Fleet Captain Addison MacKenzie - Don't Climb Through the Window
Addison MacKenzie
(( Captain’s Ready Room – Deck 1, USS Artemis-A ))
Meris: What about you, Captain? May I inquire as to what you like to dedicate your free time to?
The commanding officer of the Artemis rocked her head back and forth. It wasn’t a question that many on her crew bothered to ask her before – certainly not in such a way that necessitated her to have such a succinct answer, anyway – but she gave it some thought and produced her response.
MacKenzie: I enjoy keeping up with the latest publications in the medical journals and keeping my surgical skills sharp in the holodeck… I also enjoy live music and eating. If you haven’t had much time to explore Deep Space 224 yet, I highly recommend Molly Malone’s. They have some of the best chicken wings this side of the quadrant.
Meris nodded and shifted back to their right foot.
Meris: I find the human relationship with food fascinating. Among my own people, meals are rarely more than a matter of biological maintenance. Balanced nutrient schedules, efficient caloric intake. We’ve always approached it as necessity. But humans ... you turn it into ritual. Celebration. Comfort. Even identity.
Meris: At the Academy, I saw classmates describe their favorite dishes as if recounting a former lover - velvety, smoky, bold but grounded. ::frowning:: A fellow cadet once cried over soup. They said it reminded them of home. I didn’t know that could happen.
Meris: At first, I found it all rather excessive. Now, I think I'm beginning to understand. It's not just sustenance - it's connection. To memory, to culture, even to each other.
Meris: I still don’t know why your desserts require three types of sugar and fire, but I admit to finding it intriguing. Perhaps it's because, when time is so limited ... even the smallest indulgence becomes meaningful.
Meris paused to consider this and, after a moment, refocused their attention on her. The commanding officer of the Artemis found their perspective interesting, given how little she knew about the J’Naii.
MacKenzie: Well, when you get to view things from up here, free time is more of a luxury. Time off isn’t time off: the ship still needs to run, Starfleet Command is constantly sending stuff across the desk of the flag officers that requires extra attention, and there seem to always be personnel issues that demand attention.
Meris: ::nodding:: I would say, 'I understand.' But, in truth, I cannot. Perhaps one day.
MacKenzie raised her arms with her palms toward the ceiling and shrugged slightly.
MacKenzie: I’m just lucky, I guess. Truthfully, command was never in my sights, I just followed the doors that opened for me along the way.
Meris: That is good advice, as in most buildings on the J’naii homeworld, following through the windows that opened for you could lead to certain death.
Addison’s eyes widened and she blinked several times.
MacKenzie: …I’ll make sure never to crawl through any windows, in that case…
Meris then paused and changed directions in their questioning of the Captain.
Meris: If command was never in your sights then may I inquire as to why you accepted it when it was offered? Is that typical among humans? To pursue a path not because it was wanted, but because it was offered to you?
MacKenzie: I was called to serve. First as a Chief Medical Officer, and then as executive and eventually a commanding officer. The ability to serve meant more to me than in what capacity.
Meris: Response
MacKenzie rocked her head slightly again.
MacKenzie: There’s certainly something to be said for trying new things – sometimes you don’t know what you’re interested in, or cut out for, until you try it.
Meris: Response
She offered a smile and a curt nod.
MacKenzie: Very well, Ensign. That’ll be all for now. Dismissed, and welcome aboard.
Meris: Response
Tag, and End Scene for MacKenzie!
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Fleet Captain Addison
MacKenzie, M.D., Ph.D., FASFS
Commanding Officer
USS Artemis-A
Captains Council Member at Large
V239601AM0