The events on the Mariner in the last mission were still haunting her. The words that Commander Ruslanovna spoke to her nestled into her. She was the former Intelligence Officer, now reduced to a mere General Officer to do the bidding of all departments. She bold her fist and shrugged, leaning backward in her chair. Keeyiro was sitting at a café with a direct view of the impressive Avalon Fleet Yards. She needed to get out of the ship after seeing her fellow mutineers getting escorted out, and there she stood still, free of any charge against her purely because she was marked as young and naive. 

“Do you mind?” A raised voice came from Keeyiro side. 

She blinked and looked in the direction of the voice, seeing two Vulcans standing there “Ehhm, pardon?” Keeyiro was not quite listening to what they were saying and looked confused at them.

“See, I told you she was not listening….” A woman stated, she has short dark black and blue hair, but her pointy ears would make a defining mark on who she is. 

A hand raises in front of the woman as the other woman still looks at Keeyiro. “We were wondering if it is okay for us to sit at your table. We are in a ….” Looking at her friend “Pickle was the word?” She saw her friend nod and looked back. Keeyiro saw the same features, a Vulcan, but with long hair tied up in a knot. “The Promenade is busy because of the upcoming Frontier Day” 

Looking around her, she didn’t even notice how crowded the area was and looked back at the two Vulcans. “Sure, take a seat, and you can use that scan code to order something” Keeyiro waved at the sticker on the table. That said, she grabbed her glass of cola and took a sip. The taste was not quite the same as what she had on Mars back in the day.

“Thank you, my name is Vaikan, and this rude person next to me is Suto Scott” Vaikan sat down showing no emotion but clearly teasing her friend. 

Suto softly hits Vaikan’s arm. “Stop it. You are asking every table whether we can sit down or not…” Sitting down at the empty chair she looked at Keeyiro. “So who are you and what puzzles your mind?” Giving a nod to Vaikan who was ordering their drink. 

Placing her glass on the table “Keeyiro Cho, my thoughts are lost in memories” It was no lie as her mind was occupied with what had recently happened to her. “But things have been hectic and drastically changing for me. So I am here to process that a bit. I honestly don’t understand the hype with the upcoming Frontier Day” She pointed out looking slowly around and seeing people busy getting gifts, with decorations and such. 

“That makes two of us. I…well we are merely here for transfer orders” Vaikan taps the PADD. “Our assignment is somewhere docked at this base. But with the chaos that is going on we …well she got overwhelmed with everything around her” Vaikan narrowed her eyes looking at her friend next to her.

“Mariner!” She slammed her hand on the table as Suto showed off her big smile. “USS Mariner, the Pathfinder-Class that just returned from Gamma Quadrant….damn I am so jealous I wish I were on board to see all the data from the Gamma Quadrant as it is based on old Vulcan navigational data! They managed to navigate on that” She was impressed by the mere idea that they pulled it off. “Gamma Quadrant is such bait, and you know how many ships get lost there?” 

“Please Suto, don’t overwhelm her also with your overwhelming personality. I somehow think that the Vulcan part in you is just the ears and nothing else” Vaikan rolled her eyes as their drinks came to the table. “But yes, we are assigned to the Mariner. This woman, while she doesn’t look like it. Is the Assistant Chief Science Officer, and I am their new Cosmology Specialist” 

“Wait what is that supposed to mean….one I am half-Vulcan and two I earned my way onto that position, after dragging my ass for years at Deep Space 17. It is time for something new, something adventurous” Suto had her fist bold in the air and the energy of a kid with too much sugar candy. 

Taking a deep breath, Keeyiro had watched them bicker for the last few minutes. “I am from the Mariner. The ship is docked nearby, so the assignment officer should be easy to spot. We lost many good officers and enlisted, so your help is welcome. Rumor has it that we are going to be shipped off to Delta Quadrant after the ship is fully repaired, and Frontier Day is over” 

The two were looking at Keeyiro a bit surprised. “Well, I didn’t expect that….” Vaikan spoke taking a sip of her Vulcan herbal tea. “But it is good to see that the ship is nearby and we can settle our equipment soon” She was a bit wondering about something. “So you were sitting here to take a moment of peace because of Mariner?” 

“I…” Keeyiro felt pressure on her and stood up. “I need to go. Have a good day, and we will see each other on the Mariner.” She took leave and stopped briefly to look over her shoulder. “You would do wise to avoid me, for your good” With that said she didn’t wait for a reply and continued her walk back to the ship where she didn’t want to be. 

“Aww Vaikan you were too much for the girl. I told you not to poke your nose in someone else business” Suto crosses her arms looking at Keeyiro that was leaving the table. “She seems like a nice kid….but also feels like she is carrying the galaxy on her shoulders” 

“Makes a person wonder what happened to her or to the ship we are being assigned to” Vaikan mind was sound in the matter. “We better be on our guard, or better say you be on your guard” 

Suto sobs a bit. “But I am always on my guard…” Looking with sad eyes at her friend “You are always so mean to me” 

Looking behind her to see a glimpse of Keeyiro “What is awaiting us…”