| Date & Time: | Day 01, 1219 |
| Location: | Outer Docking Ring Washington Family Quarters |
| Written By: | CPO Charlie Washington Annie Washington Melanie Washington |
| Post Date: | 02/28/2026 |
| Episode: | Ep. 2 – On Shaky Ground |
Melanie Washington looked up toward her mother as they stepped down from the transport ship that had brought them to the station. The eight-year-old girl was fascinated, by the transport ship and all the different aliens as they also disembarked into the outer docking ring of the station. She thought the bicycle wheel looking station looked funny.
The child held onto her mother’s hand tightly, “Mommy,” She finally said as they started down the corridor, “We’re going to be living on a wheel.” The child insisted, her voice a little squeaky as she spoke.
Annie looked at her little girl as the two of them got off the transport together, “That’s one way of looking at it Mel,” She replied. Annie led the young child down the corridor just before the cross way bridge that led into the inner docking ring. Then she saw him standing there in his uniform waiting for the two of them.
Melanie broke free from her mother’s grip almost at once, and the eight-year-old went sprinting down the corridor nearly knocking a Ferengi over in the process. She ignored the sounds of the man’s cries as he rebounded off the nearby wall. “DADDY!” She shouted with her arms outstretched wide.
Annie cringed as she stepped forward, but it was far too late to stop her young daughter from sprinting forward. Instead she reached down and took the Ferengi by the arm and pulled him to his feet, “I’m so sorry,” She said.
The Ferengi, more shocked than anything, nodded slowly as he got up to his feet. “It’s okay hu-man she’s only a child.” He replied softly while barring his pointed teeth.
Melanie collided into the side of Charlie’s leg before her father had a chance to react to the speed of the young child sprinting down the corridor. She wrapped her arms around his leg, and partially his waist, before giggling hysterically. “I missed you!” The eight-year-old said confidently.
Chief Charlie Washington had been in the corridor waiting for the transport that his wife and daughter were on. He’d been on the station for about two weeks, and knew it would be some time before either of them arrived. When his daughter collided with the Ferengi he winced, then grunted as soon as the sprinting child struck him.
Charlie hugged his daughter back before withdrawing slightly, “Do we run?” He asked the eight-year-old softly.
Melanie heard her father’s words and turned to see the Ferengi she’d collided with dusting himself off, then she looked at her mother who was still making her way toward them. Melanie’s view returned to her father once more, “No Daddy,” She answered. The eight-year-old then frowned, “Sorry,” She replied.
“No harm done,” The Ferengi said as he walked past the two of them before disappearing around the corner.
Annie finally made her way to where both her husband and her daughter were now at. She looked down at the little girl and shook her head, “She’s done nothing but talk nonstop for two days,” Annie said with a sigh. “Everything was interesting,” Annie added softly. “But we made it without too many problems.”
Charlie grinned and nodded as he continued to hug the eight-year-old who seemed to insist on not letting him go. “Well, at least she was entertained the entire time,” He stood up and lifted Melanie off the deck. Charlie leaned over and kissed his wife gingerly, “Come on, let’s get you both to our quarters.”
==The space entity was watching carefully as the tiniest mortal it had ever seen so far barreled out of the docking port hole and knocked over a different mortal before coming to a stop. The entity felt every emotion and sensation of the tiny mortal as she collided with the larger mortal before wrapping herself around him. The entity found this to be quite bizarre, but more bizarre still was the tiny mortal it was now witnessing.
Over the past week more mortals had come to the station, many of them were large mortals, but this one was different. This one was more unique than the others because she was so small in comparison to the others. There was a sense of wonder in the tiny mortal’s eyes the entire time. The space entity found this to be interesting and enlightening. It knew, by now of course, that the mortals copied themselves somehow. It had yet to really figure out how, but it found it most intriguing.
The entity continued to slither close to the small family in the corridor even as the tiny mortal was lifted off the floor. There were a wide array of emotions coming from the tiny mortal, and from the two larger mortals. It could sense similar emotions from past experience within the two larger mortals for each other as well as the tiny mortal. The space entity wondered if the tiny mortal could also feel such things. It would have to experiment later, but for now it simply watched the three mortals as they made their way down the corridor.==
Melanie hugged her father tightly as the eight-year-old was carried through the corridor. It wasn’t until they came to a stop outside the quarters where she assumed they’d be living that she was finally placed back onto her feet. When the door opened she sprinted inside and looked around. It was smaller than home, but everything she’d imagined.
Melanie found what was to be her bedroom, and went inside before flopping onto the small mattress that was against the wall. She even had a tiny window in which she could see out. “Daddy, it’s perfect.” She said. Then Melanie began rummaging through the boxes for her favorite stuffed animal.
“I see our belongings were beamed over already,” Annie said to her husband. “You have no idea how much she begged for those to sleep with.” Annie had a backpack on her back, and she put it down before pulling out the two stuffed animals that the child had slept with.
Melanie took both of them before hugging them tightly, the eight-year-old then started to play quietly while laying on the floor. She was exhausted, but not so much that she didn’t start playing. “Thanks Mommy,” She said.
Annie watched her daughter for a moment before leaving the child alone in her room. “It was a long trip, but I’m glad we finally made it. How’s things been on the station Charles?” She asked her husband before going over and flopping down onto the sofa in the front room.
Charlie sat down next to his wife, “Quiet,” He answered her, “But, I’m glad you’re here now. She seems extra bouncy today,” Charlie added. He knew his daughter was somewhat hyper, but this really took the cake. He smiled warmly, glad that his wife and daughter could finally relax now that they were both on the station.
==The entity watched the tiny mortal, and felt the same warmth as the mortal hugged the strange looking object. The space entity had a number of unanswered questions, but so far nobody had caught onto its presence. It didn’t want to risk that, and as such eventually melted back through the deck before exiting the station entirely.==
Annie sighed heavily, “I heard there’s a rather small group of children on board the station, so at least Melanie can make friends.” She said softly. Annie looked over at her husband, “Are any of them the same age as her?”
“I don’t know,” Charlie answered honestly, “But, I know that most of the children on board, or that will be on board, are roughly the same age as her. So, she may not have any friends her age, but at least there will be someone close enough in age to play with.” He finished what he was saying before pulling his wife closer and holding onto her.