Before the Last Turn

Posted on 10 Sep 2026 @ 1:51am by Lieutenant Commander Aev Flammia

1,862 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: The Doldrums
Location: USS Arawyn
Timeline: Currentish

[USS Arawyn, Security Gym]

The black training mats of Arawyn’s security gym were ringed by spectators, most of them members of the security department who had abandoned any pretense of casual interest and were now jockeying for the best view. A few called encouragement toward the two officers occupying the center of the mat, although the loyalties of the crowd seemed fairly evenly divided. Aev stood on one side, the tall, lithe Romulan crouched slightly with his weight balanced across the balls of his feet, hands raised in a defensive posture. Barely two meters away, Lieutenant JG Areet-Ok presented an altogether different problem. The Aurelian’s golden-tan plumage seemed almost brilliantly yellow beneath the gym lights, his wings held slightly away from his body while the dark talons of his feet spread and flexed against the mat. His piercing blue eyes remained fixed upon Aev with the severe concentration that seemed almost permanently carved into his sharp features.

At the edge of the mat, Ignis had elected to appear in his humanoid form, arms folded comfortably across his chest as though he had been invited specifically to provide commentary. “For anyone accepting wagers,” he announced, “I would like it formally recorded that my confidence in Commander Flammia is absolute.”

Aev glanced toward him.

Ignis considered this. “Emotionally. Statistically, I have concerns.”

Several members of the security team laughed, and Areet-Ok’s head tilted by a few degrees, the closest thing he gave to acknowledging the remark. Aev’s attention immediately returned to him. The Aurelian was patient; Aev had learned that much from their previous bouts. Areet rarely wasted movement and almost never committed himself merely to test an opponent. He watched, calculated, and waited for someone else to become impatient.

Unfortunately, Aev was beginning to suspect that someone was usually him.

He moved first, suddenly dropping lower and driving toward Areet’s legs. It was not necessarily a mistake; against most humanoid opponents, it would have been a perfectly reasonable attempt to break their balance. Areet-Ok, however, was not most humanoid opponents. His wings snapped outward and he sprang backward with startling ease, talons leaving the mat entirely. Aev had barely straightened when one golden wing swept around. The reinforced edge of Areet’s feathers caught him across the upper body and sent him staggering several steps backward.

“Not fair,” Aev said, recovering his stance with a smirk.

Areet answered with a rapid chirping trill. Everyone in the department had eventually learned that particular sound was the Aurelian equivalent of laughter.

Ignis nodded solemnly. “An excellent legal argument, Commander. I recommend filing a complaint with evolution.”

This time Areet took the initiative. His wings flared and he launched himself forward, turning through the air with an agility that seemed absurd for someone of his height. One taloned leg extended toward Aev in a controlled kick. Aev twisted aside just in time, felt the rush of air beside him, and came around behind the Aurelian as he landed. He seized for Areet’s leg, hoping to capitalize before the security officer could recover his balance, but Areet was already moving. One talon hooked around Aev’s arm and shoulder, using his own momentum against him, and a moment later Aev found himself driven hard onto his back.

Areet descended after him.

“Oh, this looks promising,” Ignis observed.

Aev rolled sharply aside before Areet could pin him, twisted onto one hip and swept a leg through the Aurelian’s stance. This time Areet was caught off guard. One taloned foot went out from beneath him and the great bird stumbled sideways, wings spreading instinctively to regain his balance.

The spectators erupted.

Ignis raised both eyebrows. “I withdraw approximately twelve percent of my earlier pessimism.”

Aev scrambled back to his feet, breathing noticeably harder now. Areet, by contrast, looked irritatingly composed. His feathers had become slightly disordered around his shoulders and chest, but otherwise there was little indication that the match had taxed him at all. Those sharp blue eyes remained fixed upon Aev. Then one talon lifted from the mat and curled inward twice in an unmistakable come on gesture.

Aev stared at him. “You are enjoying this far too much.”

Areet’s feathers lifted subtly around his neck.

With a resigned shrug, Aev charged.

Areet struck immediately, one talon sweeping toward Aev to knock him off balance, but this time Aev anticipated it. He caught the strike against his forearm, ignoring the jolt that traveled almost to his shoulder, and reached for Areet’s free limb to pull the Aurelian into a grapple. For perhaps half a second, Aev thought he had him.

Then there was a flash of yellow.

Areet’s wing came around with astonishing speed and slammed broadside into Aev’s chest. The Romulan was lifted almost entirely from his feet and sent tumbling across the mat. He reached the edge with enough momentum that three security officers had to catch him before he disappeared bodily into the spectators.

There was a brief silence.

Ignis leaned forward to look down at him. “Would you like me to revise the official record to say you slipped?”

Aev remained where he had landed for a moment, then laughed. Someone helped him upright, and he settled into a sitting position at the edge of the mat, one arm draped across his raised knee as he caught his breath. Across from him, Areet-Ok calmly folded his wings back against his body, looking considerably more dignified than anyone who had just used one of them to launch his commanding officer several meters had any right to look.

“Well,” Aev said between breaths, regarding the Aurelian with amused resignation, “it seems your winning streak against the crew will continue, Areet.”

Areet-Ok stepped closer, his talons clicking softly against the floor. His expression remained characteristically stern, though the slight ruffling of the feathers along his cheeks betrayed his satisfaction. “Not entirely unexpected, Commander.”

Aev narrowed his eyes.

Areet gave another quiet, unmistakably pleased chirp.

Ignis appeared beside Aev and looked thoughtfully between the two officers. “For what it is worth, Commander, I thought you performed admirably.”

“Thank you, Ignis.”

“Particularly during the flying portion.”

Aev slowly turned his head toward him.

Ignis smiled. “Very graceful.”

Aev snorted at Ignis as he pushed himself back to his feet. “Your support is, as always, invaluable.” He made his way toward the towel station and pulled one from the stack, dabbing the sweat from his forehead and temples before draping it loosely around his neck. Areet followed a few steps behind, his plumage still slightly disheveled from the match, while Ignis trailed alongside them wearing the unmistakably mischievous grin of someone entirely too pleased with himself.

“We’re nearing the end of my Gamma rotation this week,” Aev said, glancing toward Areet. “I’ll move back to Alpha, and you’ll take up my late-night mantle.”

“I’m looking forward to it,” Areet replied, punctuating the words with an amused chirp. “I prefer things a little quieter.”

“They certainly-”

“Commander.”

Aev stopped and turned at the interruption. Lieutenant Taren Lysa was approaching from the edge of the gym, the raven-haired Bajoran wearing an easy smile as she looked between him and Areet. “Sorry to interrupt, sirs. I just wanted to say how thrilling that match was.” She gave Areet a deferential nod. “Not that I think many of us are much of a match for the Lieutenant, but you certainly held your own, Commander.”

Ignis leaned slightly toward Aev. “A very diplomatic assessment of what we just witnessed.”

Aev gave the hologram a sidelong glance before returning his attention to Taren. “Thank you, Lieutenant. Though, frankly, if Areet weren’t on our side, I think all of us would be in considerable trouble.”

Areet gave his shrill, trilling laugh, feathers lifting slightly around his neck. “Very fortunate for all of you, then, is it not?”

“Profoundly,” Ignis agreed. “I sleep better knowing it.”

Aev glanced at him. “You don’t sleep.”

“Exactly. Imagine how concerned I must be.”

Aev shook his head, then turned back toward Taren as another thought occurred to him. “Actually, since you’re here, Taren. When I revise the duty assignments next week, I was considering moving you to Beta as shift lead. I know you’ve been on Gamma since your arrival, but I think a change would be good for you. I’ve also noticed how professionally you handle your duties. You’ve earned the opportunity.”

For just a moment, Taren seemed genuinely surprised. Then her smile returned. “I’d like that, Commander. Though I have to admit, I’ve grown rather fond of Gamma.” A faint smirk touched the corner of her mouth. “I enjoy the quiet.”

Areet gave a soft chirp of agreement.

Aev looked between them. “Apparently I’m the only person aboard this ship who dislikes being awake at three in the morning.”

Ignis raised a hand. “For the record, I am delightful at three in the morning.”

“You’re insufferable at three in the morning.”

Ignis’s grin widened. “I said delightful, Commander.”

“Well, I suppose we have very different definitions of that word, Ignis,” Aev said with a smile. He turned his attention back to Taren. “In any case, I’m glad to hear it. Keep an eye on the duty roster over the next few days. I’ll make the adjustment there.”

“Understood. I look forward to it.” The Bajoran glanced back toward the training mats. “If you’ll excuse me, I think I’m going to work on my form a little more. Perhaps after a few months I’ll manage to last longer than a minute in the arena with the Lieutenant.” She gave Areet a slight dip of her head before turning and making her way back across the gym.

Areet watched her go, his head tilting slightly. “Ambitious.”

“Or reckless,” Ignis offered.

“Those qualities are not mutually exclusive,” Aev said.

Ignis considered that for a moment. “You did just charge an Aurelian twice.”

Aev gave him a flat look before pulling the towel from around his neck. “As I was saying, that settles Beta shift. It’ll be good to have someone reliable leading it going forward.” He tossed the towel into the sanitation bin and turned toward Areet. “I’m going back to my quarters for a while. I may try to get some sleep before my shift. Let me know if you need anything.”

Areet gave a firm nod, his wings settling neatly against his back. “I will, Commander. Though I doubt there will be much to report while we survey this gas giant.” A quiet chirp escaped him. “It is pleasant to have some peace aboard this ship for once.”

“Agreed,” Aev said.

Ignis fell into step beside him. “You realize saying that aloud is generally how the peace ends.”

Aev glanced at the hologram as they headed for the doors. “Fortunately, I don’t believe in superstition.”

“Neither do I,” Ignis replied pleasantly. “I believe in pattern recognition.”

[End]

Lt. Commander Aev Flammia
Chief of Security
USS Arawyn

&

Lt. Junior Grade Areet-Ok (NPC)
Security Officer
USS Arawyn

 

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