Fresh Faced and Rosy Fingered
Posted on Sat Oct 9th, 2010 @ 10:11am by Captain Elsie Halliwell
571 words; about a 3 minute read
Mission:
Structured Shoreleave - Marchwiel
Location: Cadet Cuthbell Arixen's Quarters
Timeline: Current
ON:
Elsie depressed the chime on the outside of Cadet Cuthbell Arixen’s set of quarters, and outwardly sighed as the doors fluidly opened to reveal the youthful unjoined Trill standing just beyond the threshold.
“May I?� she asked, as the Trill quickly stepped aside and stuttered, “Of course, Ma’am.�
Cuthbell Arixen had only been posted aboard the USS Ranger for four days before the ship, hurtled from space-flight, careered down to the planet Marchwiel and now lay settled, enveloped by a dusty canyon. Halliwell had to admit that his duty Academy ‘training’ and first posting aboard any Starfleet vessel hadn’t quite exactly gone to plan. Any plan. As she looked at him with an uncharacteristically sympathetic expression that betrayed her feeling of responsibility for the beginning of a wasted opportunity, she stepped in and asked, “How are you holding up, Cadet?�
“Well,� he replied, still too fresh and pliable to assign any semblence of a personality to his answer, “I’m doing just fine, thank you.� He stood awkwardly as Halliwell squinted her eyes in his direction, but then forcedly smiled widely. “Really, Ma’am. It’s actually given me an additional two weeks to complete an assignment that I have pending.�
Leave it to a fresh-faced and rosy fingered cadet to put a positive spin on to the situation, she thought as she nodded to him, bearing an inward smile. “If there’s anything that you need while we’re ground-side, Cadet, then, please, don’t hesitate to contact Commander Drake or my yeoman, Mr. Andrews.�
He started, but then seemed to think better of it and just nodded silently.
“Cadet, if there’s something that you need,� she said, trailing off.
“Well, Captain,� he began, shyly faltering again, “I heard word that there’s a group of officers that are about to leave for an exploratory mission on the planet and I’d like...�
Elsie interjected with a precise shake of her head and tutted her reply. “I’m afraid not, Mr. Arixen. The team has already been dispatched and... even if they hadn’t, the added element of an untrained cadet joining their midst is a gamble that I am not willing to make. I’m sorry.�
Cuthbell seemed to understand her point before she had even uttered a word and nodded, disheartened but appreciative of the regulations.
“Maybe next time,� she added, igniting a spark of hope to him.�
“Thank you,� he replied, eagerly. “Thank you!�
She bid him a silent goodbye with a facial expression, turned and left his quarters. As she made the short walk back to the turbolift, she thought of the situation, and seemed rather pleased, despite their grounding, that she had authorised the cadet’s placement. Turning, and making the short walk back, she pressed the chime again and smiled as the Trill answered. “Don’t bother contacting the commander or my yeoman should you need anything. Come to me.�
He looked with an absurd and confused expression but then agreed with an enthusiastic nod. “Thank you, Captain.�
“Any time,� she added as she turned.
OFF:
A Pet Project brought to you by:
Elsie Halliwell
Commanding Officer
USS Ranger
AND
Cuthbell Arixen
Resident Trainee Cadet
USS Ranger
(Played by Shaunanigans)
RSS Feed