Analyze That!
Posted on Fri Mar 10th, 2023 @ 11:10pm by Fleet Captain Maxwell Culver & Lieutenant Rowena "Rena" Campbell
Edited on on Fri Mar 10th, 2023 @ 11:11pm
2,956 words; about a 15 minute read
Mission:
Mission One: Goodwill Tour [Part One]
Location: Triton Seabase: Top Deck
Timeline: MD12: 1000 hours
Max had booked his appointment with Rena long before they’d left Golden Towers. He’d been told that she was holding counseling on the top deck, and it was the perfect day for it. He’d taken his sunburn tablet to protect against not just burn, but dangerous, skin cancer UV rays.
Taking the tight stairs that spiraled up, Max found himself on the top deck. A lovely bit of comfortable furniture had been set up with a table in the center. He ordered an orange juice and met his counselor.
“Good Morning, Rena. What a wonderful day,” he said, pulling his sunglasses from his shirt collar and pulling them on. With the ones he’d chosen, she could see his eyes easily.
Unlike most times he’d met with his counselors, he felt almost light today.
She smiled warmly at the Captain as he arrived. "I hope it's ok that I moved my sessions up here; it IS a wonderful day, and the fresh air and sunshine is sure to help!" Behind the sunglasses she wore to protect her eyes, and delicate irises, she took in the man that led them. He seemed...lighter today than he had before. Good. She indicated a deck chair for him. "Please. Let's start." She knew he didn't care about the niceties, and preferred to get down to brass tacks.
"We left off with your nervous about feelings about Jack. Do you want to start there, or do you have something to share with me today??"
Max was so happy Rena was sheltered from the “Jack DiBello” fallout. “Rena, Jack was arrested two days ago for poisoning someone very important to the stability of the Federation and Romulan Alliance we’re trying to create.
“I’ve got no feelings for the murderer,” he said contemptuously. Avoiding the urge to spit at the mention of man’s name.
Max did his hands as if he was shoving the subject away. “Let’s move on to more positive news. Before that night we went to the symphony, I met someone on the beach. A bit of a funny coincidence, he thought I was a surf instructor. He even tried to pay me at the end of his allotted time. It was cute.
“His name’s Daniel, Dani, Martinez and he’s here as a CEO to Martinez C&C hoteliers. He’s got the prettiest blue eyes I’ve ever seen. He said they change with the weather and the company he keeps. I didn’t take his money, but I did make him buy me lunch before we stayed on the beach for the afternoon talking. He’s…sweet.
”It wasn’t necessarily a date, but I had good time with him. I don’t know…it’s not like we gave our numbers to each other. Probably just a one off meeting…”
Rena blinked. "I definitely missed the debriefing on Jack!" She wanted to ask the nosy details-what had happened, who, when, etc, but it wasn't pertinent to today. Was it? "Well, anyway, I am glad that it happened now instead of in a while, when you...he was more involved in the daily running of things." She almost slipped and said "when you're hot and heavy" but caught herself in time. That would've been EMBARRASSING!
She listened a bit to him describing a man he'd met. How did he DO it?! Well, she knew how but it was rhetorical, wasn't it??
"It wasn't NECESSARILY a date, you said. But it had the potential?" she probed the obvious question. "You're certainly likely to see him again. Do you want to talk about a plan so you can stick to your vow?" she asked. Might as well just come out with it.
Max blushed. “My vow?” he asked seriously. “It’s self-imposed, reversible at will, Rena,” he informed her seriously with a bright smile.
"What's he like, though, first of all?" She had to live vicariously through the others; romance wasn't really in the cards for her, she feared. Everyone said she was still young, but she knew that was just a lot of lip service.
Yet another smile. “He’s young, well compared to me. Twenty six, Spanish, dark hair with ice blue eyes. He’s a bit taller than me and he’s just so innocently sweet.” Max was smitten and he could tell…he’d never felt this way before.
Clearly, he had liked Jack, but not like this! He’d already decided to find a way to talk to Dani again. “Would it be inappropriate to call him so soon? It’s only been a few days,” he asked Rena.
When he said his vow was self imposed, she raised an eyebrow, and forced herself not to roll her eyes upwards. She thought a moment about his question.
"My mother now lives on Terra, in the United States. In their culture, they call people RIGHT AWAY. On Betazed, we'd not consider you forward at all. There's actual species who mate BEFORE dating, Max. No, it's not too soon."
She paused a moment before going to a more serious point. "Just remember to be careful. Not just in the sense of using protection and all that, but...we're guests here and it's...recent." She let her gentle warning hang there for a minute.
Some days, she was grateful that she didn't have children to look after; the crew kept her busy with that!! She pressed on. "Call him after this." One more pause before moving on to more serious topics; left alone, he'd have her on some serious adventures that she wasn't sure she had the nerves for.
"It's been a few weeks. How are you doing regarding your concerns about being a good leader? We discussed it briefly when we onboarded but I want to revisit it if you're willing."
“I had a very pleasant, almost friendly, breakfast with Galen and there are some things we discussed which shed a lot of light on Romulan living and expectations,” Max said, somewhat proudly. “It makes more sense to me from his perspective.
“Other than that, I’m settling in well, I think. I’ve asked for an audience with the entire Senate, not just those running city states here. I’m still waiting to hear from them, but I’m told most Romulan commanders have to ask permission from the Senate before acting. I’m going to try their way for a bit.
“Aside from running down this candy shop the crew keeps going on about, and I’ll be damned if they aren’t kidding at this point, Triton is in lock step, so far as I can tell.
“I know you didn’t approve of my actions to free us at Golden Towers, but we are on a tight schedule and my next Senator will prove to be a challenge.”
She shrugged noncommittally. "I didn't NOT approve, Captain. I just wondered if it was the smartest idea. I don't judge, you know that." He could come and tell her that he had decided to scrap the whole thing, and had contacted a ship to come collect them all, and she wouldn't judge. He could tell her that he'd slept with half the crew-all genders-and she still wouldn't judge. It wasn't her JOB to judge. She went on, though.
"I have heard rumors about this candy shop," she said. Rumors? Aurora had shared some of her bounty with Rena at lunch the other day. "But I haven't had time to go pursue him myself." She laughed. "I haven't been to a proper candy shop in AGES!! Not since I was a kid; we only have one in Betazed that I know of in our tourist areas, and my parents never let us go! There were a few in San Francisco near the Academy, but Terran candy isn't my favorite." She realized she was getting off track, and righted herself. "You should find it!" she suggested. "It could even be a fun date!"
Max restrained a sigh. This wasn’t the first or last time he had heard of some mysterious candy shop. Never in the place it was described, never the same appearance, gender, or species, selling candy from every home world from here to the Gamma Quadrant.
She switched tracks now. "I am glad you feel like you're getting your footing. We're still a small crew, and I feel like we've gotten into a groove as a team. I just have one concern-I still have a few people outstanding on their psych evals. Perhaps you can light a fire under them? I'll send you list later on. Will you need any help prepping for meeting the Senate? I was on the Debate team at the Academy," she offered. She had even medaled during her freshman year! She did end up quitting because she got VERY busy with her psych course load, and it had been intended for the JAG students, but it had been fun. "Sorry I am all over the place today, Max.
He shrugged only slightly. “Actually, once I’m forced to face the entire Senate, yes, I’d like to have an advisory committee. Jumping hoops is not my forte.” He smiled easily and broadly.
“I had a hologram from my mentor; Starfleet has added a few things to our training module and he suggested I learn it, but I don't know when I'll fit it in." She hadn't been prepared to be a single-woman show, and she CERTAINLY hadn't been ready to run a whole department, even if that department was just herself.
“We were due a diplomatic officer before we set sail. I’m hoping we’ll have that problem solved soon. I don’t want you thinking you need to pull double, or even triple, duty. That’s my job,” he told her with another smile.
Rena shook her head. "This would be off duty. I *already* pull double duty; who do you think keeps you and Paxidor in check? It isn't Stewart. She's a lovely woman, but she radiates pain, as you should know." She knew the man was highly empathetic-his species were-but as far as she knew, most El Aurians didn't have the manipulation abilities like her people did. "An extra hand WOULD be nice, but we're running pretty well, all things considered. I can call my mother to fill in as CMO; she was a nurse but she knows how to operate an EMH." Rena was full-on kidding, she'd DIE before she invited her mother here for anything other than a social call.
"Let's move on. Our next mission takes us to our highest destination. Do you think we'll be able to maintain our mission objectives in the snow and harsh weather? The Romulan have been...accepting so far." She ventured down this road mostly out of a selfish need for reassurances of her own safety.
Max had to admit his own slight worries in dealing with the cold and cranky reputation that proceeded Senator Killik. He’d already had a conversation with Colonel s’Khev on the matter, so he didn’t think too much about sharing with Rena.
“There are some concerns, of course,” Max admitted. “The next city state is somewhat more isolated than Golden Towers; perched up in the mountains. It’s not anything I don’t think our crew can’t handle, and I’m already making plans with Colonel s’Khev to greet Senator Killik in a manner that will take some of the proverbial wind out of his sails.” Max felt this was enough of a response without overburdening the counselor with details, unless she asked, of course.
Rena nodded. "Let's explore that, ok? What kind of plans? Is Killik less...amenable to the Federation's presence than Senator what's-his-name?" Rena's memory for names of people she didn't interact with daily was terrible, something that she was constantly working on.
“I’m waiting of Senate approval of the written plans, but with Colonel s’Khev’s assistance, we’ve drawn up an approach to Mountain Home that will be unforgettable. Our primary submarine will be under the command of the Colonel, flying the Romulan Empire’s new flag.
“Both tactical submarines will be armed with plasma fireworks and follow a strict, but informal approach that makes them look like water dancing dolphins. Triton Seabase will follow with no additional adornments for the UFOP or Starfleet than she already has.
“Lieutenant Stewart will be flying our only Valkyrie fighter above. It’s intended to be a playful display of good will. If I could find this ‘candy man’ the crew keeps talking about, I’d have the fighter drop candy from a safe distance into the center of town. Something the children would never forget. However, I’m convinced the ‘candy man’ is a prank the crew is playing on me,” Max explained.
“If the Senate doesn’t approve, well, I guess we just have to deal with Senator Killik and play the game to minimize any diplomatic fallout.”
"I am prepared to deal with any fallout that might happen. This wouldn't be the first time I was close to a situation heading south, and I am confident it won't be the last,” Rena offered. She sipped her now-cold coffee, and indicated he should speak.
Max nodded his head seriously. “Let’s just hope the Senate approves the planned approach. It would give us the diplomatic upper hand and the goodwill of his people, the whole point of this mission,” Max responded. He was still wondering why the Senate hadn’t made a decision in almost two days.
Rena nodded. "I am sure that they will. Especially if it has the backing of Starfleet and/or the Federation as a whole."
She paused a moment. "Max, tell me a bit about your family of origin." It seemed like an odd segue, perhaps, but she had a reason for asking now. Namely, if his self doubt was caused by a rough childhood or just the usual kind of self-doubt that any well-rounded person might have. "You don't need to get into specifics, just...was it a traditional childhood? No big traumas?"
Max actually shrugged his shoulders. “Aside from being the twenty first, and last, child in an El-Aurian family?” he asked jokingly. “No. My siblings were all gone from home by the time I was born. I literally grew up almost as an only child in such a big family. I also missed the Borg invasion, so no major troubles, no major traumas,” he decided.
Rena gaped. "TWENTY-ONE children? Your mother is a saint." Rena couldn't imagine. "Life was bad enough with two brothers; I couldn't imagine TWENTY siblings." She shook her head. "But it sounds like you had a pretty happy childhood, then. Would you say you were given the love and nurturing you needed? I am almost done with the probing questions, I am just testing a theory here. Humor me for a bit longer."
Max was as amused as he was confused. “If you’re asking if I felt unwanted? Never… I have twenty brothers and sisters who fawned over my every need when my grandparents and parents weren’t doing the same.
“My family adopted Christmas from the Terran celebrations. A time of the year when you give to others and expect nothing in return. Except my parents had a rule; my brothers and sisters could only buy me clothes while my parents and grandparents bought toys.”
Max laughed, inserting a humorous pause. “It never worked out. Barrada, my oldest brother would always arrange a toy from each and every sibling. My mom used to get mad until she realized the next year, I had to make new room for new toys. Less fortunate kids got my donations.” Max smiled at the sweet memories.
“So counselor, was I properly loved and nurtured in my family? I smile when I think about them and I really should get to see them before the end of the year. I know,” he said, putting his hand up. “It’s just barely March.”
Rena smiled. "They sound like lovely people. I am glad you experienced such a lovely family. Not everyone is so lucky. That just confirms my theory. Which I will share with you at a later time, but today, I think...our session is just about over. I have to see Aurora shortly." She paused for effect.
"When we meet again, I hope you have some more good things to tell me. I have a feeling we'll need it."
“I like to think I’m a positive person, Rena. I hope to always have some good things to tell you,” Max responded with a sly smile. “As for feeling we’ll need good news, that implies concerns for bad news.
“We have nine days of travel to Mountain Home, having caught up to our itinerary this morning, we’ve only lost one of our four scheduled study days. Somehow, I think the science team won’t mind missing a day of study that they never knew they had.” Now Max wagged his eyebrows and gave a smart smirk. Now they both shared that secret.
“No drama and no bad news, Rena,” Max finished, “That’s our jobs.”
Rena chuckled. "I hope so. Have a good rest of your day. You know where to find me if you need me before next week. Try to get those others in before we launch! I'd like to have that done, if possible!!" She reminded him gently as she saw him out.
RSS Feed