238: Captain in Headlights

By Ensign Tryst and Captain Zanh
80324.23
Immediately Following Moving Target

-=Location, Holodeck One; Polynesian Village Resort program of Zanh Liis=-

She lay on a lounge by the pool, stretched out on the beach towel in a one piece, solid black tank style swimsuit.

Plinky Hawaiian guitar music mixed with the sound of the breeze in the palm trees above her, creating a most soothing soundtrack for her afternoon.

In the past few months, she had really come to love this program.

As holographic water dried on her skin in the holographic sunshine, Zanh Liis felt about as relaxed as was possible for her to be without being unconscious. Especially considering that there was much more going on aboard ship at the moment- or more to the point off of the ship, than purely vacation for her crew.

She wondered how Rada was faring on his journey. She wondered if Keiran's team had tracked down Avery yet. She wondered if Dane would make it back without getting himself killed by shooting off his mouth. She wondered...about a lot of things.

She had been forced to take the day off by the ship's LMH Dr. McKay, who, after conducting her routine weekly post-surgical check up noted that she had been skipping her hydro therapy sessions and warned that she was going to "snap in half like a twig" if she didn't get back into the habit of making the time for the exercises.

So McKay had summarily dismissed her to the holodeck, warning her that if he didn't see her wet beach towel or something else as proof she'd been swimming today, he was going to make the decision as acting CMO to pick her up and 'chuck her into the swimmin' hole himself.'

She'd had a swim as ordered, followed by a mandatory physical therapy session and therapeutic massage, and now she was half asleep in the sun, contentedly allowing herself the luxury of forgetting, just for a moment, all of her troubles.

She became aware a moment later that someone was blocking her sunlight. She looked up and saw an unfamiliar young man in a medical uniform hovering above. He was rail thin, with intense dark eyes and a complexion so fair it was almost ghostly.

"Hi there." She said, throwing her sarong over her legs, which felt suddenly very exposed, "Can I assist you. . ." she looked at his collar. "Ensign. . .?"

"Tryst, Captain. Reporting from Starfleet, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise..." Said Zanh with a fair amount of uncertainty. She fastened the sarong around her waist and spoke again. "...I repeat the question Ensign; can I assist you?"

Vol could tell that the Captain had still not figured out who he was or why he was here, and for the moment the Ensign decided he'd use that to his advantage. He moved slowly, positioning himself between the Captain and the exit to the Holodeck.

"Quite a program you've got running here." Vol held his hands behind his back much the same way he had done in the ready room with Salvek. He jerked his chin towards the pool and then looked back at the Captain. "Do you swim?"

"Do you?"

What they said about the short temper was apparently true- Zanh was getting testy already and seemed to be wondering if he'd float if she tossed him in, or if he'd sink straight to the bottom like a rock.

She seemed anxious to finish up this business, whatever it was, so she could return to her sunbathing in peace.

Vol merely blinked at her.

"Ensign, I asked you a question and I don't care to repeat myself." The Captain perked a brow and made her irritation even more evident. Vol would've preferred continuing under an untruthful pretense, but he rather not outright lie to a patient and right now he was stuck in a corner with no other alternative.
He sighed in defeat, but was interrupted by the captain before he could strip of his ruse. He could sense the Captain's temperament fade almost instantly, and it was replaced with embarrassment.

"Oh, wait," Zanh shook her head, chuckling softly at herself. "Must have turned up the heat too high on the temperature setting and it's gone to my brain. I forgot. They were going to send someone to fill in our Sickbay roster temporarily until my crew gets back aboard and we sort a few things out. That must be you. My apologies, doctor."

Vol blinked once, then twice. Then quickly pulled himself together. Sometimes when you let the trout go, a whale comes to take its place.

This was on heck of an opportunity, risky as it was, to trap the Captain into cooperating without her realizing.

"There's no need to apologize, Sir." Vol said convincingly. "If anything I should apologize, for disturbing your peace during your time off to come by and introduce myself. Enjoy your afternoon, and the sunshine." Vol turned on his heel to move towards the exit.

"Ensign." The Captain called to him. She felt really silly now for having blown up before.

If he'd been in any other department she would likely have let him leave, letting him believe that if careless Ensigns interrupted her rare and precious holodeck downtime, unless the ship or someone important on it was on fire, she might serve them up with a side dish and eat them for lunch.

But this guy was a doctor, and that gave her pause. She had to rely, sadly, on the medical department far too frequently for her liking to deal with her continued recovering from the whole Ferenginar mess- she had better not burn any bridges there, not even with a new, temporary ensign.

She tried to back peddle and start over. "I know you're probably not going to be here long, but would you like a quick holopic tour of the ship?" She emphasized the word 'quick'.

"Of course Captain. Thank you, Captain." Vol smiled sheepishly, and followed the Captain as she summoned the Arch.

"Computer, display pictorial representations of the major areas of the ship, starting with the bridge. Change location every ninety seconds."

^Acknowledged. Beginning now.^

-=Fifteen minutes later=-

"And the last stop, this is a quick look at the Arboretum." Zanh smiled, thinking about Jariel tending to his beloved roses in the real thing, which was likely how he was spending his free time this afternoon.

For a moment, she worried as she thought of him- he had not slept well at all last night after the party and seemed to toss and turn continually. Something was on his mind, but she had come to trust that when Jariel was ready to tell her something, he would.

Vol took in the slideshow of emotions going on in Zanh's head mutely, as he also viewed the image of the Arboretum.

"Lovely. Well tended, it appears." he offered

"By gentle hands. You should see the real thing, if you get the chance while you're here. It's my favorite place aboard."

"I will try to do so. The Sera is quite a ship Captain." Vol exclaimed.

"That she is Ensign. She's still going through her paces, finding her stride, but she's coming along. I'm glad to call her mine."

"Grown fond of each other have you?" Vol smiled, making the Captain do the same.

"Not sure if the feeling is mutual," Zanh joked. "I've put her through a hell of a lot in her infancy. But a Captain grows for her ship, learns lessons that only her ship can teach."

"Do you mind if I inquire as to what kind of lessons?"

Zanh paused, the Ensign was getting a bit personal. However, she had pretty much bit his head off before, and perhaps he was just curious about the life of a Captain. She'd indulge him- for now.

"I used to think that home was a particular place. A particular ship, or location. I had never really felt that I had found... it."

"It, Sir?"

"Yes. It. The place where I was meant to be, in the right place at the right time, with the right people. Often, it just felt like no matter where I went I would always be searching for something," She thought about her time in Temporal Investigations, and Vol sensed the hints of memories in her as a physical chill.

"But there is something about this ship, about this particular project and crew. Alchemy is a living, breathing thing. It changes, every day, it grows, as her crew grows and the experience of serving with them so far has been. . ." Zanh smiled and he felt the coldness replaced by a sentimental streak that surprised him about the no-nonsense woman before him. "It's been extraordinary." She rocked her weight from heels to toes, something that Vol did not know her well enough to know that she did when she was nervous, but he sensed the tension in her without that knowledge.

"Last mission was rough." She said out loud, more to herself than to him. "But we're resilient."

She offered him no more, and he felt the sentimentality fading back into her normal, resting emotional state.

"Do you think that experience has hindered, or enhanced your skills as a Commanding Officer?" Vol seemed genuinely interested. The two of them still standing in the holodeck, with no program running now. Liis began to realize that without the artificial sun she was starting to feel cold in her current attire.

"Well, I..." Zanh began to say, until a loud screeching alarm rang within her skull. Her eyes widened and her piercing blue eyes carved into Vol's features as she visibly became angry. Next to barring her teeth, she proceeded with; "Wait a damn minute! Suddenly I get the feeling that you are not my new on-call physician."

Vol suppressed a grin. It was fun while it lasted, and he was glad the Captain was not Betazoid, as he fully believed that if she were, he would likely now have to live out the rest of his life without the benefit of his testicles.

Looking at her again, however, he realized that she was so angry that unless he could diffuse her temper quickly, he still might have to.

With all the seriousness he could muster, Vol began to tell the truth.

"I am here by order of Starfleet. Captain, in light of your recent endeavors, the Federation has ordered me to assess your psychological and ment-- Captain!" Vol's eyes widened as Zanh quickly gathered up her things and made her way right past him and called for the exit. Vol could tell immediately that she was walking away likely because it was easier to resist bashing someone's head in when they were further away from you.

"I'm fine." she said through gritted teeth as she approached the exit. "Thank you for stopping by. Have a nice trip and give my best to Admiral Vox."

"Then why are you running away as if you have something to hide?" Vol had been deceitful before, so he decided to try the most polar opposite approach now. Being blunt, the kind that didn't put up with any bullshit. He thought it would be most effective method when dealing with such a headstrong Captain, and an especially stubborn Bajoran.

"I'm not running, or hiding, Ensign. You are dis-"

"Zanh Liis!" Vol raised his voice. The Captain whirled about and her eyes once again shot daggers into the Betazoid's forehead. She walked back slowly, to look at Vol straight in the eyes. Even in a one-piece bathing suit and a towel, and bare feet, as tall as she was, Zanh still managed to look intimidating when she needed to.

"You will address me with the proper title Ensign, is that understood?"

"Yes, but I will not do so."

Zanh roared. "Excuse me?"

"I am not a resident of this vessel, nor am I part of your crew, and thus I am certainly not under your command. My orders were issued directly from Starfleet Medical and Admiral Vox, and thus if anyone has the authority in this particular situation; it is me. I have the go-ahead to relieve you of duty if I deem it necessary, but I'd hate for that to be the outcome of our first encounter."

*I'd like to see you try, you little. . .* Zanh thought, but she simply pasted a smile on her face, too pleasant a smile to match the thoughts that were swirling through her very clear and readable mind at the moment.

A deep silence followed. Vol stood firm, and Zanh had now cocked an inquisitive brow. She stepped one foot forward and he almost jumped back when she did- thinking again about that potential future as Eunuch- but she stopped and posed- her hip forward and her hand perched upon it, not looking nearly as defensive as she had before.

She then asked, quite plainly: "The dark eyes, the whiter than death complexion, tell me Ensign: you are Betazoid?"

"I am."

"Interesting, yet not surprising. Tell me, can you sense what I am thinking now?" She stepped closer again, and this time he did involuntarily step back a pace. Vol had the distinct impression that the tables were now turned and he was being toyed with.

"I, you. You are feeling certain of something." Vol gulped. "Y-you can tell that I'm lying."

"Impressive, Doctor." Zanh continued. "What else can you tell?"

"That you aren't going to try and get away again."

"Brilliant. Stick a little gold star to his forehead." Zanh smiled triumphantly. "Computer, reinitialize Zanh program twenty-seven alpha."

The Polynesian Resort reappeared around them, and she lazily strolled back to her lawn chair and sat down. A baffled Vol stared at her, unable to make heads or tails of what had just happened.

Zanh couldn't help but think of all the times she had chosen to set her new officers off guard by changing out of uniform and introducing herself to them for the very first time in the Arboretum. Often, it took a few moments before they realized she was the Captain.

She found that it gave her a unique perspective into their personalities- whether they were resistant to shaking her dirt-covered hand as she pretended to plant flowers, whether or not they took an interest in the living things around them- whether they wanted to run the moment they realized they'd been, well, had.

*Karma.* Zanh thought. *If there was ever any sort of supernatural or divine belief that I could really buy into, that would have to be it. I've seen it once too often- and this is definitely payback.*

"Well...?" The Captain was impatient. "You're here to shrink my head. So, I'm a busy woman. Start shrinking."

He raised a finger in question, still confused until she finally just blurted out her standard motivational response. "Go!"

The Betazoid smiled. "I'll take that as permission to proceed, I--"

"Oooo, clever one aren't we Doctor? Nothing gets by you." The words were coated with sarcasm as they left Zanh's mouth. Vol could only smile, thinking that he deserved that. His gaze wandered over the holographic pool, then looked back to the Captain.

"Permission to go for a--Oh wait! I don't answer to you." If she were any other person, he would've stuck his tongue out and winked at her. For now however, he resisted the urge to act in that childlike manner.

"Computer, one male bathing suit please..." Vol paused, and then remembered something. "...and a partition of some kind."

A long partition came to be, and upon it hung a pair of navy blue trunks. He headed over behind the partition, so that the now fuming Captain could not see him get changed. Among Betazoids, being naked was not something to be hidden, but Vol had remembered that amongst most other species it was quite different. The Captain would probably not appreciate it in the least had Vol just stripped and gone skinny dipping.

"Well make yourself at home, why don't you." She laughed a little at his nerve. "I tell you to hurry up and shrink me, and instead you're going for a swim?" Zanh was gritting her teeth again. She was irritated, but there was something about this man that kept her where she was.

"I think it only fair Captain..." Vol said from behind the partition as he got his uniform off and his trunks on. "...that since you are more than comfortable at the moment, that I be the same." The Betazoid stepped out from the false wall and approached the edge of the pool. He wasn't particularly muscular or built, and his skin looked even paler now in contrast to the dark trunks. He had little to no body hair. He bent down and touched the water with his hand, causing Zanh to almost laugh out loud.

"One too many mud-baths, Ensign?" Zahn couldn't tell if all the 'comfort' talk was mumbo jumbo, but she could definitely tell that the Doctor just really wanted a swim. As if to confirm her answer, Vol grinned as if he was a child and just offered some candy, and in the next moment he'd jumped into the pool.

As he came back up, he shut his eyes and shook his hair. "Aaah..."

"Comfortable?" Zanh asked.

"Very."

"Happy to hear it." A waitress appeared with a tall drink, complete with small paper umbrella. "I ordered it before you got here." Zanh explained.

"One Virgin Strawberry Daiquiri," The waitress said, setting it down. "Anything else Captain? Anything for your friend?"

"I'll have some Allira punch please. A Virgin Daiquiri, Captain?" Vol was amused. "You're off duty all day- relaxing and you aren't indulging in the real thing?"

"I never drink the real thing." Zanh replied, while trying to figure out how to get to the straw past the umbrella. "I'm sure that must be in my file too. Somewhere."

"So you aren't here for the fruity drinks. Are you fond of swimming at all?" Vol asked, "Or are you just here for the glowing artificial sunshine and ukulele music?"

"I'm here by doctor's orders. Far as swimming. . .it's water. You swim in it. End of story." Zanh tried to make short of the question. Vol propped himself up with his arms by the edge of the pool and stared at her. Knowing that being sarcastic would not end this evaluation any faster, she decided she'd indulge the Doctor... for now at least.

"Alright. I suppose I've grown fond of it. It's physical therapy for my spine, which is held together with chewing gum and chicken wire." She thought for a moment, "But also, it is relaxing, in some way."

"What way is that?" Vol pushed again. Zanh sighed, clearly annoyed but fighting with herself to maintain some form of composure.

"It helps me to center myself. I can think more clearly and things aren't so jumbled."

"What kind of things get messed up?"

For a moment she was going to keep it to herself, but then realized that there was no need.

"I'll mess you up good if you don't get to the point." There was a slight grin on her face, but she was dead serious. Vol chuckled.

"Prefer that we skip to the serious stuff?"

"Please, easing me into it will just make me... unhappy." She plastered a painfully obvious fake smile on her face.

"Very well." Vol scratched his wet nose, as he rested his chin on his overlapping hands. "Summarize for me the last mission. I read your log, but I'd rather hear it from you again, if you don't mind."

Zanh perked a brow. "I do mind, actu-"

"A formality Captain, I don't care if you mind. You're telling me anyway."

"Ensign, I've been very cordial to you so far," she stated clearly, then she mumbled under her breath. "You have no idea how cordial," she straightened up in her lounge.

"But I'm sorry. I cannot tell you anything more than was in the report." Zanh stood her ground. "It's all classified by Special Operations, Temporal Investigations, the Judge Advocate General and half a dozen Admirals at least. I don't care if the Prophets themselves sent you to interview me, you don't have the clearance to hear the details and if you want, I'll be happy to remind your boss of that."

*Round goes to the Captain.* Vol thought to himself.

"Well, then, tell me how you feel about the mission. Your feelings aren't classified."

"If only it were that easy." Zanh said sadly. "Tag them 'classified', stick them in a file cabinet in a basement somewhere, and bury them forever."

He knew how she felt about the mission already, conflicting emotions were now emanating from her like a dark force of nature. He felt the discomfort in her spirit over the outcome as a wave of nausea. Suddenly, he felt as if instead of floating in a calm and inviting swimming pool, he was being tossed about atop angry, stirring seas.

A pause, and the Captain huffed and puffed before she submitted to answering his questions.

*What was it again? Zanh, 1. Tryst, 2?*

"It was. . .dirty." Zanh said at last. "It left me wanting to take a long, hot shower. But the problem is no matter how long I stayed in, the film on my skin would not wash off." She shook her head. "Lives were lost. More were risked, and three members of my senior staff almost died. But the worst part was that with the way it ended."

Vol waited patiently for her to continue.

"It didn't end." She sighed. "So now I am left with the sinking feeling that it will all come back again on us, one day." She set down her drink, untouched. "Sooner rather than later."

Vol studied the Captain as she spoke, and when she was done he had another question for her already.

"What was the most difficult part for your crew during this mission?"

"If you want an individual list I hope you've got a lot of time, Counselor." She said, shrugging. "But if you will settle for the overall sentiment, I believe that the loss of their innocent trust that Starfleet is always the good guy was the hardest thing for them to accept." She looked away, eyes fixed blankly somewhere on the water beyond him. "The hardest thing to give up."

"What about you? What was the most difficult part for you?"

"The look in their eyes when they turned to me from their stations," Zanh whispered, "And realized that the cavalry wasn't just coming- it was shooting at us."

Vol sighed as he studied the Captain, both with his eyes and his mind. Perhaps she was afraid it would all happen again, that a string of circumstances would occur once more in which she had no control. Her own opinion, and faith, in Starfleet didn't appear changed. Perhaps she wasn't as naive as her crew, as she had implied, to believe that they were always the "good guys." Vol sensed what he thought was loneliness, but from her speech earlier, he believed she was in denial of that.

The aftermath of the mission had undoubtedly manifested into some demons for the Bajoran. Demons that had gotten away, but that would return one day to haunt the Captain. However, she showed composure, she still had a sense of humor, and ultimately functioned as if nothing was wrong.

"The current ship's counselor," Vol began slowly. Zanh knew what he was going to say and rolled her eyes. "Vedek Jariel. I have read many of his reports on the crew, and he is an incredible man. A fine counselor and caring chaplain. However," He knew he had to tread lightly- he was walking on sacred ground now.

"Yes, he is all those things and more and yes, I am romantically involved with him." Zanh cut to the chase. "And you have a problem with that. But you should know that it's much more than that, though, he," Zanh shook her head, and alluded to her earlier remarks. "I have loved him all of my life," she said softly. "He is home."

"A little too close to the Captain to be objective, wouldn't you say?"

"No." Her response was automatic; knee-jerk. She was silent a moment, and then she had to concede defeat on this topic. "Yes."

"Who counsels the Captain objectively, then?"

Zanh laughed. "Have you met our LMH?"

Vol blinked, and titled his head slightly. "No..."

"He does pretty well." She already knew what Vol was getting at though. "Yet, you would recommend a permanent Starfleet counselor be stationed here. Someone with whom I am not. . ."

"Involved." Vol nodded.

Zanh nodded slowly. "All right. I would be open to the idea of adding another counselor to our roster. Make your recommendation and I will start looking at resumes. But I can't promise you that I'll be spending a lot of time on the counseling couch."

"You won't spend any voluntarily and we both know it."

"Damn straight."

Vol climbed out of the water as the waitress approached with his drink. He took a few quick sips, and Zanh handed him a spare towel from the lounge next to hers.

"Thank you," he said as he set down his drink and began to dry off.

"Satisfied?" She was not referring to how he was enjoying his beverage.

"I'll make my report and forward it to Starfleet." Vol said with a smile, sensing exactly what the Captain had meant.

Zanh lounged backward onto the chaise once again and put her hands behind her head, closing her eyes. "Should I start packing my bags?"

"Well..." Vol pretended to give the matter some thought. "What do you think?"

The question was rhetoric, and the Bajoran returned his smile with one small one of her own. Somewhere, between the sarcastic jabbing, the witty banter, and the risky behavior, the two had earned a lot of respect for each other. Zanh cracked one eye open and watched as he headed for the arch.

"Tryst."

He stopped and turned, suddenly aware he was still dripping water from his hair down onto the ground.

"It was nice meeting you."

Ensign Vol Tryst
Starfleet Command, Medical Division
Currently aboard the
USS Serendipity NCC-2012

and

Captain Zanh
Commanding Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012