Life Goals

Posted on Fri Sep 8, 2023 @ 6:00pm by Lieutenant JG Sydney Friedman Jr & Lieutenant Penelope Naroot

770 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: A Lost Endeavour
Location: Sydney's Office

Sydney was making notes on a padd when the chime to her office sounded. "Come in," she said.

The doors opened and Penny stepped inside. "Hi, Sydney," she said, smiling. "You wanted to see me?"

"Yes, Penny, please come in," Sydney said, smiling. "Have a seat," she said, gesturing to the couch. "Can I get you something to drink?"

"No, I'm fine, thanks," Penny said. "But don't let me stop you."

Sydney smiled and went to the replicator, getting herself a glass of lemonade. She sat back down on the couch with Penny and crossed her legs. "So, how are you doing?"

"Fine, thanks," Penny said.

There was a moment of silence, before Sydney prodded. "Care to expand on that? Given recent events, I'm sure there's a bit of fallout you're dealing with."

"I mean...not too much," Penny said with a small shrug. "Zach and I have had a talk, the Captain seems to want me on the bridge--although that could be to keep an eye on me. I've been spending more time in my quarters, trying to think about things."

"And what have you thought about?" Sydney said.

"My people, their goals, their intentions, their motives, their actions...and how I feel about those things."

Sydney nodded. "All understandable. Reach any conclusions?"

Penny bit her lip. "What they did was wrong, but in the end...they were trying to protect humanity both from its enemies...and from itself. I don't think that's a bad goal."

Sydney nodded, but didn't say anything.

"I've spent most of my life around humans, and the Federation," Penny said. "It has so much potential, but I get scared something will derail it. But then I think about the people I've worked with, working to keep everyone safe, to keep the Federation on the right path, and I think I want to be part of that, not just as an officer, but someone who can someday make decisions too."

"Well, your goal is a good one, and your reasoning is noble," Sydney said. "You should pursue it. You're already in the Command track, you could start working your way to a Lieutenant Commander position. One step at a time, right?"

"Right," Penny said, then brightened. "I know I've got a lot to learn, but I'm really good at studying. I can pass a command exam easily."

"Well it's not all rules and regulations," Sydney said. "You'll need to show you're good with decision making, leadership, diplomacy, et cetera," Sydney said. "Some of those things you can't just study for, you have to practice."

"True," Penny said. "I used to doubt if I was cut out for that, but I think I've started to get more confident about it."

"Good," Sydney said. "Because command decisions leave little room for doubt. You can weigh your options, consider consequences, but eventually you have to simply do what you feel is best and accept what comes of it."

Penny tilted her head in thought. "Yeah..." she said. "Does that work for everything?"

"What do you mean?" Sydney said.

"Well..." Penny hesitated. "I just...I kind of broke it off with Zach, and I'm questioning if I made the right decision."

"What's making you question it?" Sydney said.

Penny shrugged. "I thought we were getting along, but he mentioned children. I know that's really important to organics. Walker was so happy when he thought he was going to have more." She shrugged. "I don't want Zach wasting time with me and missing out on that opportunity."

"And you broke it off with him? He didn't take that initiative?" Sydney said.

"Well...I mean...it was a logical conclusion," Penny said.

"But not what either of you expressly stated you wanted," Sydney pointed out. "Is it possible you put the cart ahead of the horse and now you're regretting rushing things?"

"You said part of command is making decisions and accepting consequences," Penny said. "Shouldn't I be avoiding regret?"

"You can't always avoid regrets," Sydney said. "There's always going to be a road not taken, a choice made wrong. You feel you made a wrong choice. So you have another decision. Do you go and try to reverse course, or do you accept that you've burned a bridge and move on?

Penny looked down at her hands for a moment. "Did I burn a bridge?"

"I don't have that answer," Sydney said. "But, there is someone who does."

Penny looked up and bit her lip. "Good point," she said. "Thanks, Sydney."

"My door's always open," Sydney said.

Penny stood and nodded thanks and left Sydney's office quickly, making her decision.

 

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