The Road Goes Ever On

Posted on Mon Nov 23rd, 2020 @ 7:43am by Commodore Mardel Shayron-Connor & Lieutenant Commander Jackson Esposito Dr

1,523 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Shake Down Mission
Location: Starfleet Command

Jackson lee Esposito had been in Starfleet command a handful of times, but today was the day he was to be reassigned to the USS Aldrin! no matter the occasion he always had a lab coat on, old habits die hard. He'd been in a medical jacket most of his natural adult life and it always felt weird when he had to take it off. His hair was done up nealty and his on duty standard issues medical uniform was fresh and well presented. His hands riffled through his medical jacket pocket, as he walked through the doors of Starfleet command. Walking across the vast hallway to the admin assistant "Ensign Eposito to see Captain Connor?" he spoke with a smile "I'll Notify her that your here please take a seat over there"The admin assistant pointed to a set of chairs and he made his way over to them.


Mardel got the notification that the new medical officer was in the lobby waiting for her. She took a moment and finished reading his file and then turned it off and left her temporary office and headed down to the lobby. She liked what she saw in Esposito's files and knew he would be a good match for Nightwing in Medical. When the lift doors opened, she stepped from the lift into the lobby. It was kind of hard to hide her bright green skin, dark green hair, and brilliant green eyes that marked her as full blooded Orion and the red command uniform did nothing to down play it, unlike when she wore the medical uniform from her early days. There were several people sitting in the lobby, so she simply called out the name. "Esposito, if you will come with me." She waited to see who would stand and join her at the lift.


Jackson got up "Over here Captain" he said walking over with his hands in his medical jacket, command was filled with people today, but it wasn't something he wasn't used to. Being on crowded starships had been his life. He was now in spitting distance of his new commanding officer, green skin green eyes obvious signs of an Orion. Taking his right hand out "Ensign Esposito At your service" he said stopping in his tacks awaiting to follow.


Smiling, Mardel shook his hand. "Captain Connor, let's go have a chat." She turned and entered the lift again and when both were in the lift, she glanced over at him. "I started out in both medical and counseling myself, it's always nice to meet someone who is dedicated to healing others." She said conversationally. Then the lift stopped and she stepped out and waited for Ensign Esposito and then walked down the corridor to her office and opened the door for him. "Please, make yourself comfortable, if you want something to drink, the replicator is to the left, help yourself."


Jackson smiled as he shook her hand "Nice to meet you captain" his grip was firm, he unclasped as he followed her into the turbo lift "Glad to see we have that much in common, healing people has always been in my blood" that statement was truer than he knew "I was a counselor for all the problem kids at the academy i unofficially of course as I was a student too" he said laughing "My mother always told me I had the heart of an angel and hands of a healer you ask me I'm just good with a tricorder and hypo spray" he said nervously rubbing the back of his head. He stepped out following her to her office "Captain ill just make my self a cup of tea I haven't had one all day" he said walking over the replicator asking it for a cup of tea, once it replicated he walked over and perched in on the chair the other side of the desk.


She watched him as he moved and nodded to herself, taking her seat at the desk. "Ensign, I have looked over your record and I must say it's impressive. I am curious, did you ask for the Aldrin or were you simply assigned to the Aldrin?"

He sipped from his tea dipping his head a little a chuckle escaped his lips "Well i requested an assignment change and here I am they gave me to the ship that needed me most I'm assuming" he said looking at her a small smile on his face "Well my record is only as good as the commanders that taught me" he was a humble man after all, his achievements might of been mostly him but he wouldn't be the man he is without those commanders guidance "I hope to learn even more from you captain" he said taking another sip of tea.


"Well, I am rarely in Sickbay anymore, now that I'm captain. But our chief medical officer is very good as well and has some interesting techniques that she might teach you. Her name is Lieutenant Commander Nightwing K'Treva, or something like that, I forget which clan she is from. And yes, we do have a strong need for qualified medical personnel as we lost most of them in the last few missions due to circumstances beyond our control. I should probably warn you, the Aldrin tends to end up in some precarious situations. If you don't like excitement, then I would suggest you request at different assignment. However, if you do like excitement, then I am pleased to welcome you aboard."

Jackson smiled "Well that is good my father was a medical officer for many years before he retired and always tried to impart some wisdom unto me about life is nothing without a little risk" which his father was correct. Jackson had always lived his life as if it may very well be the last time he saw the sun or the moon for that matter. He looked around and then back to his commanding officer "Well i can assure you captain excitement and risk are both things i have always strived for life is awfully boring without them" he said taking another sip from his cup of tea.


Nodding, Mardel looked at him carefully again. "I like the attitude, but that begs the question, do you live life as the Klingons, with the motto, "Today is a good day to die." ? I know it may sound strange, my asking these questions, but I do have my reasons." She clasped her hands together on the desk and it was a relaxed clasp, light and not too tight She appeared to be totally at ease.

Jackson folded his hands on the table "I live by the motto do today what could make you proud if you died tomorrow; similar in essence but more something I've always told my self" he said setting down his tea.

Mardel relaxed a little more and smiled. "Very good answer, Doctor. Now then, how extensive is your knowledge of xenobiology? In other words, can you treat those of other races than just human or even just the basic races in the Federation?"

Jackson had extensive experience with xenobiology "I've treated Everything from a Klingon to a Race Called the Altans in the gamma quadrent. I have some experience dealing with species outside the federation its really where the fun lies trying to figure out physiology and the differing ailments that effect that biology" he said with a brief smile.

"That is good to know. I have put into the Starfleet medical journal how to treat Orions, since I am on the ship, I will expect you to read through that so that if something were to happen to myself and a cousin who is also on the ship you will be able to treat us." She said simply. "You will meet the rest of the medical crew when we once again board the ship. Welcome to the Aldrin, Ensign." She stood and held out her hand again to him.

Jackson was taking everything in "understood captain" he said with a brief smile, as he fidgeted in his seat "thank you for the warm welcome" he said twiddling his thumbs " How many do we have medical wise?" an obvious question but he needed to know as he stood he took her hand and shook it.

'Our chief medical officer is Lieutenant Commander Nightwing K'Treva. She's a wonderful healer. We have a good staff of assistant doctors and nurses, and in a jam we have enough to make sure things are taken care of. I am happy though to be welcoming you aboard as we do have holes in medical that need filling and I feel you can do that, Esposito."

Jackson stood "I will endevor to see you soon captain once we get back onto the ship" he said pushing his chair in "Once again thank you for the warm welcome" he said turning to face the door.

Mardel watched him leave and smiled. She just added another talented person to her wonderful crew. It wouldn't be long and she would have the finest crew in Starfleet.

 

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