Ensign Arco Jatri - New beginnings

[Samira Neathler]

Been meaning to post this for a couple of days now. Ensign Arco, (PNPC written by Ferier Kian) a hybrid Bajoran/Cardassian, struggling with her believes and her upbringing, while, adjusting to the life on a Starship.

@Ferier This last post got to me somehow. :-) Great writing.

 

(( Cochtois Lagoon Beach - Deluvia IV ))

 

::After meeting Lachlan Crauw on the beach the pair decided to have a bite to eat. Arco tried to flee believing she wasn’t worthy of having friends or having survived the recent disaster on the USS Njörðr. Having tried to leave and being stopped by Lachlan the pair sat outside chatting.::

 

Crauw:: Why don't we sit down and you can talk to me, ok. Whatever is on your mind. A burden shared is a burden halved. I wouldn't be a good friend otherwise. Please Jatri, let me help you.

 

::He guided her towards the bench in the gentle, yet warm breeze.::

 

Arco: No one can help me Lachlan. I am a half breed who didn't deserve to survive the Njörðr. Forget the finger they should have taken all of me.  People died, good people. I wish I could change places with them.

 

Crauw: Lady Jatri, I hope I'm not offending you, but why, as a half breed, don't you deserve to live? What has, who you are, to do with it?

 

Arco: So many people dead, why did I survive what have I done to deserve it. I haven’t done anything and I am sure I won't do anything to make me worthy of life when others got death.

 

::Jatri took place on the bench and Lachlan sat down next to her. He saw her shivering and, regretting even more now he hadn't brought a shirt along, he put his arm around her shoulders trying to comfort her.::

 

Crauw: That is the course of life, Lady Jatri. Maybe you survived because you are meant to do something greater in the future, your presence might be required elsewhere to safeguard people from a tragedy we don’t know anything about yet. And yes people died on the Njörðr. But we survived. Don't you think we owe it to those, that did die on the ship, to enjoy our lives at the fullest? Like turning a new page in the book called Life? You said it yourself earlier: you are free to be you. Maybe what happened on the Njörðr was needed for you to reach that new chapter in your life.

 

Arco: Maybe I should resign Starfleet and open a bar here instead. At least that way I won’t see so many people die.

 

::Lachlan's brow raised a notch.::

 

Crauw: My dear Jatri, I’m sure the bartender on the Njörðr would disagree with you there.

 

:: Lachlan winked at her but his words hit home. It seemed in the dangerous universe no job was safe

 

Crauw: You know lady Jatri. A Klingon saved my life on the Njörðr. I wouldn't show much respect towards the man if I just gave up, would I now?

 

Arco: I don’t want to give up, I don’t understand why anyone, least of all you, would bother with someone like me.

 

Crauw: What I'm trying to say is: there are more half breeds out there and they manage. And I have every confidence that you can too. If people have some common sense, they would look beyond what race someone is and see that person for what they truly are.

 

Arco: On Bajor, unless I am in the sect I see the looks they give me, the disgust. Cardassians have the same look.

 

Crauw: Like what I see now: a beautiful young lady, who has a whole life ahead of her to do the things she wants to do. Things she didn't have the opportunity to do before in her life. A lovely lady, who likes a quiet afternoon on the beach, reading a book or have a swim amongst sea creatures. A lady who meets new people, who she can call friends. I'd say that's worth living for, isn't it?

 

::Still embracing her shoulders he saw her ponder for a moment.::

 

Arco: Help me Lachlan, I don’t know how to do those things, I don’t know how to fit in.

 

Crauw: I'd say you are already doing a good job now, lady Jatri. You decided to come to the beach. Otherwise I'd be sitting here, talking to myself. Imagine the looks that would have given me? ::He winked again as he said the words.::

 

Arco: I want to live Lachlan not just exist. Not to be the oddball or a mongrel.

 

Crauw: One step at the time, lady Jatri. Today the beach and see where it leads you tomorrow, and the day after and the day after that.

 

Arco: How do we cope with so many deaths Lachlan?

 

Crauw: I don't know, miss Jatri. Some people turn to the bottle to forget what they saw. Others tend to do good to those that survived, in memory of those that were lost. Others tend to live their life at the fullest every single day, cause they know tomorrow could or might be their last. It all depends on the situation someone is in. All I know is, that the feeling will diminish but it will take time. Some days will be easier than others.

 

 Arco: I hope it does Lachlan.

 

::He looked at her again.::

 

Crauw: What also helps, is to talk about it, lady Jatri. Bottling things up is never a good thing.

 

:: That went against everything she was taught. Growing up in the sect you were encouraged to keep private thoughts private. They were between you and the prophets. How could she take nearly 20 years of teaching and shed them like a snake shed it’s skin.::

 

Arco: How?

 

Crauw: ::He shrugged.:: Some prefer to talk to a stranger, that's why most people open up to the bartenders after a few drinks, knowing they open up to someone they most likely will never see again. Or maybe you'd prefer to talk to someone who has actually been there with you on the Njörðr? Seek those people out, they have seen what you did out there, they've seen what you've seen, it will give them and you something to relate to. And maybe it'll give you the opportunity to become friends with them?

 

Arco:  You make it sound so simple. ::She smiled a little.::

 

Crauw: Also milady,:: He smiled at her.:: you're no longer alone. If you need a chaperone or just someone to stand beside you, don't hesitate to find me.

 

Arco: And when you aren’t pouring drinks where will you be Lachlan?

 

Crauw: Response

 

:: Buoyed up a little by Lachlan and his extremely kind words. He certainly seemed genuine. No one had ever shown an interest like this before. Used to being shunned by other crew members with what she now knew was a good reason it was time to start anew. It would be a sad way to repay those lost brothers and sisters on the USS Njörðr to revert to the old Arco she needed a rebirth. To be the person she wanted to be. It was time for Arco Jatri part two. Impulsively she reached up to her earring. This was one given to her by the sect before today one thing she valued above all else. Now it was the second most valuable thing Lachlan had replaced it an honest to goodness friend. She removed it and held it in her hand the metal was warm to touch and filled her with mixed feelings.  Shyly she handed it to Lachlan.::

 

Arco: A gift for you Lachlan my friend.

 

:: She savoured the word as she spoke it. It felt good to have a friend on the Gorkon. No matter where she went or what she did, no matter how many friends she had she would value Lachlans friendship above them all.::

 

Crauw: Response

 

Arco: Please take it. Today is a new start and giving a gift to you will make me feel good as I hope it will make you happy.

 

:: Arco smiled. She could replicate a standard Bajoran earring when she got back to the Gorkon. She would go for a plain design one not just for the prophets but for herself. New start new Arco new earring. It made sense to her.::

 

Crauw: Response

 

Arco: You have given me something much more valuable.

 

Crauw: Response

 

:: Arco smiled again as Lachlan closed his hand around it almost as if he was scared to lose it. With her heart filling with joy. Who would have believed the simple act of giving was so rewarding.::

 

Arco: I think it’s getting late. I might go back to the hotel and sleep.  Would you care to join me tomorrow so we can go swimming with the fishes together tomorrow?

 

Crauw: Response

 

 

Ensign Arco Jatri

Mission Specialist simmed by

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Lieutenant (JG) Ferier Kian
HCO Officer
USS Gorkon
G239501FL0