"The Chance of a Lifetime"
Previous post: "Jealousy rears it's ugly head"
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Stardate: 60300.1000
Setting: STARFLEET HEADQUARTERS, Admiral Smith's office.
Susan sat in the seat she'd been told to sit in. She thought this was a good start. Aside from that, she had no idea what to do or say. So she sat perfectly still except for a slight tremble of excitement (or nervousness - at the moment she didn't know which) and waited for the man sitting across from her to speak.
He seemed to be doing likewise: waiting for her to speak.
The Admiral with the gray eyes and gray hair was staring at her as if she was an interesting specimen that may (or may not) be worth squashing. Eventually he cleared his throat and looked down at the PADD he was holding, "You are Ensign Susan Mei. Correct?"
She nodded, then, fearing that a nod was too informal stated in as clear a voice as she could muster, "Yes sir."
He scrolled down his PADD, "Daughter of Admiral Drake Mei and Mrs Anna..."
"Yes, sir."
The Admiral stared at Susan as if he'd just decided that she should, indeed, be squashed. She knew her reply had been to hasty and immediately apologized, "I'm sorry sir, I'm just... really enthusiastic."
Surprisingly, the man smiled, "Yes, ensign. I can see that."
His eyes returned to the PADD as he scrolled through the rest of her information.
Susan's mind began to wonder as she watched him. Why was she here? Was he going to offer her a position on a ship? In an office? Or had she been called in for some other reason? She thought back to the message she had found waiting for her after the graduation ceremony. She had been ready to go back to her family's home in Old New York. Her things had been transported there earlier in the day. The plan had been that she would return home straight after graduation with her father for a brief 'gap-six-months' to decided where to apply. At the last minute, Susan had returned to her old quarters to say goodbye to her roommate... and found a message waiting on her computer. The message had not been very specific. It had merely stated that "Ensign Susan Mei" should "report to Starfleet Headquarters at 10:00" the next day.
Now here she was. Sitting in a gray office staring at a man with gray hair and gray eyes who in turn was now staring at her.
"Ensign Mei." he said, "I have an offer for you." She waited for him to say more, her heart pounding. "How," he asked with a completely straight face, "Would you feel about being Head Counselor on one ofour intelligence vessels?"
She gaped at him. "I'm sorry, sir. I don't believe I heard you correctly."
The Admiral's face was still straight, but there was a sparkle in his eyes that hinted at a touch of humor, "What do you believe you heard, Ensign?"
Susan swallowed and took a deep breath in an attempt to steady her voice, "I... I believe that you just offered me the position of Head Counselor on... on an intelligence ship, sir."
The man smiled, "I'm glad to see that you have no problem hearing, Ensign. Such a handicap could be very problematic to a Head Counselor."
Susan's head was swimming and before she could stop herself she stuttered, "w-why?"
Unperturbed, the Admiral picked up another PADD, "The crew of the ship I have in mind has just been to hell and back. They need a counselor."
Susan was still puzzled. "With all due respect, sir... that sounds like a job for someone with a bit more experience."
The Admiral's eyes moved down to the PADD he was holding, "I beg to differ, Ensign. Someone with more experience knows more people and is much more likely to ask questions... or be the subject of questions. You are suitably experienced for the job, your Academy grades are good and, I believe, you are able to start immediately?" He looked up expectantly.
"You mean I have to decide now?" asked Susan, anxious to discuss the offer with her father first.
The Admiral smiled wanly, "I am afraid so. If you do not wish to fill the position, I'm sure there are many others among your classmates that would be quite enthusiastic..."
He let the sentence hang. His eyes met hers. She knew that he had chosen the word 'enthusiastic' carefully. Hadn't she told him that she was just that? Enthusiastic. Yet, he was asking her to make a life-altering decision. Here. Now. Without thinking it through properly. Without asking advice. She bit her lip and looked down at the smooth, wooden desk.
"Where... where is this ship?" she asked quietly.
The Admiral had been prepared for that question and answered in an automated voice, "I'm afraid that information is classified."
She should have known. "I want to accept." she explained, voicing her thought more than expecting the Admiral to offer advice, "but..." she trailed off, thinking of her home and her father, the responsibilities and the... danger.
"But?" the admiral prompted.
Susan paused for a minute before she asked, "You really feel I'm qualified for the job?"
The Admiral looked her straight in the eye, that touch of humor present, "All I can say, Ensign, is that you came highly recommended. It's your decision and yours alone whether you accept this post. I won't lie to you. The ship knows how to get herself tangled up in all kinds of trouble. But I wouldn't underestimate trouble, Ensign. I don't know you personally, but I am assuming that you didn't just go through four years of Nimembeh to sit next to the Hudson, fishing?"
Surprised as she was by the sudden stream of advice, Susan smiled, "No, sir."
He nodded curtly, "And I am also assuming that you didn't go through a year of special training in extra terrestrial counseling in order to sit behind some desk on EARTH or wonder around the solar system in some assistant position?"
Susan shook her head, "No, sir."
"I said it's your decision, Ensign. And it is. All I can tell you is that this may be the chance of a lifetime. I wouldn't pass that up."
Susan lowered her eyes again and ran her fingers over the desk. He was right. She had been offered the chance of a lifetime. If she went home now and in six months time applied for a position on another ship. If she got that position as an assistant. If she rose up the ranks as she had expected to. If everything went exactly as she had planned... would she ever be able to forgive herself for not taking this chance? As soon as she had answered that question, she met the admiral's eyes. "When do I start?"
The admiral smiled, "A shuttle departs from here at 06:00 tomorrow."
So at 06:00 the next morning Susan Mei set off for NEW ALEXANDRIA and her new life.
--------------- 2005 post #065
Tallulah Habib {thabib@eject.co.za}
Ensign Susan Mei
Head Counsellor
USS ANUBIS
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"Life is mostly froth and bubble,
Two things stand like stone,
Kindness in another's trouble,
Courage in your own." - Adam Lindsay Gordon
