Taking Your Pick

Posted on 21 Jan 2014 @ 3:14am by Commander Norvi Stace & Commander Andreus Kohl

1,335 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 05 - Solstice
Location: Trill
Timeline: MD 13 - 10:00hrs (Local Trill Time)

ON:

Norvi had spent the first few weeks back on the Trill homeworld pouring over castles of data PADDs. In fact, she seemed to organise her day off-duty much like it were on. Only much more rigidly. Her own house back on Trill was immaculate. Barely lived in yet tended to by the community during her long stints of absence in space.

She looked out of her study garden doors onto the lush, green vista that flowed from her two dusty steps down to the valley below. The sun was brilliant and yet, despite her fondness for nature and sunshine, her focus was firmly fixed on her work.

After nine days of solid study, she finally accessed her communications transmitter to make the call.

The emblem of Starfleet Headquarters coalesced on her display screen. The emblem held there for twenty seconds and then it was replaced by the visage of Andreus Kohl. The bearded Argelian was wearing a sleeveless athletic shirt, and his honey-brown hair was sticking out in several different directions. A sheen of sweat was drying on his brow. Kohl braced his hands against the surface of the public communication station, and leaned closer to the display.

"Lieutenant Stace, hullo!" Kohl said excitedly. "How is the Trill homeworld treating you?"

Stace smiled a little and cast her gaze out towards the streaming sunlight caressing her garden. The warmth of it stretched through the open doors and into her study where she sat cross-legged and bare-footed. "Sometimes I wonder why I ever leave this place," she said in reply, turning her attention now back to Kohl. "And your shoreleave?"

Kohl shrugged at that question, and pursed his lips into a forced smile. "It always takes me a few days to acclimate to doing nothing. I blame my Federation upbringing for that. A Federation life is not worth living if you're not producing something or other," Kohl said. He smiled for real now and shook his head slightly. "My own people would not approve. But it's given me more time for my rehabilitation."

Norvi smiled warmly and placed down her still steaming cup of coffee to the side of her terminal.

"Actually, Lieutenant," she said, squinting her nose a little, "that's what I've really contacted you about. I've been promoted and moved to oversee the entire Sceince department on board the i>Galileo. And I'm looking for an assistant chief."

There was little guile to Kohl's manner. He was caught off-guard by the comment, and he didn't even try to hide it with his reply. "Uhhhhhh, okay," Kohl said. "Are you looking for recommendations?"

"Not quite," Stace replied, a little mischief in her tone and expression as she diverted her attention away from the screen for a moment and then back to it. "You see, word has reached me you've now been cleared back for duty. And..." she paused a little and then narrowed her gaze upon him, "how would you feel about coming back to the Gally? As the assistant chief? Now," she interjected herself, "I know that it's a bit of a switch, but you're qualified, you know the ship and her crew... and I'm not entirely confident in anyone else's service record enough to want them. I am with yours."

Despite himself, Kohl quirked a half smile. It was certainly pleasing to be thought of in such a way, but his eyes wandered away from the screen, as the consequences rolled through his head. All the different challenges, and objections, and opportunities branching off in his mind. A hint of panic set in, and there was a quaver in his voice, when he said, "Since you're familiar with my records, you know I've never served as a Science Officer before."

"Ah," Stace replied, rumpling up her nose again and flopping her wrist out, brushing off any serious implications, "it's a piece of cake, really." She snorted a little to herself and regained her composure. "In truth, I don't need an scientific help. More administrative. And," she continued, now in the vein of jest, "if you can scan open space, you're pretty much set. The computer'll do all the work for you these days!"

Shaking his head mock-chidingly, Kohl said, "Well now, I did graduate from the Academy. I am an officer, not entirely a layperson..."

"We'll see," Norvi jested. "But in all seriousness, the offer's there. You can have as much time as you need to think about it. Just let me know if you fancy the challenge."

Kohl couldn't help himself from saying, "I always fancy a challenge." He narrowed his eyes, considering before his next words. "I'll need time to think on this challenge. I don't know I'm ready to give up on my career in medicine just yet..."

"Take all the time you need, Lieutenant," Stace replied with a meek smile.

"Lieutenant Stace, can I ask," Kohl said thoughtfully, "What are the qualities of a well-functioning Science department, in your experience?"

Stace's eyes widened as she pursed her lips, breaking eye contact with him for a moment. "I'm," she hesitated a little and then guiltily looked back to him, "not entirely sure, to be honest. I've never headed up a Science Department before. I mean," she then qualified, "I know what I wanted from my science team back when I was captain, but that's not necessarily what Captain Holliday wants. In fact, I'm not too familiar with the man himself. I dealt more with the Commodore since he was... well, assimilated at the time I was rescued and inducted in to the Gally's crew. What I can tell you, however, is that it'll be the finest science department in all the Quadrant." As she spoke, her hand waved slowly across the screen to enhance her grandiose and outlandish claim, whilst also betraying her humour.

At her boasting, Kohl was only inclined to smile. It was a goofy grin, which was probably fitting for such a goofy statement. Kohl tilted his head to the right. "And where is your favourite place to work aboard Galileo?" he asked.

"Favourite?" she questioned, not quite understanding what he meant. "Well, I'm not an office-person, if that's what you mean," she replied, cocking her head to one side. "I like the bridge since it gets me out of the science lab-shaped hole I can sometimes fall in to. And it reminds me when I used to command. The busy atmosphere can be quite refreshing in comparison to the solitary existence of a true-blood scientist. But as long as a console is close to hand, I don't truly mind where I am."

Stace paused for a brief moment, taking in the expression of Kohl as his image was projected before her. "I'm not exactly sure what you're looking for in returning to duty, Lieutenant. But if you wanted a way back in without heading down the medical route, then I'm offering that to you. It's by no means a permanent assignment. We can take this one mission at a time and see if it works out. For both of us. But the offer's there."

"Oh, what the hell," Kohl remarked in a seemingly off-handed manner. He shrugged helplessly, and he said, "I'll be there. I mean, I'll take your offer with both hands."

Norvi smiled a warm, genuine smile. "I'll contact Command and get the paperwork organised. I don't think you'll regret this."

Kohl leaned in towards the screen with a mischievous smirk on his lips and in his sapphire eyes. He said, "Make sure that I don't, sir."

Stace raised a subtle eyebrow but accompanied it with a smile. "I always keep my word, Lieutenant." She nodded her farewell and closed the channel, leaning back casually in her chair and taking another sip of coffee as she looked out over her garden.

OFF:

Lieutenant Norvi Stace
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo

AND

Lieutenant Andreus Kohl
Assistant Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo

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