A Trill for A Trill

Posted on Tue Aug 6th, 2024 @ 9:29pm by Captain Malcom Llwyedd & Petty Officer 1st Class Kipp Lak & Lieutenant Gale Deekros
Edited on on Fri Sep 20th, 2024 @ 3:20am

1,252 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Prelude to Rebirth
Location: USS Firebird, Deck 1 - Bridge, Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: 5th month into the 6th months of boredom

[ON]

Kipp had been organizing and routing the messages that were flooding in from DS18 when he heard the turbolift swish open. He looked up and saw a stocky male Trill step onto the bridge. Kipp stood and walked over to the newcomer.

"Ah, Lieutenant Deekros. Thank you for coming so quickly. I am Yeoman Lak. I am Captain Llwyedd's Yeoman and I handle communications duties here on the bridge."

There was a flicker of emotion in the Trill's eyes, which settled into an easy smile that didn't quite reach them. "Yeoman Lak. Lt. Gale Deekros, reporting for duty," he said in an accent the UT choose to interpret as British (and a rather posh sort at that) to Terrans. "And I'll be handling all things scientific, I presume, unless my orders have changed en-route."

As Gale stood, hands clasped behind his back, his broad shoulders relaxed, and something like a nostalgic relief washed across his face. Being back on a Starfleet bridge, with all the sights and sounds and even smells, still felt right.

"Welcome aboard, sir. As to your duties, Captain Llwyedd will be the one to get that sorted, officially anyway. His Ready Room is that door there. He's expecting you," Kipp said and gestured towards the door. "When you finish, let me know if there's anything I can do to make your in processing easier."

Gale nodded to the Yeoman, drawing the feeling of rightness and belonging around him like a cloak. "Thank you, Mister Kipp. I best not keep the good captain waiting." There was a slight pause, and then crossed the short distance to the ready room door. His fingers unclasped so his arms could swing free as he walked, and he couldn't help but let them trace along the cool metal of the bridge's upper rail.

Just as he paused before the ready room door, the Trill turned back to the young Terran. "Perhaps you can tell me if this ship has a library" he said, the corners of his glimmering brown eyes crinkled in a genuine smile.

A quick chuckle escaped Gale's lips as he turned back to the door, drew his shoulders back, and pressed the button besides it.

Kipp tilted his head as the new officer made his way inside the Captain's Ready Room. This one could be interesting he thought and then moved back to his station.

"Come in," Malcom said and looked up from the PADD he had been reading. He watched the Lieutenant come in and gestured to the seat across from his desk. "Please, Lieutenant Deekros, have a seat. How was your trip?"

The Trill seemed to take a moment to ease into the seat, but if nothing else, Gale was quick to read others and comport himself accordingly. "Blessedly short, sir," he said, steepling his fingers as his hands came to rest in his lap. "This was my first transit through the wormhole - I can't wait to tell T'ara about it - but it's also a relative hop, skip, and a jump from Trill to Bajor."

"It is indeed," Malcom said. "And now you find yourself on one of the most unpopular ships in the fleet. What did you do to deserve such a fate, Lieutenant?"

"Ask for a posting outside the Mirar's current fleet, sir." A self-deprecating expression tugs at Gale's lips. "I also suspect the Symbiosis Commission may have put in a word to have me as far away from Trill as possible."

Malcom frowned. "Yes, I read about your experience in the personnel file. Lieutenant, I obviously have no familiarity with the type of loss that you've experienced. But I have had my own experience of severe loss," Malcom said and then paused for a moment. When he continued it was in a smaller voice. "The scars that these losses leave can drag you down. But they can also push you to new heights." He looked at the young Trill. "I hope that you find the Firebird to be a place where you can continue to heal and, maybe, make friends who will support you."

Gale blinked. Whatever he expected from his new captain, it wasn't that. He'd been ready for a warning, an 'I'll have my eye on you,' or most likely a grunt of acknowledgment, but not empathy. Not condolences for a loss that only left him with an aching void, and no memory of the accident itself and what he was thinking - or wasn't. He cleared his throat and momentarily shifted his gaze to the viewport beyond. "Thank you, sir." He tilted his head and looked once again at Malcom with a thoughtful gaze. "I hope the Firebird will indeed be where those things - and, of course, some science - do happen."

"As do I. I would also like you to know that we do have two other Trill officers on board. Both are part of our diplomatic department. Lieutenant zh'Thelas is an un-joined trill and our Counselor's Aide Lieutenant Kalur is joined. I thought you might like to know who to avoid or not avoid as best suites you."

Gale paused, then shook his head thoughtfully. "That's extremely gracious of you, sir. But I believe I'm quite ready to meet all of my new crewmates, even those also of the spotted persuasion." There was a spark in his eyes, a certain ease in his voice, and at the very least, he was trying to believe very hard in what he said.

"Very good, Lieutenant. When we finish here I would like you to get settled, walk around the ship and get your bearings and then check in with Lieutenant Baxter. She's your Department head. But before all that, is there anything you would like to ask me?" Malcom said.

Oh, what Gale would wish to ask the captain if he was brave enough. How deep was his well of patience, for instance? What would happen when Gale's hubris eventually exhausted it? What could Gale possibly do to show himself worth even a fraction of the kindness the captain had shown him in this mere chat?

"I think my curiosity is assuaged for now, sir, which is a rarity, I assure you," is what Gale said instead, his smile bright. "I will be sure to check in with Lt. Baxter, once I've had a walkabout, settled in, and inquired with Mr. Lak about that library." The Trill drew himself up, a little more formality in his bearing. "Permission to be dismissed, sir?"

Malcom smiled. "Permission granted, Lieutenant. Welcome home."

Home. Honestly, that wasn't what Gale was hoping to find here. Somewhere he could lose himself in his work, and prove his worth to his captain and to anyone that wasn't his best friend or mother, yes. But home? He let himself smile at the possibility, even if a small put insistent voice questioned the captain's optimism.

"Thank you, sir," the Trill replied, and with a slight bow of his head, turned to the ready room door, anxious but eager to explore what could be home, at least for a while.

[OFF]

Captain Malcom Llwyedd
Commanding Officer
USS Firebird NCC-88298

Lieutenant Gale Deekros
Science Officer
USS Firebird NCC-88298

Petty Officer 1st Class Kipp Lak (NPC by Llwyedd)
Yeoman
USS Firebird NCC-88298

 

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