Joint Duty Log - Capt Ivanova, LtCmdr Waterhouse, LtCmdr Neyes - "From A to Zed"

Posted on Tue Aug 26th, 2014 @ 3:12am by Admiral Rochelle Ivanova & Commander Amelia Waterhouse & Commander Tristan Neyes PhD.

2,009 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: In the Dark
Location: Vindicator Bridge

=/\= Turbolift =/\=

"Now remember what we talked about?"

"Yes, Papa. Be good. Don't run." The five-year old Trill boy summarized.

Tristan smiled. His only son, now on board a massive starship. Zed had spent the better part of the morning zipping about their spacious quarters in preparation for this very moment. For the past hour and half he'd been quietly rehearsing the conversation he was going to have with the Captain. Asking her what her favorite part of the ship was, and how early she had to get up in the morning. So far, Neyes' favorite part was how he'd begged to be done up clean and handsome. His little dirty blonde hair combed up and over to the side, a neat blue collared human-style shirt.

"Great. Close enough. Remember to call the Captain, 'ma'am'. You can also call her Captain Ivanova. Ok?"

Zed fidgeted, growing visibly nervous and excited at the sounds of the slowing turbolift. "Ok, Papa."

=/\= Bridge =/\=

Rochelle stood with her hands folded neatly in front of her not more than a few paces off from the lift doors. Beside her stood her executive officer, the two of them pillars of Vindicator pride as they awaited what Rochelle had only described to the bridge crew as a very important guest. She'd demanded they be on their best behaviors, spruced up, shined, polished and inspection perfect. First impressions, after all, would always last the longest.

She was a regal creature, strong and elegant as she waited with her shoulders square and her feet a shoulder's width apart. It was classic style, perhaps that Andrea herself would have given her entire life's saving to finally see — Rochelle Ivanova adhering to regulations and waiting for one of the most important dignitaries of all; a young child about to take their first steps out onto the bridge. A momentous occasion indeed, even if the woman honestly loathed the idea of running into that child's father.

Amelia had truly lived up to Rochelle's request, she'd spit and polished up as much as she had for the visit to Malone's office. French twist instead of French braids, everything polished up perfect. She was indeed the model of an officer. She was curious about this Tristan Neyes that has the crew so much in a tizzy. Besides, she remembered her first visit to a starship bridge, and she loved being able to do that for the next generation.

The turbolift doors hissed open to reveal the wide-eyed little boy waiting on the other side. The bright lights parted across him and the magnificent view of the bridge filled the doorway. Zed audibly gasped in awe at the sheer size of the massive room. All the sounds and flashing panels caught the young boy's every bit of attention. Without saying anything, he beamed with excitement. Neyes rested a hand on his son's shoulder and led him down the gangway toward the Captain and the First Officer.

"FUTURE CAPTAIN ON DECK!" yelled an officer, the crew standard at attention as the young tow-headed boy made his way out onto the bridge. Rochelle couldn't contain a smile that dared to tug at the corner of her lips. Wide eyed fascination, that was one of the best things about children.

"Captain," Neyes said proudly, "I'd like to introduce you to my son."

Zed immediately launched his hand forward and up in a little salute. "Good morning, Ma'am Captain Eye-van-nova."

The Captain immediately snapped a salute back to the boy, "Good morning, sir." she greeted jovially, giving Neyes only a passing glance of approval and a nod of acknowledgment, "Are you ready for your tour?" She asked, tugging on her slacks before crouching down to be on the boy's level. "I'd like to introduce you to my first officer, Commander Waterhouse. She's agreed to resign her commission for the day and let you be my number one, haven't you?" A grin brightened her pretty features as she looked up towards Amelia from over her shoulder. It was a rare sight, the warrior so at ease and tempered down by one of the smallest beings in any star system. Who knew a child was all it took to melt the ice Queen.

"I couldn't possibly ask for a better replacement," Amelia insisted. She'd saluted along side Ivanova, and now stood at parade rest. Her eyes drifted from the future captain up to the father. The brother of the man Ivanova had nearly died with. His presence left a wake on the ship, and Amelia was trying to decide what needed to be done to resolve it. For now, the adorable five year old was distraction enough to leave his father on the back burner of Amelia's mind.

Zed looked up at Tristan questioningly, waiting for him to approve or acknowledge the incredible offer. He quickly tugged on his father's pant leg, eager to hear some kind of official reply.

"You heard the Captain, Zed. You don't want to disobey orders do you?" Neyes said playfully, brushing the boy's hair as he grinned excitedly.

Zed's voice nearly broke a register. "Really?!"

Tristan looked to Ivanova. For all their tense feelings, for which he barely recalled the particulars, he knew she could be trusted with this. Her face spoke volumes about her and children just as soon as Zed stepped out of that turbolift. Any fears Neyes had of her backing out of introducing Zed to Starfleet faded away. Zed would have been devastated beyond belief if she had given in to what he was sure was either apathy or uncertainty about her situation with them.

Straightening up and rising back to her far from formidable height, the Captain's warmth refused to die. The boy encouraged her own exuberance to come play, dancing in the limelight after being tamped down for so very long. "Really." She nodded, looking between the five year old and Amelia, pleased as punch that her first had been such a gracious sport. It didn't take long for her attention to find Tristan, the unspoken gratitude written across his face was only met with an almost imperceptible nod. They'd found a wordless understanding; come what may between them, Zed would never suffer for it.

"Come, Sir, there's much to be seen." She said, offering the tow headed boy her hand, fingers wiggling ever so slightly in invitation for him to take it.

Watching Zed brought Amelia back to her first visit to the bridge. She'd been six, and her brother Noah four, when the two of them had been invited to the bridge of the USS Takeda Shinen by Captain Sevel. The same woman who later wrote Amelia's recommendation letter that got her into Starfleet Academy four years early. As the memories of what the Akira class bridge had looked like from child's eye washed over Amelia, she fell back to stand next to Tristan while Rochelle beckoned Zed forward for his tour.

Zed bounced forward and took Rochelle's hand with delighted enthusiasm. His smile was quickly once again replaced with awe as the Captain spoke to him. Star-struck, the boy followed Rochelle off to begin their tour.

Closing her hand gently around his, the spirited little redhead had to contain herself from skipping off and instead lead him across the bridge with the dignity and elegance her position demanded of her. The big chair was first, the most important aspect of the bridge. What better way to start a tour than to allow the future Captain to feel what such a throne felt like. Rochelle had been handed kryptonite, folding away her fiery temper for at least an afternoon.

Neyes couldn't help the warm grin planted on his face, even though he still felt gutted every time Zed and him parted ways. This time at least, he knew his son was in good hands. He looked pleasantly to Commander Waterhouse, "Thank you. For all this, I mean. I haven't seen him so excited in, ...well I don't know how long."

"Happy to do it. I was only a little older when I got a tour like he's getting today," Amelia admitted, her eyes following the little blond spotted boy. "Red pigtails bouncing as I bounded around the bridge, following our Vulcan captain as her almost-smile teased her lips. My little brother hung back, clinging to our mother's hand and half-hiding behind her."

"That actually sounds a lot like Landon when we were younger." The words fell out, half-accidentally. As he spoke them, the guard he'd erected to keep everyone safe from remembering who died to make him who he was fell away. Landon was gone, and it would serve the crew to protect them from that fact no longer. His eyes danced over Ivanova at that thought, her playing with Zed, almost seeming happy since he'd met her officially.

"I also hear you like tea." Tristan offered, "If you'd like, I can introduce you to some older Trill blends. I developed- ...I mean, Reed developed some... eclectic blends in the early 22nd century. Zed loves the caranberry mix, but I prefer something a little more aromatic."

Amelia considered the Trill man standing next to her, and the comment made about Landon — the previous host, and the current host's brother. There were too many things weird in this equation; the symbiosis commission passing the slug to a host that was related to the previous, both them and Starfleet approving assigning him to the vessel the previous host had commanded despite the rules about reassociation. She at least had the benefit of not having memories of Landon to cloud her interactions, the only memory of him was him in a coma being picked up by the symbiosis commission's people.

"Dad and Gran'Dad got me on tea from an early age, though so far most of my experience is with earth varieties," she admitted, watching him watch his son and the captain interact. The boy's energy filled the bridge and even the officers who'd arrived bleary eyed and tired this morning couldn't help picking up some of his enthusiasm. "I would love a chance to try something Trill."

Tristan smiled in pleasant surprise, "Then it's settled. Stop by for some tea, bring a friend if you'd like, and I'll have Zed replicate some after-tea dessert. He makes an excellent sugar cookie." He had expected her to politely decline. Given she seemed to be attached to Rochelle by a strong friendship, there was no reason for her to take his olive-branch. Then again, it would afford her an opportunity to get to know him so she could offer more to Ivanona on their subject. Either way, he found himself unable to resist her potential for good. What the new Captain needed most of all was someone to be there for her, and it would seem she had an excellent sounding-board in Commander Waterhouse.

"Sounds great," she answered, having been expecting a tin with tea bags or something, not a proper tea party. With Zed seeing to dessert, she'd have to find another host gift to bring. Perhaps a potted plant, and a comic for the little one? She could only assume the open invite for a friend was meant for Rochelle; Amelia would certainly ask, but it was ultimately up to the little phoenix if she'd rather Amelia gather intel alone or with her help. "When did you have in mind?"

"My schedule is flexible, while I happen to know yours is not. Seeing as you are First Officer, Ms. Waterhouse, I will defer to your timing. Just give me an hour or so to prepare, otherwise it is an open-invitation. You are always welcome to visit.

"Now if you'll excuse me I should probably catch up with those two." He pointed to the Captain and her mini-number-one, "See you at tea." Then he strode off to follow along on the tour.

---

Captain Rochelle Ivanova
Commanding Officer
USS VINDICATOR

Lieutenant Commander Amelia Waterhouse
Executive Officer
USS VINDICATOR

Lieutenant Commander Tristan Neyes
Ship Counselor
USS VINDICATOR

Zed Neyes
Mini-Numero-Uno
apb Landon

 

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