Winding Down

Posted on Sat Feb 16th, 2019 @ 8:31pm by Lieutenant Commander Shaille Levine & Warrant Officer Koh Otassu

Mission: https://wellington.pegasusfleet.site/index.php/sim/missions/id/5
Location: Personal Quarters

The couch in her quarters was far from comfortable, and Shaille made no attempt to even pretend otherwise, in fact she had already quipped that she was going to speak to engineering and see if something could be done to get something much more comfortable, now that she was actually using it.

In the interim she was sitting sideways on the couch, her back against the arm rest, her legs over his lap as he turned slightly toward her, his arms over her legs, her head resting againt the back of the couch as she played absently with one of his ears, her finger tips caressing slowly and softly.

"So, exactly how many siblings do you have?" she finally asked. "I think I've lost count..." she added with a soft laugh.

"Three." he sat, comfy and relaxed. It didn't matter how uncomfortable this couch was reported to be. He was plenty comfy right here. Arms resting against her legs, his ear twitching with each touch, he glanced over to her with hollow eyes, and smiled.

"All elder, too. Two brothers and a sister. See, back home if you're in a rural area, you're expected to have a big family to help with the land. City folk are more relaxed in our duties, so we don't need big families." he chuckled, "No one told mom that." he paused for a moment, "I've got a few pictures of them on storage. Got some pictures of home too, thoroughly scrubbed I might add."

"See, our home is our best kept secret, and right now there's this divide." he illustrated with both hands. "Some of us want to embrace the fact that we're part of a larger galactic community, which means potentially revealing the location of the home moons. Others, mostly the older generation, aren't very keen on that. So to compromise, whenever we go out in the field on postings, any form of visual media we bring with us gets scrubbed. The stars get removed or altered, the sky is obscured, anything that could potentially lead someone home, friend or foe."

"Well, obviously you've chosen to embrace the galactic community," Shaille said with a smile. "It's a little sad though that your entire species misses out on all the good things that galaxy can offer because some people don't want to accept diversity and change. I'm guessing that means you don't get a lot of visitors to the home moons either. I guess that's one of the benefits of growing up in Starfleet, diversity and change is just part of life. How does your family feel about you being out in the wider galaxy? Does it bother them?"

He gave her a smirk, "Oh, obviously." he chuckled, "You know, sometimes people are just afraid of change. They've been doing the same thing for generations, and a shake up of this magnitude is terrifying to them. Hell, there were folks who were against the Blink drive, nevermind that Imaginary Sciences declared it safe enough for the Emperor to use." he sounded flabbergasted that someone wouldn't trust something certified Imperial Safe.

"And nevermind the Dark drive. If the Emperor knew the can of talgs she was opening when she asked that question." Koh just shook his head, then looked over and noticed that somewhere between ideas that he may have lost her. "Oh, so that's what culture shock looks like." He joked.

Shaille laughed and shook her head. "I'll be honest, I have basically no idea about most of what you just said, well, aside from the blink drive, that one I kind of know, but change can be difficult to embrace. Think about it, how would you react if someone walked in right now and told you that you could no longer be a blink pilot because there was new technology and you were no longer needed. I know it's not quite the same thing, but still." She paused, watching him for a moment, the corners of her mouth quirking up in a smile. "So do I dare ask about the dark drive? Or what a talg is?"

He chuckled, "It certainly can be. My folks were pretty scared about me being so far from home, but I try to stay in touch. They're pretty open about new concepts, but still, I'm their baby." he chuckled again. Being the youngest sibling had its perks. "And yeah, you're pretty close to their concern. Their way of life is changing, and they don't like it. Trick is, your average Ts'usugi is too polite to actually stand in something's way, and too courteous to actually directly inconvenience someone else. So the debate silently and calmly rages on." he explained.

"If the Emperor were to decide, then it would sway decision to their side. Though at the moment, the Emperor is current debating the measure."

"Now, about the Dark Drive. Imaginary Sciences Division's greatest work. Emperor's personal research team, limitless funding." he explained. "So according to the stories, one day the Emperor asked 'Is the Blink the fastest?' and after years of research, the answer came." he paused, for dramatic effect. "No."

"And thus the Dark Drive was born, which allowed the Ts'usugi to open the doors to the stars." he motioned up to the heavens, before returning his hands to Shaille's lounging legs. "As for a talg, it's a wriggly little creature that lives in the dirt. You put them on hooks to catch all sorts of ... I think your word for them is 'Fish'."

Resting one of her hands on his, she started tracing lazy circles with her thumb on his softly furred hand. "Yuck, you can keep your worms," Shaille said with an exaggerated shudder. "So basically your dark drive is like our warp drive? Your Emperor can't be too against the rest of the galaxy if you're allowed out here so can't she just declare that the rest of the Ts'usugi just need to suck it up and accept the rest of the galaxy?"

"Very similar. Ultimately, same basic end result. Trick is, Dark drives are huge, so shuttles and fighters can't accommodate them. Hence, Blink Fighters are still a professional pursuit." he said, offering a soft smile at her antics with her fur. "Oh, she's very interested in galactic society, but she also has to watch out for the future of her people. I mean, sure, she could just up and say 'This is how it is, tough.' but what kind of Emperor would she be if she made demands of her people without consulting their needs and their future?" he asked, more of a rhetorical question.

"I guess Ts'usugi politics is a lot more polite than the standards historically set on Earth," Shaille said with a smirk. "So they get to keep arguing over whether or not anyone else is allowed to know where your home moons are and how evil the rest of the galaxy is." She shook her head slightly. "Politics is so ridiculous sometimes. I guess looking on the bright side, as long as they don't lock down the home world and ban the rest of the galaxy I get to enjoy your company," she grinned.

"When we're deployed to Federation space, we're asked all manner of question on our debrief. What are they like? Do they force you to abandon your heritage?" he explained, "You'd be surprised how much the average delegate of the Ts'usugi doesn't know about the Federation. Though, we know you're not all evil out there. We just ..." he paused, as though debating something, "... one time someone found us, and their first thought was conquest. It was decided to leave the wreckage of their assault fleet in the void of space as a warning, but it's a reminder to both sides really." he admitted. "I'd like to show them to you one day. If not in actuality, then on the holodeck. To prepare you, at least." he chuckled, his ears drooping halfway, more of a casual droop. "The mountains, the fields, the rivers and streams. Those damn Tattletails." he chuckled at a childhood memory.

Koh gave her a smile, resting his hand atop her's, "I'd consider defying the Emperor if she did so." he paused, "I mean, for a moment at least." he teased with a chuckle.

“It sounds amazing and I’d love to see it, even if it is just on the holodeck,” Shaille replied, looking up at him with a smile. “I don’t have anything like that to share, I mean, you’ve already pretty much seen my childhood home, it looked prrletty much exactly the same as this,” she laughed and glanced around the stark quarters. “Only my parents had more stuff. But if we ever get back to the Alpha Quadrant for any reason you will no doubt meet them, at least some of them. My parents are still in Stsrfleet and so are both my brothers, so it’s not always easy to get everyone in the same place at the same time.”

"Just tell them you've made a new friend who's nine inches taller with the ears, and loves the concept of contact since it's ... kinda something Ts'usugi don't really do." he pointed out with a smirk. "I'd like to get a picture of us, together, to share with my folks back home. I mean, perk of a starship is there aren't any skies to scrub." he pointed out, bringing a hand up to gently touch her cheek.

She smiled, closing her eyes as his hand rested on her cheek. “The contact is something I love the most,” she said quietly. “Will your folks be bothered that you’re with a human? I mean, especially given that there is another Ts’usugi onboard?”

Koh smiled, but the smile didn't immediately reach his eyes, "I'm sure on some level it will upset them that I'm not carrying on the family, or something. Though for Ts'usu to prosper, we have to move onward and outward." he paused, "They might not be thrilled, but the marvelous part about Ts'usugi protocol is they have to at least be happy." he offered a smirk, this time the joy of the gesture reached those lusterless eyes.

Shaille laughed suddenly, reaching across and running her fingers down the side of his face slowly before she leaned in toward him, her hand cupping the side of his face as she looked into his eyes, her thumb brushing over his cheekbone.

"Well, I'll take what I get. Rest assured, my father will be thrilled. He's in sciences, specifically he's into linguistics and cultural studies. He will find you 'absolutely fascinating' and likely ask you about ten million questions the first time he meets you. My mother, well... there's that whole only daughter thing happening, which is completely ridiculous because between my two brothers I have TEN nieces and nephews so they really don't need my help there, but apparently being a daughter it's different or something, I don't know. I think deep down she's given up on me even if she holds onto the pretense of me being the girly girl she wanted. So what else do I need to know about your people and your culture?" she asked with a smile.

"Your family is enormous." he commented with a chuckle. "Though, I've seen some large families back on the home moons, so I guess big families are universal. Our closest allies, the Dalacari, actually practice familiar limits, but it makes perfect sense when you think about it. Ever seen a Dalacari?" he asked. "They're ... fascinating."

"We've been allies with them for about, oh, two... yeah, two hundred years now. They cover one of our borders, and we provide an escort with every craft of theirs leaving Dalacari space. Everyone shares what everyone finds." he paused, "Though, we do make a few requests of them. Specific requests, like them not being allowed to research true artificial intelligence. Though, when your military is a drone military force, having your army suddenly wake up isn't good for anyone." he explained with a smirk. As she ran her thumb along his cheek, he leaned his head gently into her touch. "As for anything else, as you could guess... touch is something special to us. A mother's hand between her child's ears isn't just checking for a fever, it's a sense of love and trust. Lovers holding hands in public show the world that they're together. Scared children huddle against their parents for protection. Touch is the most important and guarded sensation in Ts'usugi culture. A gesture can say what would take words a book."

"As for your father and his major of Cultural Studies, eh? I keep my ears up." Koh mentioned with a smirk.

Shaille smiled slightly as she ran her fingertips down the side of his face, onto his shoulder and down his arm. "Some say touch is the sense that we can least live without," she said quietly. "You can compensate for lack of sight or lack of hearing, or even taste, but touch is irreplaceable." She paused for a moment, a soft smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "My father? Well, There was some benefits to having a linguist for a father, I could curse in dozens of languages by the time I was thirteen and I have a pretty good ear for dialects which is helpful sometimes, especially when dealing with different cultures."

Her voice trailed off as she looked up into his eyes, her hand covering his. "Koh, tell me more about the Ts'usugi... I love listening to you talk about your home and your people."

He offered her a smile, "As you've probably figured out, we call our home the Home Moons, not a Home World. That's because we don't live on Ts'usu, we live on her moons." he started. "They say a long time ago, we were little more than warring tribes. Roaming around Ts'usu, conquering and warring. Our ambitions threatened the very beauty of Ts'usu itself and then, or so they say, the first Emperor appeared in a beam of light. He said that our ways were ill suited to reside on Ts'usu, and so he declared that until we learned to control ourselves that Ts'usu would forever be a fixture in our heavens, never the ground beneath our feet. Then, or so the stories go, he ascended to the moons under his own power and made them capable of supporting life." he smirked. How much of it he believed was debatable.

"We make archeological visits to the surface of Ts'usu, but at this point we have so many actual worlds that keeping Ts'usu pristine is just something we're more used to. We wouldn't know what to do with Ts'usu at this point. Though what we've found there still astounds us. Ruins, life, evidence of our ancient presence. It's pretty fascinating, really. We travel around at the speed of light, but the biggest mystery in the universe hovers over us." he smirked. "Sorry, got a bit philosophical." he chuckled.

"So, let's see... we don't really call ourselves the Ts'usugi to each other. We're the Sons and Daughters of Ts'usu. You might have heard Valeera that one time, mention her noticing there was a Son of Ts'usu. We don't truly greet one another, we notice each other. It makes it easy to part ways when there was no greeting. We notice, we talk, and then we move on." a pause, "Except of course, family. Family you greet, you contact, you have dinner with." he chuckled.

Shaille smiled, listening as he spoke, her fingertips toying with the soft fur at the base of his ear. "It sounds like your Emperor is almost deity like," she said softly. "The whole ascension thing sounds almost religious, same with the whole concept of Ts'usu being in your heavens. Don't get me wrong, it's an interesting idea, maybe if an 'Emperor' had done that on Earth way back when a lot of the damage humans did could have been prevented."

Koh gave a smirk, and he would nod if that wouldn't threaten the enjoyable sensation of contact at the base of his ear. "Oh, the First Emperor is something of a legend. I'd go so far as to say approaching religious. He brought thirteen rampaging warlords to heel, and then inspired every single one of them to leave the planet." he paused, "Or so the story goes."

"Anyway," She shook her head slightly. "If you don't 'greet' each other and you 'notice, talk and move on,' how do you form friendships or relationships? Maybe I misunderstand the concept of it, maybe it's lost in translation?"

"Short answer, carefully." he smirked, "Though, there are people we notice more than once. We talk to more than twice, and we move on with together. Ts'usugi culture is ... It's ... oh what are the words. Polite? No, more than that. Hand's off sounds better." he thought for a moment. "Okay, so in human culture, if someone asks you a favor and you say No, it's no real big deal right?"

"Well back home, saying no straight out is a huge deal. So instead of saying 'No', we tell you how big of a problem it might be, and then whoever asked you the favor will retract the favor." he paused, "So, take that and apply it to making new friends. You meet someone, and they're alright as a friend, but not what you WANT in a friend. In Ts'usugi culture, you're under no further obligation to ever associate with them. Sometimes, someone wants to be a friend with someone who doesn't, and then they're informed that the friendship is difficult."

He paused for a moment, as though hearing his own words for the first time. "It really does sound cold." he said, with that sound of realization. "I mean when you think about it from an outsider point of view."

Smooth Koh. Smooth as glass.

"Wow..." Shaille breathed with a soft laugh. "So you can get involved with someone and then just 'change your mind' and tell them it's too difficult and walk away? No repercussions? No fall out? Seriously? You just tell them it's too difficult?"

She paused, tilting her head to one side ever so slightly. "It isn't really so much cold, I'm sure it all seems perfectly normal to you, it just seems... no, you're right... it sounds cold... Don't get me wrong, I can see how there could be benefit in that, I mean, there were certainly a few boyfriends at the Academy it would have been nice to say 'being friends with you is too difficult so bye bye now' and just had that be that... but most humans don't take it quite that well," she said with another laugh. "Ending friendships is usually silent but bitchy, and ending relationships usually gets nasty, messy and ugly."

He shook his head, and actually gave a chuckle, "No no no, I mean. Once you're someone's friend, if you tell them being a friend is too much, then you're a jerk." he said, a smile on his features. "Telling someone of the difficulty of a task only saves face at the very, very beginning. The moment of decision." he said, then his smile started to waver. "Though, still no less cold."

He then looked into her eyes with a soft smile, and then he spoke. A gentle melodic phrase in a language hardly heard by human ears. It was haunting, it was hollow in places and full of life in others. He was speaking in his native tongue...

"My name is Koh, I'm the last son of my mother. I value your company above all others." he translated. "Roughly translated." he gave a wink.

Shaille laughed again, reaching out and grabbing his collar, pulling him in toward her. "You know, you're incredibly cute when you're being all sweet," she said softly before brushing a gentle kiss across his cheek. "Koh, There is absolutely no where else I would rather be except right here with you."

After she gently kissed his cheek, he gently pressed his forehead to hers. "I have no plans to ever leave your side." he admitted.



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WO Koh Otassu "Ghost"
Fighter Pilot
USS Wellington

Lieutenant Shaille Levine
Chief Security Officer
USS Wellington