LtCmdr. Talos Dakora - No Promises
Travis
(( XO's Office - Deck 2 - USS Artemis-A))
Talos sat across from Jaseb Chevalier, who had initially come for a mission debriefing. However, as the meeting progressed, Talos realized that the young Operations Officer still seemed to be trying to deal with what he’d experienced.
Though didn’t think he wasn’t nearly as skilled as someone like Yogan would’ve been at these softer skills, he tried his best to set the man at ease.
Dakora: I know that wasn’t the easiest subject, so I appreciate your candor. ::He took a deep breath.:: You should know you aren’t alone Jaseb. I remember– after my first encounter with CloQ– feeling this strange sense of anxiety that this reality was just another one of CloQ’s tricks and that at any moment they’d appear and snap me into some new nightmare.
Talos sipped his steaming Raktajino before setting it down on the coaster with a click.
Dakora: Our brains don’t handle the impossible all that well. It just takes time.
Chevalier: Thank you, sir, for your kind words. Yeah, maybe I just need to work it out, and some proper sleep wouldn't hurt.
Chevalier smiled and retrieved his PADD from the desk.
Chevalier: So when we lift the anchor from DS9, you can promise that for once, I don't know, we'll be exploring the stars and uninhabited planets and not having to deal with some galactic crisis where we've just been shot, stabbed, murdered…? You know, just a normal Friday. No Borg crisis Monday, not Q Tuesday. Or time shenanigans on Wednesday. And totally not Klingon invaded Federation Thursday. Friday. Just a normal, calm Friday. We can return then to all the craziness at transporter malfunction splitting, combining, turning inside out Saturday, deal?
After all of the tension that had been building, they seemed to have reached a tipping point. Talos smirked as the Ensign managed to find a bit of humor in their circumstances.
The truth was, that he couldn’t promise the kid anything. That just wasn’t the way a life in Starfleet worked.
Dakora: I wish I could look you in the eye and promise you that, beyond a shadow of a doubt, none of those things are going to happen tomorrow. Or next week. Or next month. But unfortunately, I can’t.
He cocked his head to the side and considered his next words thoughtfully.
Dakora: But I do expect things to be calm. At least for a little while.
Chevalier: Response
Finishing the last of his mug of raktajino, Talos settled back into his chair and clasped his hands together on his lap.
Dakora: I’d suggest you get out there and try to enjoy your shore leave. Have some fun. Step outside your comfort zone. I’m sure you aren’t the only one eager for a little distraction.
Chevalier: Response
With the conversation concluding, Talos rose from his chair and waited for Chevalier to follow suit.
Dakora: That’s all I have for you, Mister Chevalier. You’re dismissed. ::He screwed up his face just a little.:: Just remember that whatever our next mission brings, this crew has each other’s backs.
Chevalier: Response
As the door closed behind Chevalier, Talos crossed over to the small observation window and stared out into the space beyond. The spider-like docking trusses of Deep Space Nine extended up into view and the other-worldly maw of the Bajoran wormhole lay in the middle distance.
He decided that he’d need to take his own advice and do a bit of exploring while he was here.
[END SCENE FOR TALOS]
LtCmdr. Talos Dakora
First Officer
USS Artemis-A
O238811CD0