Ensign Meris - Chronically Late and Spatially Gifted
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(( Captain’s Ready Room – Deck 1, USS Artemis-A ))
The J’naii helmsperson of the Artemis stood before the Captain’s desk presenting themselves, and their orders, to their commanding officer for the first time. So far, it had not gotten off to the best start. The Captain had just asked Meris whether or not the J’naii had considered putting the data onto a separate PADD - a less sticky one - before presenting it to their CO. In all fairness, Meris had to admit that...
Meris: Yes, ma’am, it did.
MacKenzie, sitting behind her desk, blinked at them several times. Meris thought they might have seen a twitch of exasperation pass through her face.
MacKenzie: And your choice was to... hope I wouldn’t notice? ::Looking down at the PADD:: ...that it’s sticky?
Meris held their hands out to explain.
Meris: There’s this professor at the Academy. Commander Veris. Vulcan. He’s a real... ::narrowing their eyes and bobbing their head up and down:: ...stickler for punctuality, if you know what I mean.
MacKenzie’s eyes widened slightly, and Meris watched as she nodded slowly, precisely, and definitively.
MacKenzie: I know exactly what you mean.
Meris: Anyway, I don’t have the best track record for being very timely. Veris used to tell me that timeliness is a reflection of discipline, and that circumstantial adversity does not excuse tardiness. He said that arriving punctually, even under suboptimal conditions, demonstrates control and preparedness, ma’am. To be late, despite ideal conditions, reflects a failure in prioritization.
The Captain nodded, and Meris thought they might be starting to see a glimmer of hope in the slightest upturn at the corner of the Captain’s mouth.
MacKenzie: Ensign, I couldn’t agree more.
Meris: I wanted to be controlled and prepared... for you, ma’am.
Meris lowered their arms to their sides again. They had no further defense.
The Captain’s smile spread widely, akin to that of the Cheshire Cat.
MacKenzie: And how do you think that’s gone so far?
The J’naii considered this question thoughtfully.
Meris: Well, sir, to quote the Chinese fortune cookie I ate for breakfast this morning... 'A rocky path softens when wisdom guides the next choice.'
Addison closed her eyes and nodded. Now they were getting somewhere.
MacKenzie: I think that could possibly have been a better choice.
Meris: Aye, sir. I’ll keep that in mind.
MacKenzie shrugged, more amused than anything else.
MacKenzie: So, tell me a little about yourself. Why become a pilot? And why in Starfleet?
The J’naii tilted their head to the side as they considered the Captain’s questions. They were simple questions, but within the J’naii’s mind, the answers became an elaborate maze of mirrors with many paths, but few that led them to salvation.
Meris: Well... I didn't set out to become a pilot. In many ways, piloting found me.
The corner of Meris’ mouth twitched as the only indication that this was intended as an amusing statement.
Meris: Prior to attending the Academy, I had never actually flown... anything. My parents had never even allowed me to drive our hover car. But we were given aptitude tests prior to attending the Academy, and I achieved high marks for spatial awareness, reaction time, and situational judgment. Based on my scores, the Academy Counselor suggested I participate in a Flight Workshop in the months before I started my first year ... well, once you've been airborne do your feet ever really reach the ground again?
MacKenzie: Response.
The J’naii helmsperson straightened and shifted from one foot to the other, standing before their Captain.
Meris: As for why Starfleet... it was an expeditious means to an end.
MacKenzie: Response.
Meris: On the J’naii homeworld, young people are expected to serve our culture directly and meaningfully. There are few opportunities or paths that allow one to move off-world. My parents are a scientist and an educator and, had I stayed, I would’ve been expected to follow their path and contribute locally, just as my twin, Seral, will. Seral is a brilliant scientist and they’ll continue that legacy. That would have left me to become an educator. But that’s not who I am, nor who I want to be.
Meris: Joining Starfleet wasn’t about rejecting my heritage. I’m proud to be J’naii. But I’ve always found the galaxy beyond my world more fascinating than what was within it. My twin and I have an unspoken agreement: they stay and carry forward our homeworld and culture, and I explore everything else the galaxy has to offer. Eventually, I’ll be expected to return and share my experiences. In that manner, I’ll fulfill my role as an educator. But until then, I serve the Artemis.
MacKenzie: Response.
Tag, and TBC!
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Ensign Meris
Helm Officer
USS Artemis-A
A240207M14