Lt JG Alyndra Syrex - Keeping it all Together

[Alyndrasyrex]

((Captains Ready Room, Deck 1, USS Artemis-A))

 

Captain MacKenzie didn’t seem best impressed. Alyndra stopped flexing her arms like a strong-man and stood back at attention, or ease? Whatever it was, it was smarter than she had been.

MacKenzie: Are you familiar with Captain Niac’s service record?

Syrex: Only the important parts, Ma’am.

MacKenzie: And are you aware of the fact that he served under me on the Excalibur?

Syrex: Errmm.. No.

oO Oh, that didn’t sound too good Oo

Syrex: …Ma’am

 

Still looking unimpressed, she leaned forward once again.

MacKenzie: And what do you suppose he might say if I were to inquire about you and your service on the Ronin?

Syrex: Well, If I’m honest, I wouldn’t want to speculate on that. If you would like to know what he’d say, you’d have to talk to him.

MacKenzie: I just might. (beat) Still, I’m curious what you think his overall impression of you might be. 

 

Alyndra adjusted her uniform, clearing her throat.

 

Syrex: Well… Before I left the Ronin, I was promoted. So, I would assume mostly positive feedback. I would hope for mostly positive. 

MacKenzie: Mostly. Positive. I’m sure. According to your service record, you just lost an eye?

Alyndra flexed her shoulders again, this was certainly one of the more.. tense greetings she’d had. When she met Captain Niac he nearly threw a plate at someone. The Artemis clearly had a slightly different tone than the Ronin did.

 

Syrex: I did lose my eye; that’s something that happened. My mentor back home lost his arm, when he was under your command if I remember correctly. I hope that the Artemis offers, if anything the environment in which I can remain intact if I’m honest with you. I doubt Karrod would be happy if you sent me back as a pile of dust.

MacKenzie: I’m sure Captain Niac would know that if I did send you back to him in a tiny box, I’d have had a very good reason for it.

Syrex: Well… I certainly hope that’s not something you plan on doing.

 

oO Still, imagine me on his ready room shelf, it’s better than the life my parents wanted for me… Oo

 

The fleet captain leaned back into her chair. Appearing exhausted, not physically, more socially. Alyndra’s face fell slightly, she had hoped for a better first impression.


MacKenzie: So, I’ll ask you again, Doctor: why are you here? Do you not like vacations? Do you not think you’ve earned one? Why come all this way to one of the most beautiful places in the galaxy only to work more?

Syrex: I’ll answer briefly and respectively. ::clears throat:: Working holiday, Yes, ::Scrunches face softly:: no.., It’s a good excuse… I guess?

 

MacKenzies face scrunched much harder than Alyndra’s, to an extent she worried that she’d blow a blood vessel.


MacKenzie: And would you say that you’ve completed an appropriate amount of counselling after the loss of your eye?

Syrex: No, not at all.

MacKenzie: Response

Syrex: I have talked to a Ronin counsellor oO Informally Oo about it. But this is something I’m going to have to get used to having for the rest of my life. Would any amount of counselling ever really take the pain I experienced away? I’m not so certain. …and for a matter of fact a working holiday could be a very nice way of distracting myself, because if I slow down and stop what I’m doing I actually have to think about losing my eye, and… It’s a heavy process. It is! So if I choose to work during my personal time, as far as I’m concerned, that’s my business.

 

Alyndra took a deep exhale, her breath shuddering like a stalling engine. In a strange way what she felt most strongly in that moment was relief. In many ways, that was the first time she’d been honest about it. Stopping to think about it was an obstacle she’d yet to deal with. She was running and for the first time, she truly realised that.

MacKenzie: Response

Alyndra calmed herself, exhaling deeply through her mouth, her lips slightly pierced.

Syrex: I understand that your duty is to your ship. I respect that. But I promise you, whilst I’m here, I’ll seek whatever help you want me too. I will check your boxes, but I need to keep working too.

MacKenzie: Response

Syrex: Can I tell you something? There was… another reason I chose the Artemis..

MacKenzie: Response

Syrex: It’s because of you. You run a nice ship, a tight ship. I’m not saying that Captain Niac doesn’t. I love the Ronin with all my heart, but I thought that maybe if I spent some time under your command, I’d go back home stronger. I’d be better. I wouldn’t be at risk of losing more body parts. I respect you, and I want to learn.

 

oO and Now I look like a stalker, well done Alyndra Oo

 

MacKenzie: Response

 

TAG/TBC

Lieutenant JG Dr Alyndra Syrex MD

Medical Officer

USS Ronin (NCC-34523)

R240107AS3