Serve, Set, Spike: Part 2
Posted on Wed Nov 11th, 2026 @ 5:35pm by Ensign Dani Harper & Lieutenant Commander Ryan Keel & Lieutenant Kah’lyn Chiara & Lieutenant JG Sakkar & Josef Forstinger & Lieutenant JG T'Para MD & Petty Officer 3rd Class Dallas Reese
2,857 words; about a 14 minute read
Mission:
Maintenance and Recovery
Location: Court #1, Amberwash Beach, Barisa Prime
Timeline: November 3, 2389 / 1500 Hours
Keel stood at the foot of the bleachers listening to the match official explain the rules during the next set of games. I'd say that his accent is funny, but then, I wasn't in the top drawer when they handed out mine, he thought ruefully, clapping as the whistle went off, and sitting down on the bleacher. 'Let's go!' he called out, pleasantly confused but willing to be enthusiastic about the sport.
Sitting behind and slightly to the left of Keel, Sakkar watched as he and the other spectators began their clapping and yelling. He struggled to see the logic in making such noises. Wouldn't absolute silence be more beneficial for the players? To allow them to maintain their focus? Though it seemed counterintuitive, he knew from having attended other sports contests that cheering was expected, so in the interest of crew unity he went along with it. "Let us go!"
Near the edge of the court, Vashti couldn't help but stifle a giggle at the Vulcan's cheer. She admonished herself for laughing, realizing the effect the volleyball tournament was having on the crew. It was a positive one.
Keel glanced back at Sakkar and gave him a thumbs-up. 'ata boy,' he called, clambering over the bleachers to sit next to the Vulcan. 'Who you rooting for, Sakkar?'
"It had not occurred to me to root for one team or the other," Sakkar confessed, "but I am aware that sporting events are more festive when the audience is passionate and engaged with the match. I am therefore attempting to simulate the appropriate behavior." He paused for a beat and added, "Am I doing it wrong?"
Shaking his head, Keel chuckled, 'no, no. In fact you're doing it perfectly.' He flashed the Vulcan a grin. 'You don't have spectator sports on your world?' His head whipped round quickly as he heard the slap of a hand against a ball and roar of anticipation from the small crowd.
Sakkar's eyes followed the ball along with Keel's. "We do, but the atmosphere is much more subdued, as I am sure you can imagine. Emotional displays are strictly discouraged." He thought for a moment and added, "except perhaps among Vulcan children. They are permitted more freedom in their emotional expression, so they behave much like humans when it comes to sports. Do you have children, Commander?"
Keel laughed ruefully, 'no ... no children. I've not been that lucky yet, Sakkar.' He tried to imagine a stadium full of quietly serious Vulcans, and wondered how such a match would feel to spectate. The man resolved to experience it one day. 'Yourself, Sakkar? Any children? A life partner?' he asked as he realised he knew precious little about their Flight Control Officer.
They were interrupted momentarily as someone in the game made a dramatic save. The crowd around them erupted in loud cheers and applause. "No children. My Intended bond mate's name was T'Vandrah," Sakkar said after the noise had subsided. "However, our future together is uncertain. If I remember correctly, the human expression is, 'she broke up with me.'"
'Ah,' Keel replied, mustering all his tact. 'I'm sorry, Sakkar, that must be a rough experience for you. I know it's different for Vulcans and humans, but I can sympathise. My wife divorced me a few years back, it's not ... not an experience I'd like anyone to go through.'
Sakkar head tilted slightly as he considered Ryan's words. "I appreciate the concern, sir. But it has not been 'rough' at all. I Have no feelings to hurt in this matter. Indeed, I admire my bond mate's dedication to her chosen path. Becoming a Vulcan priestess requires an intense level of focus and study. Her decision was exceedingly logical." He paused for a moment and, realizing that he had probably made the moment awkward, added "I do express my regrets to you on the end of your marriage, however. I know that humans feel more deeply about such things. If you so desire, your next drink shall be, as you say, 'on me.'"
'It gets better for us,' Keel admitted with a half-smile, 'the passage of time is faster for humans and we are ... adaptable in the field of love I suppose. As the saying goes, 'it's better to have loved and lost', and all that.' He settled back on the bleacher. 'Priestess is an impressive vocation, I know how important a function they serve.'
"Unquestionably," the Vulcan helmsman replied. "It may be many years before I hear from her again, which is why she has freed me from all obligations. Her personal quest will be less complicated if she has no personal distractions." His mind lingered on that thought. Was this really the end point for him and his bondmate? And if so, should he not be even slightly regretful over it? He filed it away for later. "So, are you 'adapting' well?" He asked Keel. "Do you feel ready to move past your former wife and into new relationships? I am unclear on how long the recovery period is in your culture."
'The recovery period varies,' Keel replied with a small smile. 'Some don't recover at all and never take another serious partner for the rest of their lives. Others do, some after a week, some after a few months. It just ... varies. No telling with how individuals will cope with it.' He sighed. 'As for me ... yes, I've adapted well, I think. I'm definitely past my ex-wife and her impact on my life. And ready for new relationships.'
After the last game ended, it was time to call the teams down for the quarterfinals.
Vashti Rao knew the hardest part of being a referee was convincing everyone that you were impartial.
The second-hardest part was convincing the players that you were listening when they complained. It was a good thing she had already told both of her best friends--Tenzi Sh'reyva and Zal Rixi--she would recuse herself from reffing their matches.
She stood barefoot in the sand at the edge of the court, whistle hanging against her chest by a replicated string, one hand resting on her hip as she watched the two teams finish their warmups.
Amberwash Beach and its southern exposure meant the Barisan sun was hottest in mid-afternoon and the ocean beyond was barely able to keep the hot sand cool enough for bare feet. Luckily, the Barisan locals had a rather unique system of piping cold ocean water through pipes beneath the volleyball courts to keep things more on the chill side.
Ten levels of bleachers rose to the north of the court where people had gathered in small clusters. Most were Astrea crew who were either participating in the tournament, or those who just wanted to spend an afternoon on the beach and catch a glimpse of their shipmates' athletic prowess--or lack thereof.
Vashti raised the whistle.
"All right. Quarterfinal Match. Gamma versus Epsilon."
From somewhere in bleachers, the unmistakable voice of Rixi piped up.
"Try to call a fair game, Vee!"
Vashti closed her eyes for half a second.
"Thank you, Rixi."
"Welcome!"
A second voice called from the spectators. Tenzi, naturally. Vashti could see her seated next to Josef.
Josef, for his part, had sat down here first before the Andorian Woman had decided to half ceremoniously plop herself right next to him on the Bleachers. Having watched the setup of the match with such focus, her sudden presence nearly made him jump in his seat.
"You're awfully sneaky for someone with such long legs, y'know that ?"
Tenzi just grinned at Josef before heckling her friend.
"Just 'cause you have a whistle doesn't mean you can boss everyone around!"
Vashti put both hands on her hips now, facing Tenzi directly and seeing her friend looking entirely pleased with herself.
"The whistle means I am the boss."
A few people laughed. Vashti tried to stifle a smile but failed. She turned back to the court seeing two of Lieutenant Commander Xalanth's sister wives on one side forming Team Gamma. On the other side was Astrea's Chief Flight Control Officer, Lieutenant Sakkar paired with Petty Officer Dallas Reese--Vashti's erstwhile companion--comprising Team Epsilon.
Josef spoke up next to Tenzi, whispering to her with a bit of a mocking grin. "Heckling already ? Careful, youre gonna get whistled at, or thrown into Sand-Jail."
"Sand jail! I'd like to see her try," Rixi goaded. "Or wait, does that make you the warden?" She asked coyly.
Vashti checked the teams once more, making sure everyone was ready and where they were supposed to be.
The two medical officers walked onto the pitch somehow still making it look like a fashion shoot. In sequence the two stopped and waved at Xalanth who was surrounded by the small horde of his daughters who smiled and waved back. With that the two moved to take positions with T'para out front and Lelani near the back.
On the opposite side, Sakkar and Dallas were standing face to face, quietly going over some tactics. "Keep a balanced base position, ready to react, rather than expend too much effort chasing the ball. Look for the deep corners and open spaces to aim for. I will start in the front."
"Volleyball is definitely not my thing," Dallas laughed as he nodded and looked to the areas Sakkar had pointed out. There was part of him who wondered just why he was doing this: was it to impress the already impressed Vashti, or was it to prove to himself that he could actually play a sport of some sort? "But I've gotcha, don't worry bout that one.
Vashti turned to Sakkar and Dallas. "Because Epsilon was randomly seeded higher than Gamma, you get to decide if you wish to serve first or receive first. Your call."
"We will receive," Sakkar replied.
Dallas nodded in agreement.
With that settled, she spun the ball in her hand and blew the whistle.
"Let's play."
Before she climbed the rungs to the top of the referee's platform, she gently rolled the ball under the net to the server.
T'para picked up the ball. She thought back to the last time they'd played in a competition long ago at the academy. Had they ever been so young? Giving a reassuring look over to Leilani, she smiled before throwing the ball up in the air and jumping up to punt it over the fence.
Sakkar quick-stepped across the sand to meet the ball. With hands locked together he thumped it straight up and slightly over his shoulder. It would sail out of bounds unless his teammate could intercept it in time.
T'para watched the ball sail out of bounds. Nodding to lead, T'Para and Leilani swapped positions. The ball was quickly returned to her, which, with a deep breath, she threw into the air before serving towards their opponents.
Sakkar again met the ball, slowing its forward momentum and sending it straight up with a back spin. It topped out at about ten meters and then arced slowly back down just inside their side of the net.
Dallas had moved to position himself right under the ball to send it sailing straight back across the net, mustering up as much hand-eye coordination as he could muster to make sure it went that way and not out like it did before.
A misstep on the sand sent Dallas falling backwards onto it, the impact of his hand hitting compacted sand sending a jolt up towards his shoulder. No time to waste, he thought as he got straight back up, ready for another serve. Pain can wait.
T'para blue eyes locked on the ball, and she was in the perfect spot to serve it back over the net. Her medical instincts, though, wondered if Dallas was okay.
In the bleachers, Dani was half-heartedly watching, trying to decide whether or not to go back to the ship. Everyone was paired off... or in some sort of relationship it seemed. Kash was mooning over Osirin again. Tenzi was flirting with Josef - obviously giving up on her crush on Kash. Luci got away to join Emiliano. Even the new counselor seemed to have found her place and was enjoying the company of Xalanth's family.
She let out a small sight and decided to at least try to have fun watching some of the matches. Something about T'Para and Leilani made her think they'd be pretty good. Though, Sakkar was on the other team. Something about Vulcans playing volleyball tickled her.
'Penny for your thoughts, Dani' Keel said, sprawled across the bleachers as he watched Sakkar play volleyball. He had a sneaking suspicion the man would actually be good at the sport despite probably only have seen it for the first time today. He was developing a soft spot for the Vulcan, and there was a little nagging feeling to the fact his contact on Vulcan hadn't gotten back to him about Sakkar's query yet. I'll need to follow up, he thought. Arms resting against the wood behind him, he was enjoying the sensation of slowly baking in the sun. If the humidity went up just a touch it would be almost exactly like home.
"Oh, hi," Dani replied, straightening up a bit. She had heard that Commander Keel could be a stickler for protocol, so she was thrown off a bit when he addressed her by her given name and also to see him sitting so casually.
"Oh, just looking out," she offered with a shrug. "Vulcans dominating at Human sports. Couples changing all the dynamics in the friend groups, you know. I guess it happens."
'We all serve in close quarters with one another, it's natural for it to happen,' Keel observed, leaning forwards and adjusting his aviators. 'It sucks when it's not you, though, I get that, suddenly seems like everyone's paired off and you're the squeaky wheel on the trolley.'
'As for Vulcans dominating our sports,' he drawled, 'yeah. That's as irritating as a splinter from a Bajoran Juju tree.'
Dani laughed with genuine amusement, both at the older officer's metaphors and his synicism. "I don't suppose they can help it," she offered. But she couldn't help but agree with him a little. The biological differences really did make it nearly impossible for most other humanoid species to compete in most sports.
"I guess the Andorians will always have elan'tina." Dani grinned. "And I don't suppose they like hockey much either."
He shook his head, 'not sure I've met one that does. But then, where I grew up you'd be hard-pressed to find any real patches of snow so we never got into the habit either. Rowing is where it's at, a proper team sport.' Keel shrugged, 'got beat by the Vulcan team at the Academy in that too.'
Dani chuckled and shook her head. "Yeah, of course they would. What game wouldn't they win? There's gotta be something."
As the game continued, Leilani and T'Para took a clear lead.
Kah’lyn was watching T’para and Leilani with interest seeing how they went about their match in readiness for when hers came up.
"They're good, aren't they?" Xalanth said to Kah'lyn his hands around two of his daughters as, on the pitch, T'para landed another point. " Both were on the academy team."
“You can see it, they’re really good.” Kah’lyn smiled. “I certainly hope I don’t end up facing off against them.”
Lieutenant J.G. Sakkar
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Astrea
Lt. Commander Xalanth
Chief Security Officer
USS Astrea
Lieutenant Kah'lyn Chiara
Chief Counselor
USS Astrea
Lt. Commander Ryan Keel
Chief of Diplomatic Intelligence
USS Astrea
Josef Forstinger
Civillian
USS Astrea
Petty Officer 3rd Class Dallas Reese
Slipstream Specialist
USS Astrea
(NPC of Eirly Andersen)
Ensign Dani Harper
Science Officer
USS Astrea
(NPC of Remy Johansen)
Lieutenant JG T'Para, MD
Medical Officer
USS Astrea
(NPC of Xalanth)
RSS Feed