A Reunion of Souls

Posted on 18 Apr 2021 @ 1:41pm by A'Koja Dea - Private Investigator & Lieutenant JG Rhiannon Hokir

Mission: M2 - Sanctuary
Location: Promenade
Timeline: MDTBD
1715 words - 3.4 OF Standard Post Measure

Though his actual work on Kalara did not begin for some time, LT Kitaan Dhow arrived to Obsidian Command for a chance to explore the region before hand at his own leisure and develop some thoughts ahead of the planned expedition. Already he had put word in to certain parties back on Earth who would prove useful to the endeavor planet side, but for now his attention was focused on the station - in particular, an unexpected yet pleasantly familiar name he had not expected to see anytime soon.

Following the directions provided upon his inquiry to the establishment, Kit wove his way through the crowded promenade - not so overly-occupied as SB60 ever was, but from what he gathered considerably more populous than it had been some weeks before. He considered the probability of buying a gift on his way, but discarded the idea. If she was anything like the woman he remembered, trinkets would be appreciated, but presence even more so. There would be time for presents later on.

Upon reaching his destination, Kit regarded the small niche off the main course with a bemused sense of nostalgia. A far cry from the office of a Station Commander, but in its own way a mark of pride that he could respect. Seeing as things seemed calm enough, he made his way inside.

There was a desk for reception but it was barren and unattended. There were two office doors behind the desk, one darkened and empty, the other lighted and emanating with a fusion of Andorian Rock and Earth Jazz. Inside the detective could be seen, a working kerchief tied over her hair as she shuffled around between moving boxes, dancing here and there to the rhythm between steps of assembling some furniture.

"I'll have to admit, that's not the usual 'working music' I associated with you in the past, Dea."

She startled a little and then brightened with recognition, giving a beaming smile. Hopping over an upside-down desktop and some brace pieces, she moved to embrace her old friend. "Kitaan! What are you doing here?!" She asked over her music.

Kit laughed as he welcomed the hug. It was easier without rank between them to view A’koja as a friend, and seeing her seemingly happy, all things considered, was a relief. “I’ve got an assignment planet-side. It’s still in prep phase and I’m waiting on some back-up from Sol that was still getting sorted, so thought I’d head on out to scope things before hand, imagine my surprise when I found out you were here.”

"Of Course! Anthropology." That made far more sense than running around the galaxy looking for her. When he'd been her science Chief on Starbase Sixty, he'd spearheaded all the Archeology in the Calder System. "They must have struck something of especial interest if they looked you up for the job. I'm afraid I haven't caught up on the comings and goings of the Loki system yet, but I'll have my thumb on the pulse as soon as I have a place to sit." She motioned around her at the disassembled chaos. "I actually came in on a request for some translation work for Refugees. Had a look around and decided to move my office."

That earned her a genuine smile. "Never one to turn your back on a need. I heard about what happened, A'koja. I wish you'd trusted me to help out more, but I understand."

"Oh." The topic took the corners off her joy and she sombered just a touch in her eyes, knowing Kit referred to her trial and incarceration. She didn't really know what to say about it so she moved back to her reassembly task. "Yeah, I guess it is what it is now, anyway." A'Koja shrugged. "What can I say?" She'd had her reasons and she'd taken her lumps for it. A'Koja went through a ring of fastening tighteners to find the one keyed to the cams that held this piece together as Kit continued.

"I'm just glad to see you here. As to special?" Kit shrugged. "I knew some people who the team thought might be beneficial. They're still working on assembling their team - it's going to be something of a long haul for them, so they have to find individuals willing to pick up and start over rather than just taking time out for a project."

"What have they told you about the job so far?" Maybe she could get an insider's sense of the work Starfleet was doing on Obsidian via Kit. Even if he didn't know much for the moment, he'd be on one of the inside tracks soon enough.

His work wasn't top secret, though there were some details that had yet to be fully lined out. "Essentially I'm being assigned to one of the planetary regions ... I believe it's called the Itonian Bajada - the southern edge of the mountain range bordering Kalara city. The region really doesn't have much of a population to speak of, compared to the rest of the planet, so they've asked if there would be anyone willing to set up something of a semi-permanent homestead - possibly fully permanent depending on how they take to the climate. I have some connections I made over the years - turns out they were on Sol a good deal longer than me, but they're familiar with the terrain and certain members of the group are looking to branch out to find new territory."

"A settlement..." A'Koja nodded along. "That's something to be on the starting end of. Are there connections with El-aurian brethren to this project?" She was aware that the wandering race always took a keen interest in having a go at putting down a fresh root.

Kit beamed. "There's an entire El Aurian constituency on Sol that I never even knew about until I met this Rear Admiral by chance ... al Khalid. Zahir al Khalid. Apparently they were desert dwellers on one of El Auria's moons before a group of them went voyaging before, so they're used to the environment. They've managed to stay under the radar for the most part - we live a long time, but on the whole we don't generally expand population-wise - and integrated into the human natives over the years."

"It's hardly shangri-la down there from what I hear. But—" she grinned and wagged her screwdriver at him. "I suppose they'd make it Shangri-la technically by just being there. Near eternal folk hidden in distant mountains? Just a little higher on the thermostat than the earther legends."

"Something of the sort. I've told them there are environmental conditions that make the going a good deal more difficult than they're used to, but they're intrigued."

"If anyone can equal the Obsidinaites in making something out of that place, it would be your people. Hey—" She motioned to the desk she'd finished getting the legs onto, asking for a hand in flipping it right side up.

No further prompting was needed; at Dea's cue, Kit took the other end of the table and maneuvered it upright. "Some of us, anyway. Others ... well, let's just say I'm usually lucky to have a good team surrounding me."

"And maybe it will get easier. As I understand it, Starfleet intends to get the solar shielding running again and pick up where they left off in improving conditions, at least concerning the radiation levels."

"That's part of why I came out early; I want to get as much information as I can to send back to Shira so the group can be prepared for what they're coming in to, and perhaps start working on some possible solutions ahead of time."

A'Koja stepped back to look at the desk. It was beat up, the lamination scuffed badly and it had a deep chip in one side. There was a phaser burn on the right side of it and the top had a whole series of rings from the stain of a coffee mug not to mention a corner covered in stabbing marks as if from a sharp hunting knife. She reached into her tool kit and set a small digital level on the surface and then declared—"Perfect." — and dusted her hands.

“I never took you for an antique hound,” Kit chuckled. “Does the table have some history I’m unaware of, or are you just determined to give it the best possible home for its later years?”

"What? You don't like my music. You don't like my furniture." Smirking, she folded her arms. "I pulled it out of a dumpster and added some of the charm myself. It doesn't feel right to abandon it now just because I've got the latinum to rub together."

Rather than laughing again, Kit rested his hands on her shoulders. “I never said I don’t like your music - or the table, for that matter. If anything, that table is a fighter; it’s survived God knows what and deserves to be cared for."

Cared for? She was planning on adding to the scars. "It's got some life left in it."

"As for the music? The A’Koja Dea I remembered always leaned toward classical tunes and proper attire. I think I like this one better. A fancy evening out is fine, but it’s nice to have something to listen to on a regular day.”

"Hey now," She raised an eyebrow playfully. "I still clean up real nice, Mister Dhow. I just changed the playbook— Orders. Expectations. Fashion. Lawbooks. Protocols. Customs. Choreography— All fine when they suit me. But I play my own way. I know what I am."

He did chuckle then, releasing his grip and stepping back. “I’m sure you do. And since you’re holding language experience, I may be calling on you to help once I get started planet-side.”

"Well." She motioned around the moving chaos and then put her hands on her hips. "You know where to find me, now."

"That I do; in the meantime, why don't I help you finish up around here?"

"Yeah, why don't you?" She handed him a stubby combat knife. "Make yourself useful and cut open those shelf units for me. Watch the finish," she teased...