Ozu Saya
Engineering/Ops
[TI19]
Posts: 878 Likes: 29
Rank: Master Chief Petty Officer
Position: CoB/Chief Engineer
Species: Vulcan-Bajoran
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Post by Ozu Saya on Apr 16, 2020 3:52:53 GMT
[World Trade Center - Manhattan]
Saya eyebrow popped up at the children's antics. She shook her head. It was illogical how they always fought but still seemed to love each other.
You are correct, she said to Anna. Fighting in defense of oneself, or others, is a good reason to fight.
This tragedy began a war, did it not? Saya asked Judy. She approached the side of one of the large pools of water and leaned over, enjoying the sound of the water as it fell in long sheets below. A few droplets splashed her face as they were caught by a breeze.
This is incredibly beautiful.
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Apr 16, 2020 17:23:10 GMT
[World Trade Center -> Financial District]
Max nodded "It is beautiful," he agreed. Anna had started walking around, taking pictures, including what she thought was a saccharine but artful shot of her parents, each with an arm around the other, observing the pools. After one snap of this, Judy broke it, starting to walk and talk.
"More than just the one war," she explained. "The United States went into Afghanistan, where the mastermind of the attack - Bin Laden - was hiding, as well as Iraq. Now, Iraq didn't actually have anything to do with the 9/11 attacks, but its leader was a ruthless dictator, so the powers that be figured it'd be wonderful to knock that one out and establish a democracy."
So far, so good, one might think, and indeed, Anna's body language seemed to indicate she thought so as Judy led the group onto the streets of the Financial District.
"Unfortunately, the Middle East was a lot like the warp core on an early-generation freighter, very volatile. One little push out of place, and goes BOOM!" the matriarch explained, miming both the push and the "boom". "Like your mother before she has her coffee," Max explained to the kids, who were less familiar with engineering history. "Yes," she agreed. "Afghanistan turned out to be ungovernable, a mess of warring factions, and the invasion of Iraq led to a power vacuum in that country, and realigning dynamics elsewhere, giving rise to a number of other wars all around. So you could say 9/11 triggered 2 wars, or many more than that."
In the meantime, Thomas lagged slightly behind, texting. Since Max was too busy watching Judy, worried she'd tire herself out (her hip replacement wasn't that long ago), and Anna was too short, no one made out that he was texting his (half-)brother Lawrence, indicating the family's location.
And so, a few blocks away, outside the New York Stock Exchange, a tall young man with messy brown hair stood, along with a stroller bearing an 18-month-old infant with a long nose.
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Ozu Saya
Engineering/Ops
[TI19]
Posts: 878 Likes: 29
Rank: Master Chief Petty Officer
Position: CoB/Chief Engineer
Species: Vulcan-Bajoran
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Post by Ozu Saya on Apr 18, 2020 15:02:57 GMT
[World Trade Center --> Financial District]
Saya particularly enjoyed listening to the water in the pools, commenting absently, I think I'd like to have a small fountain in my quarters when we return to duty.
She walked quickly to keep up with Judy as the older woman explained the events following the destruction of the World Trade Center buildings. I am thankful that we have fewer instances of such actions. The recent war notwithstanding, she said wryly.
They were making their way into a different area of the city, and Saya began looking around again, taking in the tall buildings and the busy streets. She had to dodge a couple of times as distracted people nearly ran her over.
Where are we headed, now?
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Apr 19, 2020 0:39:04 GMT
[Financial District -> Federal Hall]"We're heading to the original New York Stock Exchange, Wall Street," Judy answered as a traffic light changed to allow them through. "Nowadays, it's all unglamorous and totally automated, so we can step inside to the old trading floor."As the group approached the building, Judy saw Lawrence and Michael, and picked up her pace significantly. "Why, hello there!" she almost squealed as she picked up her grandson. "Ga-mama," the young child greeted his beloved grandmother. "No hi for the rest of us?" Max asked. "No," Judy answered. "Hi, everyone," Lawrence greeted, letting his mother at it. Judy had had the chance to introduce Saya to the family in the past, so she was now absorbed entirely in her beloved grandson, almost forgetting the sight they were here to see.
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Ozu Saya
Engineering/Ops
[TI19]
Posts: 878 Likes: 29
Rank: Master Chief Petty Officer
Position: CoB/Chief Engineer
Species: Vulcan-Bajoran
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Post by Ozu Saya on Apr 19, 2020 22:23:23 GMT
[Financial District --> Federal Hall]
Saya allowed herself a small, open smile at the infant. She'd met him a couple of times, even held the small body in her arms, but she didn't have any experience with babies otherwise. She was amazed at how much he'd changed since the last time she'd seen him.
Hello, Lawrence. It's agreeable to see you again. I didn't realize you would be joining us on this visit. Michael seems to be growing rapidly. I don't believe he was talking the last time I saw him.
She glanced again at Judy as the older woman cooed over her grandson.
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Apr 20, 2020 22:14:17 GMT
[New York Stock Exchange]"They grow up very fast," Lawrence answered, giving a little look to his much-younger half-siblings. "He's learned to be a culinary snob, too, now that he eats so much of his grandparents' cooking.""Of course he does. Can you blame him?" Judy asked. "Grandmama Judy and Granpda Max make the best food, right?""Ga-pa, Mac," Michael answered, stumbling with the words a little. Max then approached, taking the infant in his arms, while Judy realized they were in the middle of their tour of the city. "Well, let's get Mikey and the gang into the stock exchange," she directed. She then led them inside, where, after an automated checkpoint (scanners in the core worlds could match an individual to a known profile, and judge that two decorated Starfleet officers and the family of one of them were likely not risks), they came to a balcony overlooking the preserved trading floor.
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Ozu Saya
Engineering/Ops
[TI19]
Posts: 878 Likes: 29
Rank: Master Chief Petty Officer
Position: CoB/Chief Engineer
Species: Vulcan-Bajoran
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Post by Ozu Saya on Apr 23, 2020 1:49:35 GMT
[New York Stock Exchange]
Indeed, Saya said wryly to Lawrence. Your mother has had a significant effect on my own diet as well. Before I met her, I had eaten perhaps a handful of non-replicated meals, now I try to prepare several a week. I even have a small vertical vegetable garden in my quarters aboard ship.
They made it through security with no difficulties to find themselves looking down at a massive, but unpopulated, space below. It looked strange, almost like seeing an empty starship. Saya had only a rudimentary understanding of what had gone on in places like this, so as she often did, she turned to Judy. The older woman was an exceptional tour guide who seemed to know a little bit about nearly everything. So what did they do here? I know my mother had some investments and this has something to do with that sort of thing, but nothing specific.
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Apr 23, 2020 2:23:22 GMT
[New York Stock Exchange]
As Max put Michael back in the stroller, they all looked around.
"Well, they used to physically trade the stocks here. Originally, it was a little grassy park here, and a small group of wealthy merchants would trade stocks. Then, it gradually grew bigger and more anarchic, and you'd have hordes of brokers running around like co..." Judy was about to say "coked-up roaches in a bottle," but Anna and the camera crossing her line of sight made her think twice about the colorful expression. "Running around like sugar-high kindergarteners, with a complex language of hand signals and the like. And then, it went automatic, and suddenly this all became history."
"So what's here now?" Anna asked.
"Why, the beating heart of modern society," Judy replied. "Administration, management, bureaucracy, and of course our cultural heritage, when we don't try to hide it from the Ferengi."
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Ozu Saya
Engineering/Ops
[TI19]
Posts: 878 Likes: 29
Rank: Master Chief Petty Officer
Position: CoB/Chief Engineer
Species: Vulcan-Bajoran
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Post by Ozu Saya on Apr 25, 2020 1:04:19 GMT
[New York Stock Exchange]
Saya peered around again with mild interest. The place itself wasn't particularly exciting, but it did spur thoughts about Earth's history.
There have been times in your planet's past during which there was not enough shelter for people, particularly during the Third World War. How is it that such spaces were not repurposed for providing accommodations for those that needed them? It wouldn't have been ideal, of course, but humans seem rather used to living in close quarters. The skyscrapers here must be capable of housing a great many.
Saya was sure many of the same questions could be asked about any other culture, but by becoming friends with Judy, she found herself most curious about humanity's past.
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Apr 25, 2020 2:48:40 GMT
[New York Stock Exchange]
Judy couldn't help a little smile at that question. It was innocent and optimistic, almost like something Anna would ask. "19th-century America had a different solution for that. They took buildings, sometimes warehouses, and subdivided them into tiny apartments for the poor, especially poor immigrants. Those were the Tenements, and there's actually a museum about them that we could see," she said.
"That's the one with the low ceilings, isn't it?" Max asked, a clear note of concern in his voice. "That's right," Judy replied, before realizing where Max was going with it. "I'm fine. I've basically recovered." "You're not fine until your doctors say you're fine," Max objected, playfully taking Judy by the waist. "You can see the Tenements from the inside another time, or through a holoprogram." "As you can see, Max hardly trusts me to walk," Judy pointed out to Saya, before giving Max a brief kiss.
All three children looked varying degrees of embarrassed by the parents' behavior, and Michael looked oblivious.
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Ozu Saya
Engineering/Ops
[TI19]
Posts: 878 Likes: 29
Rank: Master Chief Petty Officer
Position: CoB/Chief Engineer
Species: Vulcan-Bajoran
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Post by Ozu Saya on Apr 27, 2020 16:13:12 GMT
[New York Stock Exchange]
Saya shuddered slightly at the description of the tenements and shook her head. That sounds terrible, she said quietly. It always amazed her how a species could treat their own people so badly.
She gave Judy a speculatively look with a raised eyebrow when the woman defended her activity level. Saya hadn't noticed her friend having any difficulties, but if her doctors hadn't released her yet, it seemed likely that Judy was pushing too hard, as she often did.
You should be listening to your doctors if they have not yet cleared you. You don't want to be delayed returning to duty. Is a walking tour a good idea?
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Apr 27, 2020 21:25:14 GMT
[New York Stock Exchange -> Broad Street Subway Station]
"Saya, don't you worry about me. Max does that, and if he thinks I'm pushing myself too hard, he won't hesitate to stop me," Judy instructed the younger woman. "Believe me, he won't. He'll carry me in his arms all the way home if he has to."
With that, she motioned for the group to get going, and began to lead them out.
"Alright, folks, so we're going to head over to the Lower East Side by Subway now," the family matriarch announced, as they reached the streets.
"This is where Michael and I leave you, at least for now," Lawrence responded. "We'll be back for lunch."
"Lame," Anna teased. "You're acting like mom, Larry."
"And you are like mom," Lawrence answered.
"Mom isn't deaf yet," mom pointed out. "Blind, invalided, a little senile, but not deaf."
"Bye!" Lawrence bade farewell, and he was off.
Judy led them to a subway station, and down an escalator.
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Ozu Saya
Engineering/Ops
[TI19]
Posts: 878 Likes: 29
Rank: Master Chief Petty Officer
Position: CoB/Chief Engineer
Species: Vulcan-Bajoran
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Post by Ozu Saya on Apr 29, 2020 15:08:37 GMT
[New York Stock Exchange --> Broad Street Subway Station]
Saya shook her head, yet again, at Judy's joking and waved goodbye to Michael when she thought no one was looking.
She had to trot to catch up with the others, falling in just after the rest got onto the escalator, with a couple of people between her and Judy's family. When she'd reached the bottom, they were just disappearing ahead of her.
Saya pushed between two people, trying to keep Max's head in sight. As she darted around another group, someone stepped into her path, his head turned the other way as someone spoke to him, and Saya rebounded off of his hip with a small yelp of surprise.
A pair of large hands gripped her arms and prevented her from hitting the pavement. I'm so sorry. Are you okay? a deep voice said from far above her head.
Saya looked up, and up, into blue eyes in a pale face with nose ridges similar to her own. The Bajoran had bright red hair and smiled down at her as he continued to hold her arms. She caught a few emotions from him - concern, then amusement and admiration as her silence stretched into awkwardness. She shook her head again.
I apologize. I was trying to catch up with my group. She hesitated before going on. Do you happen to see them? An older couple - she's blonde, he is grey-haired - with a teenage boy and a young girl? Since the man had halted her progress, he could at least use his superior height to help her find Judy.
With a small smile at the small female - Bajoran and Vulcan? he wondered - he turned his head to scan the crowd, quickly spotting a group that fit her description. I think they're over that way. Give me a minute? he said to the man next to him.
The other man murmured an agreement, and the red-headed Bajoran finally released Saya's arms and started to lead her in the direction of her friends.
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Apr 29, 2020 15:59:58 GMT
[Broad Street Subway Station]
Initially, preoccupied as they were in keeping track of their own children, Judy and Max didn't notice Saya was gone.
"Why do all these people only wear dark suits?" Anna asked her parents curiously, referring to the late-arriving commuters that still came out of the Subway. She'd seen her parents wear civilian suits, but they wore a variety of colors.
"It's their uniform, in finance. It's like how your mother has to wear the Starfleet uniforms," Max answered. "No, her mother doesn't have to anything. Her mother is a deity," Judy countered jokingly. "Her mother chooses to obey the laws of mortals." "Her mother is very, very ridiculous, and very beautiful," Max replied back, before sharing a little kiss with Judy. "Wait, where's Saya?" Thomas asked, looking around for the young woman, as well as for a distraction from his parents' public displays of affection. "Oh," Judy acknowledged, a little flustered at the slip-up. "Where is she?"
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Ozu Saya
Engineering/Ops
[TI19]
Posts: 878 Likes: 29
Rank: Master Chief Petty Officer
Position: CoB/Chief Engineer
Species: Vulcan-Bajoran
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Post by Ozu Saya on Apr 30, 2020 14:59:25 GMT
[Broad Street Subway Station]
The Bajoran male kept glancing behind him to ensure Saya was still with him. After a few moments of tracking her friends, he said, Oh, I think they've missed you. They stopped.
It only took a few more seconds for them to press through the crowd and approach Judy and the family.
I'm sorry, Saya said. I lost you in the crowd.
It was my fault. Wasn't watching where I was going. With a smile and a shrug, he offered an awkward wave and started to move away. I guess I should get back to my friend.
Thank you! Saya called after him quickly.
With a another smile, he disappeared through the crowd. Well, almost. Saya could still see his red hair bobbing above everyone else's heads.
She turned back to Judy and company, hands clasped in front of her. Saya felt rather like a child who had run away from her parents in that moment.
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