A new addition to the crew
Posted on Sun Feb 13, 2022 @ 3:51pm by Fleet Captain Rhea Kennit & Commander Cullen Walker & Lieutenant Commander Miguel Torres & Lieutenant Commander Zachary Addams & Lieutenant Penelope Naroot & Lieutenant AJ Taggart & Lieutenant JG Aergad Halvor & Lieutenant JG Ardal King & Senior Chief Petty Officer Samantha Summers
2,794 words; about a 14 minute read
Mission: We Will Take Care of You
[DQ8 - Promenade Deck, Dining Sector]
After another three hours of going over requisition reports, final authorizations for crew transfers, and a holographic briefing going over the latest news and reports from the on-going effort to evacuate Romulus civilians from the systems within the devastation zone identified by initial research and evaluations of the dying Romulan sun Captain Kennit had finally turned over the bridge to that eveningOfficer of the Deck and marked herself as being off duty for the night.
First up, dinner in a fairly new restaurant which had been opened on the starbase. The place was called ‘Fresh Air’. Something about the name of the eatery caught her attention and drew her in. The interior was elegantly decorated, soft lighting created a peaceful atmosphere. Candles cast a soft glow at each table, and the music which played over the speaker system was loud enough to be heard, but not so much so that one couldn’t hear what others at the table were saying.
To her surprise, they had fresh fruits and vegetables just imported in from Earth. Rhea assumed the goods must have come in aboard that transport which had arrived earlier, and didn’t care. She’d ordered a fresh tossed salad, smoked salmon with seasoned rice, and roasted vegetables which proved to be sliced zucchini and squash for them main meal. She hadn’t intended to have dessert but, molten chocolate lava cake with fresh made vanilla ice cream won her over.
After so many months of eating replicator fare, or the occasional meal provided by the officer’s galley the fresh meal, especially the roasted vegetables had been divine! She hadn’t eaten that much in… so long Rhea couldn’t remember! The coffee was actually decent as well. Rhea hoped this place would last, they weren’t always at DQ8 but, she had quite enjoyed the meal and hoped she’d have a chance to do so again in the future!
Exiting the restaurant, the Victory’s Captain walked down the passageway leading out for the dining sector and toward the shopping sector. Who knows, maybe she’d find something worth the credits to purchase and bring back to the ship.
[DQ8 - Promenade Deck, Shopping Sector]
The first few shops she’d wandered through had been filled with standard fare. Civilian clothing. Shoes. Various decorative items such as candles, framed photos and holographic projectors. Nothing which interested her enough to purchase and have sent to the ship, but the time spent exploring was a welcome respite from what was her normal, everyday activity. One shop however had received a shipment of books. Real, bound, printed books. She’d spent almost an hour just perusing the books available. Most people preferred holo-novels, or else read using a PaDD. Rhea loved printed books. There was something about the feel of the paper, the book in her hand that appealed to her. She’d ended up purchasing three novels written by an author from the mid-1900’s on Earth. A British author named Ian Fleming. The novels were about a spy by the name of James Bond. She’d never heard of them, but based on the information she’d looked up prior to making her purchase these books had been quite famous back in their time and were still somewhat notorious. Apparently there were even holo-novel versions which allowed the user to play the part of the spy, Bond, himself.
The cost wasn’t too bad, so she’d purchased three. She might even get a chance to read them one day before she died of old age. The books she’d arranged to be delivered to the Victory. The one other acquisition she’d made in the same shop she was carrying with her as she walked back toward one of the other shops where she’d spotted a few items available which she thought might come in handy after all. In her arms, tucked comfortably in her hold was a tiny, 6 week old kitten. Kitten in hand, she was heading back to purchase a cat bed, a few small blankets, litter box, collar, and most important of all, kitten toys. Litter box she could replicate back on the ship. The items she was going to buy were not replicated wares, and she wanted the real thing for the as yet unnamed little creature.
[Victory - Main Engineering]
Miguel was at his station review the updates on the day's work. Everything was proceeding apace, if not ahead of schedule. The new ablative armor was taking the longest. There was nothing he could do to speed it up. The station's DOTs were working on that. He even had to admit that they were doing an okay job. It didn't stop him from looking over their work of course. If they even missed one millimeter, it would effect the the overall worthiness of the new material. Once he approved the last of the reports, and had written his own for the First Officer and the Captain he started to review his messages, a lot of it was the same, stuff from his family, requests to check some numbers on some project that former colleges were working on. But the one that drew his attention was the one that came from Starfleet Command. As he read it he did his best to hide his surprise. He transferred the message to a PADD and tapped his combadge. "Computer what's the location of Captain Kennit?"
/\ Captain Kennit is located on the Promenade of the station. /\
[DQ8 - Promenade Deck, Shopping Sector]
A few minutes later Miguel walked up to the Captain he looked down and saw the little furry tucked in her arms. He raised an eyebrow. "This is what you spent what little free time you get on?" he asked her.
Pulling the kitten closer as she arranged for the various cat care related items she’d just purchased to be delivered to the Victory, the Captain answered “Don’t you have bio-goo to be supervising ..”
Walker was about 15 feet away. His exwife had sent two of his three children for a visit. His daughter brought along a third, a boy. His daughter spoke, "Dad, this is my boyfriend." The kid in question presented himself in a manner that said he had no future. )
Walker looked like he had been kicked in the nuts by a single sentence, and took about 30 seconds to recover. He kissed his daughter on the forehead, then spoke, "Step closer to the woman with the cat."
All three tried to walk towards Rhea and Miguel, and Walker grabbed the boyfriend by the shoulder and started whispering in his ear. The boyfriend had a look of fear on his face. The boyfriend turned around and walked away, the back of his pants heavy and very squishy. Aloud Walker spoke, "I'm not even the meanest, the scariest, or the most violent person assigned to my ship."
Walker's daughter stomped her foot, "Ugghhhh. You're the worst dad in the world. It was better when you were never there and Starfleet sent you everywhere at the last minute." She looked at The Captain. "Can't you make him scrub injectors with a toothbrush?" She stomped off. "I'm going to my quarters."
Observing her First Officer with his children, the Captain said simply “Nice kids..”
Walker answered, "She is three quarters human. She is at an emotional time in her life. She is going to have emotional moments. However, she is one eighth Vulcan, she should have known that I would do a background check on any boy she brought for my approval." He pointed to his son. "Apparently, this one is failing an Intro to Applied Engineering."
His son answered, "It's a D+. Almost a C."
Walker answered him, "Commander Torres and Captain Kennit, here, do not accept C students on the ship. The Enterprise doesn't either. A lot of captains and department heads don't accept C students. That is Enlisted and Officer alike. Starfleet Academy doesn't either." That wasn't entirely accurate, there were exceptions.
"But then again," a male voice said, approaching from behind him, "never forget the old question: What do you call someone who graduated last in their medical class?"
Walker thought about his answer and answered, not turning yet. "Legacies, Prodigies, and in centuries past, children of the rich. However, the arguments of lowest GPA is an interesting argument considering that on average, the lowest GPA in a medical school currently is still above 3.25, they carry that on into their time at the Academy. However, in this case, I would call that person...", he stopped and had up both hands and snapped his fingers, making a historical pop culture joke.
As they turned, a young man with a slight five-o-clock shadow peered from under the brim of a newsboy cap. He was wearing a three-piece suit and tie, complete with a watch fob in front. He looked simultaneously five hundred years out of date, and yet dressed for a business meeting in the station's conference room.
Zach gave a grin and held out a hand. "Doctor....Zachary Addams," he said by way of introduction. "You must be Commander Walker."
Walker gripped his hand and shook it.
Zach looked at the Captain and gave a salute. "I'd shake your hand but they both appear a bit full." He smiled at the kitten and waved at it.
Wondering what she’d done in this life, or some distant past life for that matter, to end up with half her crew (or so it appeared to rapidly be growing to that number at least) here surrounding her on the station during her off-duty time, none the less the Captain smiled as she answered, “A pleasure Doctor.” If she found his choice of attire unusual, she didn’t reveal it. How one chose to dress while off-duty was a personal choice after all.
Miguel didn't know what to know either about the Walker's kids or about this Doctor that seemed to know about both the Captain and Walker. So instead he chose to just observe and be ready for anything. And what was it with those clothes, he wondered.
"And, if memory serves me, Commandre Torres?" Zach said, extending his hand again. "I look forward to working with you."
That got her attention, “Ah.. you’re the new medical officer.. I’m sorry I didn’t recognize your name. It’s been a long day.”
Zach gave a chuckle. "Quite all right. With my handwriting, I barely recognize it myself, sometimes."
“I was able to decipher Dr. Anderson’s chicken-scratchings, I’m sure yours will be manageable as well.” Kennit said. “It was nice to meet you Doctor Addams, however as you can see I need to tend to this little one and get her settled.” She turned to Walker, “This is Commander Walker, he’s my XO. If you have any questions about getting checked in aboard the Victory he’s the man to see. Good evening..”. And with that, she made good her escape and headed back to the Victory to get her as-yet unnamed kitten settled as well as hopefully a little quiet.
Miguel didn't comment, just gave a polite nod and smile and then followed the Captain. Once they were out of ear shot. "20 strips this one doesn't last as long as the last one." he told Rhea.
“Doctor Anderson was one of a kind.” She replied. “I’m sure Doctor Addams will be competent at his duties.”
"Well time will tell." he said as he kept pace with her. "Uhmm well there is something that you should see." he told her as he held out the PaDD that he was carrying.
Accepting the PaDD, she read its contents quietly then looked back at him. “What are you going to do?”
"I don't know. It's really not something I was looking for." He told her. "But as you know, the Chief of Starfleet Operations is hard to say no to. Fortunately I have time to decide since the ship isn't ready yet."
She shrugged, “Just because they have more shiny jewelry pinned to their uniform than you doesn’t mean you can’t say ‘no’. I do it all the time. Ask Admiral Markus.”
Miguel nodded as he took it in. "I guess I just never saw myself as in a position to have a command of my own. I've prided myself on sticking it to the man. This would make me the man, at least on the ship."
“It’s not so bad, being in command has a few perks..you can terrify the ensigns for starters..” Kennit replied.
Walker launched, "I turned down an XO position 3 times. They tricked me into bringing intel to the Captain. She put pips ordered me to sit. Believe me, I understand. Speaking of you being the boss, do you have any old relays that need to be cleaned or repaired. My son is going to pass Intro to Engineering even if I have to work on shore leave."
Kennit rolled her eyes at Walker's comment, she hadn’t ordered him to “sit”.
His son smirked, "I'll just be a Security Officer, walk around and jiggle door handles as you and mom put it. I don't need that course." Walker just looked at his son and wondered if he was ever that stupid.
"Yeah.. I'd still be in the Bajoran system if it wasn't for a certain Starfleet Captain who needed my help for her new ship." Miguel said with a smile as he looked at Rhea.
———
Dressed in walk about clothes, Summers strolled into the 'Fresh Air' eatery and sat down to peruse the menu
and glance about the place to take the whole area in. She grinned as she looked over the menu. *This* will take a few moments,"she whispered to herself. She was so engrossed in her menu that she failed to see the tall and gray haired gentleman approach her table. The man looked down at her with an somewhat quizzical yet thoughtful look and then he cleared his throat. Summers looked up at the man and gasped. " DAD ?!?!?" What are you doing here, of all places ?!?!? " Summers' 'Father' looked at her then winked. " I'm just perusing the stars, sweetie. Tell me, was that your ship's Captain I just saw walk out? Where was she 40 some years ago when I was an care-free bachelor?"
Dressed down in a pair of dark blue jeans and black polo shirt, AJ was sitting at what passed for a bar in this establishment throwing back a shot of Yridian Brandy, the grey sheen remaining on the glass. He motioned the bartender for another and grabbed hold of the bottle mid pour, placing it on the bar. The bartender- a Lurian, briefly glared at him then simply shrugged and walked away. Ever since the end of the last mission and Nicole's departures, the drinking had become more of a regular occurrence in the days since then. After every duty shift, he tended to seclude himself in his quarters and pour himself a stiff drink. Except only the quantity and strength increased. First, it was synthohol, then he decided to raid his own private stash. These days, it was the only thing that helped quiet his thoughts and forced him to sleep without the now recurring nightmares that he couldn't seem to explain away.
A form moved next to him, draping a coat over the back of the bar chair before swinging it around and dropping a leg over, sitting down and grinning at the bartender. "Just a glass of water, cold as you can get it without it going solid," he said. He turned his smile to his left and eyed the bottle that was sitting on the counter. "Rough morning?" he said, genially.
A silent thundercloud was his only response and he bobbed his eyebrows. "Rough morning and previous night, I guess," he said. He let the silence hang a bit longer and as the bartender placed the water in front of him, he sipped it. "I know it's not my business," he said, "but it's been my experience that someone putting away the obviously-not-synthehol at this time in the morning is going through something very deep, and very personal." He took another sip. "And I don't know what her name is, and I won't presume to know what you two had, but I'm wiling to bet she doesn't want you drinking yourself to death over it." He finished his water and nodded to the bartender.
He stood up and put his coat on. "Good luck," he said, walking out of the bar.
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