Installation Details
Posted on 06 Feb 2024 @ 3:54pm by Chief Petty Officer Ibis Xeri & Lieutenant Louke Haille
Mission:
M4 - Falling Out
Location: The Nook and Cranny Coffee Shop, Promenade, OC
Timeline: TBD
2138 words - 4.3 OF Standard Post Measure
Louke stirred his cup idly as he waited for Ibis to arrive at the little coffee shop. Situated in a half sized space set into a cut back between two larger shops it had no signage but was affectionately known as “The Nook and Cranny”. His thoughts wandered over various matters, cycling back to the issue at hand with each warbling rotation. He happened to glance up in time to catch the slender frame entering the shop and smiled, rising to greet the woman. “Ms. Xeri, so glad you could join me.”
Ibis was relieved that the shop wasn’t too busy. She glanced back and forth, making mental notes about who was sitting where and what the layout of the place was. She was in her vintage science uniform and hugging her arms close, carrying a padd she had brought along from the office. She was relieved when Lieutenant Haille stood to greet her. It was so much less terrifying than looking at everyone and guessing who he was. But now that she saw him, his face struck a chord in her memory. He had been on the Pathfinder bridge crew. She hadn’t put his name with his face until now.
“Lieutenant Haille? I received your memo,” she said as she met him. Her voice was small, and hoarse “Looks like I found the right place then.”
”Yes, ma’am.” Holding his cup, Louke stepped back, allowing Ibis to choose where she would sit before joining her at the table. “How have you been adjusting to the station?” He motioned for the Barista who had been assisting him earlier.
Ibis exhaled slowly. There was so much to adjust to. “Okay, I think.” She offered a smile that betrayed that she was very far from adjusted. “I’m glad to be safely aboard. It’s very different.”
”I can understand that sentiment. Just know that if there is anything Operations can do to adjust your residence to a more comfortable state, let us know.” He finished off his coffee as the Barista arrived. “I’ll take another of the same,” he told him. “And put anything Ms. Xeri requests on my tab; she is my guest today.”
”Of course, Lieutenant.” The young man smiled before turning to the lady. “Would you like a menu, ma’am?”
Ibis shook her head. She was just overwhelmed with decisions and choices since returning to civilization. A menu was only going to make her freeze up. “Just a hot green tea with honey,” she whispered. “Thank you.”
”I’ll be right back with that.”
As the young man headed off, Louke turned to Ibis, studying her in the soft lighting of the interior. She still appeared gaunt from her experience, but not nearly as haunted as she had the first time he had seen her when she toured the Pathfinder’s bridge with the children. “You may not know this about me, but I have lived quite the varied lives. I’ve had to start and restart a few times over the past decades, so the idea of finding yourself at a place of rebuilding what you once knew is somewhat familiar.”
Ibis nodded slightly, indicating she was listening.
“I’m El Aurian by birth, though I was raised by the Terran merchant who found me as a child. I never knew my natural family - I assume they were lost as a part of my planet’s destruction and it was fate alone that even let me be found. As a young man, I followed my adopted father’s career as a Merchant, working in the Bajoran sector. I found myself involved with the resistance, helping to get targeted individuals off the planet and away from Cardassian influence. Unfortunately, I ended up on the wrong end myself. I …”
He paused, knowing how close she had come to his own fate. “I lost my wife in the process, and nearly my own life, but I had friends who worked to extricate me and sent me back to Earth. By that time, my adopted parents were long gone and it was a grandson and his family who took me in. After I recovered, I decided a pivot was what I needed and I joined Starfleet. The rest, as they say, is history, save that I often find myself wondering about my wife’s family. We stayed in touch for a short time, but in the changes, it has been difficult to stay on top of communication.”
Ibis looked down into the table, thinking deeply. El Aurians living with less long-lived species had it rough almost by definition. They would have to get used to the idea of the people they grew up with never being able to grow old with them. She thought about how Porter’s life had changed, and changed, and changed again in his very human life span. Louke Haille seemed well adjusted to it all. Porter seemed more adjusted than she’d ever known him to be. She just felt her own nervous system ringing through herself and she felt out of control of it all of the time. “I’m sorry,” she said at last. “About your wife.”
”Thank you. She was much like you - a fighter who was not willing to back down regardless. And I’ve had a good amount of time to come to terms with my loss. One thing I am familiar with is that sometimes having something of a touchstone helps with the grounding process.” He pulled a slim chain from his collar, unhooking the charm and handing it over to her. “This was a piece that Talis made. Her brother gave it to me before he headed back and I’ve kept it always. It’s … I never truly understood it - a figure from Bajoran myth. She always said I was a very poor student when it came to the abstract.”
She handled it in her fingers and looked at the Bajoran pendant form before passing it back to him. “I don’t know what I would have to hold on to. I just… hold Ikemba. I… have a drawer, with my shoes– Laura’s sandals. Dr. Winetrout,” she tried to clarify. “It hurts when I look at them, but I… I can’t stop looking at them. And I have Porter, to hold.” She felt she should be a lot more alright, for those she had managed to keep. “To hold me.”
Louke’s smile was gentle. “That is a good thing to have. I understand also, from Mr. Brek, that there is a piece of artwork being installed on the station that has some connection for you as well from before your ordeal?”
“Oh, yeah. Well, not for me, exactly.” She cleared her throat and paused as her tea made it to her at the table and she nodded politely to the server.
“I’m sorry. I’m afraid in the midst of the conversation I missed the specifics of the connection.”
“The artist, John Wallace, he was Porter’s father. He passed away years ago, before I ever knew Porter. He made huge public installation art. The unfinished wing was a piece of an installation that was left in progress when he died. The wing is something I wanted to surprise Porter with.”
“Ah,” Louke nodded. “Well, I can say that command has approved transference of the piece to the station and housing it in the Aviary wing. It will be in a good location from the promenade, and available for any who wish to observe.”
Ibis’ eyes grew bright. “That’s wonderful.”
“Unfortunately, as Mr. Brek did not clear the purchase with Command before hand, I was unable to secure a full coverage of the purchase cost. I have arranged for the incidentals of installment and upkeep, but I am afraid the good Merchant will be settled with the lion’s share of a bill he had hoped to see resolved.”
The little betazoid bit her lip. “That is quite the hit for him.” She felt sorry for having caught Brek up in the middle of things, financially. He was nothing but kind and more than fair to her, and now it seemed he had gotten stuck with footing the bill as thanks for all the trouble he had gone to. Her mind set to working as she took up her tea for a slow sip.
“I know,” Louke murmured. “I had hoped to secure more coverage, but with the recent changes and all, I am afraid Command believes they have other more pressing matters. I am only hoping what I managed to arrange might at least offer an appeasement, along with a promise to revisit the matter of reimbursement in the future.”
She turned to watch the other patrons as she considered the problem. Louke didn’t seem in any kind of rush to make it back to his post and she felt herself slowing down too, just in his presence, and with the dilemma at hand to puzzle about.
“I had hoped to commission some kind of dedication plaque in the installation. To commemorate everyone we lost from the sunrise.” She sipped on her drink again, feeling the outline of something she might be able to do. “You said it will be in a very public place? Easy to access?”
“The Aviary is just past that way - it opens onto a large park and provides an ideal display location for a piece of that size. Most everyone will pass it on the regular.”
Her eyes settled on the shops in view along the promenade. There had to be hundreds of them. Even if they each only gave a little… it should be more than enough. The real trouble would be pitching it in a way so as not to make it seem to Brek to be like charity on his behalf. “I think…” She smiled, a little bit of her troublemaker youth coming back to her. “I know where to find a few project underwriters.”
Louke’s eyes gleamed. “Oh really? Do tell - if there’s anything I can do to assist, you have my guarantee.”
She set her cup to one side and shifted forward over the table in conspiratorial fashion, as if her voice wasn’t already barely detectable. “Well, I need a project pitching demo, with the mock up of the installation, and a pedestal installed on the walk towards it, where the names of contributing businesses might be inscribed. You know, tastefully.”
”Ah - a chance for the merchants of Obisidian Command to extend a Hero’s welcome to the Sunrise crew, and Major Porter in particular. I will put you in contact with my Assistant, LTJG Rhiannon Hokir. She is the creative mind behind our department and will be best suited to see that you have exactly what you need, and just how to present the project in its best light. Of course, Mr. Brek’s name will be present as well, seeing as he provided the incentive.”
“Great. Now we just have to keep this a secret from both Porter and Mr. Brek.”
Louke chuckled. “I will inform the good merchant that Command is taking his request under consideration, and that a reply may be somewhat delayed, due to the current circumstances. That way, if minds change, we may be able to adjust what is required, or use the excess to set up a support fund for the children.”
Ibis nodded, although she wasn’t sure what putting aside money for the kids would accomplish, now that they were provided for… She sighed. Thinking about what to do with an overabundance of good towards installing a piece of art- it was too much to believe was real. “I can’t wait,” she said, “I really can’t wait to see it in person. Will you let me know the minute it arrives?”
“Absolutely.” Louke pulled out a padd and jotted down a note. “I have your credentials added to the project, so as soon as any update regarding the installment is added, you will be notified. And don’t hesitate to send me any questions. If I can’t get back to you, my assistant will make sure you have the answers you need.”
Having come to the bottom of her tea and the end of a nice conversation, Ibis stood. “Thank you for setting this up, this meeting, the installation, working with your department. Everything.”
His smile was genuine, eyes crinkling as Louke nodded. “I’m more than happy to be of assistance; and I must thank you for providing a solution to repay Mr. Brek for his generosity.”
Ibis put a finger to her lips. Mum was the word...
