by -=/\=- Zanh Liis
80702.16
Following For This One Wish
-=USS Serendipity=-
80702.16
Following For This One Wish
-=USS Serendipity=-
Yet again, Sera found herself back where she had started.
The irony of this did not escape the ship's captain as she stepped down from the transporter pad and nodded her wordless thanks to the operator.
Ironic, because it seemed no matter how far she got in her life, Zanh Liis always, always ended up right back at square one.
By this time, Sera was fairly deserted.
Soon the remaining stragglers would be dismissed as well; sent on shore leave while the ship underwent not only repairs to her hull but also intensive security sweeps and yet another round of upgrades.
She would be maneuvered back into space dock to begin these intricate processes; it would take weeks before all was said and done.
Upon hearing that the Captain was finally requesting transport, Commander Salvek was barely able to conceal his sense of relief.
She had been down on the planet an awfully long time...
He immediately exited the bridge and headed for the transporter room to meet her.
As it happened, just as the lift doors parted to allow him to exit into the corridor outside the transporter room, the distracted Bajoran plowed right into him.
Unfazed by the impact, she stepped around him and into the lift.
"Welcome home, Captain."
Liis merely groaned.
The doors closed and Salvek directed the computer to deliver them to her quarters.
"Belay that," Liis interrupted. "Holodeck two." The lift changed course and internally, Salvek considered her choice of destination very odd.
She did not meet his questioning eyes as they continued on their way.
"Status."
"Most of the crew has already departed for shore leave as per Admiral Vox' orders, Captain."
"So I've noticed." She reached into her pocket and pulled out an isolinear chip. "Authorization from the Admiral for my request to combine the leadership roles for Tactical with Security, effective immediately. Promote Blakeslee to the rank of Lieutenant Commander and the position."
"Sir?" Salvek took the chip, all the while thinking that it indicated that O’Sullivan had been right- he would not be returning to his post here.
"Just do it, Salvek."
He nodded serenely.
"Captain, the Admiral has requested that we take the Alchemy out, and away from the Sera during her sweep. The Alchemy checked out clean and is ready to depart as soon as the crew is ready and a destination has been chosen..." he paused a moment before continuing. "A situation has arisen necessitating that Ensign Tryst obtain transport to Betazed as soon as possible, and I thought-"
"Is Vol all right?" Liis interrupted, worry cutting through the static-like white noise of her own emotions.
"Yes, Captain. The time for his traditional, arranged marriage has come."
"Wonderful. Please offer him my congratulations and have a lovely trip. I will see you all when you get back."
The lift doors opened and she did not wait for Salvek to respond before taking off down the hall. As long as his strides were, he had to pick up the pace of his steps to catch up to her once again.
"Captain, you must accompany us."
"No," she continued to avoid looking at him as she moved. "I must do no such thing."
"My orders are to not let you, what was the phrase the Admiral used, 'out of my sight'. My orders are also to take the Alchemy away. Please explain to me, Zanh Liis, how I am to carry out both sets of equally important orders if you do not accompany us to Betazed."
Too tired to fight, she held her hands up in surrender.
"Fine. You win. Hail me fifteen minutes before departure. In the meantime, and I mean this sincerely, Salvek, leave me alone."
The fact that she had so quickly relented worried Salvek more than any other response she could have given.
As she punched her command codes into the holodeck controls, he tilted his head toward her and asked in vain the question to which he already knew the answer.
"Are you all right, Zanh Liis?"
Liis leaned back against the wall and closed her eyes, sighing.
What answer could she possibly offer him in this moment that had any truth to it at all?
"I've lost something,” she said softly, at last. ”It was something that meant a lot to me. Of that much I am certain.”
He stayed still and silent, waiting patiently for her to finish her thought.
She exhaled slowly.
"I just wish I was as certain exactly what it was."
Salvek knew exactly what it was, but he had no intention of telling her when all it could do was bring her harm.
"Captain, I do wish that you would allow me to escort you to your quarters so you can rest."
"My quarters are the very last place I would get any rest tonight." She folded her arms in defiance. “Don't worry, Salvek, it's my aim to try to catch some sleep. That's why I asked you to leave me alone for awhile.“
Salvek knew her well enough to know that sleep was the very last reason why she’d asked to be left on her own.
Zanh Liis was a woman ill at ease with showing her more vulnerable emotions, even to those closest to her, and even in the most private of circumstances.
*Especially to those closest to her. *
At a time like this when she was so uncertain of so many things, she would want nothing else but to be alone.
“Wake me when we're ready to roll. All right?"
It was certainly not all right with him, but he knew that with Zanh Liis, a wise man picked his battles.
"As you wish, Captain." After the doors closed behind her, Salvek tapped his badge.
"Salvek to Blane, please begin preparing the Alchemy; our destination is Betazed. I will join you myself shortly. Salvek out."
------------------------------
-=/\=-Zanh Liis
Commanding Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012
-=/\=-Zanh Liis
Commanding Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012