PNPC Lt Vailani Zoyara - Reflections
Ava Munro
((OOC - with permission from Michelle I'm jumping in on this scene to bring the Helm/Ops team together and so Vai can meet all of you IC at once))
((Chief of Operations Office - Deck 5 - USS Artemis-A))
Her reflection was nothing but a shadow in the dark of the office window. Her hair tumbled across her shoulders and down her back, she had taken to wearing it this way when onboard the ship. It was kept away from her face with a simple gold hairband that matched the gold shoulders of her uniform. Unthinkingly, she traced her fingers through the long hair and smoothed it out.
She heard the chirping of her desk terminal and quickly returned to it. Her father's office sigil shone on the screen. For several seconds she hesitated before she pushed the accept button. His image appeared, in the green marine uniform of course. His presence was as formidable as ever.
Her stomach churned.
Vailani. T: I have to admit I was surprised to receive your messages, Zoyara. I thought you had forgotten that you even had a father. It's been so long.
The girl that she once was, felt comfort in his voice. They offered something solid for her to hold on too. Her father was a gateway to her past and her family. Her brothers and her life on StarBase One. It was happiness, of a sort.
Vailani: No, I was busy. I could never forget you.
Vailani. T: Ah right. Chief of Operations on the Artemis? :: laughs :: After Frontier Day they've been doing a lot of that on the Starfleet Operations side of things. You wouldn't get that in the Marines :: shakes his head ::
Vailani: :: offended :: A lot of what?
Her finger danced around the end call button. It felt dangerous to be here, like she'd invited a snake into her hen house. Yet, she didn't end the call. She didn't want to.
She needed him. If she didn't have him what did she have? Who would believe in her then?
Vailani. T: You tell me? Why have they put you into a senior leadership position on a Luna class starship? Zoyara you must have already worked that out, you are a bright girl.
Vailani: :: not confident :: Because I earned it.
She didn't like the slight tremble in her voice. Doubt, in her father's steely eyes she couldn't hide from it. It was like the truth of it laid out before her.
She needed him. For the truth. There were too many lies, and her father had never lied to her. Not once.
She needed him.
Vailani. T: Your new hair is pretty. You remind me of one of those serving girls on StarBase One. You remember they wore their hair just like that?
Her hand returned to her hair, as if to protect it from him. She wasn't strong enough to protect herself, it was inevitable.
Vailani: They did?
She was small. Weak. Her voice trembled.
Vailani. T: Yes, I also remember you said they looked vain and foolish.
Vailani: I think you said that father.
She tried to remember the conversation but couldn't. She wouldn't have said such a thing?
Vailani. T: No, you said it. I haven't received a report from you in sometime? Have you been completing your Holodeck simulations? I still send them to you.
Vailani: I've been busy. I haven't had a chance to -
Vailani. T: I'm a General and I manage to find the time :: serious :: you know I don't enjoy excuses. Didn't you recently go swimming in a lagoon on Risa?
Vailani: :: feeble and small :: That was work.
She remembered the creatures in the water, and she danced with them. Hadn't that felt good … like freedom? Now when she thought of it, her pleasure twisted to guilt. Maybe she should have been working on something? She was too distracted?
Vailani. T: Work? On Risa. Zoyara, it's only yourself you lie too. I've told you that many times before. It makes you weak, remember. If you can't face the truth of a matter then you won't be able to tell the difference between what's real or a lie.
Vailani: I know, father. I'm sorry I just -
Vailani. T: You lost your way. That's all. It was probably the fraudulent doctors' influence. You had been taken in by her. We become who we surround ourselves with, Zoyara.
Zoyara nodded. She knew he was right. Gila had taken her for a fool, all of them.
Vailani. T: We'll just forget all about the last year and get you back on track again?
His voice had become coddling, as if speaking to a child. Is that how he saw her, as some mewling child. Pathetic and weak.
Vailani. T: You've had your nonsense. Now it's time to get serious again. I expect my reports backdated by next week.
Zoyara nodded again. Her father ended the transmission abruptly. Again, her fingers went to her hair. There was a chirp on one of the PADDs, an alert that she had set up to inform her when an inspection had been completed. She tried to shake off the conversation with her father but his words lingered, even as she stood from her desk.
She paused. She went into the adjoining toilet and found the mirror. She rolled her up and pulled into a tight knot before she secured it with hair pins.
Better. It was better this way.
(( Main Shuttlebay - Deck 11, USS Artemis-A ))
She had tracked one of the two new recruits to her team, Lt Tamio K'Wara, in the Main Shuttlebay. To their credit, they had stopped by the Operations Centre and she had dropped a bunch of PADD work on their desk - which she had noted was mostly completed. Hardly a formal meeting.
Then she heard voices. Something about the Chief? Something about her?! Her father had been right - she had let her standards slip.
K’Wara: No, only word of mouth. Is it wrong?
She paused outside the shuttle that the two officers were currently inspecting.
oO personal conversations whilst working? Oo
She thought of the operational efficiency report and her scowl deepened. This may be the reason they had a lapse of 0.8 percent. That represented seconds in response time.
Seconds meant lives.
Someone said it was rude to listen in on private conversations but seeing as they were both on duty she considered this a professional conversation. So she waited, her mood did not improve.
Bergmen: Response
K’Wara: ::slight smirk:: Interesting. oO I look forward to meeting her. Oo How long have you been with the Artemis, Olliver?
Vailani raised her eyebrow.
Bergmen: Response
Vailani: If you wanted to know more about me, maybe the more effective manner would be to come directly to the source, Lieutenant K'Wara?
K'Wara: Response
Bergmen: Response
Vailani: Yes, I am she :: consults her PADD :: I trust that the idle chit chat means the inspection of the shuttle has been completed?
She got a glimpse of her reflection against one of the consoles of the shuttle. She looked stern. Older than her years, and she moved forward slightly so that she could no longer see herself.
K'Wara/Bergmen: Response
Vailani: :: nods :: Well done. Both of you :: to K'Wara :: Next time we can do without the gossiping. :: taps Combadge :: =/\= Ensign Meris, this is Lieutenant Vailani, please report to the Main Shuttlebay =/\=
Meris: =/\= Response =/\=
Vailani: =/\= We have a shuttle to perform a test flight on =/\=
K'Wara/Bergmen: Response
Tags/TBC
Lt Vailani Zoyara
First Officer
USS Artemis-A
A240004LL2