The Hope Spring Is Eternal

Posted on Fri Jun 21st, 2019 @ 9:23am by Ensign Varnok Jahal

Mission: Fractured Fairy Tales
Location: Space Station DS-72
Timeline: 2396

Entering the promenade of DS-72, Ensign Varnok breathed in the aromatic smells of the morning as they started to mingle, beckoning seductively to the passersby to stop and sample the exotic wares. Starting his way through the array of shoppers and travelers, the young Cardassian Starfleet officer noticed a Bajoran woman pull her children closer and move away. Sighing, he turned and approached a Tea vendor. The spices from the tea made his mouth water. Purchasing a steaming cup, he turned to look for a good perch to watch the coming and goings of the day. Layovers like this were some of his favorite times, a way for him to feel a part of the world. He often found himself wondering about the lives of the people around him, regularly trying to imagine what those lives might be based on the information he could glean through simple observation.

A guttural scoff caught his attention as two Cardassian males sauntered past with disapproving looks of scorn across their faces on their way to a nearby transport gate. Straightening the gray tunic of his Starfleet Intelligence uniform, he headed for the nearest available table. After a few more curious glances his way, the chaos of the bustling spaceport swallowed him into anonymity and he relaxed into his chair with his cup of ginger tea. Smiling at his cup, he remembered his mother and her love of the spicy brew.

Glancing around the lower deck kiosks, he noticed a young group of Starfleet cadets excitedly purchasing last minute gifts before rushing off to meet their transport. Briefly glancing at the chronometer, he silently chuckled to himself knowing they were cutting it close. Then a shrill cry turned his attention to a small lone Klingon child. Tensely scanning the crowd, preparing to help if needed, he viewed an elderly stern-faced Klingon woman who quickly approached the child. As she called out, the young girl ran to her and was immediately scolded. Varnok could only imagine what that conversation would be as the elder Klingon led the young girl away by the hand.

A shuffle to his left alerted him to a Bolian man moving smoothly from Kiosk to Kiosk. Curious, he started following the young shopper with his eyes. The Bolian seemed to be aimlessly looking at a container of Bularian canapes, turning it over and over in his hand before setting it down. Upon further observation what once appeared to be window shopping was really a means by which to scan other shoppers credits, by use of a concealed hand scanner.

Realizing this was no longer going to be a just a relaxing layover, Varnok sighed, standing up to walk over to the Starfleet security guard he noticed had been fervently watching him since he entered the promenade. Surprising the slightly nervous officer, Varnok smiled professionally as he pointed out the Bolinan’s activities. “While you were watching me, you likely should have been watching him and his companion standing at Gate 7. Note the concealed hand scanner in his left hand. They’ve been at this the better part of the morning. I thought you should know.”

Glancing quickly at the chronometer Varnok realized he has just enough time to make his transport. Taking his leave of the flustered security officer who was now calling in the criminal activity, he wondered if his new assignment would be like his dismal last posting on the U.S.S. Varyss.

“Well, the hope spring is eternal…” He said to himself as he arrived at the gate for the Runabout that would ferry him to his new ship, “I am due for a change.”