Moving Forward (tentative title)

Posted on Thu Jul 16th, 2015 @ 9:10am by Captain T'mpest Michaels & Lieutenant Commander Orin ch’Valri

922 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: A Civil Act
Timeline: Shortly after Denumond

ON

T'mpest was spending more time in her quarters, partly because she needed the quiet, and partly because there was little need for her to spend all her time on the bridge or in her Ready Room right now. Still, after the stress of the days-that-felt-like-weeks in the gas cloud she needed the quiet.

She was sitting at her desk, reading over her favorite communications and science journals and basically catching up. After a particularly engrossing article about communications through wormholes she lay her head back against her chair and closed her eyes, simply enjoying a moment of quiet.

Orin, after finally getting a good nights sleep, made his way off the turbolift and down the corridor. He couldn't remember the last time he had such a relaxing night. No nightmares. No haunting memories. Nothing of that nature. With a smile on his face and his goggles over his eyes, he made it to T'mpest's quarters and hit the chime on the side of the door.

"Come in," she said. She stood and turned to see who wished to speak with her. At least she no longer had to worry about it being an angry crew member.

When the door opened she smiled. "Greetings. Please, come in."

"Hello Captain." Orin said with a smile as he stepped in and placed his hands behind his back. "I was stopping by to check and see how you are doing?"

She raised an eyebrow at the formality. "I am well, Lieutenant. And you? Are you well?"

"Yes." Orin replied, smiling slightly. "Back to the usual nightmares." He let out a slight laugh, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I wish there were a way for you to not have them at all," she said.

Orin smiled slightly, walking over to a seat in front of T'mpest's desk and slowly sitting down in it. "Unfortunately, I need my nightmares. To remember those lost. To keep the ones I have from being a part of those nightmares. I know it sounds conflicting, but it's my way. I guess."

She shook her head. "You can remember then, honor them, without the nightmares," she said, knowing it wasn't going to alter his belief that he needed them. "Perhaps, in time, you will gain some peace."

"Perhaps." Orin said softly as he looked at her and watched her from under his goggles. "But right now, my brain is telling me I need to do it this way. For now, I have no problem listening." He smiled slightly and cleared his throat a bit, shifting his gaze to around the room. "Please, relax. I know this is your quarters, but is there anything I can get you from the replicator?"

"Do you wish something?" She got up from her desk and walked over to her couch, sitting down on one end. "Meditation is my relaxation," she said. "But if this is a social call, we can at least make it a more social setting."

"Only if you want to make this a social call, Captain." Orin replied quickly, sounding a bit nervous and awkward. It had been a long time since he let down his walls to someone who wasn't on his team, but during the last mission, T'mpest and he shared something intimate that he couldn't let go. Regardless of the situation, it was still shared.

"This an official visit then, Lieutenant ch'Valri?" she asked. She had assumed it was an informal visit to talk about ... she wasn't quite sure what. After the mind meld she simply assumed that they were now on more casual terms. She hadn't expected it to be a formal visit by a subordinate to his Commanding Officer. She had to admit -- at least to herself -- that she was disappointed and a bit chagrined at her error.

"Only if that's what you want." Orin replied, clearing his throat slightly as he continued. "To be honest, I was looking for any excuse to come a see you and make sure everything was okay. Officially or Unofficially, but I wasn't sure exactly whether or not you would want an unofficial visit."

"I did not think I was that stuck on protocol," she replied with a hint of wry deprecation. "I thought we were at least to the point we could be ... unofficial." That didn't sound awkward. But then, it had been a while since Vlad left the Ranger and she'd had nothing but official dealings with her crew.

Feeling more than a little awkward, T'mpest rose and went back to her desk. She opened a drawer and pulled out a small box. As she walked back to her seat, she handed the box to Orin. "You were in line for promotion when you switched to Starfleet. Some Admiral in the chain of command thinks very highly of you indeed."

T'mpest's computer beeped, announcing an incoming call. She glanced at her screen, surprised to see that it was Admiral Saalm. "If you will excuse me, Commander ch'Valri, I must take this call." She disliked letting the matter remain unresolved, but she could not keep the Admiral waiting.

She waited for Orin to nod and walk out of her quarters, still clutching the box with his rank pip. She stared at the closed door for several long seconds, then sighed. Duty had to come first. She turned to her desk and pressed the button to answer the call.

____
OFF

Captain T'mpest Michaels
Commanding Officer

Lieutenant Commander Orin ch'Valir
Chief Security/Tactical Officer

 

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