All By Myself

Posted on Sun Oct 26th, 2025 @ 7:47am by Lieutenant Azrel Vox & Ensign Jason Reece & Chief Petty Officer Meredith Corden
Edited on on Thu Nov 6th, 2025 @ 9:18pm

848 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Mission 6: Echoes of the Interphase
Location: Gym - USS Midway
Timeline: M6 MD05 (2268.10.07) 1300

After returning from shore leave, Azrel changed in her quarters into her gym clothes and was soon in the well equipped gym and on one of the many pieces of equipment. She had many friends aboard the Midway, happy about that, but she couldn't shake a feeling of isolation being the only Trill on-board.

It wasn't long before Meredith wandered in. She was in a good mood. Her shore leave had gone well. She, too, was already dressed for the gym. She raised a hand in greeting as she saw Azrel there. "Hey," she greeted her casually. She remembered running with the woman once, though that had been ages ago now.

She briefly stopped her workout and gave a wave. "Hey there" she replied back. She remembers meeting them before really early in the morning on a run around the ship. She hadn't really done that in a while and instead had relied on gym equipment.

A few moments later, the door slud open again and Jason entered. He was heavily tanned from his time spent surfing during shore leave. "Morning," he said to both women with a polite grin. While they were both on the treadmills, he made his way to the exercise mat and started to stretch.

"Morning!" Meredith said cheerfully. She smiled warmly to both Azrel and Jason, now running on the treadmill. She had a steady pace going. "Everyone have a good leave?"she asked, her breath a little heavy from exertion.

"Morning. Yes. I had a good leave but... Nevermind it's fine." Aze replied.

A look of concern briefly flickered across Meredith's face at Aze's answer. She glanced over but she decided not to push. The other woman would share if she wanted to.

Aze stopped exercising and looked at Meredith and Jason.

She sighed. "Can I confide in you? " She cautiously asked.

"Of course," Meredith said, also coming to a stop.

"Well. I'm the only Trill on the Midway and recently I've kind of felt isolated. I have a few friends but sometimes I get the feeling that others choose not to sit with me when I'm in the messhall. It could all be in my head but it's making me feel lonely."

Aze explained.

Meredith frowned. "I'm sorry you've been feeling isolated. It must be hard not to share your cultural reference points with anyone." She stepped over towards Aza and looked at Jason. "Can we be there for you?"

"I would be very grateful if you could in some way. People of different races tend to talk to eachother about things they share as a race, a common ground. At the moment I try to keep up with news from home and chat to family by subspace letters."

"I don't really know as much about Trill as I should," Meredith admitted. "Would you be willing to introduce me to your culture?"

"Of course. In exchange could you enlighten me about your own? I know a little but I'm always happy to learn more."

"Sure," Meredith said. "I can tell you anything you want to know about Earth. Well, that I know anyway."

" Sounds great." Aze replied. She felt a little better about things.

Jason grinned softly as he listened to the two women speak. "We are all we have out here," he interjected as he finished his stretches and started wrapping his knuckles as he moved to stand by the heavy bag that was hanging in the corner of the room. "My grandfather, who had been a MACO during the Earth/Romulus War, always told me when I was a boy, a starship's crew may come from many locations, but, while they are together, they become a family of their own."

"Yeah, what he said," Meredith agreed. "A family of our own. So..." She was thinking of exactly where to go from there. She didn't want to just start exchanging facts. There should be something more communal. "Maybe we can get together later and watch...What sorts of entertainment media does Trill produce?"

" Well. I suppose we could watch some of the documentary programs that were produced over the years. Like earth, we had our own equivalent to television with a variety of programming." Aze replied.

Jason shrugged with a grin, "Sounds good. Anything in particular that you find interesting?"

" Well, ancient history is definitely my thing plus I do enjoy learning about other species in this galaxy of ours. " Aze replied.

"We could watch documentary programs," Meredith said. "Is there anything that's relatively accurate but also maybe a bit more dramatic on Trill ancient history?"

" Plenty to choose from. The ones on our ancient cities are particularly fascinating." Aze replied.

"What's your favorite?" Meredith asked.

" The documentary series on the ancient city of Furrez." Aze replied.

Jason grinned and replied as he threw a few more punches into the heavy bag. "Sounds fun! I'll bring the popcorn."

"Sounds good. " Aze replied. She moved to one of the weightlifting machines and began doing a set.

The next time we see the three of them, Jason will have the popcorn.

OFF

 

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