Ops to science lab 1
Posted on Sat Nov 25th, 2017 @ 7:28am by Lieutenant Commander Vaebn tr'Hwersuil
Edited on on Thu May 31st, 2018 @ 11:45am
1,740 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
Episode 1 - Pioneering Spirit
Location: Science Lab 1 - Deck 6, USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD003 0930 hrs
Tags: SD 71367.0930
T'Rish had her hands full. She wasn't surprised. Despite having an initial shake down she had heard that many ships had something called gremlins that needed to be worked out. Lugging her tool kit along with her she boarded the turbolift. "Deck 6" she called out and waited for the lift to start moving and stop again before stepping off.
Arriving outside the lab she was requested to visit she tapped on the door panel and stepped inside once the door was clear. The Chief Science Officer had requested her help. The request was for the replicator input matrix. When she didn't spot anyone she moved to the replicator and set to work.
Vaebn was organizing his officer attached to the science labs, when he heard the *vsssh* of the doors in the main lab area. He groaned to himself silently, "Now what....." His impatience was beginning to show; he hadn't been in the science labs before he started noting variances in some of the terminals, and other minor malfunctions. The last straw, however, was when the replicator decided to make him coffee, without the mug.
Still seething from cleaning up the mess, and not having his daily crutch, as Lt Cmdr Korso used to call it, he growled a short, "What do you want......." as he stepped from the office into the main lab.
T'Rish had just retrieved her tricorder when the other officer entered the room. She looked up noting the Romulan that outranked her. "Operations received a request regarding a malfunctioning replicator." She started as she turned toward the unit. She started the scan before ordering a hot black tea. Her eye brow raised questioningly as the liquid formed and spread across the replicator plate with no cup to contain it.
"AH yes, the current bane of my productivity." Vaebn grumbled. "My apologies for snapping at you. I have a lot on my mind and losing the ability to fuel my productivity has left me in a rather *foul* mood."
Vaebn retrieved the rag that he previously used and began to wipe up the collecting puddle of liquid. "I must thank you for your prompt arrival however. I'm sure there are many more important tasks for you to take care of before my annoyance at the replicators."
"Your apology is not necessary, Lieutenant." T'Rish replied as she retrieved a hypospanner and began removing the plating below the replicator platform. She dropped down on her heels putting herself inline with where she was working. "My department is spread thin, however we are working on the gremlins ."
"Gremlins? I'm afraid I'm not completely familiar with that term. " Vaebn pulled a chair from the nearby workstation and sat down backwards with his arms folded over the back of the chair. "My time with Starfleet is eclipsed by that of my time with the Empire, so I don't think I've heard all the stories or colloquialisms that accompany the fleet."
"It is a curious Earth expression." The Vulcan hybrid started keeping her attention on the task at hand. She removed the offending isolinear chip and rose to grab a replacement before she continued. "I originally thought they were real, like the Cardassian Voles. However, I have learned that engineers use them to explain..." She looked down at her hand before holding up the chips, "...defective isolinear chips and the like."
"Curious indeed," he remarked as he leaned over the back of the chair to look at the burned out chips in the Ensigns hand. "As long as you can repair it so I can have another cup of coffee before getting back to work, we can call the malfunction whatever you prefer. However, I do thank you for your prompt arrival Ensign. I tend to not sleep well most nights so my coffee helps keep me going throughout the day."
It wasn't until the Romulan moved closer to her did T'Rish feel the waves coming off of him. She had never been one on one with a Romulan before and had been told they had stronger emotions that most, but his were almost overwhelming to the young empath. "I...uh..." She started her eyes closing for a moment as she tried to regain her composure. "I should have it fixed in a few moments."
Grabbing a new chip out of her case and made a quick exchange of the unit. A scan with her tricorder assured her that the machine was back in working order. She replaced the panel before bracing herself to rise again. "If you would like to give it a try we can confirm the unit is operational." Now that she felt him, she couldn't unfeel him. It was affecting her composure.
"Of course Ensign." he said as he climbed up from the chair. As he stepped forward towards the replicator. He touched the command screen, "Coffee, 20 oz in thermal mug, black." As the replicator hummed to life, he looked at the young Vulcan who appeared to be concentrating hard on something. "Is everything alright Ensign?"
"I was...about...to ask you the same question." She closed her eyes briefly before she finally look up at him. He was standing close to her and she could feel it. She could feel the sadness, and pain, and loss, and isolation he was feeling. It was strong and overwhelming. She couldn't stop herself before she reached out and placed her hand on his arm. "I'm sorry..." She said softly, her meaning for the apology implied. Her dark betazoid eyes were glassy from the tears welling up there and they threatened to fall at any moment.
He stared at the young woman, her eyes misty with un-shed tears; his jaw tightened and his lips pulled downward slightly, in sorrow, for just a moment as he fought for his composure. There was, however, something about this young Vulcan that was calming, and he let the sorrow out. His eyes also welled up with un-shed tears, "Thank you........ I will be.... fine." he said, almost choking on his words. He placed one hand over hers on his arm, "I don't even know your name....." he said as he turned his eyes from hers to the space behind her in an attempt to hold back his tears.
She didn't know why her name was important, but she could feel he needed it in some way. "T'Rish." The Vulcan replied softly. She could tell that she had stressed his composure. "I am sorry I brought it up...I could just feel everything you are feeling it...it...was overwhelming." She said softly. The blink of her eyes sent a tear slowly sliding down her cheek. She cleared her throat attempting to regain her composure.
"Vaebn" he said, slightly above a whisper. "I'm sorry that you felt; what I hold inside." He looked down at his feet for a moment and wiped the back of his hand across his eyes. "I was, unaware that you could. I am truly sorry."
He reached for the mug of coffee, and after taking it requested a mug of hot black tea. Once it had materialized he took it in hand and offered it to T'rish; "Perhaps you should sit down for a moment."
T'Rish took the offered tea wrapping her hand around the mug as she moved to take a seat at the near by table the chair Vaebn had originally occupied. "My father was a betazoid." She started softly as she wiped the tear remnant from her skin. She took a sip from the mug. She suddenly looked up at him. "I never meant to pry...It isn't something I know how to control. As you can imagine being raised on Vulcan, emphatic abilities were not...usual."
"Ahh... One of my sisters studied the teachings of Surak with the reunification movement, and she mentioned some of the pillars of his teachings when we spoke. The counter balance of those pillars against your natural empathic abilities must be, difficult." Vaebn wasn't sure if he completely understood, but he was familiar with suppressing *some* emotions of his own. He stepped to the replicator and tapped the screen, "cotton hankerchief." After it materialized, he handed it to T'Rish and leaned on the desk next to her; "My sorrows are my own," he began with a sigh, "and I never thought that my feelings might directly impact my crewmates. The emotions of Romulans burn much brighter and more ferocious than most others, and because of that, what you felt could not be helped, and for that I am sorry. Although, it is good to know that there is someone aboard who has an understanding of how I feel, and that I might talk to, from time to time, if that is okay."
He stood again and extended his hand, "It has been a pleasure to meet you Ensign T'Rish, now lets finish this work, and speak of more pleasant things."
"Anytime..." T'Rish was touched by the fact that he felt a trust in her that many never took the time to see. She nodded as she took his hand. "I apologize, that was...unprofessional." She started as she rose to her feet and moved to the unit. With her tricorder she confirmed that the machine was back in working order. "Everything seems to be functioning with in acceptable perimeters."
"There was nothing unprofessional about our, conversation. I hope your day improves Ensign. Please, don't let me keep you from your duties. However, my door is always open if you need," he paused, "to talk. A two way street, to use the phrase, perhaps." He was unsure why he opened himself up, but somehow he felt that this young Vulcan understood his situation.
"I appreciate that." More than you know... She replied as she began to pack up her tool kit. "Please let me know if you have any other gremlins in the science lab." With a tilt of her head she exited the science labs. Both relieved to be away from the onslaught of emotions and some what emptied by their absence. It was very confusing to the Vulcan hybrid.
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Vaebn tr'Hwersuil
Chief Science Officer, USS Pioneer
Ensign T'Rish
Chief of Operations, USS Pioneer
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