Saying Hello
Posted on Wed Feb 26th, 2025 @ 7:57pm by Commander Marisa Sandoval & Lieutenant Commander Zosia
Edited on on Fri Feb 28th, 2025 @ 11:13am
2,090 words; about a 10 minute read
Mission:
Like Sands Through The Hourglass
Location: Starbase Kok - USS Herodotus
Timeline: MD001 1800 hours
Lieutenant Commander Zosia stepped onto the promenade of Starbase Kok, her polished boots clicking against the deck plating as she took in the sights, sounds, and scents of the station’s vibrant marketplace. It was her first time here, and despite years of training and deep-space assignments, she couldn’t help but feel a thrill of excitement. The air carried a strange mix of crisp, recycled oxygen and the enticing aromas of alien spices from food stalls lining the concourse. Traders from a dozen species bartered over rare minerals, exotic fabrics, and pieces of forgotten technology (though she instantly recognized the mislabeled pieces; a nostalgic smile crossed her lips).
Adjusting the engineering kit slung over her shoulder, she instinctively scanned the surroundings, her Starfleet training always assessing—structural integrity, power distribution nodes, emergency bulkheads. But she was not here to work, nor to settle in. She was a stranger only passing through, on to her next assignment. An assignment that was off the books to all but the select few.
She moved the strap of her kit as she stepped into one of the shops, crossing the strap over her head to better secure her carry. Before looking for the berth that the Herodotus was docked at, a few small stones caught her eye. They sparkled blue and enticed her into the little tienda.
It had been a while since Marisa indulged in a bit of shopping. She rarely had the time to do more than run in, grab what she needed, and head back to her ship. Most shore leaves were occupied with researching something or finding a good book. Today, she was simply browsing to get a feel for the station and what it had to offer.
And then she spotted the little tienda, complete with signs in both Standard and Spanish. It wasn't necessary, of course, but led to the charm of the authentic-looking shop. Even the wares in the window looked authentic. It even had lovely stones, some already set in bracelets, necklaces, and earrings. In spite of telling herself she had nowhere to wear anything they sold, she found herself entering the shop to look around.
Zosia crouched to look at the sapphires more closely. As she returned to standing, she looked over to the new customer that had entered the store to inspect the same gems. “The blue is my favorite,” Zosia said, “but did you know that sapphires come in every color except for red?”
"I knew they came in many colors, but not all except red." Marisa smiled. "Sapphire blue is my favorite and the ones here are lovely. I had to take a closer look." She smiled at the other woman. "You are Zosia, yes?"
Zosia studied the woman, searching her memory for a match. Nothing.
"In the flesh," she confirmed.
She had not seen the manifest for her new assignment yet, but she could guess - the woman must be from the Herodotus. "A 'red sapphire' is called a ruby," Zosia noted, then teased. "Are you stalking me?"
The half-Vulcan chuckled. "No. I am Marisa. When I saw the sign and the window display, I had to come in. I recognized you from your file. Rubies are also lovely. Gemology is not one of my fields of study, but I know what I like."
Zosia tilted her head, intrigued. "What are your fields of study?" The sapphires were forgotten - her full attention now on the woman before her.
"Archaeology, history, and counseling." Marisa smiled. "I enjoyed the three too much to choose one."
Zosia raised an eyebrow, impressed. "An eclectic mix. I imagine that makes you pretty useful on deep-space missions—every artifact has a history, and every crew needs a counselor." She adjusted the strap of her kit before crossing her arms. "I wasn’t given official orders, just a time and a berth number. Any chance you can give me a preview of what’s ahead?"
With a laugh, Marisa replied. "It can be. Or people avoid me, afraid I might analyze them. Still, when there is no other counselor, I can stand in. Right now, my role is first officer." Although on one ship she had started as the counselor and switched to science when the captain asked her to fill that position, but in general, she only did one job or the other. "For the second question, what we do will depend on need. Our job is to solve problems."
Zosia nodded, a knowing glint in her eye. "Problem-solving—the oldest profession in the universe. Whether it's deciphering ancient texts, untangling a crew's fears, or keeping a ship from flying apart at the seams, it all comes down to understanding the pieces and how they fit together."
She let the words settle before adding, "The challenge isn’t in solving the problem—it’s in recognizing which problem truly needs solving. And I imagine, as first officer, you spend just as much time discerning that as you do acting on it."
Marisa nodded. "And time complicates everything. But that is also what makes it worthwhile." She nodded to the gems. "So, have you always been fascinated by stones?"
Zosia chuckled, picking up a delicate piece and turning it between her fingers. “Not just stones—what you can create with them. I used to make filigree jewelry when I was younger, twisting metal into delicate patterns, setting tiny gems just so.” She traced an invisible design in the air. “It taught me patience, precision… and that the smallest details can bring the whole piece to life.”
She glanced at Marisa with a small smile. “In a way, it’s not so different from what we do now—finding the right connections, fitting the pieces together until everything holds.”
"A good analogy. History is about putting together pieces as well. If you don't have enough of the right pieces, you don't have a mostly complete tapestry of an era or event." Marisa smiled. "In both cases, there are times the finished product is breathtaking, yes?"
Zosia nodded, setting the delicate piece back down with care. “Breathtaking—when the pieces fit just right.” She exhaled softly, then straightened, adjusting the strap of her engineering kit once more. “Speaking of putting things together, I suppose I should stop admiring gemstones and start admiring my new assignment.”
She glanced at Marisa with a knowing smirk. “Shall we? Something tells me there are plenty of problems waiting to be solved.”
The half-Vulcan chuckled. "There always are. Come on, I will give you a quick tour of the ship."
****
Zosia stepped onto the Herodotus, the change in atmosphere immediate. Starbase Kok had been alive with noise and movement, but here, everything was controlled—humming with the quiet efficiency of a ship ready for anything. The familiar scent of recycled air mixed with the faint tang of machine oil and metallic sterility, grounding her in a space she knew well: a starship at rest, waiting for its next mission.
Her eyes swept the corridors, cataloging the slight variations in layout, the subtle differences in design that set this vessel apart from the ones she had served on before. A ship had a personality, shaped by its crew, its missions, and the way its systems bore the wear of time. She wondered what stories the Herodotus carried within its bulkheads.
She glanced sideways at Marisa as they walked. “So, history, archaeology, and counseling—quite the combination for a first officer. Which one do you think has prepared you the most for this role?”
"Probably my love of history and ancient civilizations. I am passionate about preserving the past and learning from it." She raised an eyebrow as she looked over to Zosia. "What about you? What brings you to the Herodotus, or what do you believe brings you here?"
Zosia exhaled a quiet chuckle, glancing down as if weighing her words. "Officially? I retired from my last assignment. Unofficially…" She rolled one shoulder, as if shrugging off the weight of past responsibilities. "Let’s just say I have a habit of keeping things running, one way or another."
She tapped the strap of her kit, a subtle acknowledgment of the skills that had carried her through years of deep-space service. "I’ve spent a long time making sure ships stay in one piece, that systems work the way they should. But I’m not much for self-promotion." She offered a wry smile. "I prefer to let my work speak for itself."
Her gaze shifted, taking in the bulkheads, the deck beneath her boots. "And something tells me the Herodotus will keep me busy enough."
"It should. The crew only utilizes the first five decks. The rest are for the additional equipment." That was unexceptionable and explanatory at the same time, as Marisa was trying to get in the habit of not explaining too much. "As to your other comment, there are times when knowing how to make judicious use of bubblegum and bailing wire may come in handy."
Zosia smirked at that, nodding knowingly. "Bubblegum and bailing wire—staples of any good engineer's toolkit."
She ran a hand along the smooth bulkhead as they walked. "Though I’ve found that the real trick isn’t just keeping things together—it’s knowing when to let something fall apart so it can be rebuilt the right way."
Her gaze flicked back to Marisa, curiosity glinting in her eyes. "And from the way you talk about this ship, I get the feeling the Herodotus is more than just a vessel. So tell me—what exactly is it that we're holding together here?"
"You should have been informed before your arrival, but that may have been left for the captain." Marisa wasn't sure why, though, so she chose to answer. "We work for the Department of Temporal Investigations and this is a timeship."
Zosia's expression grew more thoughtful as she glanced around the corridor. “Guess that means every repair, every system tweak, every little fix isn’t just about function—it’s about making sure history doesn’t unravel. I suppose I should check in with the captain next?”
"Yes. He can give you more details." Marisa put a hand on the bulkhead as they turned a corner and smiled. "I like to think of our job as repairing broken threads in the tapestry of time. Your job, along with operations and temporal operations, is to make sure we can get where and when we need to."
Zosia gave a slow nod, her fingers briefly tapping against the strap of her kit. “Repairing broken threads,” she echoed, the weight of the words settling in. “That’s a hell of a responsibility.”
Her gaze flicked back to Marisa, a small smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. “Good thing I’ve always had a knack for fixing things.”
She exhaled softly, glancing down the corridor before shifting her stance. “Before I check in with the captain, I’d like to see Engineering. Get a feel for what I’m working with.” Her eyes gleamed with professional curiosity. “Timeship or not, I imagine the laws of physics still apply… most of the time, anyway.”
She gestured ahead with an easy confidence. “Think you can show me the heart of this ship?”
"Of course. Engineering is on deck 3." Marisa headed for the nearest turbolift. "And the temporal laws of physics do still apply--unless we need to delve into long-term chaos theory." The half-Vulcan smiled at that. "Unlikely, but I prefer not to rule out the improbable when dealing with time." She liked the new engineer and believed she'd work well with the others. In the XOs opinion, forming a cohesive crew was important--doubly so on the Herodotus.
Zosia chuckled as she stepped into the turbolift beside Marisa, her stance easy but her mind already working through the implications of maintaining a timeship.
“Well, I’ve always enjoyed a good challenge,” she mused, then shot Marisa a wry grin. “Though I’d prefer not to break time while I’m figuring things out.”
As the lift doors slid shut, she folded her arms. “Lead the way, Commander. Let’s see what makes this ship tick.”
A Joint Post By
Commander Marisa Sandoval
Executive Officer
USS Herodotus DTI-30656
Lieutenant Commander Zosia
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Herodotus DTI-30656
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