Ambushed! (Part 2 of 2)

Posted on 26 Aug 2012 @ 11:26pm by Lieutenant Kiri Cho & Commander Andreus Kohl

1,723 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Episode 01 - Project Sienna
Location: Galileo - Deck 4, Sensor Array
Timeline: MD 09 - 0842 hours

Previously in "Ambushed!"...

Starting to cut another piece, Kiri had to chase the obvious question, the girl started to look and act more relaxed, "So, how did you become a nurse?" If he was a diplomat, it didn't really come that close to being a nurse. She wore the same colour uniform and she couldn't be one, purple was different, something she didn't think she could ever be, even if she wanted to. It was a little strange, for once she didn't feel that these were things she should be asking, they were things she wanted to be asking. She wanted to know Kohl better, to know how he was the way he is.

"I went back to the Academy. I went back to the Academy for two years," Kohl said, but even before he said it, he knew that wasn't what Kiri was asking. Just the other day, a young man had asked Kohl why he changed careers, and Kohl's immediate response had been deflection. It was only way Kohl knew how to respond to that question. But now he was starting to get to know Kiri. His manner as a nurse had made her uncomfortable and they had taken opposite sides in disagreements, but Kiri had never made judgements about his character. Her lack of judgement was a disarming characteristic. So disarming. And it was her birthday...

And now, the conclusion...


[ON]

"I failed as a diplomat," Kohl said. His sapphire eyes were wide and his timbre revealed vulnerability. Kneeling on the grating of the jefferies tube, he was sitting on his feet, and he was fidgeting with the knees of his trousers. "A series of negotiations fell apart because of me. I failed, and I didn't think I could do it anymore. I didn't want to be a diplomat if I wasn't going to be spectacular, you know? And so I went back to the Academy and I became a nurse. ...I've been in Starfleet a very long time for an Ensign."

Kiri felt extremely sorry for him, it didn't just tug at her heart strings, it gripped it in a vice. Even small failures were crushing for her, for it to be so major he could no longer do what he wanted, it was terrible. Placing her plate down on the floor she shifted to her knees, sinking lower because of the low ceiling, "I think, you're very diplomatic, and, a very good nurse." She looked around at what he had done for her with another real smile, "And a very nice person." These were all things she would love to have someone express to her, more so if she had failed. It was rare for her to say things like that, but there never seemed to be a need before. She wanted him to feel good, for everything he was doing for her and everyone else.

"Thank you, Kiri," said Kohl, "but it's all right. I joined Starfleet because I wanted to serve. Not everyone wants to be a starship captain..." Although he said the words, he didn't sound entirely certain of them. Kohl pulled at the shoulder strap he was wearing, and he found it a struggle to lift the medi-kit off of himself without crashing his limbs into the bulkheads in this cramped space. Once he got it on the floor, he lifted the flap of the satchel and he fished one hand inside of it.

Starting to become aware that he had shared something very personal with her she pinched her lips together, "I decided I did." This wasn't something she had really talked about to anyone other than the XO, since it was beyond her job, even what was expected or desired from her by anyone, "I'd like to have a ship like this." Tilting her head to watch him fiddle she went on, "Then, maybe an admiral when I'm older." There were two things leading her to this, one was the chance to be in control, to do what she wanted. The second was something in every fibre of her being, that if she would do something she would aim for the very top, and not stop until she reached it.

"Well then," Kohl began with a lazy smile, "when you're a Captain in about ten years from now, try to remember that Ensign Kohl will want to serve aboard your starship. I can tell you've mastered the decisiveness of command already!"

Kiri smiled at the compliment but knew it was false, she was the most indecisive person she knew. The idea was a fun one though, that it might take only ten years for her to do it. In that time though, surely he could do more, "Would you, keep training, to be a Chief Medical Officer?" She was even somewhat hopeful in her tone, as a captain she could choose her own crew, if he was serious about wanting to be on it.

"Technically, a Chief Medical Officer doesn't have to be a surgeon or even a doctor," Kohl replied, and the answer came almost too easily. His hand came away from the medi-kit, and he clutched a small box to his chest. "It's about leadership, and it's about administration. So long as the crew headcount could support an additional surgeon, a Nurse Practitioner could serve as a Chief Medical Officer."

"Oh, I know," She peered at the box before meeting his eyes again, "All the department heads are like that, you get less time to do other things." That was sadly something she would be working towards, less time looking at stars and more time organising people. Organising was something she was ruthlessly efficient at, so at least it didn't seem like hard work. What she needed to develop was her leadership with people. Realising her mistake she added, "I didn't mean to imply you couldn't do it."

"You didn't imply it. Don't worry about that," Kohl said. He shook his head to dismiss the notion from her thoughts. Kohl handed the jewellery box over to Kiri. "Worry about this instead. It's from Doctor Pola," he said, and Pola's name came out with clownish menace.

There were gifts as well, Kiri's eyes widened her mouth open with a smile, small fingers lifting the lid with a snap. There had been gifts before, she'd given up expecting anyone on the crew caring that much though, much less Pola. The doctor who only ever seemed to argue and disagree with her, it wasn't a bad gift. Swirls of silver metal that hung in little loops, white and pink peals in intricate cages dotted around it, looking to fit her thin wrists well. Kiri almost never wore jewellery and only owned a three pieces other than earrings. Placing it back in the box she spoke her thoughts aloud, "I will have to say thank you to her." Fingers resting on the lid she waited before closing, "It's very nice."

"Go on then," Kohl said, all encouragement and boyish grin. He waved both hands at the closed box and said, "Put it on."

Filling out her cheeks a little Kiri looked concerned, "I shouldn't, I'm on duty in uniform." Breaking any rules was bad to her, there was a chance it could get her in trouble, make people think less of her. Still the grin he gave her, it made her smile more as well, even giving a nervous snort, almost a laugh.

Kohl expressed his understanding of Kiri's concern with a nod of easy acquiescence. He picked up his plate from the floor, and dug into his slice of cake. After eating a couple of sugary bites, Kohl asked, "Do you have any birthday traditions?"

Kiri took her own plate and for a few seconds they ate in silence, when the question came she was just pulling the fork from her mouth. Swallowing she thought hard before replying, "Not very much, just spending time with my family, and lots of eating." At the academy she went home and had that huge meal, before she left school, once, all her friends came over, it was lovely. Holding the fork in the air she was lost in thought, home, times she was happy. Even if this was good, it was great, she missed home.

A wistful smile, teetering on the edge of sadness, came to Kohl's face unbidden. His grip on his plate went slack and he swallowed hard. "I suppose we'll have to, ah, postpone any communication with family," Kohl said. He frowned in thought and then he cocked his head slightly. "Really though, that means you'll just have to invent some new traditions."

Looking at him slightly questioningly Kiri asked, "What, do you do then?" While eating cake and gifts were standard, ideally she wouldn't be holding it in a cramped space like with with Klingons waiting outside poised to attack at any time. Family was what her traditions were all based around, there wasn't much in the way of reference to work towards anything else.

"That's up to you," Kohl said, and he shrugged because he didn't know what to suggest. "I don't know you well enough to know what makes you happy. You can look for little ways to celebrate, big ways to celebrate, with treats or music or games. Whatever makes you smile today, do it again next year. Make it a new tradition."

Considering what he said Kiri paused for a few moments, "I have too much to do I'm afraid." There were so many things to fix and that wasn't even counting the jobs she had to do to for the department. To find time to build new traditions, it didn't seem possible. Unless she was meant to be working on the sensor array and filing reports on her birthday each year.

"Then enjoy your cake for now, for right now," Kohl said. He smiled wanly rather than push the issue or ask Kiri to do something she didn't want to do. He was quiet as he finished eating the last of his slice of cake, and then he added, "Can't let a birthday go past without some little fanfare."


[OFF]

Ensign Andreus Kohl
Nurse
USS Galileo

Ensign Kiri Cho
Science Officer/Sensor Specialist
USS Galileo

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