Paperboy: Page not Found (BackPost)

Posted on 20 Jun 2019 @ 6:49am by Lieutenant Junior Grade Steven Bernard, Ph.D. & Ensign Kojima "Paperboy" Tanahashi

Mission: Hahai i na pilikua nui - Hunting Monsters
Location: The Hideaway Lounge
Timeline: 1 week after "Target Practice"

Kojima kicked his feet up on the table he was sitting at, he was simply relaxing. He was still pissed off about his kill being stolen and he finally figured out the person who fired the shot was Commander Tolkath. Of course, he just wanted to vent to the man, not that it would do any good with him being a Vulcan and all. For now, he was just waiting for a good time to talk to him in private.

Bernard, the black and white man, walked into the hideaway lounge to find a fighter pilot reclining on his favorite couch. I guess my lounge is not as hidden as I believed, he thought. He recognized the man's face from the personel files he had been studying today. "Good morning, Sir," Bernard said, "I'm about to make myself a Pina Colada. Would you like one?"

"Sorry no alcohol, got to stay ready just in case the Gorn return. Don't want to crash myself into the side of one of their ships now." Kojima laughed softly as he sat up now. "Don't believe we have met, Ensign Kojima Tanahashi, but my callsign is Paperboy." Kojima extended his hand out towards Bernard.

Bernard shook Kojima's hand and shook it. He smiled on release. "I think you are the first person on this ship who has shaken my hand. My father said that used to mean something. About the alcohol, I think the computer is limited to only supply synthohol when you ask it for something. And believe me, if I had any real alcohol on this ship, I'd be saving it for a special occasion. I haven't met many fighter pilots. Is it exciting?"

"Really? I would think that would be common for most Starfleet officers when they first meet, or I could just be weird either one is possible." Kojima jests. "I don't drink that fake crap, I think I would soon drink water from the Gorn homeworld then synthohol, but if you are looking for real stuff head on down to the Marine barracks. I've never met a Marine who didn't at least have a few bottles of the real stuff stashed somewhere. It's really exciting, as long as you don't crash into the side of something that can suck or you might die." Tanahashi seemed to be unfazed at the thought of death.

Bernard felt that Kojima was referring to actual death with the last line: he was only half-joking. "I thought it would be a common greeting among Starfleet on this ship, but I expect a lot of things and I seem to be all wrong. Have you seen a lot of death on this ship, Kojima?" He went over to the replicator and pressed in his order manually as not to interrupt the conversation.

"Shockingly I haven't, I'm just a realist. Everyone is going to die one way or another and I know what I do is extremely dangerous."

This set Bernard's teeth on edge. He remembered. He remembered everything. "Kojima, I used to work Mortuary Affairs during the Dominion Wars. I was much younger then. I picked up bodies of civilians and Starfleet dead, pieces of people. I do not fear death, but he and I feel sometimes too well acquainted. I had friends once who could talk about it. We all knew what it was like to try to reassemble a young woman blown apart by an explosive. Losing them was worse than my relationship with death." He had lost himself, he needed to get back. He smiled and took a drink of what had materialized in the replicator. He forced himself to be grounded in the flavor. "Sorry," he said, trying to salvage the conversation, this was supposed to be fun, "I take death a bit seriously, I suppose. What do you do for fun on this ship?"

Kojima looked at Bernard, the man sure knew how to kill the mood. Just because he accepted that people died didn't mean he needed to hear about this from him. He just went with the topic change and shook his head, "I fly ships, it's a passion."

"Awesome," Bernard said, feeling dizzy, ashamed he had--what was that?--messed up, "I am a terrible pilot. I make drinks and augment weapons. I used to do a lot of research, but my job as the TAO is half research and it takes the fun out of stuff. What's your favorite craft?" You can't salvage this, just finish your drink, wish him a good day and go find a Counselor. He thought, Tell them you can't do this. Tell them you belong where they found you. Bernard smiled and drank at a measured pace.

"My favorite craft is my fighter, she is my pride and joy." Kojima was eyeing Bernard he seemed off. "Everything okay Ensign Bernard?" He spoke in a calming tone.

Bernard instantly became aware of his own perspiration. His drink was gone. He did and did not understand how ashamed he felt. "I--No, I don't think I am. Thank you for the conversation, Kojima. I don't know if it is appropriate for me to call you Paperboy until we become friends. I--please excuse me--" Bernard made for the door, nearly missing the disposal chute with his glass. The dizziness did not dissipate. His heart was beating way too fast. His vision was funneling. He hit his comm badge:

=/\=Bernard to medical=/\= He said, almost whispering =/\=help=/\=

The black and white man collapsed in the corridor.

[OFF]

Kojima 'Paperboy' Tanahashi, Ens., SFFC
FLT 801/XO

&

Steven J. Bernard, ENS, SF
TAO