In The Evening...

Posted on Fri Jan 19th, 2024 @ 12:45am by Lieutenant Commander Jaal Jaxom & Lieutenant Commander Isabelle Savette

1,403 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Investigate the Chintoka Shipyard Buildup
Location: Ten Forward, Deck 10
Timeline: current

It was late in the evening on the Blackeagle. Ten Forward was not particularly crowded, about a dozen people were scattered about the lounge. Couples, one trio, and one Trill sitting alone at the bar.

The newly minted Lieutenant Commander Jaxom sat with one arm resting on the bar while he stared into a drink that occupied a half filled glass as he contemplated his future. He seemed oblivious to everything else.

Entering the lounge Isabelle was looking for some company, it was lonely sitting around in her quarters. Noticing Jaal she made her way over to the bar offering a smile. “Hello Lieu...” she paused. “Commander?” She smiled as she noticed his change of uniform and rank. “It looks like Congratulations are in order!”

"Yeah," he answered with a smile growing on his face as he turned to face her, "it surprised the hell outa me too, and thank you. I hope the red isn't clashing with my spots."

“Not at all, it looks good on you,” Isabelle smiled warmly. “Would you like some company? I’m fed up of sitting around my quarters alone, so I thought I’d come here.”

"I don't mind at all," Jaal replied, "I was just sitting here thinking about how no one I knew back at the Academy is gonna believe I've ranked up this fast. I hardly believe it myself."

“I’m sure the Captain knows what he’s doing. You’ve earned your promotion.” Isabelle smiled as she paused to order herself a drink, nodding as the bar tender handed a Risan sunset to her.

"It's just that was, well, kind of a screw off at the Academy," Jaal told her with a half-grin, "My disciplinary record is not, shall we say, pristine. But you're right, I'm sure he knows what he's doing and if he didn't think I could do it, he wouldn't have asked me in the first place."

“Exactly” Isabelle nodded. “You should be celebrating, It’s not every day you make First Officer.” She sipped her drink. “I don’t think I’ll rush to be a pilot anytime soon, it’s not really for me.”

Jaal scoffed, "C'mon, you did great. It never hurts to know how to pilot when the occasional emergency happens."

“I guess” she nodded. “It was just...odd that’s all. I’m a Counsellor at heart, Intel trainee much like other people around here but a Counsellor nonetheless.”

Jaal’s look turned serious a moment deciding maybe, a counselor might have the answer he was looking for, "I had no idea this was an SFI ship when I was assigned here. I just wonder what the intention was when I was assigned. Having forty-two demerits on one's record doesn't typically open up a lot of opportunity."

“You’d be surprised, someone like you is a wildcard. Intelligence agencies tend to like wildcards, they prove to be useful. They probably saw something in you they liked, and you’ve proven yourself now haven’t you?” She smiled warmly.

Jaal looked contemplative for a moment. "I guess I never thought of it like that before," he looked at her while he spoke raising one eyebrow. "Here's to continued success." he raised his glass to toast.

*Chinking her glass against his* “To continued success” Isabelle sipped her drink. “It seems I’m stuck with the new hardware I accrued during the mission, the Doctor has removed the outer Borg implants I sprouted but the inner ones seem to be too well intertwined with my nervous system and brain stem. Fortunately they’re not sending out any signals, so I’m no risk where the Borg are concerned.”

He shook his head while setting his empty glass down. "Borg anything is nothing to screw around with..." he leaned back a measure rubbing his chin in thought. "I'm surprised they can't just use the transporter to get them out."

Isabelle shrugged her shoulders. “Maybe they could but it could also activate the nanites and put them in self defence mode, I don’t think any of us would want that. Admitting I’m just guessing here.” She sipped her drink.

Jaal slowly nodded in acceptance of her answer. “So that doesn’t bother you at all? You seem rather calm about it.”

“There’s not much I can do about it, so why worry?” Isabelle offered a smile. “It’s not ideal, but it’s also not causing any issues right now. If the time comes when it does then I’ll worry.”

Her statement made surprising sense to Jaal. What made even more sense, he realized, was how that was typically how he dealt with unideal events in his own life. "I guess that's the best way then," he spoke with his contemplative tone.

“It’s not ideal, but that’s the way it is.” Isabelle downed some more of her Risan sunset. “Actually this is nice, getting to talk socially instead of in my office all the time.”

The corners of Jaal's mouth turned upward again, "I can only imagine. I appreciate the time I get on the bridge... but now that I'm the XO, I have to pick someone in ops to take over for me." His eyebrows went up and down once, "One more thing to add to the list."

Isabelle nodded. “It’s a job that keeps on giving huh?”

Jaal nodded stoically, "Yeah, it's a little more work than I thought it'd be..." a small grin came back to his face, "... still not sorry I accepted it though."

“Good” Isabelle smiled. “I’m going to say the same thing to you, as I said to the Captain. As ships Counsellor I’m not just here to counsel I’m here to be a sounding board, and advisor. Anytime you need to let off steam, or need to talk I’m never far away.”

"I'll definitely keep that in mind," he told her earnestly. "Thank you."

Isabelle smiled and nodded. “My pleasure.” She finished off her drink wondering whether to get another or not. “I’m hoping that maybe one day the Captain will trust me, but I’m not holding my breath.”

“He’s…” Jaal’s mouth became a thin straight line as he thought of the most diplomatic way to express how he felt, “… he’s a hard man, but he’s also fair… for people like that trusting isn’t always easy. I think one has to earn that trust and it’s not an easy thing to earn.” He rubbed his chin in thought and added, “He’s one of those captain’s that won’t order you into anything he wouldn’t do himself. That goes a long way with the rank and file.”

Isabelle nodded. “Fair enough. This is my home now, one way or another I’ll earn that trust.” She smiled warmly.

He could see her determination in her eyes and body language. "Of that I have no doubt," he returned her smile.

Isabelle offered a warm smile. “So Commander, what do you have planned for the rest of this evening?”

A wry smile appeared on his face, "I have a project I need to finish for Captain Kerr," he said with some disappointment in his tone. "It's pretty important. I was just taking a small break here to give my eyes a rest from the computer terminal."

Isabelle nodded. “Fair enough, anything you could use a hand with? As I always say my door is always open.” She smiled warmly.

Jaal's expression took on a sly quality. He had a feeling he knew what was going on. "I'll certainly keep that in mind," he replied in tone that let her know he knew she wasn't talking professionally.

After everything that had happened the last couple of days, he just wasn't in the mood for anything. He needed to heal, he needed to re-center himself, and get ready for whatever crazy shit the captain was going to throw at him next.

"I guess I should be heading home anyway," Isabelle smiled warmly. "It's been nice talking with you Commander."

"It was nice talkin' to you also," he offered a wink hoping she'd realize he was open to talking to her again.

Isabelle nodded. "I'll look forward to it Commander." with that she got up from her seat to head on home.

 

RSS Feed