Jayshon and the Underoos of Tanagra

Posted on Sun Apr 30th, 2023 @ 10:49am by Ensign Ryan Mackenzie
Edited on on Fri May 5th, 2023 @ 12:03am

1,704 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Short Treks
Location: Crew Quarters

:: Crew Quarters | USS Lionheart ::

~2145 Hours

“Computer, Lights.” The crimson-haired youth called out as he stepped through the doors into his quarters. Half a second later the small living space was bathed in soft white light, illuminating a room that left in darkness was a potential minefield of action figures, discarded uniform parts, and other odds and ends, including a half-completed model of the U.S.S. Hermes, an old Saladin Class starship. Ryan had already stepped on it once when he made the mistake of trying to navigate in the dark. The venerable old ship had lost her warp nacelle that day. He was still saving replicator rations for a new one.

In addition to the clutter, there was an unmade bed, a small table with padds piled on it, and a furry bean bag chair that looked like a giant Tribble. The walls were adorned with posters depicting superheroes, spaceships, and professional wrestlers from the Sigma Iotian League Marauder Mo and his gang sneered down from one, their fists full of latinum while Mo cracked his energy whip. Another depicted Kor, Kang, and Koloth standing over a vanquished foe, their bat’leths raised in triumph. There was a single window, which looked out into the inky void of space.

The Onlie tossed his mustard-shouldered uniform jacket into the reclamation unit and kicked off his boots in that general direction as well. As he doffed his other uniform parts, he attempted to do the same with them but only the charcoal undershirt made it. His pants and socks joined other clothing in front of it.

As he was pulling on his pajama pants, a plaintive “meow” came from the bed, followed shortly by a diminutive orange head popping up out of the jumbled bedding. Ryan smiled at the kitten, who had apparently been taking a nap, judging by his bedhead fur and subsequent yawn. When he’d tied off the drawstring on his pants, the boy padded over and fell onto the bed, laying on his stomach and coming face to face with the tabby kitten.

“Hi Kazi!” he offered brightly. “I missed you too.” He laughed as Kazi nuzzled his face. He picked him up and rolled over, setting the kitten on his stomach and propping himself up on his elbows. “It was a long day.” He began. “First, I had to do a class on phasers for doctors and science nerds. It’s my punishment, from when I pulled one on Wogt the other day.”

Kazi sat down and began “making biscuits” on his stomach as Ryan continued with his story. “Medical and science types really suck cheese at phasers. One of them forgot to turn the safety on and almost stunned me! And that one didn’t even qualify, so he’s gotta come back.” He peered down at Kazi. "Imagine being a full on grup... and a doctor... and you can't even use a phaser right!...."

He was about to continue when the chime rang on his door. “Come in.” he called out, sitting up and putting the cat in his lap.

The doors whisked open and Ensign Jayshon stepped through. “Zinda, His eyes red!” he muttered, taking in the sight before him. Then in broken standard. “This room is cage of cows!”

“You mean pig sty. Cows live in fields.” Ryan corrected. “And it’s not that bad. I’ve been busy!”

Jayshon was still processing the living space. “The River Temarc…..” he whispered. “The smell is… The Beast’s lair… no.. foul. It is foul.” He finished.

Ryan rolled his eyes. Kazi meowed and nuzzed his master, who’s sudden movement had changed his plans too. “Kiazi's children, their faces wet!” he shot back with some indignation. “It doesn’t smell bad in here!”

“Kadir beneath Mo Moteh” Jayshon snapped. “You cannot smell!?” He walked over to the reclamation unit where the bulk of Ryan’s wardrobe lay in and around the hamper like bin. “Your dirty clothing, not reclaimed!” he said, picking up a pair of underwear and examining the comic book characters printed on them. “What is this? Kira at Bashi… on your under clothes?”

“Temarc!” Ryan leapt off the bed, unable to remember the rest of the phrase. Kazi was sent scurrying with a startled meow. The Onlie padded quickly over and snatched the underwear from the Tamarian. He dropped them in the reclamation bin and pushed the button. “You don’t just go picking up someone’s underwear Jayshon! That’s private!”

“Why are stories on your underclothes?” Jayshon asked. “I have never seen this.”

Apparently, “Private” wasn’t something that Translated into Tamarian. “Human kids have super heroes and stuff on their underwear. It’s a thing. I don’t know why they do it.” He went on. “Some have super heroes… or characters from stories Anyways… we’re not talking about my underwear Jayshon!”

“You… Ahh.. Sokath, his eyes opened! You are like a human… and a child. So you have Kira at Bashi underclothes!”

Ryan heaved a sigh. It looked like this was a conversation that was going to happen… the awkwardness be damned. And technically, Jayshon wasn’t wrong. He WAS a child… mostly. And even though he was nearly indistinguishable from a human boy, he didn’t consider himself one. He was an Onlie, from an entirely different world, even if it was basically Earth. “I’m an Onlie… NOT a Human.” Ryan answered, picking up the other clothes and dropping them in before the Tamarian could do so himself. “And someone gave me those underwear.. as a gift… err… Temba, His arms wide… you know? A gift.”

Jayshon nodded. “Yes! Sokath! I see. But... Why ehm…Bazminti, the veil unlifted… no, why if not to be seen..”

The boy arched an eyebrow. After a moment, realization hit him. “Why put artwork on underwear if no one can see it?”

Jayson nodded. “Yes.”

“Who knows.” Ryan answered with a shrug. “They just do. It probably started when Humans used money, so Grups could get kids to buy their underwear instead of someone else’s.” Now that he thought of it that did make sense.

The Tamarian nodded. Jayshon didn’t really get it, but decided to let it go because he had an agenda. “Sokath.” He replied. Then, shifting gears, “Tomorrow… is eh…Bazminti… the veil lifted, Sokath, his eyes uncovered.. inspection! He finished, finding the word. And so..” he indicated the room with a sweeping gesture. He pointed at Ryan and then himself. “Darmok and Jalad, at Tanagra.”

“You….wanna help me clean my room?”

“Sokath! Yes!” Jayshon exclaimed.

A grup helping him pick up his room wasn’t Ryan’s idea of a good time, but if there WAS an inspection coming… He glanced around at the cluttered space. “Umm.. ok.” He answered.

~ An hour later ~

Ryan wrinkled his nose as he placed the final bowl, which had once contained cereal… or something with milk… into the replicator. The bowl shimmered out of existence, eventually taking the smell of the flaky sour milk remnants with it. When he turned around, he saw Jayshon sitting on his Tribble chair, with Kazi purring in his lap.

“Rai and Jiri at Lungha. Rai of Lowani. Lowani under two moons.” Jayshon almost cooed to the kitten, who gave him a content meow as he kneaded the Tamarian’s leg before settling in.

“Well. Thanks for helping.” Ryan spoke up looking around the room. Now, instead of the minefield, it was a well-organized space. All of the action figures were put away, and all the clothing had been reclaimed and re-replicated. Even the bed was made. In fact, aside from the décor… and the fact that the bedding was covered in Pike City Pioneers logos and not the standard Starfleet issue, one might have thought a grup lived here. “I’d have gotten in trouble for sure if they came for an inspection and my room was messed up.”

Jaython stroked the kitten’s back as he purred his approval. “Picard and Dathon.” He smiled. “at El-Adrel.”

That made the boy smile. He hadn’t been on the ship long, and hadn’t really made too many friends yet, not counting Doria. And given that he was both younger and a lot older than everyone else, friends were a commodity that never came quickly, or easily for the Onlie. He was glad to see that Jayshon might end up being a friend.

As he watched the Tamarian, who was currently all in on petting Kazi, Ryan got an idea. He went to the clothing replicator. “Computer.” He offered, stifling a laugh. “Make a pair of underoos for Ensign Jayshon.”

“Define style and artwork.” The computer replied in its feminine monotone.

Ryan considered that for a moment. “Umm… briefs. And put Tamarian characters Darmok and…”

“Jalad.” Jayshon broke in. “At Tenagra… the Beast at Tanagra.”

Ryan smild and nodded. “Yeah. Darmok, Jalad, and the Beast at Tanagra.”

“Working.” The computer replied dutifully. A few seconds later, the requested clothing appeared. Ryan held it up for Jayshon. “See?” He giggled. “Darmok and Jalad underwear!”

As he displayed them, Ryan couldn’t help but admire the artwork. On the back, Darmok and Jalad wore ancient Tamarian armor and brandished long, sword like weapons. And on the front, the Beast’s snarling face was printed.

Jayshon seemed impressed as well. He picked up Kazi and gingerly place the kitten on the tribble chair as he got up. “Kira at Bashi underclothes!” he laughed.

“Temba, his arms wide.” Ryan replied, handing them over.

“Thank you. Jayshon replied, taking them. “Unzak and Vhila, as children.”

Ryan didn’t really know what that one meant. Hopefully, he thought, Unzak and Vhila were friends. Judging from the context, he figured they were. He stifled a yawn, which Jayshon noted.

“Sleep now.” He said. “Mirab with sails unfurled.”

“Yeah.” The boy nodded. “It’s late. See you in the morning Jayshon.”

Jayshon nodded. “Tommorrow.” He replied, turning for the door.

When the doors shut after him, Ryan scooped up Kazi and made for the bed. “I bet he wears those underwear tomorrow.” He said to the kitten with a laugh.

 

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