Cats and Their Toys

Posted on Thu Oct 12th, 2023 @ 2:30pm by Cadet Senior Grade Toareth Darqa & Cadet Senior Grade Felix

1,386 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: 1 - Cruising through the galaxy
Location: Felix's Quarters
Timeline: Current

Toareth had finished setting up her quarters, for the moment, and wanted to have a walkabout the Stardancer, getting familiar with her corridors. She happened by the transporter room as an incoming transport materialized...and it kept materializing. Having a look in the room, Toareth saw the transporter officer was actually not having any trouble with the transporter. The Catian off to the side was also evident that there was no such error or malfunction happening. It was the Catian's belongings that was being transported. The Catian already had his arms full of belongings as others were appearing upon the pads. Of course the transporter officer was not going to assist, and the Chief of the Boat was off on other errands. As this was the big move-in day for the cadets, there was certainly going to be a need for assistance in getting materials to their owners' quarters before the Captain's inspection.

Stepping in, "Would you like some help with your things," Toareth said to the Catian.

Felix looked up at the voice. Humbly he responded, "Oh it certainly would not be necessary. I'm sure I can manage. But if you aren't doing anything else, I wouldn't mind some assistance with the smaller items."

"I am actually doing nothing else at the moment, save for having a walkabout the ship. I'll be glad to help." She started gathering the smaller items together to pick up as many as she could at once. And the smaller items were aplenty. They were also light. Toareth could only guess at what the lighter boxes and bags carried. "If you know your room assignment, do lead the way. The computer will guide if you need."

"It's not far at all," Felix responded graciously, picking up the larger items with ease. "Thank you for your help. You are our Chief Medical Officer correct? What was your name again?" Felix asked apologetically.

"Cadet Toareth Darqa. Yes, I am the Cadet CMO. You must be Felix, Cadet Chief Science Officer." She motioned for him to exit first and to lead the way, but he appeared to insist the lady exit first. Toareth was not one for such formalities all the time, but went with it regardless. Outside the Transporter Room, she allowed him to take the lead. Despite appearances, the luggage she was carrying was really rather light. "Are you looking forward to leading your own science team during the cruise?"

"I am looking forward to it very much indeed," he responded. "I hope I am up to the task. I trust my skills as a scientist, but leadership is another skill altogether. Ah, here we are," he said stopping at a door, and pressing the panel to open the door to his quarters. "Please come in," he said invitingly.

Toareth positioned what she was holding in such a way to allow her passage through the door. It took away her ability to see where she was walking but she was not going far before placing the luggage down. A storage box popped open as she placed it down. The lid opened on its own, more like it was pressed open by an expanding item. It proved to be a stuffed animal of sorts, with dangly tassles. "Oh, I'm sorry Felix." She pointed at it. "Is this yours?"

"Oh, yes," Felix responded, not a hint of embarrassment in his voice. "You've found rascal." Felix took the stuffed animal and placed it carefully on his bed.

He took one of the larger boxes back to the bedroom, and looked over his shoulder, indicating that Taoreth could follow him. "I'm sure you were wondering what all the luggage was about." He began opening one of the boxes revealing textured boards that were part of a modular system."This," he said, gesturing with his paw like hand at boards, "Is part of a canopy that I built to go over my bed," he said proudly.

Toareth followed as gestured and looked on with interest. "I have heard the jokes that Catians are just humanoid cat hardware running on full feline software, but" and she hoped he was taking this as a compliment, "you do exemplify the nature of your people."

Felix thought for a moment as he tried to understand her comment. His face lit up as he gathered her meaning. "I think I understand what you are saying. We do not have feline species on Cait that are as unevolved as Earth felines, so I," he said putting a pawlike hand to his chest, "would not be one who could make such a comparison. I would say that the people of Cait are very diverse, you should visit sometime. I could show you around," he offered.

"I take it you have unevolved humanoids," Toareth said with a smile, thinking that would then make it more or less like Earth. She did not vocalize that last bit however. "I have been to many planets within the Federation. Most, in fact. Cait is one that I have managed to miss, "to my own consternation of course," she added. "What fascinated me the most about Caitians," she started again as she went to move another box, "is the sigmoidal curve of the spine. Even when standing upright, its effectiveness is not diminished. You can jump incredibly high and run extremely fast. I've never had the chance to examine Caitians myself. With you permission," she placed the box down and it rattled a bit; personal belongings and more toys obviously, "I would like to subject you to a series of tests. Exercise tests," she pointed out to make sure he did not think this was anything medical or chemical. "Jumping, running, parkouring. Things like that."

"I am hardly the athletic type!" Felix responded, surprised at the request. "I don't know that I would make a very good subject for your tests. I am not in very good shape at all," he said, quite embarrassed that he didn't go to physical training as often as recommended by Starfleet standards.

Toareth thought to re-flatter him after his own un-flattering remarks. "Well, the average physique of male Catians is still above that of average humans. You may think yourself out of shape when you are, in fact, in better shape than most humans. On average." She was certainly not looking for a bodybuilder. She eyed the Catian admirably for a few short seconds as he continued about his work, then she went to another box. "Where do you want this one to go?"

"That is rather kind of you to say," Felix responded humbly. "And you really mustn't worry about all of these boxes. You have done so much already. I am sorry to have troubled you at all today," he apologized. "It was really this canopy that was so bulky that made it difficult for me to carry everything myself. I thought about leaving it behind, but it is quite comforting. Especially since the only trees I will be seeing for a while will be on a holodeck."

"Understandable," she said. "Be sure you do not program the holodeck to produce river birches. Those trees have brittle limbs and break easy. So, unless if you want to see more of me...in Sick Bay that is...do not program river birches." She looked about the place wondering if there was anything else that was needed of her.

"Thank you for the tip, I shall keep that in mind. It is interesting that there are so few Caitians dispersed through Starfleet right now. It seems the population ebbs and flows. I know at one point a great many of us served."

That peaked Toareth's interest a bit. "These ebbs and flows, do they seem to have any correlation to the Catian calendar year or to Catian physiology, biology? There could be an explanation for this."

"I don't know that there is a biological pattern," Felix responded. "It is most like social trends. Our records are accessible to Starfleet officers, and I believe cadets as well. If you are interested, perhaps you may find a pattern."

"I will keep that in mind," Toareth responded. "Thank you." She looked around the place. It was still in a bit of disarray but Felix was getting it sorted. "I will leave you to it, then."

 

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