It was definitely pretty late to arrive at the cafeteria that evening. The swimming practice meet with the team had taken up most of A’kilees’ afternoon as he and a few members of the team headed towards a large open table for some late night meals. Most cadets had cleared out but a number of lingerers remained filling the room with soft echoed murmuring, complimented with fragrances of various dinners and evening treats. The entourage consisted of Andrea Devibeck, a human from a city called Vancouver, the two Bajoran siblings Asi and Kufa Vov from the colonies on Bajor VIII, and the Rigelian, Taadun.
"Can't believe I messed up on that last strech. If I had pushed off the wall a bit cleaner I would have beaten Kiso for sure that time." complained Asi as she collapsed in her chair as the others found their place at the table.
"Your chances are running out to beat her sister." Kufa remarked as he sat down beside her patting her back. "Sooner or later you'll all be finished with your examinations and assigned to your stations leaving me behind."
"You say that like it's a bad thing." Asi jokingly retorted to her younger sibling "Aren't you the "Prince of the Swim Team"? What about your little fan club? They'd be devastated to have you be wisked away to an unknown place in the galaxy too soon" she said with a smile. A number of chuckles came from around the table.
"I'm pretty sure it's because of those boyish good looks he still has" Taadun remarked. It was true, Kufa was two years behind the other members of the table and had gained quite a following of cadets who regularly came to watch our meets. Most found them loud and distracting but A'kilees found their cheering encouraging, even if they weren't meant for him.
"What are we getting? asked Kufa quickly drawing attention away from himself as the subject as he got up and headed towards the replicators. "Is that soup bowl still available? I'll grab a couple bowls if everyone is ok with that?"
"Ramen, Kufa! It's called ramen!" Andrea called out as he walked away. "Speaking of graduation" as she turned towards the rest of the remaining group "Has everyone considered about their placements? You know that they're going to consider our requests." she said as she looked around the table curiously.
"That's easy." Taadan boasted. "The Aquilia under Captian Brooks. That's a real startship and a real captian, plenty of action and a place to make a name for myself. Captain Taadan, at your service!" he said loudly as he attempted to look disginuished with a grin on his face. This was also met by a number of chuckles from the table and from nearby listeners.
Asi looked up from her arms on the table. "Looking to be stationed at Deep Space Nine to be helping out back home in the colonies. Hoping to use what I've learned about agriculture to improve efficency. It'll also be good to be close to my family."
Andrea looked over at the saurian. "What about you A'kilees? Any thoughts on your placement?"
This was a difficult question for him as of late. A'kilees had considered a number of options but in truth he hadn't chosen quite yet. Sure his engineering talents would be welcome anywhere but yet the answer still eluded him.
"I um, not entirely sure to be honest Andrea." he admitted "I had also considered the Aquilia myself but *click click* other vessels like the Zephyr and the *click* Yeager are good options too. All *clickclick* ergonomically designed, great ships all of them and..."
"Still obessing over starships over your examinations again A'kilees?" Asi asked.
"Can't get into the Design Bureau if one isn't obessed with starships Asi." A'kilees retorted "No, I can make a decision before my examinations are over. As long as it's a good starship I will be happy, first that, then making my own." He meant that too, his indecision was one thing so how could he complain when any choice meant he would be on a starship? He had worked hard for this, years at school on Sauria and at the Academy, at this point his first goal was right there he could nearly touch it.
"If you design and build those ships A'kilees, I'm sure they'll fly" encouraged Andrea with a smile as Kufa carrying a tray of steaming bowls placed their meals upon the table. Coming from Andrea, another talented engineering cadet at Starfleet, this meant a lot.
A'kilees reached out and grabbed a bowl and began to eat happily with the compliment. Soon the table was filled with chatter, idle gossip and laughter, alibet full of noodles in each others mouths until late into the night. Moments like these will to be missed in the future A'kilees thought to himself as he slupped up the miso broth from the bowl, but more exiting things were bound to happen soon.
"Can't believe I messed up on that last strech. If I had pushed off the wall a bit cleaner I would have beaten Kiso for sure that time." complained Asi as she collapsed in her chair as the others found their place at the table.
"Your chances are running out to beat her sister." Kufa remarked as he sat down beside her patting her back. "Sooner or later you'll all be finished with your examinations and assigned to your stations leaving me behind."
"You say that like it's a bad thing." Asi jokingly retorted to her younger sibling "Aren't you the "Prince of the Swim Team"? What about your little fan club? They'd be devastated to have you be wisked away to an unknown place in the galaxy too soon" she said with a smile. A number of chuckles came from around the table.
"I'm pretty sure it's because of those boyish good looks he still has" Taadun remarked. It was true, Kufa was two years behind the other members of the table and had gained quite a following of cadets who regularly came to watch our meets. Most found them loud and distracting but A'kilees found their cheering encouraging, even if they weren't meant for him.
"What are we getting? asked Kufa quickly drawing attention away from himself as the subject as he got up and headed towards the replicators. "Is that soup bowl still available? I'll grab a couple bowls if everyone is ok with that?"
"Ramen, Kufa! It's called ramen!" Andrea called out as he walked away. "Speaking of graduation" as she turned towards the rest of the remaining group "Has everyone considered about their placements? You know that they're going to consider our requests." she said as she looked around the table curiously.
"That's easy." Taadan boasted. "The Aquilia under Captian Brooks. That's a real startship and a real captian, plenty of action and a place to make a name for myself. Captain Taadan, at your service!" he said loudly as he attempted to look disginuished with a grin on his face. This was also met by a number of chuckles from the table and from nearby listeners.
Asi looked up from her arms on the table. "Looking to be stationed at Deep Space Nine to be helping out back home in the colonies. Hoping to use what I've learned about agriculture to improve efficency. It'll also be good to be close to my family."
Andrea looked over at the saurian. "What about you A'kilees? Any thoughts on your placement?"
This was a difficult question for him as of late. A'kilees had considered a number of options but in truth he hadn't chosen quite yet. Sure his engineering talents would be welcome anywhere but yet the answer still eluded him.
"I um, not entirely sure to be honest Andrea." he admitted "I had also considered the Aquilia myself but *click click* other vessels like the Zephyr and the *click* Yeager are good options too. All *clickclick* ergonomically designed, great ships all of them and..."
"Still obessing over starships over your examinations again A'kilees?" Asi asked.
"Can't get into the Design Bureau if one isn't obessed with starships Asi." A'kilees retorted "No, I can make a decision before my examinations are over. As long as it's a good starship I will be happy, first that, then making my own." He meant that too, his indecision was one thing so how could he complain when any choice meant he would be on a starship? He had worked hard for this, years at school on Sauria and at the Academy, at this point his first goal was right there he could nearly touch it.
"If you design and build those ships A'kilees, I'm sure they'll fly" encouraged Andrea with a smile as Kufa carrying a tray of steaming bowls placed their meals upon the table. Coming from Andrea, another talented engineering cadet at Starfleet, this meant a lot.
A'kilees reached out and grabbed a bowl and began to eat happily with the compliment. Soon the table was filled with chatter, idle gossip and laughter, alibet full of noodles in each others mouths until late into the night. Moments like these will to be missed in the future A'kilees thought to himself as he slupped up the miso broth from the bowl, but more exiting things were bound to happen soon.