A Quiet Place

Posted on Sun Nov 1st, 2026 @ 7:07am by Ensign Melantha Hastings & Lieutenant Colonel Ashok 'Ash', Son of Norath & Cirilla

1,951 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Kintsugi
Location: Crew Lounge

The Crew lounge Melantha found was barely used according to the logs. It was out of the way.

With Charlee by her side she entered it, found a table by the window, and replicated herself a coffee and Charlee a treat. Then she sat down and opened the book she had brought with her. It was an original Timothy Zhan - Heir to the Empire, it had been kept safe in her family estate, and had been one of a set she herself had purchased.

Charlee huffed and settled at her feet.

Ashok walked down the corridor towards the lounge, his daughters hand in his. He kept her close, which is something he often did after they've been apart for a while, even though he knew his duty would cause that to happen more often now that they were expecting more battles with the Iconians up ahead. He needed a quiet place to go over when he had in the armory, what equipment was at their disposal, and what they could use and get away with replicating should they need it.

"Cirilla?" He said in a low voice, but still keeping a deep tone. "I'll have to do some work, so do you best to stay focused on your reading. I promise we can head to the holodeck afterwards."

"I know, Daddy." Little Cirilla replied as she walked with her father. She held her large PADD tightly, preparing herself to read the story she had asked her father to download to it. A part of her was still disappointed they couldn't bring Hur'q along, but she knew the little Targ probably wasn't ready to be around most people.

As the two entered the lounge, Cirilla spotted the creature immediately. A dog. It was just like the one Lieutenant Brock had when he was assigned to her fathers group, except that one had a darker coat. That dog was a combat dog and trained to do all sorts of things. She wondered if this one was trained the same way. As her father brought them to an empty table, she couldn't help but shift her focus back to the animal. Ciri wanted to go interact with it, but she knew her father would never let her.

As Ashok sat down, he brought up his PADD, preparing to review it. The server came by and he immediately ordered himself a Raktajiino and a small Kava juice and small bowl of Zilm'kach fruit for Cirilla. He looked down to Ciri, immediately catching her focus on something else, just as the server walked away. "Ciri? Focus on your reading, okay. I want to hear all about the story when you finish."

"I know, Daddy." Ciri said as he placed her PADD in front of her and opened the file on the story. Her eyes jumping from the screen to the dog.

Charlee noted the child with interest from where she lay under Melantha's feet. All dogs are opportunists and this one knew an easy touch when they saw one. As Melantha had released her grip on her leash, Charlee, began to belly crawl slowly towards the little girl. Occasionally the dog would glance back at its owner but Melantha was absorbed in her book.

Slowly, but surely, the dog was soon just out of reach of Ciri. And looking at her with sorrow filled eyes begging silently for pats.

Ciri looked at the dog, then to her father, who was eyes deep in his PADD. She took one of the Zlim'kach fruit from the bowl and eased it slowly under the table. She took one more look at her father, then to the dog, before dropping the fruit onto the floor and under the table. The little girl slowly slouched down and eventually made it under the table, picking up from fallen fruit, as she could now focus on the dog.

Charlee's tongue lolled slightly and inched a bit closer. Her gaze on the child's hands. When she was just in reach she rolled slightly onto her side to give access for belly rubs.

Ciri sat down with her legs crossed as she held out the Zlim'kach fruit to the dog. It was a Klingon fruit, something she enjoyed and was introduced to by her grandmother, so one couldn't be bad for the dog. Could it? She softly beckoned for the dog to approach, keeping very voice calm and low enough to keep her father from hearing so as not to ruin her fun. "Come on, doggie. It's okay. I won't hurt you. Do you want some Zlim'kach fruit?" She said softly as she slowly pet the dogs stomach and held the fruit piece out to it.

Charlee sniffs at the fruit and then gives it a tentative lick. Then another and the piece was gone into the dog's mouth. The tongue lolled and she wriggled closer as she enjoyed the child's attentions. The dog huffed in joy.

The small half Klingon girl smiled from ear to ear, before gently stroking the dog on the back. Her mission was complete. She made First Contact. Now, she needed to make sure the dog was aware she was friendly. She took another piece of fruit and held it out to the dog again. "Go on." Ciri whispered softly. "It's okay. I'm a friend."

Charlee agreed, anyone who gave treats was a friend. She shuffled closer and took the next piece just as quick. Then the tongue lolled out and licked Ciri's hand gently in thanks.

Ciri felt her hand get licked before letting out a loud giggle, which only prompted her to cover her mouth quickly. She was trying to do this quietly and secretly, but she got carried away and allowed herself to forget that.

Ash head the giggle and immediately look away from his PADD. He looked over to the seat across from him to find that Cirilla wasn't there anymore. Her bowl of fruit was missing which only meant she wondered off with it. He allowed a small hint of panic hit as he looked around the lounge. The Klingon was preparing to stand up from his seat, before he looked under the table to find his daugther with a new friend.

Ashok let out a sigh of relief before allowing a groan to escape right after. "Cirilla... What are you doing?"

"Making a new friend?" She replied softly.

Charlee looked at the Man who had ducked under the table. Her tongue lolled out again and licked Cirilla's hand as if claiming her as a member of her pack.

Ash placed the PADD in his hand down as a deep sigh escaped his lips. There was an air of disappointment, but a part of him still wasn't surprised. Her curiosity would always win out and it was hard to compete when it came to that.

The Klingon moved from his seat, taking a position on the floor, by his daughter as he spoke softly. "Cirilla... I know you can't help it sometimes, but there is a time and place for these sort of things. You don't know whose dog this belongs to or even if they want you touching it. This dog could be used for protection or comfort. Maybe even to help with some kind of condition. You luring it away, for whatever reason, could be a bad thing. You don't know unless you ask."

"But... the dog came to me?" Ciri replied softly, petting Charlee with one hand while keeping her hand close to the dog's snout to be licked.

"And you and that bowl of fruit had nothing to do with making her come to you even easier?" He countered.

Charlee sensing the tone, shifted closer to Ciri sniffing at the bowl of fruit, looking for more.

Meanwhile, Melantha had finally noticed Charlee was not at her side. She looked around and saw a wagging tail from under a table. She sighed. Brilliant. She thought. Who has she conned now? She stood slowly and moved towards the table, cautious as she didn't want to startle people.

Ashok looked up as soon as he heard someone approach. His fatherly instincts kicking in, as he focused his eyes on Melantha. He sat there, along with his daughter and her new friend, looking up at the woman with a slight smile. "Hello." He said softly, his tone still slightly deep, as he continued. "I take it this is your dog, Miss?"

Melantha nodded slowly. "Yes Sir." She said politely. "I apologize if she has annoyed you." She did not reach for the leash that was on the floor.

"No. Not at all." Ashok replied softly, smiling up to Melantha. "I should be apologizing to you. I fear, my daughter, may have lured your dog over in an attempt to make a new friend or satiate her curiosity."

"Well Charlie does like making new friends." She said with a small smile.

Charlie for her part was headbutting the little girl's hand begging for more pats.

Melantha couldn't help but smile at the sight of Charlee happily accepting the little girl's attention. The dog was thoroughly enjoying herself, judging by the wagging tail and the occasional contented huff. "She's rather shameless when it comes to making friends," Melantha admitted with an amused shake of her head. "Especially when she thinks there might be treats involved."

She crouched beside the table, reaching for the leash that Charlee had so conveniently abandoned in her pursuit of affection. "Charlee, sweetheart, you know perfectly well you're not supposed to wander off without me." Charlee's response was to roll onto her back, exposing her belly in what Melantha recognized as a blatant attempt to avoid being moved. "Oh, don't give me that look," Melantha murmured. "I know all your tricks." She looked towards the little girl with a warm smile.

"Thank you for being so gentle with her. She does love children, and I think you've made her afternoon considerably more interesting than watching me read." Melantha carefully retrieved the leash and clipped it back onto Charlee's collar. She made no attempt to hurry the dog, allowing her a few more moments to enjoy the attention before giving the lead a gentle tug.

"Come along, you. We've interrupted these nice people's afternoon quite enough." Charlee was clearly less enthusiastic about the prospect of leaving her newfound friend. She gave a small, theatrical sigh, one that Melantha had heard many times before.

"Honestly, anyone would think I never give you any attention." Straightening, Melantha offered the father and daughter another polite smile.
"It was lovely meeting you both, even if Charlee did insist on making the introductions herself. Perhaps we'll see you around the ship again."
With that, she guided Charlee back towards their table by the window. The dog glanced back more than once, apparently hopeful that another treat might magically materialise. "You're incorrigible," Melantha informed her quietly.

Back at her seat, she settled down with her coffee and carefully reopened her treasured copy of Heir to the Empire. Charlee resumed her position beneath the table, although her ears remained perked towards the other occupants of the lounge. Melantha shook her head affectionately.

"So much for finding somewhere quiet where we wouldn't be disturbed. Though I suppose you would argue that you were the one doing the disturbing." Charlee gave a soft huff. "I thought you might say that." Smiling to herself, Melantha returned her attention to the familiar pages of her book. The unexpected encounter had been a pleasant interruption, and perhaps proof that even aboard a starship, a friendly dog could still make the universe feel just a little smaller.

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