Environmental Controls
Posted on Fri Dec 8th, 2017 @ 2:40pm by
Edited on on Thu May 31st, 2018 @ 9:59pm
2,285 words; about a 11 minute read
Mission:
Episode 2 - The Enemy Within
Location: Chief Operations Officer's Office - Deck 6
Timeline: MD001 1500 hrs
Tags: SD 71370.1500
Richard stood just outside Operations with a blue edged PaDD in his hand. He touched the Braille letters once again just making sure he had made it to the right place before entering into the confines of Operations. He glanced around for the half Vulcan hoping she could spare some time.
T'Rish was frustrated with a particular Bajoran, but at least they seemed to be getting somewhere. The Crewman was at least showing up for her duty shifts and that was a start. She was standing in her office with her back to the door. She felt him before she saw him. The good Doctor was going to take some getting used too. Turning her almost smiled, "Lieutenant, What can I do for you?"
"I was wondering T'Rish," the physician said as he offered the woman a broad smile and extended the unique PaDD towards her, "if you could modify the environmental controls in my quarters to match that of my homeworld? This has all the data."
It was not an unusual request. She extended her hand and took the offered PaDD. She had only just met the Lieutenant but she liked him. He was intriguing and she felt some sort of camaraderie with their shared lack of training. "As long as it isn't anything to complicated I should be able." She began looking though the specifications. "Depending on the gravity coefficient in your grave plating, I may have to replicate a few things."
"Replicate," Richard questioned, "you mean the computers controls aren't enough t make the changes."
"Like I said," The Vulcan replied. "It depends on the gravity coefficient of the plating. Different areas of the ship and plates made on different days have slightly varying ability to adjust the gravity due to the warp stability matrix built into the ship." She looked back up at him. "When were you hoping to have this done?"
"I was hoping today," he said raising an eyebrow, "actually it has does have some effect on my health."
"I have some time now?" She offered. "Or, I can have a crew there in a few hours."
"Richard nodded and raised his eyebrows as he gazed at the blonde, "To be honest, I'd prefer if you would." In spite of his efforts not to seem needy his empathic friend would pick up on that in a heart beat.
T'Rish could feel the need from her Azzian friend. As with many thing with the good doctor, it intrigued her. "Sure, lead the way." She started. "I assume you found your way..eventually." She teased as she moved to grab her tool kit.
"I did," he chuckled, "thanks to you." He began to walk in the direction of his quarters and chuckled, "just don't change any of the braille signs."
"Unless they redesign the ship, that would be illogical." T'Rish replied frankly. She knew he was kidding, but it wasn't something she was accustomed to responding too. "Ready?" She asked once she had retrieved her tools.
Richard nodded and gave her a broad smile, "ready as I'll ever be." His eyes danced as he thought about the question, "I am the one who requested it."
T'Rish moved towards the door to her office and stood in the hallway waiting for the good Doctor. She fell into step with him as they approached the turbolift. "Thank you for lunch the other day." She said without prompting.
"Any time," Richard said with a broad grin, "I really enjoyed it.
He gazed over at her as he entered the lift and turned to face the front, "let's make it a regular event T'Rish, we can explore that Betazoid side of you."
"I believe I would like that." The Vulcan hybrid replied with a slight grin. The lift came to a stop on deck 2 and when the door parted she stepped out into the hallway. She stopped outside the Doctor's quarters.
Richard followed behind her and shook his head as she stopped so precisely at his set of rooms. He opened the door to his quarters and walked inside stepping to his left so T'Rish could follow.
The living space beyond was sparsely decorated. though typical of a department heads quarters. There was a rectangular dining table with seating for four along the wall to his right along with the replicator that created the food. and just to his left was his desk and COM station neat and orderly with a stack of multi colored PaDDs sitting neatly awaiting his perusal. Just a little farther to his left was another doorway and an incidental table where where his Betazoid chimes set waiting until his next meal to ring out. Then there was another wall with a single door that led to his bedroom and the bath just beyond it. In front of him was a small seating area with a few chairs and a coffee table. The back wall had three large windows looking out at the penlights of stars Richard had grown to love so much.
"Welcome to my abode," he said with a broad grin, "be it ever so humble."
T'Rish raised an eyebrow questioningly at Richard. All of the officer's quarters were similar and his weren't must different that her own. She stepped past him into his quarters and looked around. "So, I think we should start with the grav plating." She said easily as turned her attention back to him.
"Alright," Richard said with a grin as he tried to figure out where his humor had gone so flat. He drew in a breath and added, "how are you going to determine that?"
T'Rish moved over to the wall two meters to the left of the door. She began removing the wall panel which revealed one of the environmental control servos for his quarters. Pulling the PaDD he had handed her out of her bag she looked over the specifications he was requesting.
After a few minutes with her head in the wall panel she reemerged with news. "Well, the good new is that the controls in your quarters will not require any modification in order to adjust the gravity to your specification." She sank back on her legs where she was kneeling on the floor. "Should take me about twenty minutes make all the requested changes."
Richard had watched the woman for a few moments before he realized he was staring inappropriately at the half Vulcan admiring her female curves then turned his attention to the star filled view in front of him hoping she hadn't picked up on it.
"That's good," he offered with a smile, "can I get you anything, something to drink maybe?"
T'Rish smirked at her new friend as she leaned back into the wall panel with the necessary tools to begin the adjustments. She could sense his embarrassment. Those she wasn't certain she was assuming it was to his slight attraction to her. She may not have been able to deal with her own emotions, but she had been trained enough to recognize the feelings of others. "Hot tea, black, sweet would be great." She called as she pulled back and looked up at Richard with a smile.
His face flushed as he nodded at her and walked over towards the replicator, "hot tea, black, s,sweet."
Richard looked down and drew in a breath as the replicator did it's work then picked up the cup as it appeared. He turned to face the woman and chuckled, "o,one cup of t.tea for y,you."
"Are you ok, Doctor?" She asked as she took the offered cup. She brought the edge of the cup to her lips and savored the warm liquid. Her eyes fluttered closed as she enjoyed the sweet and spicy concoction that had become her primary method of comfort since she left home. She looked back up at him as her eyes opened again.
"Y,yes," Richard said as he tried to regain his composure, "I was doing good for a while but...." He drew in a deep breath and started over, "it used to be worse, I mean, the stuttering, when I am around and w,woman I f,find attractive." He let his eyes drift down towards the floor, "I'm, I'm sorry."
T'Rish turned to place the cup on a table that was near by before responding to the doctor's admission. "There is no need to apologize for your attraction to me. It is a common occurrence with many males I have encountered." Her tone was not one of arrogance, but matter of fact. She turned her attention back to him. "Being emphatic, I am not typically told so honestly. However, it is logical from a biological standpoint to seek attractive partners for mating. For instance, I find you quite attractive. You have a very pleasing symmetry to your facial features, your physique is close to the desired ratio between your hips and your shoulders and your disposition is more than pleasant. You would make a fine specimen for procreation..." She realized what she had said with a bit of surprise on her face before adding. "From a biological point of view."
They physician nodded and blushed even deeper as he pale eyes rested on her, "w,what does your betazoid side think?"
Richard looked away as he walked over to the windows trying to avoid eye contact though he could see her in the refection.
While she would never admit it, T'Rish hid behind her Vulcan heritage to avoid having to come to terms with situations like this. However, she had already grown accustomed to having someone like Richard around her. He was comfortable and made no demands that she change who she was, simply made suggestions. Rising to her feet she moved to stand next to her friend. "If I am being honest, which is only logical." She started looking out the window at the stars beyond. "My betazoid side, likes you very much. I feel drawn to you in a way and..." She braved a look up at him. "I find you extremely attractive." This was uncharted territory for the hybrid.
"T"Rish," Richard managed turning towards her, "I. I want to..." he stopped and drew in a breath, "kiss you."
The logical side of her brain told her this was a bad idea. He was bonded to other women and had a family. The betazoid part of her held on to the fact that she wanted him to. She didn't say anything she simply nodded in agreement.
Richard lifted his right hand and touched her cheek and leaned in closer to her. He could feel his breath coming warmly back form her as he let his lips rest against her cheek gently and pull back slightly, "dinner tonight, I, I have a holodeck reservation."
T'Rish focused to keep her breath steady. She was inexperienced when it came to physical contact with others. It took her a moment to realize that he had spoken. When she tried to answer nothing came out. She cleared her throat and tried again. "I would like that." Her voice did not sound like her own.
Richard stepped back slightly removing his hand from her cheek and fought his own battles with his physical excitement, "eight, eighteen hundred alright." he asked allowing the space between them to do their work at calming him down, "you might want to wear something other than your un, uniform, the program is of a house on Azzia.
T'Rish took a step back. Brushing her hand down her uniform in an attempt to calm herself. Controlling her breathing was the best way to push down the sensations that she had allowed herself to feel. She cleared her throat. "Anything in particular?" She asked softly as she moved back to the panel and finalized the environmental changes.
"Just be yourself," Richard said letting a smile cross his face, "it, it doesn't need to be f, formal." He took in a breath, "I, I just would like t, to spend some time with y, you."
T'Rish didn't really know who herself was. She seemed to be in a state of flux and she wasn't sure what she thought about it. She finished up the changes and began reattaching the panel. "There, the settings should be as you requested within the next fifteen minutes." She said as she rose from the floor and began to put her tools away. Once her case was shut she finally braved looking back up at him. "Eighteen hundred...no uniform. Anything else I should know?"
Richard tilted his head and blushed slightly, "I'm cooking some Azzian foods trying to get used to my own culture. He chuckled feeling less intimidated by the woman, "don't worry Azzians are vegetarians for the most part."
"Noted." The Vulcan replied. She plucked her bag off her table and moved to the door. "I will leave you to your business and see you this evening." She replied, returning to her cool Vulcan exterior.
The physician nodded as he smiled at his friend, "until then T'Rish."
With a nod of her head she turned and exited his quarters. She had some items to finish up prior to their dinner tonight. As she boarded the turbolift she chided herself silently for her behavior. Her fight for balance between the polar halves of herself was growing, and she wasn't sure who she hoped would win.
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Richard Ballston M.D. PsyD
Chief Medical Officer, USS Pioneer
Ensign T'Rish
Chief of Operations, USS Pioneer
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