Cadets

Posted on Mon Dec 10th, 2012 @ 9:43pm by Cadet Senior Grade Eli Ziyad & Cadet Junior Grade Tenahn Vor

Mission: The Struggle Within
Location: Se

=^=Satellite Academy Dormitories=^=
Tenahn Vor had been idly perusing a PADD on Terran biology, despite his exam in warp field mechanics the next morning. He had learned, all too swiftly, that what was considered elementary to Starfleet was quite literally elementary to the Voth... as in, they learned it within the first ten years of their lives.
But that did not dissuade him. He had rejected both kin and country to explore the heritage he was certain he shared with the human race. Levels of technology aside, their species shared a birthplace, a fact the Doctrine would have swiftly denied. A fact that shook him when the communique from the Dean had come through.
Chance Conradi was dead... One of the few Terrans studying in the Delta Quadrant. Most of the other students tended to be natives, like Vor, despite the Distant Origin theory that insisted he was no native.
The PADD fell from his clawed hand in a clatter as he stalked away from his quarters, wrapping himself in a thermal blanket even as he did so. Endotherms always found living in space far more agreeable...
"Take me to Cadet Ziyad," he ordered the turbolift, having to wait a moment before the lift slid into action, locating Eli's comm.
=^=The Cherry Pit=^=

Vor had inhaled deeply of the air on the deck that the turbolift had deposited him on. It was more than enough for his snout to locate and determine Eli's scent as a clawed talon keyed the chime for the quarters he believed his fellow Cadet was in. "Eli?" he wondered aloud, still tasting the scent of the air. The pheromones threatened to bowl him over, even in the hall. They were certainly not human, but they were stronger than anything he had ever scented on this Starbase.

The door opened to reveal a dark haired woman in a low-cut dress. “Well hello, tall dark and scaly. I’m Marla. What can I do for you?”

Vor must have looked quite ridiculous, standing there in the hall with a blanket wrapped about him and taloned hands attempting to obscure his nostrils. When the door had opened his olfactory glands were working harder than they ever had, trying to filter out the pheromones, the perfumes, the alcohol... so overwhelming was the scent of liquor attached to Eli’s scent that he nearly missed it. Nearly. His species had a superior sense of smell. He almost chuckled when he recalled the first terran remains being discovered, and the subsequent belief that they had no sense of smell whatsoever due to their considerably underdeveloped dilitus lobe.

But now was not the time for humor or for history. Vor had gone from overwhelmed to almost ill in processing all of the stimuli at once while his scales rapidly turned green, less an indicator of his mood and more of his health. “Eli,” he wheezed, glancing down at the woman. “Eli Ziyad.” It was all he could manage at the moment.

“Yes, he’s here. Hey, you feeling okay? You’re looking a little green around the gills, no offense.” Marla studied Vor then stepped aside. “You want to come in? He’s still sleeping off a rather liquid night, poor kid.”

Vor loosed a terrible sneeze into his blanket before dangling the garment from one claw distastefully. "I hope you have a recycler," he said before stepping inside, making a noticeable effort to breathe through his mouth, his coloration improving as a result.

Eli was still asleep on the sofa, beneath a brightly-colored blanket. Despite sleep, he looked somewhat pale and drawn, the tension still evident. His senses recognized the change in the room and he began to rise towards wakefulness. Finally he stirred and opened his eyes. First he saw Marla, which wasn’t a surprise. Then his gaze travelled on and spotted Vor. That was unexpected and he sat up, rubbing his eyes.

“Hi Vor. What’re you doing here? Umm, Marla? Can you increase the filtration a bit while he’s here?”

“That would be most appreciated,” Vor replied, half-wheezing as he did so. “How you endotherms function with such a limited sense of smell...” he trailed off as he deposited his blanket in the replicator and promptly recycled it.

“I... I heard about Chance,” Vor said as he turned back, looking at Eli curiously. “Judging by the pheromones, I gather that the two of you were bonded. I … wanted to make sure you were all right.” These sorts of more-human interactions were still slightly foreign to him, making him a bit nervous and uncomfortable. He had always rather admired from afar the ease with which Chance had appeared to navigate them.

That Vor would seek him out, come all the way down here to a place that was sure to be uncomfortablejust to check on him touched Eli deeply. HIs eyes grew moist and he managed a smile. “To be honest, I’ve been better. Last night wasn’t one of my best. You likely smell the alcohol still.” He shrugged. “But seeing you here means more than you know. Thank you.” He stopped to consider Vor’s statement. Bonded? That was a little more difficult to pin down.

“A curious activity,” the Voth admitted, seeming confused. “My people do not recreationally ingest poison, though it does appear to be rather widespread among other species in this and other quadrants. And you are most welcome. I have to admit, I did not anticipate the overwhelming ste---” he stopped short as he glanced at Marla, pausing to reconsider his choice of words, “scent... delightful though it may be,” he added, “that would be present here. But even with that knowledge, I would not have been deterred.” Just better prepared, he reasoned. The saurian managed a somewhat awkward smile in response.

“That’s Seyla you’re picking up. She’s Orion. It’s usually an interesting trip back once I’ve been in here, at least till I shower.” A thought struck Eli now. “It will be for you too, since you’ll smell of the pheromones. I’d suggest we take a...less populated route home. That is why you came, too, isn’t it? To bring me back home?”

Vor filed away the names 'Seyla' and 'Orion' for later reference, simply nodding to Eli in the process. He was more apt to understand the olfactory considerations. The pheromones were strong, even for species unable to so readily detect them.

"I," the saurian cadet began to respond, but then stopped. Why had he come? Because he had admired Chance as a fellow Terran? Because that created in him some sort of obligation to Eli now? Or perhaps because both he and Eli were exiles from the only homes they had ever truly known, seeking something new?

Or even more simply, because they were classmates. Maybe even friends. And he had been sure Eli was in pain.

"If that is what you wish," Vor finished with resolve. "Though you do seem rather..." in taking a moment to look around, he settled on, "safe here."

“I can’t hide out forever,” Eli replied. He glanced at the door that Marla had vanished through to give them some privacy. “And soon or later I have to go home and face the empty rooms.” He rose and crossed over to rest a hand on Vor’s shoulder. “Thank you my friend.”

Vor inclined his crested head in a gesture of appreciation. "Well, you needn't rush into that reality. I could accompany you, if you wished, or you could gather some things and stay with me; face it in the morning." The scales around his neck turned a subtle shade of salmon pink. "Your choice... friend."

“With you?” Eli was surprised but after a moment, he nodded. It seemed like a very good idea. “Thank you, I think with you might be best. I can replicate what I need and as you say, face it tomorrow.” He turned and called out. “Marla, I’ll be at Vor’s. Thank you and tell Seyla I’ll talk to her soon.” He turned back to Vor and smiled. “I’m ready. And maybe we should go get decontaminated so we don’t stink up your quarters.”

"Perhaps," the Saurian agreed, though he knew he'd be smelling this for days regardless. Heading towards the door, he managed a small smile, even in the face of Eli's grief.

********************
Cadet 4th Class Tenahn Vor
Making Friends

Cadet 4th Class Eli Ziyad
More Friends Than He Realizes