| Author | Message | ||
     Darek Smith and Maiko D'rall |
OOC: This occurs just after the Oswald joint log I did. Thanks to Farrell for starting this one off. It was a pleasure to co-write. =) "You wanted to see me sir?" Maiko stood at attention at the doorway of the main conference room. Commander Darek Smith glanced up from his padd, a steaming cup of hot cocoa practically clenched in his right hand. He looked - haggard and worn, as if he had spent far too many nights working and far too few sleeping. His features softened as Ensign Maiko D'rall entered the room. Yes, Ensign. Please," he waved her in, "have a seat." Maiko moved with a gracefulness that was hindered somewhat by her trepidation. She didn't dislike the big commander, but she - and everyone else aboard Coronado - barely knew him. But she had heard the rumors, and she was hoping that she could avoid stepping on any toes. With tension still hanging silently in the air, Maiko found herself a seat directly across from Smith. "If this is about the other day sir, I'm really sorry. I've just had... a lot on my mind..." She paused, clearly trying to put her thoughts into coherent form. "It's just that in the alternate timeline..." Smith went pale, an amazing feat for one whose skin was as dark as Smith's. To his credit, he maintained his stoic visage, the only other sign that he had even heard her being a slight downward turn at the edge of his lips. She cut herself off as she winced noticeably. "I'm sorry sir... I know it's probably not easy for you with what I've heard." She backed towards the door. "It won't happen again - this rarely happens to me." "Ensign." The word was soft, Smith's rich voice making it both beckoning and a forgiveness at the same time. "Ensign, it's all right. Please, sit back down." Maiko trembled a bit, then came forward and sat down. "I'm sorry sir... I heard... that you didn't have any recollections from the alternate timeline..." She shuddered, a faint memory of being thrown into space by an explosion popping into her head. Was it better not to have any memories or to remember one's death? Realizing that Smith was staring at her in concern, she mentally focused herself on the moment. The two sat in silence for a few heartbeats before Smith finally spoke. "We don't have a counsellor on this ship, so I'm about as close as you're going to get. Ensign, I've been concerned about you lately. You've seemed - agitated, distracted. Is everything okay?" he asked. "It's my parents sir. In the other timeline, they died to help me escape. Here... they told me to stand my ground... fight... and I ran. Ran, stole the shuttle and came to Coronado. And now I'm afraid that because I wasn't there to protect them that..." Remarkably the helm officer's eyes remained dry, her lower lip trembling being the only show of her stress. A shuddering gasp tore through her frame once, then twice, before she composed herself. "I know they will have done everything they can to survive... but the thought remains..." she continued in a hushed voice. Smith reached over the desk with a calming hand, placing it on Maiko's shoulder. "Ensign... the only reassurances I can give you are that if your parents are anything like the person I know you to be, that they will be more than fine, and that they're ready to welcome their daughter back to Reorsa." Ensign D`rall smiled, comforted by the Commander's assurances. She sniffled, wiping away the single tear that had finally started to trickle down her cheek. "Thanks Commander..." She shifted in her seat slightly, remembering the reason she had been called in. "About that complaint from Engineering regarding my, um... how did Commander Oswald word it?" "Reckless stunt?" Smith provided with a grin. "Right... I apologize for chuckling when she took the issue up with you on the bridge, but I'm a little worried at the fallout from this... As bridge liason to engineering when an engineer is not at the bridge duty station, I *am* somewhat responsible for the outcome of the stunt'..." Smith waved a hand in reassurnce, his features softening even more. "Think nothing of it, Maiko. The ship is in one piece, and we'll be fine. The Captain wants a meeting of the department heads tomorrow morning. See you there, bright and early, Ensign." Smith knocked back a slug of his drink. "Dismissed." -Aggie & Farrell Cmdr. J. Darek Smith, Executive Officer Ens. Maiko D'Rall, Chief of Flight Operations U.S.S. Coronado NCC-97901 http://www.jestertrekcom/coro2400/ |