Of Course It Hurts (Judy/Saya)

[Judith Eastman]

[Liberty Park, NJ]

Judy, using her cane for support, stepped down from the van. She looked around, standing upright, before reluctantly sitting down in her wheelchair. Oh, how she disliked the thing.

Well, she supposed it could be worse. At least it did its job, unlike the transportation grid Saya had just questioned.
"There are two answers I can give to that question," she stated, sounding ever the distinguished academic. "The economist's answer is that the energy you'd need to use transporters for tens of millions of commuters is prohibitive, and that using older infrastructure is a cheap, low-investment solution to supplement the transporter hubs. The layman's answer, on the other hand, is that our local governments are an inefficient, bloated mess that couldn't possibly modernize the system. Either way, we're stuck with cars, trains, and ferry boats for the foreseeable future."

The corgis hopped out of the car. Judy grabbed their leashes as they walked out in a feat of impressive coordination, which caused her and the chair to jerk forward.
"As for me, I always took the subway or the train. Slow, stinky, but gets me where I gotta be safely," she recalled. "Though if I had these two earlier, I could've used a doggie carriage."

[Ozu Saya]

[Liberty Park, NJ]

Kyo climbed awkwardly out of the back of the van and stretched to his full height. He reached for Saya and ran a hand across her back, asking with concern, Are you okay?

I am fine, but I may let you drive us back. Her voice held a note of wry humor. Saya took Alieth from Kyo's hands and hugged her close. The little three-horn wanted none of it, however, writhing in Saya's hands to get down. Saya set her next to the corgis and kept a firm hand on her leash, deciding it would be better to let her walk until she ran out of energy.

Kyo took his place behind the wheelchair, pushing it forward across the smooth surface of the parking lot. Direct me, oh, thou great leader. I am thy humble servant, he joked grandly.

[Judith Eastman]

[Liberty Park]

"We can park the car at my condo and take transit the rest of the way back," Judy suggested. "It can just wait there for a few weeks; I won't miss it much."

In her hand, she could feel the dogs gently tugging their leashes, telling her to go in a much less subtle manner than Kyo.

"See that 19th-century train station?" Judy asked, not feeling a need to gesture towards the large, romanesque terminal. "Ticketing for the boat is inside. Saya and I probably qualify for a Starfleet discount, and then I get a resident discount. If they try to give me a senior discount, though, don't let 'em."

OOC:
Below: where the boat leaves from on the Jersey side. A little overkill, eh?

[Ozu Saya]

[Liberty Park]

Kyo pushed the wheelchair with ease up and into the grandiose building. Inside, there were several lines, none really shorter than any of the others, so Kyo picked one and guided the chair to the end.

Saya looked around curiously, not being accustomed to places like this, with large numbers of people gathered. Alieth also found all the new people interesting, causing a few double-takes as she waddled up to sniff feet and calves.

As they inched forward, Kyo asked Judy, Can you tell us a little about this statue? I confess, though I've heard of it, I know nothing about it really.

[Judith Eastman]

[Liberty Park]

Alieth seemed to be a minor bother to the New York area crowd, but they weren't making too much of a fuss about her. Maybe the presence of a cripple was making them hold their tongues.

That meant Judy didn't need to yell at anyone, and was free to explain the statue.
"The statue of liberty has been there for about 500 years, give or take. It was originally a gift from France to celebrate American independence. It's supposed to represent freedom, and a commitment to the poor. It's a very Federation-y message, when you think about it," Judy explained, gesticulating and shifting a little in her wheelchair, which is how she realized something,

"Oh, and Kyo, darling, do you really think you can fit me in between these posts?" she asked rhetorically. "The handicap line is probably on the far side, but it's definitely where we need to be."

Sure enough, there was a line for wheelchairs, hoverchairs, and strollers, all the way over. It currently had two families with infants, and no other invalids.

[Ozu Saya]

[Liberty Park]

That is a very Federation message. Amazing that it's stood so long, Kyo responded with interest.

He pulled an embarrassed face, which neither of his companions could see thankfully, when he realized he'd missed the obvious signs pointing those with physical difficulties, non-humanoid aliens and those with small children toward the end of the building.

Swerving out of the long line they were in, he pushed Judy's chair to the much shorter line where one of the families had gotten their tickets and passed through the gate.

Saya trailed behind as Alieth had decided she needed to sniff every little thing on the floor and every person who passed. A few glanced down and smiled indulgently, but some gave Saya irritated looks and stepped wide to avoid the little animal.

[Judith Eastman]

[Liberty Park]

Soon, they reached the ticket counter. From her chair, Judy addressed the cashier.
"I'd like three tickets, please," she stated matter-of-factly, confident as she was when she could stand tall.
"One adult, one with a service member discount, and one with both a service member and a resident discount."
"I'll need to see IDs," the attendant requested flatly.
"Kyo, my purse is in the main body of the handbag. Should be under the prunes, next to the glasses cases," Judy instructed her Bajoran helper. "If you don't mind helping an old woman not get up."
That reminded Judy to add her usual disclaimer.
"No senior citizen discount, please."

[Ozu Saya]

[Liberty Park]

Saya pulled her own Starfleet-issue ID card out of her small crossbody bag as Kyo opened the top of Judy's handbag and dug into it. His brow furrowed as he dug past the wide variety of odd items inside, finally retrieving the requested purse and reaching past Judy's shoulder to hand it to her.

Saya stepped up next to the wheelchair to present her ID and to make an attempt at paying if she could do so before Judy. It was beginning to feel rather like a game to see who could pay first.

[Judith Eastman]

[Liberty Park]

Losing her hip didn't mean Judy lost any of her usual determination and stubbornness. Whether Saya liked it or not, the half-Vulcan wasn't going to pay.

"I'll pay," Judy declared as she set her cards on the counter. She had to reach up to do so, but she did it.
"I'll just need your thumbprint," the cashier informed her.
Judy pressed her thumb to the reader, and soon had the transaction squared away.
"Here are your tickets. The boat leaves in 2 minutes," they were informed. Judy tried to grab her cards, but they all landed flat in her lap. She placed the leashes under her healthy hip as she gathered the cards, and then handed the purse back to Kyo.

"Well, let's go. I believe we get to board first."

[Ozu Saya]

[Liberty Park]

Saya opened her mouth to object, but closed it and narrowed her eyes at her friend. Apparently, she was going to have to start getting sneaky. Next time, she'd have Kyo keep the wheelchair back until she could pay herself. A tiny smile made its way onto her lips as she thought about it and she didn't realize that her eye now held a bit of an evil glint.

Kyo just shook his head and laughed. Saya had told him about their back and forth while on Vulcan about paying for things. He found the whole situation amusing.

At Judy's command, he pushed the chair through the gate and followed the signs that guided passengers to the boarding area. It just occurred to me, Kyo mused. I don't think I've ever been on any kind of boat. My family's land isn't near any large bodies of water, and it was never something I sought out while traveling.

Saya's brows rose in surprise. I will have to introduce you to one of my favorite holoprograms. It is most peaceful to sit in a boat on one of Bajor's many lakes.

[Judith Eastman]

[Liberty Park]

As the conversation turned to boats, Judy had something to contribute as well.
"They come in all sorts," she remarked. "There's boats like this one, which are just there to shuttle people from point A to point B, and there are boats like the ones my family has at our vacation home in the Hamptons, which I will have to show you sometime. But if you really want an extraordinary boat, you should see Niagara."

Judy paused to let Kyo focus on the gangway that led onto the boat. Then, she explained some more.
"Niagara Falls are some of Earth's biggest waterfalls. They're in upstate New York, not too very far from here. There's a boat that goes right up to the falls, and you can just feel them pelting you with water. It's stunning."

Judy clasped and unclasped her hand, and then added, "you two should really go."

[Ozu Saya]

[Liberty Park]

Kyo bent over a little further to get better leverage to push the wheelchair up the gangway before replying, That sounds like fun. We've got Olympia tomorrow... he glanced at Saya for confirmation. She nodded. But maybe we can go to Niagara Falls as well since we'll be on Earth for a few more months. I'm staying at a hotel in New York City, so we can sort of base from there and take a few different trips.

That would be agreeable, Saya said. Since I am unable to do much aboard the Tempest until the refit is much closer to completion, I would enjoy taking the opportunity to visit a wide variety of location on Earth.

Kyo grinned to himself. Saya had just basically committed to an unspecified number of dates, during which Kyo hoped to convince her that it was a good idea for him to come along when the Tempest left orbit. She might not be sure about him yet, but he was about her and he'd take every opportunity to gently convince her of that.

[Judith Eastman]

[Liberty Park, NJ -> Liberty Island, NY]

Judy smiled. Young courtship was so awkward, so delicate, and so adorable.
"A hotel? Don't waste your credits like that, Kyo," she said instead, to move her own brain aside. "My condo has three spare bedrooms you can borrow, a full kitchen, and free breakfast once I move back in."
Judy's offer was sincere. She did have bedrooms to spare, and she loved having guests who didn't cause property damage and offend the neighbors. "The offer goes for both of you, actually."

The boat quickly whisked them away to the island on which the statue rested. It was just as lovely to see from up close as from afar, and perhaps more impressive.

[Ozu Saya]

[Liberty Park, NJ -> Liberty Island, NY]

Kyo found a position near the edge of the deck and stopped, asking Judy, Is this all right?

After her response, he continued, I hate to impose, but I'd certainly appreciate it if you're sure. I'm comfortable financially, but didn't want to pay a lot for nicer accommodations, since I'll be in and out. He glanced at Saya and raised his eyebrows. What do you think?

Saya bit her lip, considering the possibilities. It would certainly give them the opportunity to get to know one another better. I had intended to base myself at Utopia Planetia or Starbase One, to be closer to the refit, and to return to Earth when we had plans, she said doubtfully.

[Judith Eastman]

[Liberty Island, NY]

"We can get off the boat," Judy informed Kyo. "There's a fort at the base of the statue, and a trail all around."

Then, they were back to discussing accommodations, which seemed the more substantial topic.
"It's as much a favor for me as it is for you," Judy explained. "Since my children left the nest, it's become a little lonely."
There was more emotional depth to the matter, which Judy could have shared with Saya alone, but she didn't feel quite that comfortable with Kyo.
"You especially, Saya. Do you really want to spend the next few months eating more replicated food and breathing more recycled air? It's not like the powers that be will let any of us touch the ship for a while."