Late Introductions

Posted on Sun Jun 7th, 2015 @ 12:44pm by Lieutenant Mikela Reyes MD & Captain Elijah Michaels

Mission: Debts to be settled......
Location: Ready Room, USS Victory

Elijah had been busy since coming back from the Planet, with the Dominion sniffing around and endless records of Projects to examine it was becoming a dull affair. However he was sure the Crew could manage it.

His Desk was filled with PADD after PADD ranging from Planetary Surveys to Plant growth times. He had lots to catch up on before they could solve the mystery.

Mikela had used her own time wisely. She had unpacked - that hadn't taken long - and let down her hair long, loose, and curly over the shoulders and back of her simple dress, a calculated informal look meant to invite confidence in her job. She had eaten a decent lunch, noting that the replicators on this ship were really quite decent. At least, they were a fair bit better than ration packs. Granted, that wasn't a high bar to clear. Then she had limped her way to the Counseling center, reviewed her new office, and found it to be satisfactory. By the time she was done with that, she checked and found out that her CO was back from the Away mission and in his own office.

By the time she reached the bridge, Mikela began to wish that she had used her brace in addition to the cane. Telling herself silently and sternly that the extra exercise was good for her, she made her way to the door and tapped the chime.

"Enter!" Elijah shouted as he didn't look up from his work to see the door.

The door swished open and Mikela stepped inside, her old training screaming at her to make her back straight and tall. This she could do, but she could not help the mild limp as she made her way closer to her new CO's desk, a quick glancing noting the piles of paperwork. "Counselor Reyes, sir. I came aboard a few hours ago. I can see that you're busy, but the sooner I report in properly, the sooner I can get to work." Her words were direct, but her tone was not unfriendly, and despite her formal stance, she was smiling.

Elijah looked up from his work and smiled. "Ah yes hello, Counselor please sit down." He said motioning to the vacant seat in front of his desk. "Would you like anything from the Replicator? Tea? Coffee?"

Mikela sank gratefully into the indicated chair, crossing her left leg over her right and hanging the hook of her cane on her left thigh. "Yessir. Coffee, please." She quirked a smile, this one slightly mischievous. "Dark as velvet, sweet as violets, and mixed three-quarters-to-one-quarter with dark chocolate."

Elijah nodded. "Very well." He got up and followed her description as best as he could as he replicated Coffee for her and Tea for him. "There we go one Coffee." He said as he handed her the Cup and Saucer.

Mikela took a long sip of the coffee and closed her eyes as she felt it work its way down. "Good stuff. Thank you, sir." She leaned back a little in her chair, leaving the saucer on the desk, holding the cup with both hands. "I've figured out that we're mid-mission, sir. Is there anything you need the Counseling Department to do for you?"

Elijah looked around at the numerous PADDs that were resident on his Desk. "I would like you to explore the Research Manifest, we cannot rule out the possibility that one of our Researchers may have a hand in their disappearance." He found the one he was looking for. "We have a Survivor with us from the Outpost but he is unsurprisingly reluctant to talk to anyone so we are biding our time and examining his Workmates."

Mikela did not like the sound of that at all. She reached out for the PADD. "When you say 'reluctant', what do you mean, precisely?" she asked cautiously.

"Unwilling to share the experience." He said to her honestly. "We don't think there is trauma present but more he just doesn't want to share it with us, he seems more focused on the information we collected."

"I can't say I like the sound of that, sir," Mikela admitted. "If there is no trauma, after an event like that, there's something wrong with him. If he is interested in the information as a way of covering for trauma, that would be a little odd, but understandable. But if there doesn't seem to be trauma and he's interested mostly in the information... I don't really like the sound of that."

The Commander was in total agreement. "We have been monitoring the situation As it has progressed and for the moment we are wary of the individual." He said to Mikela. "For now I want to explore the avenue of foul play as a possibility, there is something that just doesn't add up."

Mikela nodded slowly and glanced over the list of names on the PADD. "I'll start looking this over right away, sir, and let you know if I find something. I'm thinking of dealing with emergencies only today, besides this, of course, and taking appointments starting tomorrow, first shift... will that suit you?"

Elijah nodded. "Very well, no issues here Lieutenant." He said with a smile.

"Thank you, sir." Mikela smiled back, glanced at the PADD again, then looked back at him. "Is there anything else, sir?"

"No that will be all thank you." Elijah said to her politely, he felt pleased having met the Counselor and finally getting some order around here.

Mikela nodded firmly and put the PADD back on his desk. She planted her cane, rested her hand on the desk, and, having prepared herself, rose effortlessly. Then she reclaimed the PADD. "I'll get right on this, then," she told him with a smile, and exited the office. This was a good start. It was a very good start.