A Request

[Cmdr Ayers 0]

Nick stretches and yawns as the turbolift that he's the sole occupant of takes him up to the Control Tower.  It's been a week since the refugees had started returning and things were barely more settled then they had been seven days earlier.  Still, he was able to find enough of a routine that he could allow his mind to wander to other concerns.  

 

      The turbolift slows to a stop and deposits him on the Control Tower.  With the lights muted for the night shift, the room took on an ethereal look and the few crewmembers present were little more then shadows illuminated by the faintly glowing control stations.  Stretching out his senses he detects the Captain's presence in his ready room.  Nick steps towards the door and enters when he hears the Captain's voice respond to the door enunciator.

 

      Stepping through he finds the Captain had apparently been tending to some paperwork that was probably overdue considering the number of data padds on the desk.  Nick says "My apologies for disturbing at this late of an hour, sir, but I thought it best that this be handled now rather then later.  That way arrangements can be made before things heat up again around here."  Nick sets the data padd he had been carrying on the desk.  As the Captain picks it up to read Nick takes the opportunity to sit down and quietly compose his thoughts.

 

      "Arrangements?" the Captain responds almost immediately. As the Andorian reads, his antennae shift slightly lower. Meve glances up from his reading and looks at Ayers, "I see. Where exactly are you looking to transfer to?"

 

      Nick shrugs slightly "Starbase 315 over in the BeTau system is in need of an Executive Officer.  I know the Captain, er...Admiral now actually, there as that was my first assignment out of the Academy.  The USS Renown is also in need of an Executive Officer.  She's currently on the fringe on the other side of the Beta Quadrant."  Nick steeples his fingers as he says "It doesn't really matter.  And to be honest it's not that I want to leave..it's that..well it might be best if I do.  I like this place but still we did rather..act poorly before..during the one incident.  Perhaps bad enough that it makes the situation untenable and as I'm the junior officer and this has been your home longer then it has been mine..."

 

       Meve tossed the document onto the desk, causing the padd to narrowly miss going off the edge. The Andorian leaned back in his chair and folded his arms, "Act poorly? I thought it was a great stress relieving exercise." The Captain shook his head, "Besides, junior officer or no, you came aboard only a few months after I did. Not as if I'm our Ferengi friend, who's been lurking around since time began."

 

      A faint smile appears ever so briefly but it just as quickly disappears as Nick returns to the business at hand.  "In one way I suppose it was a stress reliever.  However, that still doesn't cover up what happened.  We were affected by those particles and we tried killing each other.  And we both said some rather...distasteful things because of it."  Nick's next words come without thought really as he says "It wouldn't be the first time that my heri...."  

 

      Nick cuts himself off, not wanting to give voice to the words he was about to say.  Finally he says "As I said, I like it here and I would just as soon stay.  This place has certain....things that I was looking for when I started thinking of leaving the USS Venture.  However, a Commanding Officer and an Executive Officer need to be able to trust and respect each other for them to be able to lead and I guess part of me is wondering if that's still there now."

     

      Nick taps the padd with a finger and says "This is an offer more then a request."

 

       Meve leaned forward and shook his head, his antennae shifting position as well. "First, my race is known for it's temper and violent past. We make the humans with all of their planetary wars look tame. Those...hidden particle things....as you said affected both of us," the Captain forced out. The Andorian shook his head, "It was a situation which could not have been avoided under the circumstances. I...eh...."

 

       At this, Frederic stood and folded his arms behind him as he glanced out the window. The Andorian shook his head, folded his arms and leaned against the bulkhead. "Your request is denied," Meve said shaking his head again, "yes.  Not acceptable. I'm going to have a station being moved and I was told yesterday a Cardassian is coming aboard to do who knows what!"

 

      For being a member of a race of listeners, it still takes Nick a few seconds to digest all of what the Captain had just said.  He smiles momentarily then stands and says "As you wish, sir."  He turns and steps towards the door.  As it slides open Nick looks over his shoulder and says "And thank you, sir."