Meeting the Skipper

Posted on Tue Feb 10th, 2009 @ 3:30pm by Captain Elsie Halliwell

854 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Citadel Prime
Location: Skipper's Ready Room
Timeline: before "Attempted Phaser Certification"

[Skipper's Ready Room]

After meeting the Commander, Dhindara was walking through the ship. At first she took a few turns that took her to a place where she didn't even want to be, she had been thinking about the Commander so much she had forgotten where she was going. But as she met a dead end corridor her mind was forced to remember her purpose, and she turned, blushing slightly, and headed for the closest lift to take her up to the bridge. From there she strode over to the Skipper's office and pressed the doorbell.

“Come in,� Lane announced, placing down his cup of coffee and the PADD he was reading. Ever the gentleman, the Commander always rose when he bade someone entry.

Dhindara walked into the ready room and smiled at the Commander. "Good afternoon, Skipper", she said, "I'm Dhindara Vrel, historian." She extended her hand. "Reporting in."

Taking her hand and shaking it warmly, he smiled. “Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms Vrel. Thank you for coming to see me. I trust that you are well. How are you settling in here on the Arch??� He motioned for the Betazoid to take the seat on the other side of his desk. He remained standing and said, “Can I offer you anything?? I’m just about to partake in a spot of coffee, if you’ll join me.� He rounded his desk and strolled over to the wall-mounted replicator.

“Ms Vrel??� he asked, his head turned over his shoulder to face her.

"I'll have a double-sweet caramel white chocolate mocha, please", she said.

You don’t ask for much, he thought with a smile.

"It's only replicated, Sir", Dhindara replied, "but if you prefer that I drink my coffee less fancy I shall do so."

“No, no. It’s quite all right, Ms Vrel,� he said, remembering the fact that she was a Betazoid. As he replicated the two beverages, he ambled back over to the desk and placed the drink in front of her. Walking around, he sat down on his chair, cup still in hand, and then placed it down in front of him.

“So, how have you been settling in?? I trust that you have already spoken with Commander Arkham,� he asked.

Dhindara nodded. "Yes, I have had the pleasure of meeting her. I am very impressed with her, Sir."

“She is something else, isn’t she?? And Mr. Larkin?? He seems a very capable officer and I’m sure that you can both organise the Science Labs while en-route to Citadel Prime. How have you found them so far?�

"I met him last night, Sir", Dhindara said, "the labs are adequate, I would think. Though you'll have to ask one of the physicists, chemists or xenobiologists for detail. In my line of work all I need is an office most of the time."

“Well, I’m sure we can provide that for you, Ms Vrel. She maybe small, but the Arch still has a few rooms tucked away, I’m sure you can utilise. And, if you ask Lieutenant Larkin, I’m sure that he can accommodate that at least.

“Is there anything else that you need? Anything that you haven’t found aboard? We have a fairly small crew and so I want each and every member of it to be as comfortable as they can be.�

"Oh, I'm perfectly fine, I don't need much", Dhindara replied. "It's true, it's a small ship, but that's not a problem for me. In fact, it's comforting not to have too many other minds around all the time."

“Well, I for one, am glad that you are aboard and happy. Should that change at all, then, my door is always open to you. Understood?�

"Yes, Sir", Dhindara replied, taking a sip of her coffee. "Is there anything you would like to know about me, Sir?"

“Not just yet, Ms Vrel. I wouldn’t care to be that intrusive. Your service record is all I needed and I am sure that everything else will reveal itself in time. Anything that you would like to ask?�

"There is one thing", Dhindara said, "As you know I am Betazoid. Sometimes I pick up thoughts and emotions, and that sometimes distract me, so that I might appear absent-minded. It is just how I am and it is not intended as a gesture of disrespect."

“Well, thank you for telling me. I’m sure that, with it being something that can’t be helped, it won’t be a problem.� He sighed heavily and sucked the air through his teeth. “I have never served with a Betazoid before, so you may have to bear with me.� He smiled warmly.

"Anything you want to know, Sir, you need only ask", she replied.

“I appreciate that, Ms Vrel. And thank you. I hope that you become a valuable addition to this crew. If there is nothing else, then you’re dismissed.�

Dhindara smiled. "I shall certainly try", she said, then emptied her cup, placed it in the replicator and left the room.

 

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