Not What You Planned

Posted on Wed Dec 15th, 2021 @ 4:26pm by Ensign Aenardha Sh'vastarth & Mauricio Arnaldo

Mission: The Gauntlet
Location: Mauricio's Quarters
Timeline: Prior to "Ravager Blockade"

Aenardha made her way to Mauricio’s temporary quarters. At least she felt he would hope they would be temporary as he did not want to be back aboard the Pandora. In truth, there was no way of telling just how temporary or permanent those quarters would be. At least the Pandora was on its trek back to Federation space, Earth even. From there, he could decide his future.

In the meantime, to keep him from isolating himself entirely, she hoped her newness to the Pandora and unfamiliarity with both him and his past experiences would at least be a breath of fresh air.

She depressed the chime, indicating to him that someone was calling at his door.

Mauricio was sitting in the lounge room with only a small light by his side, remembering what it was to hear to gentle hum of a Starfleet - in fact, the Pandora's - engine once more. The quarters he had been assigned were actually bigger and nicer than his old Marine bunks, an ironic detail that was not lost on him. He was now a visiting guest on the Pandora, not part of the crew, and had been given a suite. Despite the additional comfort, he did not feel more comfortable.

At the sound of the chime, he gave a frown and moved over to the doorway. With a swipe of the panel, the door opened and the room was flooded with the bright lights of the corridor, causing him to blink.

"Oh, Aenardha." Mauricio said as his eyes adjusted, "What a nice surprise."

Aenardha sensed his surroundings immediately and, accessing his vision, saw that his pupils quickly sought closure after being hit by so much light when compared to inside his quarters.

Dark and alone. It was typically how Aenardha enjoyed herself in her quarters. Though she also liked it as cold as it could get.

“Mauricio, I…” she actually did not know what to say at that moment. “I thought you might like some company. I remember what you said to me back on Paradise,” (that he did not ever want to be back aboard the Pandora). “I know being here is not what you planned.” But there was no need for him to endure this alone.

"Thank you," Mauricio managed a smile, "I would like that." He turned to allow the Ensign into his room, but then frowned, "If you're not needed, of course? I'd hate to take you away from your duties, just for me."

Aenardha entered as he made way. “I am off duty,” she said as she passed him. The door slid to a close. She tugged on the sleeve of her special-made uniform. “Just haven’t taken this off yet.” Aenardha turned to look at him, ensuring that as she looked back at herself through his eyes. “Right now, I could get called to duty at any moment.”

"Me too," Mauricio said with a slight shrug, "The Captain said I could help out if needed. I don't know how, exactly, I'm not a science type like you guys. But if there's something to shoot, I'm there."

He moved around the room and purposely looked over the couches where Aenardha was approaching so that she could see where they were. The lights were still kept low, he didn't feel like turning them up and he knew that she didn't really need it.

"Is there anything I can get you?" He asked.

“No. Thank you,” she said. There was also no need for him to look where she was going as his awareness of the placement of everything about the room was enough. She appreciated his gesture all the same. “I was actually wondering if there was something I could get you, or do for you. I thought our ‘goodbyes’ aboard Paradise was going to be our last, but…” she did not know exactly what to say next. “…I know this is not what you planned.” Aernardha finally took a seat on the couch. “If you need someone to talk to, to get whatever off your mind, I can avail myself. Also,” and though she could not see him, Aenardha was able to envision him based on how Mauricio saw himself. What she saw was someone quite fit and pretty muscular. “…I find myself in need of someone to help me with exercise. The holographic trainers do little for me. I was hoping you could assist me.”

Aenardha was hoping she would find more of a reason to explain her visit other than lending an ear and offering her counseling services. She did not want to make him feel like someone who needed fixing. And though the holographic trainers in the gym did suffice, Aenardha really did want someone real to exercise with.

Mauricio laughed nervously, "Yeah, I can do that. To be honest, since moving to Paradise I haven't been keeping to my regiment like when I was an officer. But I'm sure I can remember some training routines. What kind were you looking for?"

“Cardio,” she replied, “and endurance. You can bet, I did not win over many friends when the Academy had to create a new physical test scoring table just for me. Us Aenar are not known for strength and endurance. When I would run slower that some of the trainees and I still pass when they fail the run…well, it made me feel a bit uneasy.” She looked down, using his vision to look at herself looking down upon herself, at her arms, her legs, and how little muscle they possessed comparatively.

Mauricio smiled in response, "Yeah? Well I bet you could kick their ass in many other ways. So what if you're not the solider type?" He said factually, "If all Starfleet turned out were grunts like me, we'd be no different than the Klingons. That's what makes the Federation so formidable; we pursue all fields of excellence."

She could sense the sincerity as well as the humor in his words and Aenardha smiled in return. “True. But, in the event of a crewmate under a pile of rubble or if I need to run from one end to the other of a burning ship or to get to a runabout…that is where I am afraid of letting my crew down. I do not wish to be a…’grunt’ as you say, or,” she tapped into his awareness and envisioned him again as he saw himself, “as beastly as you. But I do want to shoot for at least the bare minimum requirements Starfleet has for its human personnel.” Aenardha paused for a short second. “Do you think that is something I can achieve?”

"Alright, we can achieve that, I just don't want you to beat yourself up over it." Mauricio replied. He furrowed his brow for a moment, "I chose the grunt life in response to my siblings dying in the Dominion War. Grief can make us feel utterly powerless and... small. So I threw myself into exercise, almost exhausted my body with training and more training, and more training still. I felt like I 'had' to become stronger because I had lost them." He looked to Aenardha seriously, "I hope you don't feel like you have to do this... because of Qaraq?"

Mauricio simply mentioning that name made her pupils dilate and her antennae stand erect. That longing for Mr. Qaraq to still be alive and close by came rushing back. Aenardha was being truthful though when she said, “No.” She maintained composure. “I want to do this because I do not like thinking the Academy paid me any special favors just for being Aenar. That and...” she thought back to the event putting her on the path to Starfleet, “…I too know what it means to feel powerless and…small.”

"The Academy rarely does anyone any favours," Mauricio said, "They saw something in you that we needed in Service, that's why you're here. But I get you, there's no harm in putting some muscle with that mind." He smiled, "When do you normally wake up? Ship time?"

Aenardha was drawing upon that conclusion; that the creation of a new PT standard just for the Aenar was not doing her any favors save for making it easier for her to get into Starfleet just to put her other skills to good use.

“0600,” she said in reply. “That gives me two hours for a morning routine before I go on duty. If it is a morning PT session you are planning, I can wake up at 0500 instead.” She felt that would benefit Mauricio as well as there would be less of the crew he would have to interact with at that time; less opportunities for him to have to deal with unwanted and troubling memories.

"Yeah, I usually get to the gym by six." He frowned, "Well, I used to. I'm assuming I can still access Deck five. I'll have to check it with the Captain, but we can meet whenever's good for you?"

“Your request, along with my recommendation, should prove to be no problem. Especially considering the next leg of our journey.” Aenardha was sure he did not want to be reminded of past experiences aboard the Pandora, so she did not bother making mention of anything regarding experiences or memories. Still, she hoped she could help him make new memories aboard the Pandora. “Tomorrow morning then? Or is that too ambitious?” She looked him in the eye, assured by looking back at herself through his vision. “I would like to get started soon. Else I may put it off indefinitely,” she said with a weak smile.

"Tomorrow morning, Cadet!" He playfully commanded, a smile on his face. "That's an order!"

Aenardha stood. Her smile a little larger. “Copy that,” she said.