Let's Get Reacquainted
Posted on Thu Jun 16th, 2022 @ 5:08am by Commodore Tyler Malbrooke & Lieutenant Amelia Zano Psy.D.
Edited on on Thu Jun 16th, 2022 @ 5:21am
2,222 words; about a 11 minute read
Mission:
Episode 13 - Crooked River
Location: Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: MD001 1200 hrs
The meeting didn't give Amelia much chance to say hello. She'd just came aboard when the meeting was called, it was nice to see that the Pioneer hadn't changed in her whims and ways. No chance to sit down and get comfortable.
Tyler had acknowledged her, albeit barely due to the circumstances, so she decided to give them a proper catch up. She noticed an familial affection towards his Yeoman, their relationship from a distance looked relaxed and settled. The smaller micro expressions were there if you knew where to look.
Amelia walked through the halls of deck 1 and moved onto the Bridge. So many unfamiliar faces already. She smiled at those that looked her way before settling in front of the door and pressing the bell.
Tyler went into the Ready Room after the meeting. He had to have a look at the reports coming from Igion. Tyler wanted to try to make sense of them before getting them on to his crew. Captain's prerogative to solve the case before anyone else, he thought. However, the ever present door chime brought him from the investigation. "Come..." he called to the door and when Zano stepped in he smiled.
Tyler had seen her at the briefing but did not have time to greet her properly. "Well well well... Look who came crawlin back." He smiled broadly.
"Well I heard you were desperate for a decent counselor who wasn't afraid to tell you off when you were bad I couldn't resist... sir." Amelia beamed as she entered the office. "Its nice to see you."
"It is nice to be seen, and to have you back. Yeah keeping a stable Counselor around these parts has been hard. Perhaps this crew is simply too far gone..." Tyler said as he chuckled at his joke. "Can I get you something Amelia?"
"Well, I didn't want to ask what you'd been doing to them Captain... but there are a few more screws loose here than I remember leaving." Amelia returned the joke. "No, thank you sir." she answered referring to his offer.
Tyler motioned for to sit and did the same after retriving a cup of coffee from the replicator. "It has nothing to do with me... You know the galaxy it just keeps surprising us. I am glad that you found my request for a new Counselor and came aboard. But tell me what have you been up to. I can't say I fully understand it but from what I read it seems interesting."
"Well as you know I was recruited by Dr Blanc as Starfleet Medical. He was starting a research project in which he believed the El Aurian genome, or our Dna, could be used to potentially create new vaccines, cures etc. We have a very diverse and unique dna." Amelia said to Tyler as he blinked at her. "It was thought that an El Aurian psychologist would be best with intake recruitment and monitoring the mental health of those involved. So, they asked me. It was too good an opportunity to pass up sir, but it did pain me to leave you all."
"Well I am glad that you were able to help in some way. If we had to lose you, then I am glad we lost you for a good cause. I am gladder that you are back. The crew could do with some good Counseling especially since the incident with Vaebn and his sister." Tyler paused as he reflected on what happened, he sipped his coffee. "That sounds like it was an awesome opportunity for you."
"I enjoyed my time back on Earth very much. Sometimes you don't realize how much you miss it until you set foot back on it." Amelia replied. "Yes, I will need to read Doctor Hol's reports, and the other related material on that before I can come up with some treatment plans. Although sometimes it is helpful to have no knowledge of the event, and let the patients tell me in their own words." Amelia admitted. "You know I am here for whatever the crew needs sir."
"Yes of course. But Vaebn and his sister have transferred to Starfleet Medical for definitive treatment. The Romulans really did a job on that poor girl. Perhaps you and Counselor Rynn can come up with a way to help them get through to her. Amelia I have to ask how things are with you though. You have told me about the project you have been working on. But what about you personally?" Tyler always considered his crew his family. But not his children, more like brothers and sisters.
"Yes, I had seen their transfer request. It truly is a sad sight to see someone in such a mental state of disarray." Amelia said a little solemnly. "I'll be in contact with Counsellor Rynn during the course of her treatment."
"As for me, things are fine. My father is still on command of the Jamaica and is coming up for his 8th year I think, most of my family are doing well." Amelia continued she was talking about everyone else but herself. Sometimes counsellors found it hard to open up about themselves without realising. "I am okay, not much to tell. I sadly don't live a very exciting life... unless you include medical research and genome mapping exciting. I mean I do, but I don't know if you would." she smiled a little weakly.
"Well the Pioneer has a habit of making things exciting for all. There is some big news though. You are to be one of many aunts and uncles. In a few months there will be a little Captain running around the ship. Kat is pregnant and we could not be happier." Tyler beamed, the feeling of being a proud dad settled over him.
"Oh Captain, that is amazing news." Amelia beamed. Her heart skipped a little at the news, and her face did not betray that emotion. "I couldn't be happier for you. I can't think of anyone who would make a better father than you, well maybe apart from my own but I'm biased on that. Auntie Amelia does have a nice ring to it though, you have to admit?"
"Yeah this kid is going to have a whole lot of aunts and uncles. Which is good because I have my hands full just keeping an eye on you lot..." Tyler chuckled. "I am excited and worried for the biggest and toughest mission of my life."
"Well, I am sure some of us can pick up some of the slack in keeping an eye on us. You have a senior staff for a reason, use us and take some of the pressure off of yourself. A new baby can bring forward a lot of different and challenging emotions, physical fatigue is common and I know you'll put on a brave face to everyone apart from your wife, and possibly your yeoman. I have sense a familiar type bond, more so than I have sensed with others of the crew. Almost like your consider her with a sisterly affection, one of trust and appreciation. So at least you have two women in your life that you may listen to." she teased.
Tyler smiled and realized not for the first time that Amelia was wise beyond her years. "Not just two, I have a sister on Poseidon Station, and a sister that I had never really spoken to now living aboard the ship. Not to mention present company. So I think I have my fill of wise women." He laughed again. "But how about you? I mean how do you feel about everything that is going on with your people?"
"Oh I don't think I am wise enough yet sir." Amelia waved away the compliment, even if it was a nice one. She appreciated the words but she knew she was still pretty much in childhood compared to that of her species.
"As for my people, it depends on how much you know sir." Amelia said with a vague purpose. "I know we have sent an Ambassador out, that we are looking to 'join' the community... but my people are Humans." she said honestly. "And that's not be sucking up... I was born on Earth, grew up there. Sure I have different genes, abilities, but I consider myself more Human than El Aurian... to the annoyance of my father sometimes I think."
Tyler harrumphed at the thought of going against one's family. "Well their loss is our gain I would guess. Speaking of Ambassadors... Since you have been gone we have been assigned to do more work with the Romulans. I have been told that there is an Ambassador Loval on Poseidon Station. Try to make contact with him, see what the Empire may be up to. It would also be prudent to reestablish your connections with the Detapa Council. We would hate to leave our Cardassian friends in lurch as it were." Tyler was always the Captain and never missed a chance to segue into something work related.
Amelia smiled at Tyler's kind comment. "We always seem to be burning the midnight oil... well all the oils." She scratched the back of her head. "Starfleet has always looked to us, kept us busy. Must be your face sir, welcomes Admirals in with charm and makes them give us all the good assignments." She half joked.
"I'll reach out to Loval's people, my experiences with Romulans are limited. However, I do still have contacts on Cardassia that I can use to see how things are there... if they are still there. You know how dangerous Cardassian politics can be..."
"Quite so but right now things on Cardassia Prime are nice and easy. It seems that there was a major upheaval there after the Obsidian Order showed its face again. They want to make sure that they do not repeat the mistakes of the past." Tyler tried to relieve any worries that the woman may have had about Cardassia. "You know you are right I seem to always be working. I am sorry, it is damn good to have you back Amelia."
"Why thank you sir." She gave a small dramatized nod. "It is nice to be back. Also it is nice to see that things on the ship never change too much. Always all go, all the time, especially you." Amelia thought for a moment. "Just get all your working out of the way now. Your wife is going to need you more than you think when the baby comes. Sunshine and rainbows need tempering sometimes, and you don't want to miss out on things because you're scanning space dust."
It was a little push sure, but she felt they had a close enough relationship where her advice would be listened too without too much presumption on her part. She had no children of her own, but had experience with some younger family members.
Tyler smiled as he appreciated the thought that there was something larger than his ship and his crew that he had to worry about now. There was his family, Kat and the little one that grew inside her. "Yeah if I can only make the galaxy that much safer before the little one comes I will be happy. But it will probably never be safe enough..." His voice trailed off as all of the thoughts a new parent goes through passed through his mind. "...Looks like I am going to have to go have a chat with that Cardassian school teacher of ours. I mean if he is going to teach the Captain's child he better be up to snuff. I can leave the scanning of space dust to Neil and the rest of the crew."
"I think that is very wise sir." she said with a faux smugness to her as if she'd won a battle of wits that never truly happened. "I knew you'd find it hard to resist my advice... and that's without me using my pheromones." she joked. "As long as you lean on the people around you when you need to then everything will be fine for you, for Kat and little Malbrooke."
"Thanks Amelia, and as I said before it is good to have you back." Tyler's smile broadened. He often found it hard to confide in anyone and found it hard to communicate about his feelings. However, Zano had a way of getting him to open up.
"Thank you sir." she said rising. Amelia felt the finality of his words and sensed he had important things on the horizon that needed his attention. He rose with her and they walked to the door. "You know my door is always open, anytime you need. Captain's privilege." she joked.
"Better be careful I may just take you up on that." Tyler watched as the woman left. He prided himself on making his crew family, but he kept most of them at arms length. Perhaps it is time that he let one of them in.
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Amelia Zano
Chief Counselor, USS Pioneer
Captain Tyler Malbrooke
Commanding Officer, USS Pioneer
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