By Ensign Tryst and Captain Zanh
80323.20
Following Runaway Patient
-=Guest Quarters, USS Serendipity=-
80323.20
Following Runaway Patient
-=Guest Quarters, USS Serendipity=-
Vol dressed quickly, and having been invited by the XO himself, did not bother to contact security for the escort they had offered to take him to the bridge.
When he arrived he found only a skeleton crew there, understandable with the ship being under repairs and in space dock as it currently was.
"Can I help you?" Ensign Sue Tenney asked from the communications console.
"Ensign Tryst, reporting per Commander Salvek's command." Vol said rather blatantly.
"Commander Salvek is in the Captain's ready room and he's expecting you. Go ahead." The woman nodded her head in the direction of a closed door. Vol nodded back in thanks as he walked up to the door, holding one hand in the other behind his back.
"Enter," Salvek said, in response to the door chime. He was working on something to do with the Captain's desktop computer, it seemed, which was currently in pieces before him.
Vol wondered why an engineer wasn't doing it, then he remembered that Salvek himself was an engineer before becoming Zanh's XO. The Betazoid in him observed the Vulcan with more than just his dark eyes. Vulcan's always had such interesting minds and thought patterns, some Betazoids thought them dull, as Vulcans of course experienced no emotion. Kind of like being allowed to look out the window of a star ship, expecting there to be a wormhole, but instead there's nothing but ordinary space. Vol was on the fence on this matter, on one side their minds were quite unique and unlike any other, almost like a breath of fresh air.
"Ensign Tryst, reporting as ordered Sir."
"Ensign, security has informed me that you were asking to see the Captain. How may I assist you, and might I see your orders please?" Salvek asked politely.
On the other hand, all that logic and reasoning made it difficult to be charming and witty. Vol could already easily tell that the XO knew exactly where the Captain was, but he'd have to get straight to the point if he was going to get to what he was after.
"Sir, my assignment and my orders have been handed down to me straight from Starfleet Medical. My business is solely with the Captain, and I'm not at liberty to divulge any more information than that."
"I understand that your orders are restricted to a need to know basis, but as the First Officer of this ship, if I am to disturb the Captain when she is off duty by medical order, then I," he paused, stressing each of his last three words slowly, ". . .need to know." Vol peered at the XO, and sensed that any more resistance to share what he knew may end in Vol's dismissal. Vol inhaled and exhaled before proceeding.
*Salvek, 1. Tryst, 0.*
"In light of the outcome of the Serendipity's last mission, Starfleet is concerned about Captain Zanh's psychological health. Granted, there's no evidence to support that the lady is unfit to be in a position of command, but Starfleet would rather be absolutely certain than take any chances with an assignment as delicate as caring for The Alchemy Project." Vol had rehearsed this speech, and after a moment or two of silence, the Vulcan spoke with the air of still being unconvinced.
But before he spoke, Vol sensed something else in Salvek and was surprised by it, it was just the faintest, internal emotional reaction. The Vulcan's response was almost akin to momentary amusement.
It been inspired by Vol's use of the word 'lady' to describe Zanh Liis. In the past the Captain had always joked to Salvek that she might be a 'chick', as Dabin Reece was fond of calling her; she might even be a 'broad' in some people's estimation, but rarely did anyone ever call her a 'lady'.
"And what makes you qualified?" The Vulcan asked, his mind once again clear and calm as a lake on a still summer day.
If the the question had come from a human, Vol may have been surprised if not insulted. Coming from a Vulcan however made the question different, he was simply trying to pitch Starfleet's logic against his own, and thus far the former was winning. Now the XO was just making sure that the imminent assessment of his Captain was going to be carried out in the right way, by the appropriate person.
"I have a Medical Doctorate and PhD, and I specialize in the fields of Psychiatric health, and counseling. I am also a Betazoid, so while the Captain can physically avoid me and this evaluation, there's little she can hide from me once the actual assessment is underway." Vol regretted making the minor joke as soon as he saw the unamused look on Salvek. Vol knew that Vulcan's tolerated humor in other species, but Salvek did not think now the appropriate time. Thankfully, he didn't mention it.
Salvek was also fully aware of the fact that since the Ship's Chaplain and current Counselor was also Zanh's significant other, that it was understandable that they would want an outside opinion. Still, he knew that the surprise would remain unwelcome to Zanh.
"The Captain was not informed of your impending visit, she will not be pleased by this." Salvek warned. "There must have been a... miscommunication." All the while the Vulcan was thinking that it was much more likely that the Admiral did not relay the news on purpose, not wanting to give Zanh a chance to dodge or delay the examination.
"Perhaps, but the orders remain the same. I do apologize for the inconvenience, but I really must see the Captain."
"Since you have your orders, you will find the Captain on Holodeck one. Would you like me to escort you?"
"Thank you, but no. Thank you, Commander." Salvek dismissed the Ensign and Vol made his way to the holodeck. While in the turbo lift alone, he said aloud to himself.
"Why am I acting like he's my Commanding officer. Technically speaking, I don't have to answer to him, right?"
Ensign Vol Tryst MD, PhD
Starfleet Command, Medical Division
Currently Aboard the USS Serendipity NCC-2012
and
-=/\=- Captain Zanh
Moving Target Patient
USS Serendipity NCC-2012
Starfleet Command, Medical Division
Currently Aboard the USS Serendipity NCC-2012
and
-=/\=- Captain Zanh
Moving Target Patient
USS Serendipity NCC-2012