A Curious Report

Posted on 10 May 2026 @ 8:28pm by Lieutenant Commander Aev Flammia
Edited on on 10 May 2026 @ 9:02pm

1,320 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: The Starfall Carnival
Location: SB 369
Timeline: Currentish

[ Starbase 369 ]

Aev sat on one of the benches lining the edges of the starbase’s primary concourse. Life bustled around him, both on the station and inside his own mind. Like relentless waves crashing against stone, he could feel the thoughts and emotions of the hundreds of souls moving through the corridor around him. Overwhelming hardly began to describe it.

Closing his eyes, he carefully pushed the noise away, focusing instead on an imagined sense of calm and using it as a barrier against the chaos threatening to flood his thoughts. Over the past few weeks, through intense mental discipline and near isolation, he had begun slowly weaning himself off the telepathic inhibiting medication. What had seemed impossible only weeks earlier was beginning, however faintly, to feel achievable. Vulcans and Betazoids spent their childhoods mastering abilities like these. Aev had only possessed the knowledge for a matter of months.

With a slow, steady breath, Aev exhaled and opened his eyes. His gaze swept across the crowd before settling almost immediately on the yellow tinged avian approaching him through the sea of bodies. Beside him, Ignis lounged in a deliberately dramatic posture, radiating exaggerated boredom.

“Do you have to look like that?” Aev asked, eyeing the hologram.

Ignis tilted his head slightly, one golden eye cracking open to peer up at him. The hologram let out an overly theatrical sigh before stretching like a lazy feline across the bench.

“I’m cultivating an atmosphere,” he said dryly. “You’re sitting here brooding in the middle of a crowded promenade while wrestling the psychic equivalent of a warp core breach. It would be irresponsible of me not to match the mood.”

Aev narrowed his eyes.

Ignis smirked faintly, fiery markings along his face flickering with the motion. “Besides, if I look sufficiently miserable, people are less likely to bother us. Organic lifeforms tend to avoid anything that appears emotionally unstable.” He glanced toward a passing pair of officers before adding, “Which, to be fair, is only partially an act in your case.”

“Helpful.” Aev snorted wryly.

“I try.” Ignis said, his grin reminding Aev of the mischievous Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland.

“Lieutenant,” Areet-Ok said as he approached, his deep golden plumage catching the promenade lights as he stepped smoothly out of the current of passing travelers. The Aurelian security officer folded his wings neatly against his back, sharp blue eyes fixed attentively on Aev. “You asked to be notified once the security efficiency report from the last mission was completed,” he continued in his measured, precise tone. “I have finalized it and forwarded the report to your terminal for review.” He paused briefly before adding, “Additionally, I believe we should conduct additional hand-to-hand combat training exercises in the Holodeck to target some identified deficiencies.”

Ignis tilted his head toward Areet-Ok, his gaze lingering briefly on the imposing Aurelian before returning to Aev. “A combat training exercise?” he mused. “Interesting choice when your security department already employs a seven foot predatory bird who looks like he could end most conflicts simply by entering the room.”

Areet-Ok remained perfectly still.

Ignis pointed subtly in his direction. “See? That expression alone probably qualifies as advanced tactical deterrence.”

“Ignis,” Aev muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose in a futile attempt to ease the growing tension behind his eyes. The brief irritation fractured his concentration. Instantly, the mental barriers he had struggled to maintain weakened, and a flood of foreign thoughts and emotions crashed into him like a steel hammer. He jerked subtly at the sudden psychic impact, jaw tightening as he fought to regain control. Drawing in a slow, steady breath, Aev carefully rebuilt the walls in his mind, forcing the chaotic noise back into the distance. Only once the pressure eased did he look back toward Areet-Ok.

“Thank you, Lieutenant,” he said, his voice calmer now. “Go ahead and make arrangements for it.” His expression softened slightly. “Would you care lead it?”

Areet-Ok’s crest feathers shifted ever so slightly at the request, the closest equivalent the Aurelian usually came to visible surprise. He inclined his head respectfully. “If that is your wish, Lieutenant, I would be honored to do so.” His sharp gaze flicked briefly toward Ignis before returning to Aev. “I will ensure the training remains appropriately professional,” he said in the same measured tone. After the faintest beat, he added, “Though I cannot guarantee the team will find holographic commentary motivational.”

Aev’s brow lifted slightly in amusement as he glanced toward Areet-Ok, faint surprise flickering across his expression. He had not realized his assistant chief possessed such a dry sense of humor. “Indeed,” he said with the ghost of a smirk, casting a sidelong look toward Ignis. “I suspect the crew would find his commentary more distracting than motivational.” He exhaled softly. “I can always leave Ignis in my quarters.”

Ignis straightened immediately, placing a hand against his chest in exaggerated offense. “You wound me, Spark.” His golden eyes narrowed theatrically. “I am an invaluable instructional asset. Encouragement, tactical analysis, morale support...” He paused briefly. “...creative criticism.”

Aev gave him a look.

Ignis ignored it completely. “Besides, if someone attempts an unnecessarily dramatic flying kick, you will want a witness.”

“Do we really, though?” Aev asked, narrowing his eyes at the hologram.

Ignis looked entirely unrepentant and was clearly preparing another remark when Areet-Ok’s commbadge chirped sharply across the promenade.

The Aurelian inclined his head slightly toward Aev, one taloned hand gesturing toward the device mounted against his broad chest. At Aev’s nod, he tapped the badge with a talon. “Areet-Ok here,” he said in his calm, measured tone. “I am currently with Lieutenant Flammia. Report.”

The responding voice carried a hint of uncertainty. “Apologies for the interruption, sir, but there are rumors circulating about some kind of scuffle in Holodeck Two.”

“Scuffle.” The Aurelian repeated the word carefully, his sharp features tightening as his crest feathers shifted slightly downward. “Clarify. Are you reporting a physical altercation?”

A brief hesitation followed. “I’m... not certain, sir. Just chatter from a few crewmen. Supposedly something is happening in the holodeck soon, but nobody seems to know exactly what.”

Aev exchanged a glance with Areet-Ok, one brow lifting faintly. “That is impressively vague,” he muttered under his breath before rising from the bench. Leaning slightly closer to the commbadge, he added, “Thank you for the report, Ensign. We’ll investigate and determine whether there’s an actual cause for concern.”

Areet-Ok gave a short nod as the channel closed, the commbadge falling silent against his uniform. His sharp blue eyes shifted briefly towards Arawyn’s general direction, his expression thoughtful. “It is likely nothing,” he said evenly. “However, in my experience, the phrase ‘there is probably nothing to worry about’ has preceded a surprising number of security reports.”

Ignis folded his arms with a satisfied look. “Finally. Someone here appreciates the dramatic arts.”

The Aurelian regarded the hologram for a long, unreadable moment and started to respond but was interrupted by Aev.

“Let’s go see what’s going on. I’m incredibly curious now,” he said, throwing a sidelong glance toward Ignis. “You can come along, so long as you behave yourself. Otherwise, I’m tossing that ring into the nearest trash receptacle on the way to the holodeck.”

Ignis placed a hand dramatically against his chest, looking genuinely scandalized. “You threaten me with disposal at least twice a week, and yet here I remain. Honestly, Spark, at this point I’m beginning to think it’s an empty threat.” He rose smoothly from the bench and fell into step beside them, his expression turning smug. “Besides,” he added, glancing toward Areet-Ok, “if there truly is chaos unfolding in Holodeck Two, you will clearly require professional commentary.”

[End]

Lieutenant Aev Flammia
Chief of Security
USS Arawyn

&

Lieutenant JG Areet-Ok (apb Thomas)
Assistant Chief of Security
USS Arawyn

 

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