The Jester Pt 3 of 3

Posted on 04 Aug 2025 @ 4:00am by Lieutenant Aev Flammia

1,874 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Assignment: Arawyn
Location: Starbase 369

= Shuttle Obulus =

Aev leaned back in the pilots chair and watched as Starbase 369 came into view. It was a massive ring-shaped structure that was more reminiscent of older Starfleet base designs than the more modern monoliths. Its outer frame rotated slowly, lined with blue lights that gave it a steady, constant glow. Four pylons extended outward, each capped with a circular beacon that marked the station’s perimeter. Several vessels were docked around them; he could barely make out the sleek profile of a Sovereign class in one of the births. Was that the Arawyn? He couldn’t get a good enough glimpse from their angle to be sure.

Ahead of the shuttle a few small maintenance crafts drifted by, dwarfed by the sheer scale of the station. As they neared the shuttle bay the autopilot gently adjusted the craft’s nose to align with the opening. Slowly, the Starbase’s vast shadow engulfed the shuttle, a stark reminder of how insignificance it was by comparison.

“The design seems a bit old.” Aev commented, mainly to himself but he could see Ignis in the corner of the eyes watching him, those golden irises flickering with amusement. “When we land, I think it will be best if you go to audio only mode.”

Ignis’s flame tattoos flared in immediate protest, his molten gaze snapping toward Aev from the co-pilot’s seat. “Audio-only?” he repeated, leaning forward with an incredulous smirk. “Spark, really? You’re telling me I can talk, but I don’t get to look this good doing it?” He gestured down the length of his lean, holographic frame in mock offense. “Do you have any idea how dull it is to be reduced to a voice in your ear while you stride around Starbase corridors pretending not to need me?”

Before Aev could retort, Ignis shimmered, his humanoid projection collapsing into a swirl of golden light. A moment later, a pale cream fox with fiery-tipped ears and tail sat neatly in the co-pilot’s chair, eyes gleaming with mischief.

“Fine,” he said in a sly, smaller voice. “If I can’t parade around the station, I’ll adapt.” He hopped lightly from the chair, trotted across the deck, and with a nimble flick of his tail, slipped into Aev’s half-zipped duffel. Curling up inside, his glowing eyes peeked smugly over the edge. “See? Compact, adorable, and still smarter than half the station’s crew. You won’t even know I’m here… aside from the running commentary, of course.”

“Ignis, I don’t think-” Aev started but was interrupted when the shuttle jolted as it glided inside the base, passing through the force field that sealed the bay from the vacuum of space. Magnetic clamps engaged with a heavy thunk, locking the craft into place. The vibration reverberated through the deck, a physical reminder that they’d arrived. “I don’t think that would be a good idea. It’s better if you stay in audio only mode.” He finished and looked through the viewport as Starfleet crew moved along catwalks above and below them.

Ignis’s golden eyes glinted from the half-zipped duffel, his tone measured but carrying a sly undercurrent. “Audio-only keeps me blind, Spark,” he said evenly. “In fox form, I can see, move, and react without drawing attention. No one questions a small, harmless holo-pet tucked at your side.” His tail flicked lazily against the fabric, punctuating his point.

Aev let out a groan of surrender and pushed himself to his feet, trudging toward the rear of the shuttle. He knew better than to argue with Ignis on this point. Forcing the AI into audio-only mode would only mean enduring a non-stop lecture the entire walk to the Arawyn. Fine. Better to put up with a few awkward looks, even if the whole starbase ended up thinking he was some grown man parading around with a glorified holo-pet.

“Just stay out of sight, at least,” he muttered, grabbing his duffel and slinging it over his shoulder. He reached up, tapped the overhead console, and watched the hatch hiss open.

Ignis’s golden eyes glimmered from within the duffel, his voice warm with unmistakable satisfaction. “See? Cooperation looks good on you, Spark,” he murmured, his tone playful but tempered with an undercurrent of approval. His fox ears twitched, barely visible above the bag’s zipper.

As the hatch lowered with a hiss the sound of clattering footsteps on metal catwalks, muffled voices, and the faint hum of power couplings bled in. Ignis shifted slightly in the bag, curling himself tighter. “Don’t worry,” he said lightly. “Stealth mode engaged. They won’t even know I’m here.” He paused and then added in that familiar teasing lilt “though if anyone asks, I expect you to introduce me as something dignified. ‘Companion AI extraordinaire’ has a nice ring to it.”

“Putting up with you should come with hazard pay,” Aev said dryly as he stepped through the shuttle’s hatch. He silently thanked Captain Yang for loaning him the Obulus, without it, he’d have been stuck hitching rides from station to station. At least the Charon would be passing through in a few weeks to retrieve the shuttle. He pressed his hand briefly against the cold metal hull in a quiet farewell to his previous assignment, then he turned and strode down the catwalk toward the bustling heart of the station.

= Starbase 369 =

Busy was an understatement. Starfleet officers in varied uniforms crossed paths with traveling civilians, while traders barked out prices near stalls laden with goods. The air was thick with the mingling scents of food and the faint tang of recycled air, underscored by the rhythmic hiss of turbolifts and distant comm chatter.

Aev found himself almost energized by it all. It had been months since he’d last set foot on a starbase, and the chaos was a welcome change from the quiet isolation of shipboard life. He wondered if he might have time to explore once he’d reported to the Captain.

He paused near a public bench, dropping his duffel at his feet while calling up a nearby kiosk. His fingers danced across the interface as he sifted through the docking list, quickly locating the Arawyn’s berth and plotting the most efficient route through the massive station.

Out of the corner of his eye, movement caught his attention. Ignis, in his fox form, padded straight through the duffel before hopping lightly to the deck and sauntering toward what looked suspiciously like an access terminal for a Jefferies tube. “Ignis!” Aev hissed under his breath, striding quickly toward the small holographic fox. “What are you doing? I told you to stay out of sight!”

Ignis paused mid-step, one paw raised delicately as his golden eyes flicked back to Aev, gleaming with sly amusement. His flame-tipped ears twitched sharply, angling toward the sealed hatch of the Jefferies tube as if homing in on something unseen. “Oh, come now, Spark,” he purred, tail swishing in that infuriatingly self-satisfied way. “You don’t hear that?”

Aev blinked, brow furrowing. “Hear what?”

Ignis’s foxlike grin widened. “And they say Romulan hearing is sharp. Honestly, Spark, if I had a credit for every time you missed something right under your nose…” His ears perked again, and he turned back toward the hatch, nose nearly brushing it as he cocked his head. A faint sound, a thin, high-pitched mewl, filtered in just enough to register over the noise of the bustling promenade.

“There it is again,” Ignis said, his voice sharper now, tinged with curiosity. “Something’s alive in there. Distressed, maybe.” His tail lashed once. Before Aev could object, Ignis shimmered slightly and phased through the sealed hatch, his fox form slipping effortlessly into the Jefferies tube beyond.

“Spark,” his voice called back teasingly, now echoing faintly from within the conduit, “if I can pick it out over this crowd, you have no excuse. Come along. We’re investigating.” He paused and then added teasingly “Unless, of course, you’re afraid of getting stuck in a crawlspace.”

“Dammit, Ignis,” Aev muttered under his breath. He turned, eyes scanning the bustling promenade, wondering if anyone would notice him opening a Jefferies tube. No doubt station operations would flag it the moment he popped it open, but hopefully, not right away. Spotting a large potted plant beside the bench, he moved over and dragged it just far enough to block the view of the access hatch. Grabbing his duffel, he tucked it out of sight behind the plant as well.

With a resigned sigh that carried more questions than answers, he unlatched the Jefferies tube entrance and climbed inside. “I swear, Ignis,” he muttered as he crawled forward, “if my first meeting with Captain Corbin is from a holding cell in the station brig, I’m going to de-atomize you in a replicator.” Ahead, the faint shimmer of Ignis’s translucent fox tail flicked around a corner, urging him onward.

Ignis’s voice echoed lightly through the narrow tube laced with amusement. “Relax, Spark. I’d wager this isn’t even the strangest thing happening on this station right now.”

As Aev crawled deeper, the sounds of the promenade faded, replaced by the muted hum of power conduits and the faint clang of his boots on the metal grating. Then came another soft sound, barely audible but unmistakable, a tiny mewl.

“Ah,” Ignis murmured ahead, ears twitching sharply. “There’s our culprit.” He crouched low, golden eyes glowing in the dim light as he stared at a small, trembling ball of fur huddled against the wall. An orange tabby kitten blinked up at him with wide, watery eyes, mewing again in protest. Ignis padded forward delicately, lowering his head until his holographic jaws gently closed around the kitten by the scruff, just as a mother cat would. The tiny creature dangled there awkwardly, letting out a startled squeak but otherwise too exhausted to fight.

Turning back toward Aev, Ignis padded down the tube with feline grace, tail swishing smugly as he carried his prize. His muffled voice slipped around the kitten’s scruff “see? Worth it.”

“Why is there a kitten in this Jefferies tube?” Aev began, then cut himself off with a raised hand toward Ignis. “You know what? Never mind. I don’t want to know. I’m not going to be able to carry it and crawl out at the same time, so I’ll leave it to you, but don’t hurt it,” he warned, his tone edged with mild annoyance. As he started backing out of the tube, he muttered under his breath, irritation creeping in. “I was already trying to figure out how to explain you to the Captain. Now I’m going to have to explain both of you.”

He trotted after Aev, tail flicking with obvious satisfaction. “Relax, Spark,” he said, setting the kitten down carefully once they neared the hatch. “Who could possibly be mad at this face?” His ears twitched toward the tiny, mewling bundle before his molten gaze flicked back up to Aev, full of barely contained amusement. “Honestly,” Ignis quipped, “I might even make you look responsible.”

= End =

 

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