LT Zenno - Attitude Adjustment à la Astrid
Cobalt Penumbra
((OOC - This takes place immediately after the JP Plomeek Soup Sandwich ))
((Passageway, Deck 3 USS Arrow))
Zenno was as close to furious as he ever gets. He was often strict at work, but in his personal life he was much more easy going and relaxed. But Saava had gone over the line. Way over. And she wouldn’t even have realized it. She was in for a combination scolding, lecturing, rebuking, and dressing-down the likes of which she only ever heard whispers about.
When he first came on board the ship, everyone else was on shore leave and the place was deserted. He had used the time to memorize the number of steps between key locations on the ship. He could make his way blindfolded or in a loss of all lighting to any spot on the ship. To keep his mind from flying completely out of his head, he counted on the way from Sickbay back to his cabin. Eighteen, nineteen, twenty… But his routine was cut short by a portly yellow obstacle outside his cabin door: Crewman Astrid. And she was delighted to see him.
Astrid: Hey Boss Man! ::Big smiles & arms out:: Are you having a good morning?
Zenno: It’s not really a good time, Crewman. In fact It’s not a good day. There’s something pressing…
Astrid: ::Interrupting:: EVERY day is a good day in the Star Fleets! And I have something very important to ask you, Sir! You’re going to want to hear this! I promise on my right tusk. ::Daintily touches her right tusk::
Zenno: The last time you wanted to see me it was because you thought the couch in the Crew’s Mess had an unpleasant odor and we discovered it was just how “Fine Corinthian Leather” smells. You should have gone to PO Pearl first then, and probably now.
Astrid: ::feigning insult:: Sir! My fine Bolian Sir! I do follow instructions and I have to come see you about something important. ::Leaning in, excited face:: It will only take a moment! I tusk-promised!
Zenno considered how long it would take to debate this out here versus just getting it over with.
Zenno: ::sigh:: Very well. But I don’t have an extensive amount of time. Step into my office.
((Zenno’s Place, Deck 3, USS Arrow))
Zenno: Please have a seat. ::gestures::
Astrid: No need! I promised this would only take a moment and a moment it shall take. ::Produces a PADD:: I read these instructions very carefully and I am to see you to get your signature on this. ::Offers PADD::
Zenno paused and took a long breath in and out. He made no move to accept the PADD while he pondered this situation. What could it be? A transfer request? A list of show tunes to be played as muzak in the Security Office? One way to find out…
Slowly, Zenno reached out and took the PADD, flipped it over and started to read it.
His brain seized up about halfway through the first line.
——————————————————————
STARFLEET ACADEMY - ENLISTED TO OFFICER COMMISSIONING PACKAGE
Re: Astrid, Chennit
——————————————————————
Zenno: Uhh, You want to apply to the Academy?
Astrid: Isn’t it mind-blowing? This humble Tellarite, slaving away in the bowels of an old ship in the middle of nowhere, an enlisted dreamer, making it big and getting into Starfleet Academy through the endorsement of her incredibly hard-working and VERY inspiring Department Chief! ::Smiles & nodding:: You’ll need to sign the package, and then bring it to the Captain too. Just there on the bottom and I’ll be on my way to much BIGGER and BETTER THINGS! ::pauses:: Hey, do you think they might assign us together? We’d be the next Tango & Cash, the Martin & Roger, or T’Suval & Crak! I’m better looking than you though, so you’d be Crak.
Zenno put his hands on his face and rubbed his right temple for a moment. It would be a very delicate situation to navigate this discussion without damaging her enthusiasm.
Zenno: Crewman, I’ve only been a Department Chief a short time. But I absolutely confident that every Chief in the fleet wants to endorse an Academy package for an Enlisted Crewman. I do as well. ::pause, kindly:: But there have been a few… colorful incidents in your service record and…
Astrid: ::Interrupting:: That thing with the Horta wasn’t my fault!
Zenno: Crewman, do not interrupt me again. As I was saying, your service record might give the Academy Admissions Board pause. But that’s not the end of it. There is a path. And if you are serious, I’d like you to sit with PO Pearl and ask him if he would sign this. If he says no, then ask what it would take to get his approval. Yes, I know his approval isn’t part of the form. But it is for me. Any Section NCO is going to have to sign off first. And as always, I will work with him if you’d like us to put together a plan for you.
She paused as if she was hearing him for the first time.
Astrid: And you would actually sign it?
Zenno: If you showed the dedication to following the plan and stayed out of trouble, I’d give it every consideration. I’d love to sign it.
Astrid: ::Possibly earnestly?:: Do you think I can do it?
Zenno: Crewman Astrid, after seeing what you did to the Phaser Charging Station, I am convinced that you can do anything if you set your will to it. Now that will be all. I have to make an urgent call. Meet with PO Pearl and we will go from there. Thank you for coming to see me.
Astrid looked her Chief and idly touched her right tusk, thinking.
Astrid: OK, boss. You are on! Practice your signature because once you sign it I’m getting it printed and engraved and I’m gonna hang it on the wall, right next to my framed and signed cast photo from “Tellar’s Got Talent, Season 22.”
Zenno: I.. I look forward to that. Good day.
And with that Crewman Astrid grabbed her PADD and exited, humming the theme song from T’Suval & Crak, a terrifyingly jaunty ditty that everyone either loved or hated.
Zenno looked at the ceiling and said to himself…
Zenno: What a morning. The mind reels.
He was going to make a call to Saava. He reached for the controls, and paused. He had had the most extraordinary thought. He had been very angry not ten minutes ago and was about to blast his Vulcan friend right in the guts via subspace. But now, he was more calm. Saava was going to get a talking to for sure, but not the kind it might have been just a few moments earlier.
As the call connected, he said to himself…
Zenno: Even Astrid has her salutary effects! Truly, an inspiring thought.
NT/END
LT Zenno
Acting Security Chief
USS Arrow
A240006Z13