Stardate 44607.5 Arrival (pt 2) 1994-1998 Annette Webster "I really should get back to my engines." Rell noted in his deep voice, sounding as though a laugh wasn’t far away. In fact, this was in keeping with his jolly appearance - laugh lines were definitely in evidence around his sparkling green eyes, and he seemed to be a man accustomed to smiling. "But I need to discuss a few things with you." He amiably slapped Ian’s shoulder, "and I trust my team to be able to function without me for at least a while longer. Can we talk as we walk?"
"I don’t see why not." Ian replied, Rell slowly leading him forward.
"Shall we go?" K’Teira asked diffidently, gesturing with a hand as the two males walked out ahead. Calling the children over to her, the Captain joined her, gently guiding the kids before her.
"What is our quarters’ designation?" she asked conversationally as they left the bay.
"I’ve put you right at the front of the ship; deck nine, section thirty-six is traditionally the captain’s quarters on the Galaxy class vessels, and children usually love seeing the streaking stars when the ship is at warp."
"I’m not sure that I want them to be able to see enemy ships and the like." she answered dubiously, but before she could finish, Jason interjected with,
"I’d like to see ships!"
"Not enemy ones though!" Lily told him quickly, then looked at K’Teira to explain, "Sometimes he can be really silly."
"So can you." the Captain reminded her, knowing her daughter as well as only a mother can, and so knew that Lily was only trying to impress the Counsellor. "Leave your brother alone."
"All right." Lily answered a little sullenly as she allowed herself to fall a step behind them.
Susan sighed.
"We’ll have to see the rooms, and we’ll make our decision then."
"It can be changed to any part of the ship that you prefer." K’Teira replied. "It won’t be any trouble for your things to be moved."
They continued down the corridor, K’Teira now telling them about the ship’s facilities.
Susan was feeling a little awkward - she had never served on a ship large enough to require a full-time Counsellor aboard, and the fact that the last time she’d been in command of a starship the Klingons were only just entering into the Alliance didn’t help the sensation much. She disliked the initial introduction period where everyone was learning about the others at the best of times, but with the two additional unknowns that K’Teira represented, it was no wonder she didn’t quite know what to say and how to say it.
Nothing annoyed Captain Randall more than not being true to herself, and the intricate fox-trot they were dancing around each other as they tried not to give each other offense was also adding to the sense of unease she was feeling. This was going to have to stop.
"…the arboretum’s one of the largest in the Fleet." K’Teira was saying as they approached the turbolift. "It completely encircles deck ten, and is a good place for quiet walks, or setting up a small plot of garden. Lieutenant Quellon is in charge there, and already has the place organized well…" She raised her voice slightly for the men to hear. "Commander Randall, you might be interested to see the arboretum as part of the tour."
Ian glanced over his shoulder long enough to reply,
"If I get time I will. From what Rell tells me, I’m going to have my hands full in Sciences proper."
"Not if I’ve judged Jedera right." Susan heard K’Teira sigh as they slowed before turbolift doors.
In the moment of silence as they waited before the doors, Susan took the chance to speak her mind about one of the things had puzzled her since she’d first read K’Teira’s profile.
"K’Teira?" The woman turned curiously at the hail, her dark brown hair taking a moment to settle around her face after the move. Susan didn’t know if she imagined the quick grimace of irritation, for it was gone as soon as it had appeared, and the lock of hair which prompted it was swept behind an ear.
"Yes, sir?" she asked quizzically, ready to answer any question her Captain had for her.
"I have to admit," Susan couldn’t help the self-conscious chuckle. "that I’m intrigued by the notion of a Klingon counsellor!"
"Is she a Klingon, Mum?" Jason immediately asked, tugging at his mother’s uniform to get attention.
"Yes she is." Susan replied firmly. "Now be quiet; I’m talking to K’Teira and you should be rude and interrupt."
"Okay." came the reluctant answer.
A quiet "I knew that." sounded from behind them, but no one had the chance to respond, as the lift arrived and the doors opened, giving them all access to the car beyond.
K’Teira’s eyes were dancing again as they arranged themselves in the small space, the doors closing behind them as she ordered,
"All to deck nine."
The lift began to move, and the Counsellor turned to her Captain again.
"You were asking me about my decision to become a counsellor, I think, sir." she said thoughtfully. Susan nodded.
"That’s right. I hope you don’t mind the question, but it does strike me as odd that a member of your race has decided upon such a career; what brought you to this?"
"I don’t mind the question at all." K’Teira replied candidly. "In a way I appreciate it, because it means you’re trying to understand, which is better than passing judgment without hearing my side." A sigh. "I’m something of an oddity in both of our cultures.
"It’s really a long story," she began, "but it will suffice to say for now that I always wanted to know about the Federation, and through a long line of situations and lucky chances I discovered I was good at counselling. After that, Starfleet seemed the logical choice for me to take up a practice."
"I see." Susan frowned, adding, "Yet I have to say that it’s an interesting choice for someone of…" She sought the most non-insulting term she could find, for curiosity or no, insult wasn’t the intent here. "…your people’s supposed nature."
"I can see how it would be." came the equitable reply, easily given from one who has no problem with her status but can see how others might. "But I have ways of dealing with my… nature…" The tone was full of respect. "…and I have made other arrangements if I ever become a problem, though I’d prefer to go into those in private."
"Of course."
The lift slowed, then stopped, the doors obediently opening to allow them to issue forth into another curving smoke-blue hallway. K’Teira took the lead now, guiding them forward to the very bow of the starship and the Randalls’ quarters.
"Do you ever find it a disadvantage?" Susan asked. "Compared to other psychologists you’ve known. It must be hard for you to attain that bond of trust you need in your line of work."
"Compared to others, yes, I suppose it is." K’Teira considered the question. "But I’ve found that it’s just a matter of using your brain to think of new ways of gaining trust." A chuckle. "It keeps one’s mind sharp, if nothing else, and in the end, I’m helping the profession be developing new techniques. Even my human colleagues need help from time to time.
"And here it is."
She stopped before an electric blue door that was like all the rest they’d passed except for one detail. With a thrill she wasn’t expecting, Susan saw that her name was already inscribed on the door signage. Seeing that door made her feel that perhaps this wasn’t the swiftly moving dream she’d half believed this was. She really was here!
That also meant that all of the worries and responsibilities were real too, but while she looked at that sign with her name up there for all to read, she ignored all of that and basked in the realization that she wasn’t just visiting; that this was her home now. Later she would think herself silly for being so moved by a door, but at that moment, it all became real.
It felt good!
Then it was shattered by a small hand tugging at the bottom of her uniform top.
"Mummy," a small voice pleaded. "I can’t see…"
"Oh, Jason, I can’t pick you up." Susan apologized. "You’re too big now."
"May I try?"
Susan turned to the Klingon woman who stood regarding them questioningly.
"He’s pretty heavy." she warned as she felt the little boy hide in behind her legs. "I wouldn’t want you to hurt yourself."
For the first time a true smile appeared on the Klingon’s face. It transformed her entire appearance, and Susan suddenly had to remind herself that K’Teira was Klingon. She was really a pretty girl when she did that.
"I think I’ve lifted heavier in my time, sir." Then she knelt down again, keeping her distance from the shy child, but offering the invitation of open arms. "Do you want a lift?" she asked quietly.
Hesitantly, and probably a little stunned at the source of the question (he’d thought these adults were going to prattle on boringly all day!), he said,
"Okay."
She was very careful when picking him up, and it was seemingly no effort to do so. She appeared strangely maternal as she listened to him sound out,
"Zero… nine… three… six… zero… one… Su… Susan Randall, Commmmmanding Off… off… o…"
"’Officer’." Susan supplied encouragingly.
"Officer." he repeated, trying out the word. "Eeeeee… Ian Randall, Sci… ence Ad… min…is… tray… shon Officer."
"Well done!" K’Teira approved even as the others applauded, letting the boy back down to the ground to beam proudly. Lily however seemed a little disgruntled.
"Why aren’t our names on the door?" she asked curiously.
"Because you aren’t in Starfleet." Susan explained quickly. "You know that!"
"Oh." Lily fell silent again.
As soon as K’Teira opened the doors, both children pelted into the room beyond with hardly enough time to see what was there. The adults were more sedate about it, avoiding the piles of packing containers the Randalls had last seen at the transport station before they’d boarded the shuttle.
Beyond lay a rather typically Terran living area, outfitted with a couch, shelves and a desk area, all in the muted blue of the hallway. Two sets of doors graced the side walls - children’s shouts to the right announced they were probably single bedrooms, and presumably those to the left were the master bedroom and bathroom. As yet there was nothing distinctive about these quarters, for that would come when the room was actually lived in.
There was something appealing about this rather plain room with its slanting ceiling and brilliant view of the planet below. Susan had been mesmerized by the majestic sight, and it was almost in a daze that she stepped over to the window to gaze out in wonder. Simply to think of the technology which enabled her to stand so close to the vacuum and still be safe from it was awe-inspiring.
The day we lose our wonder is the day we die. Who had said that to her, all those years ago? Captain T’Mul? Whoever it was had spoken truly, for Susan never wanted to lose this feeling of awe; she never wanted to stop loving and fearing space; she never wanted to leave it again. Why did I stay away so long? she wondered to herself.
Meanwhile, Ian was making a cursory inspection of the apartment.
"Well, the kids seem to have found their bedrooms!" Rell told Ian laughingly as he strolled around the large chamber. "Your bedroom is on the left of the room, the food replicator is on the right. Which reminds me…"
With a rapid movement belying his size, the Bolian suddenly was at the replicator slot, bending to inspect it as though he hadn’t thirty times before.
"Is there some problem with it?" Susan shook herself out of her self-absorbed reverie enough to notice his actions.
"No - just making sure." he laughed, dusting non-existent dirt from his hands as he rose. "Rell test program 1A." he instructed.
The glass of orange gel that appeared in the slot seemed to be to the Engineer’s satisfaction, as he grinned from ear to ear as he picked up the container.
"Excellent." he enthused, looking up from it only long enough to tell them, "If it wasn’t this shade, it’s an indicator that something’s wrong with the calibration. It’s very precise."
"In case Commander Rell’s replicator isn’t working as well as he thinks," Ian commented from his position near the desk, "where else can we get food, Counsellor? I assume the Fairburn has a forward lounge of some kind?"
"Definitely, though there are replicators at every major workplace and there are smaller lounges all over the ship. The main lounge is on deck ten, forward, but children have to be accompanied by adults if they want to go there. Chianeé couldn’t stand any accidents happening while she’s in charge of Paris."
"Paris?" Ian scoffed. "Who called it that?"
"Chianeé did; she’s something of an eccentric, actually." K’Teira told them with scarcely reigned in mirth. "The whole title is Parisian Temperance, but please don’t ask me why, because I don’t know. But it seems to have stuck…"
"…With Paris being the derivative." Ian concluded. "This Chianeé sounds like quite a character."
"That she is!" Rell cheerily chipped in.
"Perhaps we could…"
No one ever found out what Ian was going to suggest, for he was very neatly cut off by a sudden upsurge in the noise level coming from the adjoining rooms. What had once been the satisfying sound of happy and excited children had turned nasty, the sound of anger being the predominant one.
Susan, face pinched tight with controlled parental upset, was about to go and find out what was wrong when the two shot out crying,
"Mum! Mum!" Immediately they bore down on her.
"Mum!" Lily said, latching on to her mother’s arm. "Can I have the room with the window? Can I?"
"Aww… I want that room!" Jason immediately retorted.
"But Mum said I had first pick!"
"Did not!"
"Did so!"
"Did not!"
"Did…"
"Enough!" Captain Randall ordered, causing immediate silence. "We’ll talk about this later!"
"Oh, but…?" they complained in unison.
"Later!" she insisted. "For now, go and freshen yourselves up a bit. The bathroom’s over there." She pointed out the door. "Now scoot! And Jason; go to the toilet while you’re in there, because I don’t want you complaining when you’re halfway around the ship that you need to go!"
"Yes, Mum." Both trudged off.
"Captain," K’Teira said diffidently when the two were out of earshot, her hands clasped before her as she sidled up beside the one she was speaking to. "Perhaps we should go to the children’s areas first. I don’t think they’ll be interested in the full tour, and Ensign Fischer has a lot for all ages to do in the play area. In fact, they’d probably stay perfectly happy in there until after the reception is over. There will be plenty of other children in there at this time of day, and plenty of opportunity to begin making friends."
"An excellent idea, K’Teira." Sighing with relief the Terran woman continued, "I was wondering how they’d manage. But will they stay in there?"
"Sir," Rell chuckled, "Once they’ve spent a few minutes in there, I can guarantee that you’ll never get them out!"
"That good, huh?" Ian asked.
"Let me put it this way; when I had my eleven year old here when we were building this thing, she screamed when I tried to get her out, and it wasn’t even finished yet!" Rell laughed. "It’s that good!"
Ian cocked his head slightly.
"A little peace." he said thoughtfully to his wife. She just smiled gently.
"Have you thought about whether you’ll stay in this room or not?" K’Teira asked after a pause. Looking at Ian, Susan replied,
"I don’t know about him or the kids, but I like it here. They’d see the ships from all over the Fairburn, and there’s something captainly about being at the front of the ship, isn’t there?"
Ian’s eye’s twinkled mischievously as he said,
"Better watch out for that ego, Sue. Don’t let this captain thing go to your head again!"
"Oh, you…" The presence of the others stopped her from saying what she might have normally said; instead she just laughed. "Have you decided on whether you like it or not?"
"I go where my Captain commands." he replied, mock innocence oozing from every pore as he blinked teasingly at her. She pursed her lips, not sure whether she should laugh again or hit him. Instead she turned back to K’Teira.
"We’ll stay here." she said.
"Fine." the counsellor replied. "But I think we should get going soon, as there is a lot of ship to cover."
"Understood." Ian said, then raised his voice to a shout. "Jason; Lily - get out here now!"
Silence.
"Jason! Lily!"
The silence was deafening.
"Jason! Li… Oh…!" Giving up on the calling, he instead stalked across the room and stuck his head through the doorway. All in the living area could hear his commanding, "We’re about to go - are you coming or not?"
The two children bolted out to obediently stand by their mother.
"Sorry, Dad." Lily said ingenuously. "We mustn’t have heard you calling."
"Right." Susan said resignedly. "Let’s go.""This is going to be your last night in port." the woman said seductively, smiling the smile she knew did nasty things to him, even though she was hundreds of kilometers away. "Are you sure you sure you don’t want to spend it with me?"
"No." Daniels replied uncomfortably, conscious of where circumstance had forced him to take this communiqué and accordingly kept his voice down. "But I’ve got the Captain’s reception to go to tonight, and all these checks to do before we go. In fact, I’ve really got to go now…"
"Oh, but Sweecheeks…"
"Don’t call me that!" he pleaded, flushing deeply under his beard. "Just get off the link - the only reason I took this is because you coded it ‘urgent’!"
"But it is!" she purred, pouting fully into the screen. "I urgently need you…"
"Lynn!" he snapped, angry now. "I’m going. And I’ll see what I can do for after the reception! Don’t call me on the bridge again! Out!"
A slow round of clapping greeted his ears as he severed the link. Furious, he realised it was the blonde maned Trill standing behind him at the Engineering station.
"Under five minutes? I’m impressed!" came her taunting tone. "Usually it’s an hour, isn’t it? At least?"
"That’s enough, Ensign." The voice was unexpected and had the immediate effect of sending Daniels’ stomach scudding into his boots. There was something about Vulcans that unnerved him; their icy resolve, their hard logic; and Elek was one of the worst he’d ever met. What compounded the effect she had on him was that she was a superior officer, and always managed to make him feel inadequate.
"I commend you for the tact and speed with which you ended the conversation." Elek said mildly as she stepped out of the ready room and on to the bridge. "But need I remind you that the bridge is no place to receive personal communications?"
"No, sir." Daniels replied, his usually jovial tone sounding forced. "But it was coded urgent."
"So she fooled you. I understand." One arched eyebrow raised, and though he knew he was reading a human response into a non-human expression, he got the feeling she was laughing at him. "Next time perhaps you should inquire a little further before accepting a message."
"Yes sir." he said flatly. A child - he always felt like a child around them. Didn’t they know there was more to life than rules? "Will you report me?"
"I do not believe so." she said thoughtfully. "after all, you were fooled by her, and I won’t punish that. It wouldn’t be logical."
She WAS laughing at him! She was she was she was!
Her expression didn’t change a single iota as she smoothly took the command chair; it remained as neutral as ever.
"Viana." Daniels said sullenly to his Trill Second. "Give us the specs on that last sweep we did and get ready to test the secondary hull’s aft phasers, will you?
"Yes, sir." the blonde woman replied.
