.post_type = 'group_news' AND ((wp_posts.post_status = 'publish')) ORDER BY wp_posts.post_date DESC LIMIT 0, 2
1 SELECT post_id, meta_key, meta_value FROM wp_postmeta WHERE post_id IN (68917) ORDER BY meta_id ASC
1 SELECT post_id, meta_key, meta_value FROM wp_postmeta WHERE post_id IN (73483) ORDER BY meta_id ASC
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 68917 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT post_id, meta_key, meta_value FROM wp_postmeta WHERE post_id IN (68916) ORDER BY meta_id ASC
1 SELECT post_id, meta_key, meta_value FROM wp_postmeta WHERE post_id IN (72241) ORDER BY meta_id ASC
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 72241 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT post_id, meta_key, meta_value FROM wp_postmeta WHERE post_id IN (70888) ORDER BY meta_id ASC
1 SELECT post_id, meta_key, meta_value FROM wp_postmeta WHERE post_id IN (73485) ORDER BY meta_id ASC
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 73485 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT post_id, meta_key, meta_value FROM wp_postmeta WHERE post_id IN (73481) ORDER BY meta_id ASC
1 SELECT wp_posts.ID FROM wp_posts INNER JOIN wp_postmeta ON ( wp_posts.ID = wp_postmeta.post_id ) WHERE 1=1 AND ( ( wp_postmeta.meta_key = 'member_user' AND wp_postmeta.meta_value = '2644' ) ) AND wp_posts.post_type = 'member' AND ((wp_posts.post_status = 'publish')) GROUP BY wp_posts.ID ORDER BY wp_posts.post_date DESC LIMIT 0, 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 73481 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 69902 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 45969 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 99730 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 34941 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 59583 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 84478 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 84069 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 90425 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 64713 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 69124 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 27036 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 15311 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT post_id, meta_key, meta_value FROM wp_postmeta WHERE post_id IN (34941) ORDER BY meta_id ASC
1 SELECT wp_posts.* FROM wp_posts INNER JOIN wp_postmeta ON ( wp_posts.ID = wp_postmeta.post_id ) WHERE 1=1 AND ( ( wp_postmeta.meta_key = 'member_user' AND wp_postmeta.meta_value = '0' ) ) AND wp_posts.post_type = 'member' AND ((wp_posts.post_status = 'publish')) GROUP BY wp_posts.ID ORDER BY wp_posts.post_date DESC
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 76499 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 66732 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT post_id, meta_key, meta_value FROM wp_postmeta WHERE post_id IN (78445) ORDER BY meta_id ASC
1 SELECT user_id, meta_key, meta_value FROM wp_usermeta WHERE user_id IN (2644) ORDER BY umeta_id ASC
1 SELECT * FROM wp_users WHERE ID = '2644' LIMIT 1
1 SELECT user_id, meta_key, meta_value FROM wp_usermeta WHERE user_id IN (2374) ORDER BY umeta_id ASC
1 SELECT * FROM wp_users WHERE ID = '2374' LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 78445 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 70888 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 68916 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT user_id, meta_key, meta_value FROM wp_usermeta WHERE user_id IN (2222) ORDER BY umeta_id ASC
1 SELECT * FROM wp_users WHERE ID = '2222' LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 51876 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 98656 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 97998 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 106254 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 28801 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 66848 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 54182 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 92044 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 98862 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 101386 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 78989 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 97973 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 70939 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 85090 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 140049 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 84910 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 131413 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 135712 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 136694 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 138038 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 12908 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 136318 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 45970 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 74462 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 45909 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 45973 LIMIT 1
1 SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE ID = 12371 LIMIT 1