Part of USS Triumph: No Designation and Bravo Fleet: We Are the Borg

7 – No Designation

Stardust City, Freecloud
June 2401
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A middle-aged Orion woman lay in bed sound asleep as the morning light began to rise, beginning to shine through the room’s window. The woman squinted her eyes before turning her face in the other direction as the sun showed brightly on her face. Though she tried to get some more sleep it was useless, letting out a moan she rolled onto her back staring up at the ceiling.

She was lost in thought as she lay there until she decided to sit up, things weren’t going to change just because she thought they would. Her long black hair was a disheveled mess and she looked like she hadn’t slept much in the last week. Standing up grabbing the robe that lay draped upon the chair across from the bed and put it on.

She walked over to the large window that overlooked Stardust City, the largest city on Freecloud. Even this early in the morning it was just as busy as its nightlife. Many different species worked and lived here while there were a lot of visitors coming to enjoy what Freecloud has to offer. While not everything was as it seemed on the surface, there was a seedy underbelly dealing with anything you would find on the black market. 

She stood at the window for a few moments longer just taking in the view before walking into the washroom to get somewhat more presentable. She slipped into something comfortable and concealing yet looked as if she was a businesswoman. Combing her hair and putting it in a ponytail that laid against her back.

She walked out of the washroom out of the bedroom and into the living room where she found someone sitting on one of her sofas. She let out a small scream before realizing it was her associate. “How many times do I have to tell you to warn me before just letting yourself in.”

Walking past him she walked to the replicator. “Coffee, black.”

“What’s the fun in that,” the older Klingon man replied with his hearty deep laugh. He was tall and stocky, giving that intimidating look where people always seem to think twice before crossing him. There were always those who thought they could push him and then instantly regret their decision. Even though they had a good working relationship, she didn’t even want to cross him.

She rolled her eyes after grabbing her cup of coffee walking past him yet again and headed towards the window to look out. She took a sip as she watched the city below the skyline apartment building. She knew this home would only be temporary, even though she enjoyed the place she had called home for quite some time. “Is everything in order?”

“Awe no breakfast first?”

Glancing back at him with an annoyed look before looking back out of the window. “Is food the only thing you ever think about?” She asked with a tone of annoyance in her voice. She had never known someone who could eat as much as he could, shaking her head before taking another drink.

“Oh you know me so well,” he chuckled.

“Go help yourself like you always do,” she replied after a moment of silence. “You know what I like,” she added while still facing the window drinking her coffee. She could hear him ordering the food from the replicator, he always seemed to order enough food to feed twelve people. She couldn’t help but roll her eyes as she listened to everything he ordered.

“It is ready.”

Turning she looked at the table shaking her head before walking over and sitting down. “Are you going to finish all that?” She asked before holding up a hand. “On second thought don’t even answer that.” Picking up her fork she began to slowly eat her meal that he replicated as he seemed to go nuts on his food.

She wasn’t going to lie she would miss the morning breakfast and chit-chat about different things they had just about every morning. They both ate in silence though he was offly loud when he ate which she did find annoying at times but learned to ignore. Upon finishing she stood up from her chair and grabbed her dishes along with what he had finished bringing them to the replicator for recycling. She ordered another cup of coffee while she was there before walking over to one of the sofas and sitting down.

“I don’t know how your species can handle most of that food,” she commented, breaking the silence.

“We were built for it,” he replied, letting out a hearty laugh at her observation. “Though I wonder the same thing about other species and their food choices.”

“Touche,” she said as she sat there drinking her second cup of coffee while waiting for him to finish. After he finished he made sure to put the dishes in the replicator so she wouldn’t have a cow. She didn’t like to leave things messy and preferred to keep things tidy with things in their place. He then came over and sat next to her with a big grin on his face as he was satisfied now that he stuffed his face.

“So back to my question, is everything in order?” She asked, cutting straight to the chance.

“Can’t even let my stomach settle geez,” he replied before laughing before raising his hands. “Yes, everything is in order.”

“Good,” she replied, working her jaw for a moment thinking. “What are you going to do afterward?”

“I plan on staying on Freecloud, someone got to keep an eye on things.” He paused for a moment, “Plus, I don’t think they will find a better bouncer than me.” He added as she just nodded before taking a drink of her coffee and bringing it down to her lap, holding it with both hands as if it was going to try and escape.

“Well, I better get going as I have things to take care of.” He said before standing up from the chair he looked at her. “Will I see you tonight?” He asked.

“Of course,” she said with a soft smile.

“Great.”

She watched him leave her apartment leaving her there alone to her thoughts again. Getting up from the sofa she walked over to the door that led out to the balcony, opening it up she walked out onto it and sat in one of the chairs. It was a beautiful day with a slight breeze keeping things from being too warm. She would spend the next few hours spending it out here reading a book or just watching the hustle and bustle of Stardust City.

Comments

  • What I like here is the world-building - we get a sense of the scope of what is around us and how it looks and feels. I jumped right along with her when the Klingon appeared - I appreciated their back and forth as old friends, but there's also something else going on here in the impending twists and turns that are coming our way. Whatever is coming tonight will be interested and I am looking forward to it!

    November 10, 2023
  • This was a neat side scene giving us a neat bit of world building! We don't know what is ready, just that it is. It's a threat or a promise waiting for us, the dear readers, and a Chekov's Gun to be used against are brave heroes when they arrive - this promise of something being in order and ready. The descriptors and personality for our Orion and Klingon guests were also pretty evocative, as was the way they spoke, giving us a relationship that is clearly old and well-worn, trusted colleagues even. Looking forward to seeing how these two factor into the rest of the story.

    November 24, 2023