Stowaway: Part 1/2

Posted on Wed Mar 11th, 2026 @ 2:08pm by Petty Officer 1st Class Gabriel Stark & Lieutenant JG Aria Rice

1,346 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Prologue: To Boldly Go
Location: USS Fenrir
Timeline: MD 14, post-launch

ON:

There was a little ping as the internal sensors did another sweep, reading something it had not expected. The Computer automatically re-ran the sweep, before flagging it onto the console of science. Based on the size of the lifeform, the scientist manning the station on the bridge - Crewman Raine Ni-ya - decided not to bother the Captain with it. Instead, she sent it to the lower decks, to the console of a Lieutenant Junior Grade Aria Rice. Who almost spat out her coffee over the console.

"Gabriel!" she stood up, watching him with wide eyes. "We got a stowaway. Deck 12. It's...okay, it's not a person-size, so that's...good? Oh by the Moon's dust, if it's Tribbles Scarlet will have my neck...and shoes..."

Gabriel groaned as he moved quickly to look over his shoulder, watching with narrowed eyes to see if she was playing a prank on him. "We searched this entire boat from stem to stern, there's nothing there..." he checked the phaser at his belt all the same, giving her an uneasy look as he arched an eyebrow. "You're right though, the Captain really will have your guts for garters if it's tribbles...not to mention the Chief...do you have an escape plan?"

"Err...I don't know, steal a shuttle and head for the farthest planet I can think of?" Aria asked, her eyes a little wide to betray her worry. She headed out with Gabriel, walking fast. "Disguise myself as a giant tribble and hope Lily adopts me? I don't know, I wasn't prepared for this today. Stupid. Should have know better..."

"I mean, judging by the size of the lifeform, it's probably just a pet someone's tried to smuggle onboard without getting proper approval," Gabriel gave a casual shrug, but glanced her way with humour still shining in his eyes. "Are you ready to break some owner's heart?"

"Well, the owner should know that it just takes a quick note to Operations and most pets, minus the deadly ones or multiplying ones, are fine," Aria said as she looked at him, eyes narrowed a little. "Deck 12," she said as she stepped into the turbolift.

Gabriel chuckled softly as he stepped inside with her, shaking his head lightly. If he was concerned, he didn't show it. They'd prepared so thoroughly, he was convinced this couldn't be more than a minor hiccup. "What about the tasty ones?" he glanced to her with an arched eyebrow, but was only teasing; he'd been a vegetarian since he was old enough to understand that lamb was called lamb because it was actually a lamb.

She looked at him, her eyes widening before she sighed. "Between the two of us, we better hope it's a pizza bunny," she said and hit his side, her arms crossing over her chest. "This is just embarrassing though. We did the sweep. We looked for every trick I knew smugglers use, and even then...something small like this creeps up." She exhaled as the turbolift doors opened and she stepped out, taking out the tricorder. "Scanning for all lifesigns smaller than a four year old human child."

Gabriel did the same, focussing on his tricorder screen as he walked slowly...the kind of prowl that was prepared for anything that might jump out...just in case. "Well, seeing as you're the assistant chief and I'm just lowly enlisted, I'll defer to your right to submit the report for this escapade..."

"Urgh, I hate being an officer...I miss being Ensign," Aria muttered as she looked around, frowning as she caught a lifesign. "In here..." she motioned to the door, pulling her phaser before she took position. The doors slid open to show the medical cargo stowed away safely.

Gabriel frowned with confusion as he held his phaser out at precisely nothing. He moved slowly all the same as he entered the room, looking for anything out of the ordinary, but it was a perfectly boring room. "Are you just pulling my leg, Aria?"

"No!" Aria hissed and shook her head, then heard the sound of something falling. No, it was a softer sound than a box falling. She moved in with him, looking around in the dim light. "What was that?"

Gabriel held his phaser out to cover her, shifting carefully around the other side of the boxes. He almost fired at the flash of movement that caught his eye...until he realised a ball of fur was rubbing itself against Aria's ankle.

Aria looked down, her eyes wide at the cat. It was a calico cat, she knew that for some reason. "Why...why is there a cat here?" she asked, confused, looking over at Gabriel. "Gabriel, there's a cat against my leg, what do I do? I've never interacted with a cat before, and Nekomi and Caitians do not count whatsoever..."

Gabriel stifled a laugh at her expense, trying to keep a straight face as he dropped into a crouch, offering his hand out towards the cat. "Aw, is she talking like you're some big, mean alien creature?" his voice cooed as he rubbed his fingertips together to encourage the cat closer.

The cat trotted over to Gabriel, breathing through its mouth to scent him before rubbing her head and jaw against his hand. She yowled loudly as well, sitting down and looking demandingly at him with her tail curled around her paws...except the tip that flicked.

"Blake is going to murder me..." Aria muttered as she watched the cat, tilting her head to the side. "I've never had a pet. Have you ever had a pet? Is this a pet, or is it just...a demon looking cute?"

"You're just a beautiful little kitty, aren't you..." he smiled fondly as he scratched the cat affectionately behind her ear before letting his hand drop, not wanting to push his luck. "But we know it's not a registered pet," he sighed as he pushed himself up, brushing his hands off. "Or we wouldn't have been alerted. So...it's either an unregistered pet...or a stowaway."

"Either way, we need to report it," she agreed before she shook her head, looking at the cat. "To the brig you go, until the Captain or First Officer decide what to do with you. You, little Kitty, are detained under...whatever cat-appropriate regulations there is."

Gabriel just watched Aria with amusement for a long moment as he folded his arms expectantly. "Well? You're going to pick it up and take it there then?" he said lightly, wanting to see her try so badly.

Aria groaned and looked down at the cat before she bent down. "Don't. Bite. Me." She picked it up, holding it out in front of her before she sighed and pulled it closer, to hold it more securely against her. But gently, like you'd hold a small child. "Stupid furball..." she murmured when she felt it rub against her jaw...and then sink claws in. "Ow!"

Gabriel had to bite down on his lip to swallow back the laugh. Yes, it was sheer schadenfreude, but he'd never claimed to be a righteous man. "Aw, it likes you..." he said with an innocent smile, leading them out.

"I hate you. I hate you, hate you, hate you..." Aria muttered as she followed him, thinking quickly. "Let's go to see Commander Hanlon. Not the Captain. And certainly not the Captain's daughter. No, better yet, let's put the cat in the brig and then we get Hanlon there. Sounds like a plan?" she shifted her grip when the cat started climbing onto her shoulder. "Ow! Stop it!"

"Look! It wants to be your pirate familiar..." Gabriel couldn't help but tease as he led them towards the brig, because it actually wasn't a bad idea. If they let it out in a set of quarters it would be behind the furniture before they could say furballs.

TBC:


Lt. JG Aria Rice
Assistant Chief Security
USS Fenrir
(PNPC Hanlon)

PO1 Gabriel Stark
Security
USS Fenrir
(PNPC Blake)

Mystery Cat
Stowaway
USS Fenrir

 

RSS Feed