The Whiz Kid

Posted on Mon Sep 10th, 2018 @ 12:02am by Commander Rita Paris & Lieutenant Asa Dael

Mission: Holographic Horrors
Location: USS Hera, Deck 6, Transporter Room 2
Timeline: 2395, in drydock at Artan Fortress, Kabul system

It seemed that the captain had appointed the new first officer as the welcome wagon for incoming officers- senior, junior or otherwise, because this was the eighth or ninth time Chief Fingerman had seen Lieutenant Commander Paris in Transporter Room 2 today. Eyeing her, he set the presets, and she didn't react. Engaging the buffer scrubbers, and she tapped away at that PaDD she always seemed to have in her hands. He received a beam in request, and he sent the clearance code. Her gaze flickered over to the transporter pad instead of her tablet, then she flinched as the beam-in started materializing.

Damndest thing. It was like she was transporter psychic. He'd report it eventually, but at the moment he was still correlating data since she kept coming down here.

This time around it was the assistant CMO checking into the command. Rita had been giving the welcome aboard speech all day, and she was a bit run down by this point. But, on duty, first impressions of the command and all that. Standing up straight and tall, settling the tablet on her left hip, she squinted at the transporter effect as she tried to blunt herself to seeing the effect at least. Without much luck so far.

The beam coalesced into a nervous looking humanoid. They wore a uniform so crisp it was obviously on an inaugural outing and carried a lone Starfleet issue duffel bag in their left hand. The Lieutenant JG was fiddling with a medical tricorder in what appeared to be a nervous habit and made eye contact with Lieutenant Commander Paris with a start.

“Lieutenant JG Asa Dael reporting for duty. Permission to come aboard?” the slim figure asked in a reedy voice.

No salute, but at least they knew to request permission to come aboard. "Permission granted, Lieutenant. I'm Rita Paris, the first officer of the Hera." Taking a step toward the door, she offered a warm smile and held out a handshake the physician would be forced to come to the door to accept. "Let's get you settled in, shall we... Doctor?"

Asa felt a grin a kilometer wide spread on their face at being called Doctor. They rushed over to the unorthodoxly uniformed first officer as quickly as their gawkish manner would allow. In a rush to extend their right hand, they forgot it was still holding onto the newly issued medical tricorder and promptly dropped the tool on the ground.

Blushing red enough to be mistaken for any number of fruits, Asa bent down to pick up the tricorder and stood up so quickly their head was a bit fuzzy from the abrupt change in blood flow.

"Sorry. I mean, thank you. I mean, yes. Yes that sounds good." Asa was mortified at the childish manner they were behaving and mentally chided themself for behaving like a back-water buffoon, and deliberately proffered their right hand for a second time, accepting the Lieutenant Commander's hand.

"It's really something being out of the Academy and actually in the fleet, isn't it? Everything is new and exciting and mildly terrifying," the easygoing executive chatted. While she'd seemed a bit... nervous? Intense? in the transporter room, in the corridor beyond, she was breezy and casual. "At least, that's how it was for me. You ready for your short briefing there, mist- miz- mmmm, ah, Doctor?"

"Asa, please. And if you ever need an honorific, please, use Myx. It's traditional among the non-gendered of my people, and I'm quite fond of it myself." The lieutenant was clearly on steadier conversational ground here, and responded with the ease of someone used to having this conversation with new acquaintances. They offered a smile to make it clear the correction was in kindness, long used to helping others understand this particular quirk of their identity.

"As you like, Asa. On duty I'll likely refer to you as Doctor or Doctor Dael, but Myx is new on me- thanks for steering me right." The smile the minidress-clad high femme offered was genuine, and she seemed as though she appreciated the correction as she brought them along at a reasonably brisk pace. It was like she were trying to build up to a march.

Asa's eyes were everywhere as they walked through the ship's corridors. The Hera was a beautiful ship, and the care she had received made it clear her crew loved her. Asa was encouraged by this, and knew that the condition of the ship was often a reflection on the happiness of the crew. They vowed to themself in that moment to make sure and show the same care themselves for not just the ship, but the crew itself.

"It is quite thrilling being in the fleet. I was excited to hear I was selected for a position on the Hera. I understand we are likely to meet new species at some point, and learning about new life forms is a particular passion of mine," Asa conversed. They found themself feeling quite at ease around the blonde woman, and hoped the rest of the crew was as congenial.

"I've no idea, truth be told. Apparently we're in a conflict of some sort with a variety of ancient beings who traveled the cosmos purporting to be the gods of mythology. But, Starfleet will give us orders, the Captain will brief the senior staff, we'll brief the rest of the crew and we'll find out what strange new world we'll be headed off to, discovering new civilizations. Boldly going, as they say," The winsome woman winked at them.

"But I do have it on good authority that the Hera is most definitely not a dull ship, Lieutenant Junior Grade Dael," Paris pulled out the full formal rank intentionally- it was never a bad idea to remind the officers that they were still, despite their mission of peace, military in rank structure.

"I look forward to learning whatever command feels is relevant for me. Perhaps I should brush up on my mythology?"

Lieutenant JG Dael felt the pace quicken and realized Lieutenant Commander Paris likely had seven other places to be and doggedly locked step. They could only hope to not become so lost later as to need computer guidance.

"That is actually an excellent idea, Myx Dael," the retro throwback officer opined. "It might just come in very handy." Stopping at the turbolift, the curvaceous commander pressed the 'up' button for the lift. Flipping around that PaDD she'd had perched on her hip, she held it out to them.

"This is your welcome aboard package, including your quarters assignment, maps of the Hera, limited computer access and some appointments to keep. You need to check into the command in order to have full access, so that means a meeting with the first officer, a meeting with the captain, a meeting with your department head and a physical. Once everyone signs off for you, you're set and you'll have full access and be checked into the command, active duty."

The turbolift arrived and the old-school officer stepped aboard, assuming they were behind her. Spinning around in an about-face, the lovely lieutenant commander leaned down a bit to their level. Then she fixed Asa with those big baby blues, to insure she had their attention. Cocking her head slightly to the side, she offered a prim schoolmarm's smile. "Any questions so far?"

Rita Paris, Asa thought to themself, was obviously not a woman to be trifled with. They long ago learned when someone asked “any questions,” what they really meant was “Are you paying attention?”

“Map, quarters, appointments, and physical. Yes sir. I will check the itinerary to ensure I do not miss anything. Is there anything you would have me do in the interim, Lieutenant Commander?” Asa asked as the turbolift doors closed. The lift hummed as it reached the stop on Deck Two, and with a gentle whoosh opened to allow the duo to exit.

Asa allowed the confident beauty to lead while shouldering their duffel around to the other arm. They wondered to themself how anyone could feel so confident in such a short skirt, and with a pang of jealousy glanced at their own ever-scrawny frame. Even after all these years eating well with access to medicine, they still felt like the bony little kid growing up in a refugee colony on Bajor. With a suppressed sigh, Asa affected their best impersonation of “confidence” and kept step with the senior officer.

“Yes, Myx Dael. First, while Starfleet allows for both, in the modern day I do prefer to be addressed as ‘ma’am’, if it’s all the same. You’re not wrong,” The commander was strolling along at a casual pace, and appeared to be deliberately takin her time. “So don’t apologize- this is just me stating my preference moving forward. I’m guessing this isn’t an unfamiliar conversation for you.”

The leggy blonde offered a smile that was practically maternal as she continued. “As for anything else? Relax, Doctor. If you misstep I will very gently inform you and set you on the right course. That’s part of my job, and what I’m here to do- help you get your sea legs as a junior officer as we teach you how to be a senior officer. What I would like for you to do is unpack, personalize your quarters a bit, and relax. It has been a long journey to get here, but you’re home now. Ensconced in a mighty starship that will be your duty and your home, alongside a crew who will be your shipmates and friends. I’d like for you to learn to be comfortable with that. Which I will help as I can, and I want you to know my door is always open. It’s on the flight deck down on Deck 4.”

“Meanwhile, there are junior officer’s quarters here on deck 2, so I thought you might enjoy a room with a bit of a view.” As she said the words, the door she approached slid open, revealing much larger quarters than they had been accustomed to throughout the Academy, which were apparently theirs alone. And at the far wall was a viewport- it was only perhaps half a meter square, but it faced forward to the stars.

“Additionally, it might be handy in a crisis having a doctor quartered directly beneath the bridge,” the cheerful commander observed.

Asa entered their quarters with a grin, and placed the duffel on a nearby chair, thankful to no longer carry its weight. "Yes ma'am, I think I can do that," they said with an impish grin.

"I'll leave you to it, then. Welcome to the Hera, Doctor Dael," The curvaceous commander nodded, then pivoted and strode off, the door closing leaving Asa in privacy.

As soon as they were alone, Lieutenant Dael proceeded to unpack, hanging uniforms and a few civilian clothes, filing everything else in a nearby dresser, and carefully placing photos on the small desk. Asa ran their fingers wistfully over the images of a smiling woman, visibly pregnant, and a young boy in bed reading.

"Mom, Brennan....I made it. I promise, I'll make you proud," they whispered to the images, wiping away a single tear. They sat back on the bed, and allowed themself to drift off while staring at the stars.