One, Two, Buckle My Shoe

Posted on 03 Dec 2014 @ 4:38pm by Commander Norvi Stace & Commander Scarlet Blake

1,993 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Episode 07 - Sojourn
Location: USS Galileo - First Officer's Office
Timeline: MD 08: 1700 Hours

ON:

Stace stood outside of Blake's office and took in a deep breath, a plethora of emotions now occupying her Joined mind: Excitement at starting something new; another step on the career ladder that got her closer to where she wanted to be - where she used to be - but also a sense of pending doubt that lurked on the periphery of her consciousness. Perhaps that was the Norvi in her calling out. She always felt that scream when a strong link to the past was so evident that she could almost taste the memory; a piece of her - the girl that she once knew so solitary and alone - fading back into the shadows a little more. Sinking further into the murky personality Stace had now become. And it was in these unsure moments that her unsupported fears were more disconnected and prevalent than usual before they eventually succumbed to the overruling dominance of unity.

She exhaled. Her lungs now burning from holding her breath without knowing she was. Then she shook it off and pressed the chime.

"Come in..." Scarlet called out, rubbing over the back of her neck as she read the computer screen with a frown. She didn't realise she was frowning though. Every time she finished something, the computer fairies put two more tasks to be done in its place.

"Commander," Stace said in a friendly, soft tone, stepping into her office and taking a seat. "I was wondering if I could... pick your brains for a moment or two. This promotion to Second Officer has reared some rusty memories for me from my previous host and I can't quite pull them into focus. I was hoping that you could help me set my own memory straight. It's been a while since I was just the head of a department and I would like your thoughts... and expectations of what the position will hold for me."

In truth, Stace wanted to get to know the First Officer of the ship a little more personally. They'd had official meetings during the collection of missions they'd served together on the Gally but had never really connected on a personal note. And with Stace now effectively representing Blake's own First Officer role, the Trill wanted to break through their professional relationship to one of more substance. If you don't instinctively know your immediate subordinate, how could you ever fully trust them?

"Of course, please, sit down," Scarlet's frown faded quickly in favour of a smile, more than willing to be distracted by Stace. "Would you like a drink?" she asked, already pushing herself up and over to the replicator.

"A black Bolian coffee, please," she smiled, I could use a mellow hit of something. Thank you."

"So what's weighing on you?" Scarlet asked softly, moving back with their drinks, she offered one over as she retook her chair, watching her with not so much full out concern, but certainly taking her seriously.

"Nothing especially," the Trill replied genuinely, shifting her weight in her chair to one side as she crossed one leg over her other knee. She leant into the arm of the chair, casually relaxed, and then picked up the coffee, bringing it to her lips. She took in the first inhale and smelled the soft aroma. Deflecting, she continued in her current vein of thought. "There's something bitter-sweet about Bolian coffee. Quite like its creators. You love them, and it's easy to see why. They're harmless, jolly and friendly. But, like the coffee, they can leave a taste in your mouth for the whole morning. And by 11am, you're thinking to yourself that if you never meet another Bolian before the month is through, it'll be too soon."

Scarlet couldn't help but laugh softly at the words. She rubbed the back of her neck, hoping her expression didn't give away that her thoughts had briefly drifted to her own experiences. "You may very well say that, I couldn't possibly comment," she said softly, but there was a glimmer in her eye as she watched her. "It seems we are gaining a 2XO with keen observation skills...."

"I wouldn't make a very good scientist if my observation skills were lacking," she joked back, taking a sip. "I love Bolians really," she clarified, "especially our good Assistant Chief Medic. But to be honest," Stace then continued, placing the cup back on the table as the first lappings of coffee flooded her mouth and disappeared down her throat, "I just wanted to get to know the command staff a little more by coming to see you. And where best to start?" She indicated to Scarlet with a nod, a smile and a hand gesture. "As I said, it's been a while since I've enjoyed the privileges and weathered the burdens of command. And I would just like to reacquaint myself with it a little less formally. If that's okay with you."

"I think it sounds like a great idea," Scarlet replied honestly, gently shaking her head as she shifted to get a little more comfortable, letting out a soft sigh. "As you know from personal experience, we've faced some pretty difficult missions on this ship. Often getting more than we've bargained for from a seemingly straight forward mission brief. You have experience you can draw on when those kind of surprises surface."

"I have more than enough experience at having to adapt to seemingly familiar surroundings. And perhaps I'm fixating on that a little too much." Stace took another drink of her coffee and then spied the commander's questioning expression. "My command experience really comes from my previous host," she clarified. "And I have all his memories and experiences and doubts and strengths. But it's sometimes filtered. I can remember what certain situations were like... how they developed. But then I have to remind myself that I am not Janel. And I never will be. Nor would I command like him." Norvi relaxed her face as she began to reminisce about her disjointed past.

"When he first started out in Starfleet, Unjoined, Janel was - how would you describe him? - meek. He was a wet Tribble that, according to his superiors, wouldn't have amounted to very much had he continued on that path. But then came the unexpected Joining. Something that he was unprepared for and didn't want. He was the only Trill on board when the ship was attacked, transporting the Stace Symbiont back to Trill. It was him or lose it." She took a breath, enjoying recounting the story to Blake.

" 'Forced' is such an aggressive term, but Janel had no choice but to Join with it. His captain practically shoved the Symbiont down his throat to get it in him. But what Janel progressed into after the procedure - the confidence of experience, the pride of life - transformed him into the man I have come to know. The man whom I remember: A strong, powerful leader who was dominant, overbearing, and a force to be reckoned with. I enjoy the strength I get from him. But it sometimes scares me. And I have tried my Joined life to temper that entitled authority. And here I am again. Back on the path to rank and privilege."

In truth, this anecdotal admission from the Trill was as much as two friends gabbing as it was an insight into who the spotted woman was; a window into the clockwork mechanisms that ticked beneath the surface. And it was almost like therapy.

Scarlet sat in silence, just listening without interrupting. She was clearly wrapped up in the story. Trills had always been of interest to her. From her human perspective, she found the idea of Joining rather creepy, maybe even scary. Sort of 'Invasion of the Bodysnatchers' to use an old reference. But the Trill viewed it as such an honour and duty. "I can't pretend to know what it's like, experiencing other lives that are yours and yet not. All I know is...this one is yours. And it will be new, and different. Because you are new and different. And that has to be a pretty damn exciting thing..." she chuckled softly, shaking her head. "We don't expect you to be him. Just you."

"Well, thank you," Stace replied softly, licking her lips for the remnants of the Bolian coffee that lingered still in her mouth. "It's just sometimes difficult to navigate, but I think I'm on top it and striving forward." The taste now had become a little acrid to senses, playing true to form from what she knew of the blend. But she delved in for the remaining dregs.

"What about you, Commander? What's your story before the Gally?"

Scarlet chuckled softly as she looked down into her cup, sighing softly. At least that meant the rumour mill wasn't as fierce as she had thought it. "I started in the marines," she glanced up to her with a small smile of amusement, almost as if making an admission. "I liked it too. I'd found something I was actually good at," she laughed softly, shaking her head as she rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly. "Then...well, Lily came along, and it was no position for a single mother. So I came across to the regular Fleet, falling back on my specialist psych training. I became a counsellor, even if not quite the soft and cuddly one some people expect when they walk into a counselling officer. Things went pretty crazy here, as you know, and before I knew it....I had a new office and extra pips."

"I had no idea that you were a mother," Stace replied candidly. And for some reason, this elevated and humanised the commander more than anything else she had said. It was funny, she thought, how one throwaway comment could lend such insight into someone's life and persona and Stace had spent several lifetimes being unshaken by such diverting revelations. And yet this here had surprised her. "It's odd, I think, that you can work so closely next to someone and actually know nothing about them. Well, nothing important."

Scarlet laughed softly, nodding as she glanced down, clearing her throat. "I am used to being a counsellor where I get to see snippets of people in their files and in evaluations. I forget, sometimes, that others don't have that chance. Her name is Lily, by the way. She likes it here, especially now that I'm doing just the one job instead of two," she nodded to Stace, motioning to her with a gentle flick of her wrist. "I'm afraid being Second Officer has its downsides. You pretty much end up doing two jobs at the same time and pulling extra bridge shifts."

"The captain has already collared me on that one," the Trill returned with a smile. "But I'm looking forward to the extra duties. With Commander Kohl stepping into the Chief Research position, he's already offered to assist with the running of the department so I can stretch myself across two disciplines." She paused and then shifted in her seat as if to suggest her departure. "Speaking of which, I have a meeting with him later this afternoon to handover a few things that Pendleton wanted seeing to now that he's stepped down."

Stace stood and nodded at Scarlet. "Thank you, Commander. For this, I mean. I appreciate you taking the time to speak with me. It's... belayed a few anxieties that might have rumbled in my belly these past few days."

Scarlet shook her head quickly as she stood with her, giving a half, wry smile. "Trust me, I would be worried if you didn't have any butterflies. Come by any time, I'd like that," she assured.

OFF:


Lieutenant Commander Norvi Stace
Chief Science Officer & Second Officer
USS Galileo

CMDR Scarlet Blake
First Officer
USS Galileo

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