The Price Of Wisdom

Posted on Mon Dec 7th, 2020 @ 12:38pm by Commodore Keiben Haistro & Lieutenant Commander Melanie D’BrooNi- Haistro

1,167 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 2 - Echoes Of An Empire
Location: Sickbay - CMO Office
Timeline: Mission Day 1 @ 1330 Hours

ON

Three major loose ends had just been tied up, just one remained and he was already on his way through the hallways towards his next destination, sickbay. He appreciated how unconventional his next ask would be but in the same vein as his conversations with Holt, Verona and Stoun he hoped she would understand his reasoning. On top of this Doctor D'BrooNi was still unaware of Keiben's monumentally good news. He even felt more of a spring in his step, despite his worries about taking the job on when his mentorship with Captain Davies had been so brief.

The doors slipped open to sickbay and he could see the Chief Medical Officer in the main of sickbay putting order to her new facility. Given the fact her last sickbay was almost completely written off, along with most aspects of the ship, it was comforting to see they had given this facility a complete overhaul and upgrade.

"Doctor D'BrooNi... I'm sorry to interrupt but would I be able to speak to you for a moment?"

"Your not ill are you?" the trill asked turning round concerned.

"No, quite the opposite actually" he said with a smile that put a twinkle in his eye. Over the time they had worked together he had come to respect D'BrooNi a great deal and that respect had quickly turned into a solid friendship that he would be lost without, but in the same vein he also needed her on another level, he just hoped she would accept.

Mel smiled. After all they had been through recently something about the idea of Haistro being ill seemed to upset her more than ever before and she was a doctor. Perhaps she was being too protective now. Perhaps ... oh she didn't know. She didn't have a clue.

"Good. Come into my office," she said. "Do fancy a cup of tea?"

"Please" he replied as her into her office, tugging at the front of his uniform as it started to ride up as he went.

Despite the ship being mostly fixed up now, she shuddered internally as they walked in. Her eyes still flashed back to that pile of bodies on her desk. D'BrooNi ensured that all her memories could be readily pulled up. She would have to work at this and find a way not to re-see it over and over, as she couldn't not work in her office. Swallowing slightly, she focused on the replicator and ordered the drinks before placing them on her desk and sitting down. Her eyes looked at the desk sadly so she forced her hands round her mug.

"What can I do for you Commander?" she asked.

"Actually its what you can do for me... I have word from the Admiral about who will be taking over Command of Copernicus".
He lifted the tea cup to his nose and inhaled deeply, the scent of the tea invigorating him before taking a sip. He savoured the flavours for a moment before regarding her again. "The Admiral has asked me to take over Command..."

He left the final statement hanging between them knowing fully she would understand his trepidations and worries but he gave her time to digest the information and form a reply before he continued.

"Well first up congratulations. I suspected that would be the case. They would have been bonkers not to offer you the command," she said simply. "But your still concerned you don't know enough or have the right level of experience?" she asked thoughtfully.

He was about to start his response but she cut him off, already knowing what he was going to say.

"You do Keiben," she said softly switching to his first name. "You have good people around you and you just need to weigh every situation up and listen to both," she reached over and touched his forehead briefly followed by placing her hand on his heart.

"Even having tons of experience," she thought about D'BrooNi nestled inside her. "It doesn't necessary mean your better of. You will make some mistakes. Just accept that and when it happens learn and move forward. But ultimately you have to trust in both." She flushed for a moment realising she still had her hand resting on his chest. Pulling that back she took a sip from her cup and waiting for a response.

He had started to bring his own hand up to place over hers but she removed hers before he had the chance, possibly a good thing.
"That almost brings me on to my real reason for coming down to see you... I hope you agree as it is a touch unconventional for a Starship... and I've already submitted the paperwork for it".

He retreated a little to the doorway, as if standing ready to duck behind the plexiglass window should she not react to well to what he had done.

"I know your duties in sickbay will consume a great deal of your time but with the new Medical staff coming on board and the EMH now fully functional again... I was hoping you would consent to take on an additional duty on the ship" he was almost rambling, working his way, however awkwardly to his question. "As the only other senior ranking officer I had hoped you would consent to take on the role of the ships second officer?"

Mel thought about it for a moment. Yes it was extra work but nothing she hadn't done before.

"One of my hosts was a second officer," she smiled. "Maybe I'll tell you about it sometime."

Also it was Keiben and he needed the support. In fact they had survived that attack together. It was like a new bond being forged now. Different bond between them. Something had certainly changed. She was certainly seeing and would now continue to see, Keiben Haistro in a different light. He was maturing rapidly now. He had too, thrown in by circumstances and it was wonderful to watch and cheer him on in this transformation.

"Yes I can consent to that for you," she said softly. "Anything you need off me you know I'm there in your corner. Always."

"Thank you" he said with a sincerity that was palpable before he leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. "I won't keep you Doctor... I can see you have your hands full. Mission briefing tomorrow morning at zero nine hundred hours!"

He cast her a smile before stepping away, suddenly feeling a touch awkward being stood so close in equal measure as feeling more than a touch too comfortable being this close to her. He was unable to comprehend her feelings, having found many years ago that he was unable to decipher the emotional states of a Trill and their Symbiont.

Mel swallowed. Several of her hosts flooded her with memories of prior loves and she felt her surprisingly her heart beat speed up. Well that was a surprise.

"Yes sir," she said after him.

END

 

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