Getting Around

Posted on Tue Nov 18th, 2025 @ 3:58am by Lieutenant Dezkar Veen & Lieutenant Commander Steve Ryan

1,446 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Children of the Stars
Location: Deck 8 - Cargo Transporter
Timeline: Current

"Blasted thing," Dez said, rolling out from underneath the Cargo transporter. Standing up, he stretched his back, hands behind his head. The access underneath the transporter was obviously not intended for taller individuals such as himself. Letting out a long sigh, he hunched over his toolkit that was splayed open on the transporter pad. Placing the diagnostic scanner back, he thumbed through the various spanners, selecting one that he only guessed would do the trick. With a groan, he lowered himself to his knees and prepared to crawl back underneath when the large doors hummed open.

The last time he ran into someone in the cargo bay after hours, it was one of the more...intriguing experiences with Security that he'd faced. Craning his neck, he scanned the doorway. Definitely not Fox, he thought to himself. A wave of disappointment struck him followed by a feeling of confusion—something that he'd have to address at a later time.

"Evening, Commander," he said, recognizing the Montana's Executive Officer. Never a good sign, he thought, straightening up to face whatever this was. "What can I do ya for?"

"Mr. Dezkar" the XO saluted him "how's going with that one?" He pointed at the transporter he was working on.
"I was just having a walk, overseeing areas, and stumbled across you" he answered Fez's question.

Dez eyed the XO with scrutiny. He had a certain look about him that seemed genuine and wholesome. There was nothing he distrusted more than someone who seemed trustworthy. Just having a walk, huh? Dez thought to himself. He maintained caution with this one. For now.

"Yeah, I tend to lurk at all hours," Dez replied. "Nothing nefarious. Just a little misalignment in the Transition Coils. Cropped up on a routine diagnostic." He sighed, looking at the cargo pad. There was something about this time of night. He liked working late. The ship seemed to have a different sound to it than when teams were busy and bustling. It was like the he could hear the ship—communicate with it. It was almost cathartic.

Dez made eye contact with the Commander. It was then that he realized this was their first official interaction. In all the typical onboarding routines, he'd completely bypassed an introduction the most important person on the ship, arguably. Not someone you want to make an enemy of, he said to himself.

"Apologies, Commander. I haven't had a chance to come and see you. Been a bit of a whirlwind since I came aboard. Obviously, ya know who I am. I usually just go by Dez. Dezkar is a family name, I suppose. Always hated that family. Least, what I knew of it," he said with a brief smile, extending a hand for a formal greeting.

Ryan accepted the offered hand with a firm, steady shake. “Well, Dez,” he said, letting a small, genuine smile cross his face, “I’ve found that most people who work this late either love the quiet… or they’re hiding from something." he scrutinized him as he finished this sentence.

He glanced toward the transporter, then crouched beside him, hands loosely clasped over one knee. “Transition Coils acting up on a routine scan is still better than blowing on a live transport. So thank you for catching it before one of my crew ends up materializing without a torso.”

After a beat, he added, softer, “And don’t worry about the introductions. You came aboard in the middle of lots of things going on. There's always time for introductions and small talks.” His gaze flicked back to Dez, eyes narrowing slightly in curiosity. “Besides, I prefer meeting people where they actually work. Tells me more about them than any briefing packet.”

Dez observed the Commander, a look of curiosity plaguing his face. The fact that the XO didn't suspect anything untoward was a surprise to him. Perhaps it was the fact that under normal circumstances, his reasons for being the Cargo Bay after hours had more than a 50% chance of being for borderline suspicious reasons. Ryan didn't need to know that, though. Not tonight.

"Well, Sir—this particular Cargo Transporter won't be melting any supplies. Not tonight, at least," he said in a long breath. Finding himself at rest in the elongated silence, Dez caved to the unspoken pressure of filling the void. "So, Commander. How long ya been XO on this barge?" he asked.

Ryan laughed briefly at the word barge, the corner of his mouth twitching upward despite the hour.

“This barge,” he said dryly, “has been mine to wrangle for just a bit over one year.” he tilted his head "...but honestly I've been on board for much longer. Been the Chief Operations Officer for a while, then got promoted from the inside" he explained.

He folded his arms and laid his back on a nearby drywall.

“I like walking the ship at night." he explained him "People think command is all reports, protocols, and strategically timed smiles. But this? Seeing the ones who keep her heart beating, catching problems before they turn into disasters?” He shrugged lightly. “That’s what makes the job real.”

Ryan studied Dez for a moment, weighing the man’s tone and his moves.

“And what about you?” he asked, head tilting slightly. “Most new transfers haven’t even memorized the deck layout yet. You seem to have made yourself at home pretty quickly down here.”
A slow smirk appeared, faint but unmistakable.

“Should I be impressed by the initiative… or concerned about the reasons?”

Dez smiled. It was look that was knowing and not at all one of surprise. "There it is," Dez said. His tone was light, laced with nothing resembling contempt. "See, guys like me—with my," a pause, "experiences? Things tend to follow me around. Ya can't outrun your past," he said. "But to answer your question, Commander—this ain't the first Miranda I've been on. I like to get to know 'em personally, though. Every ship is different. They may look the same on the surface, but they've got their own personalities. So, as for my reasons? Well, I like the quiet of the off-hours. Not that we're every really off, I guess. There's something almost primitive about. Like you can actually feel the ship move—hear the power conduits feeding the subsystems."

Dez paused, a smile tugging at his lips as he looked down. "Probably sounds odd to you, Commander."

Steve shrugged smiling "I know an engineer...you all sounds a bit odd to be fair" he laughed.

Dez laughed, waving his finger lazily in the Commander's direction. "Well, you ain't wrong, Sir. But I doubt you've known one...exactly like me," he said, his face contorting into a sarcastic squint. "But I won't cause ya concern that ain't due. So, I'll tell ya what. If you got concerns about me? Lay it out, sir. I may have history, but secrets? I only keep the ones that's necessary. You got questions, I'll give ya answers best I can," he said. He steeled himself, looking the XO in the eyes without wavering.

"As long as all goes well, I don't feel the urge to investigate on my Chiefs' past." he smiled him nicely "I always have an open door policy so if you happen to have the need to talk, feel free to get by my office or to stop me while I'm wandering around the ship" he informed him.

"Works for me," Dez said. "And thanks. For the clean slate and all. Not something I've encountered often." He straightened up and looked around the Cargo Bay, nodding lightly. "Yeah, I think I'm gonna like it here," he said, uncertain if he was speaking to the XO or the room. He pivoted his gaze back to Ryan, his posture more relaxed after their conversation. Observing the XO, he found that he was somewhat relieved. Not only had he not been encouraged to account for his past crimes, but there was something honest about this man that he appreciated.

Nodding his approval, Dez picked of the spanner he'd been after and looked back to the Transporter Pad.

"Well, Sir, I'd better get this thing squared away before Alpha shift. But you know where to find me." He looked back to Ryan. "Anything ya need, Commander."

The XO nodded "no worries, keep at it. I'll resume my midnight walk" and he saluted the CEO to continue his wanderings.

-----------------------------------
Lt. Cmdr. Steve Ryan
XO, USS Montana

&

Lt. Dezkar Veen
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Montana

 

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