Captain Addison MacKenzie - Superficial Pleasantries
Addison MacKenzie
(( Sickbay – Deck 7, USS Artemis-A ))
Since CloQ’s grand disappearance, there had been something nagging at Addison that she couldn’t manage to shake. The commanding officer of the Artemis had been through a lot during her career, both as a Starfleet officer and as a galaxy-renowned surgeon, and in general, there were relatively few things that managed to really get under her skin. …at least, relatively few that managed to get under her skin and stick. But there was something the omnipotent being said right before their departure that had stuck with her, and it was sticky enough that she couldn’t shake it.
( Begin Flashback
)
(( Bridge – Deck 1, USS Artemis-A – SD240104.02 ))
CloQ: Still, this is the best crew you’ll have for a while - and I love the
new ship. ::they ran a finger along the top of a console, as if checking for
dust:: Shame what’ll happen to it. ::they grinned:: Keep an eye on the
Betazoid, by the way, not everything is what it seems with them.
(End
Flashback)
In the moment, she hadn’t given the fleeting thought more than an
ounce of consideration, but in the time that had passed since, the words kept reverberating
in her ear, pounding and incrementally increasing in volume like a heartbeat
that sounded as if it might explode out of her body.
The scene was familiar: she knew the sickbay of the Artemis well despite
having not spent much time there (although there were certainly days she’d much
rather be in Sickbay than on the Bridge). The medical facility was relatively quiet,
as one would suspect given that the crew was on shore leave and had a plethora
of new spaces to explore, and so when she’d peeked her head in the office of
the Chief Medical Officer, she wasn’t surprised to find him distracted.
…or lost in thought.
…or quite possibly sleeping with his eyes open.
Either way, she rapped lightly on the frame next to the entryway.
MacKenzie: ::with a bit of jest:: Busy day?
Adea: Response
She chuckled, pointing.
MacKenzie: I’ll be sure to take it out of your pay at the end of the
week. ::beat, pointing at the chair on the opposite side of his desk:: Mind if
I have a seat?
Adea: Response
Addison waved her hand dismissively back and forth in front of her face,
declining his offer. She crossed her right leg over her left and pressed her
back into the rear of the chair, then allowed herself to slouch slightly.
MacKenzie: No, I’m fine, thanks. …how are you doing?
Adea: Response
She rolled her eyes slightly and shook her head back and forth. Surely the
Betazoid knew that Addison wasn’t one for superficial pleasantries after all
these years – she’d come to realize that of him, too, after all. …even so, it
wasn’t as though he couldn’t sense the added weight behind the seemingly
innocent line of questioning. But, she was sure he’d also realize that there
was a purpose behind the inquiry.
MacKenzie: How are you doing?
Adea: Response
Tag, and TBC!
---
Captain Addison MacKenzie, M.D., Ph.D., FASFS
Commanding Officer
USS Artemis-A
Captains Council Member at Large
V239601AM0