A Multiple Question
Posted on Sat Apr 12th, 2025 @ 1:15am by Lieutenant Julianna ("Jules") Raihan & Lieutenant Daegan Baas
2,715 words; about a 14 minute read
Mission:
A Silence of Friends
Location: Private Quarters of Daegan Baas, USS Thunderbird
Timeline: MD 1 - 1700
After getting off duty Daegan had stopped by his office to make sure things ship shape and picked up the reports he needed review and the next set of duty rosters to send up to the XO. Yawning as he reached his quarters he walked in, set the padds aside and pulled off his uniform. Taking his commbadge off his jacket he tapped it, "Baas to Raihan. Jules...any plans tonight?"
"Give me an hour to finish with what I'm doing," Jules said, smiling, as her dark gaze remained on the report in front of her, "and I'm free. What did you have in mind?"
He let out a breath and tried to release some tension. "After everything that went down today? A good meal, a friendly face...maybe a movie?"
"Mmm hmm," Jules said. Typically, her attention was half on the screen in front of her, half not, but the idea of a movie caught her attention completely. "You know, that actually sounds good. Where are we doing this?"
He thought for a moment, he really didn't care one way or the other but since it was his idea he figured he'd better host. "How about my place? I will replicate dinner and you can pick the show."
There had been an easy camaraderie between them back at the Academy with just the hint of something more; spending time with him off ship had reignited that spark. And it was that spark combined with her natural tendency to take chances, that led her to say 'yes' when prudence would have dictated otherwise. "Alright," she said. "I'll find something."
He was looking forward to there 'date' even though they had just started seeing each other. Since starting to take their friendship to the next stage, they had only seen each other in public setting. He was was standing in the doorway between his living area and his bedroom when the realization that she was coming to his quarters. Stopping with his boot half off his head darted around his quarters. "SHIT!"
With a kick he sent his boot flying as he bolted back into his living area...scrambling.
...Bourbon back to the shelf.
...Dishes back into the replicator..."Recycle".
...PADDS off the coffee table and stacked on the desk.
...Clothes off the couch and into the closet.
...Made the bed.
...Pulled the other boot off and placed both under the edge of the bed
...Quick shower and a fresh set of clothes. Nice loose fitting linen shirt (sleeves rolled) and faded jeans.
Taking a deep breath to relax he moved to the replicator to get dinner ready. "Computer, Spaghetti and meatballs for 2...no three", just in case, "Mixed greens salad for 2 with onions, tomatoes, black olives with an Italian dressing, small block of Parmesan cheese in a cheese grinder and fresh garlic bread. As each item was replicated he placed them on the table and as the room began to fill with the aromas he replicated plates, utensils, and wine glasses.
[Jules Place]
Jules stood in front of her extensive wardrobe, with her hands on her hips, and thought about the evening to come. As an undercover operative, she collected clothing that could be thrown together to portray any number of people. She thought of them as costumes, the wardrobes of her alter egos, but generally not something she wore in her free time. She went with a pair of form-fitting black slacks and a nubby white, long-sleeved top that extended down over the tops of her hands. She left her hair loose and the makeup minimal. Casual but put together. She finished it off with a pair of slip on, black suede casual flats.
The harder part was picking a movie. She tended toward the offbeat stuff; she ignored favorites for art house movies and had an extensive collection from a number of different worlds. When she was working on a cover, she tended to focus on things written and produced on that alter ego's home world. At the moment though she was just herself. Theme, she thought. I need a theme. Ooh ... security ... detectives.
A Ferengi who opens up his own detective agency on a deep space station ... A retelling of Sherlock Holmes and Watson with a Vulcan cast as Homes and a Bolian as his sidekick ... and The Hound of the Baskervilles, a 1921 version from Earth. With that decided, she sent her choices to Daegan's quarters and made the short walk down the corridor to his quarters.
[Daegan's Quarters]
He stepped back to look at his handy work when the chime sounded.
Jules waited outside and realized, just as she pressed the chime that she had no gift. So, rather than wait, she dashed back to her quarters where she dug through her supply chest, also intended for her alter egos, and fished out a really good bottle of wine. Nodding in satisfaction, she left her quarters a second time and headed back down the corridor, smiling as she saw Daegan in the corridor.
Daegan could have sworn he had heard something in the corridor but looking down the corridor he saw nothing, but after he turned around though...there was definitely something there. Yeah....
He stood there watching her as she got closer. Knowing here tendency to prefer Earth's 20th century entertainment, he remembered a comedian from late in that period...Crystal he thought trying to remember the name but stopped himself as the comics routine would have been too corny for the situation. Instead he smiled. "You look great."
"Thanks," Jules said. She smiled, the way you smile when the pleasure lights you up from the inside but you're a bit shy about showing it, more in the eyes than the slight curve of the lips. "So do you." She stood in the corridor for a moment and then stretched out her hands. "Well ... inviting me in or are we going to the lounge?"
Shaken back out of his being lost in her eyes and back to the here and now. "OH YEAH...everything is all set. Thanks for bringing the wine to I had just replicated the glasses an was about to pick some wine but I could have sworn I heard something in the corridor."
"Weird," Jules murmured as she followed Daegan back into his quarters; she handed over the bottle of wine, purchased not replicated, and took a look around the common area while he busied with meal preparations. "I personally do not cook," she said, "so I'm always appreciative when someone makes me dinner. So ... what exactly is for dinner, hmm?"
Picking up a bottle opener he got stared on the bottle. "Well unfortunately everything tonight is replicated, though I have been known to whip up a morsel or two. You should have been here earlier, I put together a luau for the senior staff." As the cork released with a sharp pop he motioned to the table as he moved there himself. Picking up one of the glasses and he began to pour, "For tonight we have Spaghetti with meatballs, salad, bread..." handing her a glass "...wine, sparkling conversation, and whatever after dinner entertainment you selected."
"I'm giving to theme viewing," Jules said as she slipped off her shoes at the door before walking over to accept the glass of wine from Daegan. She took an appreciative sniff and hummed under her breath. "Tonight, you can choose from a Ferengi who opens up his own detective agency on a deep space station ... A retelling of Sherlock Holmes and Watson with a Vulcan cast as Homes and a Bolian as his sidekick ... and The Hound of the Baskervilles, a 1921 version from Earth. Got them all queued up, you just need to pick the one you like."
"Oh that's easy, the classic over a retelling every time, Hound of the Baskervilles." Pulling a chair out at the table.
"Maybe both," Jules said as she slid into her seat, tucking one leg up underneath her as she did so. "Not necessarily all in one night but watch the original and then the variation. See how it compares."
Even before either had put anything on their plates he plucked a piece of bread from the basket. "Trying to book another evening already?"
"Who said I was going to invite you to the second viewing," Jules shot back as she reached for the bowl of salad, picking out the parts she liked and leaving the ones she didn't.
Daegan laughed. "Is that right...that's ok. I hear Lt. Barnes also plays the guitar, I wonder if she might wanna practice on...I mean with each other some time."
"Need an introduction," Jules purred as she forked up a small portion of salad. She chewed thoughtfully as she placed the fork back on her plate. "But then, you probably know all the ladies on board. You have .. uh .." She slanted a look up at him. "reputation, shall we say?"
He was twirling up a bite as she finished and he stopped, "A reputation? What kind of 'reputation'?"
"Now, why would I want to spoil the fun," Jules said as lifted her fork and stabbed at a slice of tomato. "Keep going as you are, you'll find out."
"Keep going?? I would think focusing on one person would only enhance a person's reputation." Pulling at his chin playfully, "You know that might work. If I only pay attention to one and reject others that would make me look trustworthy, faithful, dependable...and more desirable." With a wide, tongue-in-cheek grin, "You're right, that a great, long game, strategy."
"And that's where it falls down," Jules said, punctuating her point with the tomato on the end of her fork, "strategy. Not one to grow up too quickly, eh?"
Cutting up one of the meatballs with the side of his fork, "Well regardless of whatever the rumor mill is putting out, I am a one woman man. But that said, after five life times of memories of growing up; have fun while you can."
Jules fell silent at that. Thinking about it. Truth was, she got tired of the banter sometimes but the alternative? Meaningful conversation? That was harder especially when you held as many secrets as she did. She ate in silence for a moment, moving food around on her plate. "I've been approached about being joined," she said finally.
"Really?" He set his folk folk down and wiped his mouth. He knew all to well the difficulties with family and relationships that could result from joining. Taking his napkin he wiped his mouth. "From the Symbiosis Commission? You never mentioned having ever been an initiate."
"Not," Jules said as she set her cutlery down and leaned back in her seat. "I applied once upon a time. Went through the process; they just didn't have a good fit for me ... until now. And," her voice dropped a bit as she continued, "the current host ... is very ill. If I do this, it will have to be soon."
"I take it there are no other compatible hosts or they wouldn't have contacted you out here."
"They said, I'm closest and the best fit," Jules said as she abandoned the meal and drew one knee up to her chest, bare toes curled over the edge of her seat. She dropped her chin onto her knee. "It's a big decision. Huge."
They both knew the priority their people placed on the life of the symbiotes but yet she was hesitating. "You don't want to be joined?"
"I'm a secret keeper," Jules said with a slight shrug. "In my line of work, you have to be. Relationships can be ... problematic ... and this one, well, there would be no part of me that wasn't laid bare. Takes a minute to process."
He smiled as she referred to the relationship growing between the two of them. "Well I do have clearance... maybe not the cloak and dagger clearance you have, but I am totally trust worthy." He got up and pulled a chair up next to her. "I know you have secrets that you have to keep, but there is nothing unofficial that you can't tell me. I had your back at the academy," reaching around her and pulling her to him, "and I always will."
Jules settled against him and her surprise at his admission led her to be more open with him than she had been to this point. "Well, I meant the relationship between me and the symbiote but ... you make a good point, Daegan. And that's a whole other thing. If we were to ... continue ... down this path, there would be 'four' of us in this relationship." She craned her neck so she could look up at him for a moment. "That's a ... lot."
Remembering how his joining had caused a few issues with his family. "Well yes and no. Don't forget that when joined you'll be a blend of your current personality and that of the symbiote. You might end up liking different things and vice versa. I'm not too worried about that though. You are a strong driven, go getter. I have no doubt that that will still be there. It'll still be two, just with a lot more memories." To lighten things a bit, "Who knows maybe your joining will take off some of your rough edges?"
"And ... what was it like, sharing your head with a second voice that's not your own," Jules asked as she drew her other knee up to her chest.
He had been expecting a smack at the very least at his jab, she must really be worrying about being joined. "It's not like you talk to the symbiote. You really do become a new single person. Though the memories from the previous host could count as a second, third, or even fourth voice in your head. I'm not gonna lie, you're gonna change to some degree, and it will take some getting used to, but I wouldn't have changed a thing.
"Did they send you the background on the previous hosts?"
"Yes," Jules said. "It's back in my quarters ... on a PADD ... that's currently under my pillow." She closed her eyes, drew a deep breath, and continued. "The Bek symbiote is on it's fourth host. History teacher, archeologist, political analyst, and, as crazy as this sounds, a violinist."
Daegan thought as he breathed in the scent of her hair, giving a reassuring squeeze. "Sounds like a good match. The violinist...well you like to sing right. That can only help with your musical abilities. Hell I couldn't play a lick until joined and now I love to play. The analyst will only enhance your current intel mindset, the archeologist and historical could give you perspective and the teaching aspect could provide a degree of patience."
Without even thinking he gave her a kiss on the top of her head. "And I will be here to help you with getting used to your new self and new memories."
"I think I'm going to do it," Jules said quietly. "And hopefully, the four of us will be able to get along and that I won't turn into someone I don't know any more."
He gave her another squeeze as he silently hoped for the same as he remembered his issues after joining. "Well enough of the heavy, how about that movie?"
"Sounds good," Jules said. Her appetite for food was gone pretty much though she picked up a piece of bread and her glass of wine as she headed toward the seating area to get the movie set up. She made a mental note, as she looked around, to bring a throw with her next time. Cuddling up under a blanket was the best way to watch a movie. She patted the seat next to her on the sofa and smiled invitingly. "Come on," she said. "This might be last time you get to spend with me."
Moving from table chair to sofa he took a seat next to her, putting his arm along the back of the sofa. "Don't count on it."
Lieutenant Daegan Baas
Chief Security Officer
USS Thunderbird
and
Lieutenant Julianna Raihan
Chief of Intelligence
USS Thunderbird
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