Ensign Meris - The Forever Exam

[Meris/Brian]

(( Bridge - Deck 1, USS Artemis-A ))

 

Surprised by the presence of their Academy Exam Proctor on the bridge of the Artemis, Meris was slowly coming to the realization that this wasn't some kind of trick. Lieutenant K'Wara wasn't there to inform them they hadn't actually passed their final exam. They had, in fact - as they'd claimed - been reassigned to the Artemis and were now one of their fellow crewmates.

 

Meris could have spent their entire trip to DS224 imagining what their second day aboard the Artemis might have been like, and they never would have guessed - not with a million guesses - that the presence of Lieutenant Tamio K'Wara would be a part of it. Blessing? Curse? Only time would tell them.

 

K’Wara: Have you had time to do a bit of exploring yet? I’ve never served on a Luna class before, so I’ll admit to feeling a bit lost in the shuffle.

 

Meris: A bit of time, yes ... am I to understand that you've been assigned to the Artemis?

 

Tamio nodded.

 

K’Wara: Yep ... the day after you graduated, as a matter of fact. Just missed the chance of coming over on a shuttle together.

 

Meris: I see. ::deadpan:: Congratulations on your assignment to the Artemis.

 

K’Wara: You too.

 

Tamio’s smile widened. Meris had to admit that the Lieutenant seemed genuinely excited for their new role, and in that, their demeanor toward the Lieutenant softened slightly. They were genuinely please that K'Wara seemed genuinely pleased. Perhaps having their former Exam Proctor manning the Ops Console - so close to their own helm position - wouldn't be so bad after all.

 

oO I mean, it's not like the examination will just continue forever. Oo

 

K'Wara: ::gestures to their uniform:: You’re on duty, I surmise? Walk me through: What’s Helm Officer Ensign Meris going to be doing? ::smirk:: In the spirit of ‘you can take the Exam Proctor out of the Holodeck’, and all that.

 

oO Or maybe the examination would just continue forever. Oo

 

Meris: Well, we are - of course - running only a skeleton crew on the bridge while we remain in drydock for repairs, so I'll be covering multiple stations so that more crewmembers can enjoy their leave. My role as bridge liaison to engineering doesn't change while in drydock. And, since we're undergoing a maintenance cycle, engineering is basically in charge of everything at the moment - so that portion of my role is likely to be much busier than usual. In addition ... well, it's probably a long shot ... but given the circumstances, the chances of my getting an opportunity to sit in a different chair might be a touch higher today than on a normal day ::Meris glanced pointedly at the Captain's chair, currently unoccupied:: You know, should the right stars align and all.

 

K’Wara: ::hum:: Sounds good. Or! You could take a look at this. ::hands over PADD with a flourish:: Requests from the DS224 Engineers, for your perusal. Sounds like they want us to test her limits in these coming months.

 

Meris: ::reviewing the PADD:: Has this been approved by Captain MacKenzie or Commander Munro?

 

Tamio shrugged lightheartedly.

 

K’Wara: It happened to be on a table in the Operations Center. ::points to entry on the PADD:: This one looks fun. Can’t say I've had the chance to fly a starship that close to a protoplanetary nebula before, given how rare they are. Think the Artie could handle the wind speeds?

 

Meris looked from the PADD to the Lieutenant and back, their eyes narrowing suspiciously.

 

Meris: Lieutenant, are you trying to ... I believe the appropriate word is 'bait' me?

 

K'Wara: Response.

 

Meris: ::their tone shifting to incensed:: It would be inappropriate of me to execute any 'special testing' of the Artemis requested by the engineers of DS224 without Fleet Captain Rainier’s authorization and the express consent of Captain MacKenzie or Commander Munro. Further, if you have absconded from DS224's Operations section with this data PADD and without proper authorization, then you have committed a misdemeanor punishable by confinement to quarters under the Starfleet Code of Military Justice, and I will be required to report you to the Master-at-Arms. ::pausing, eyes darting, thinking:: Unless this is just another test...

 

K'Wara: Response.

 

TAG/TBC

 

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Ensign Meris

Helm Officer

USS Artemis-A

A240207M14