Ensign Jania Nis - Here's to the Losers
Jania Nis
(( Solar Sail Observation Hall, Deep Space 14 ))
Rouiancet: Hello, Jania. I'm Lia Rouiancet.
Jania wasn’t sure what Lia might have been thinking about the meeting because she had never met a captain before, and somehow they seemed like mythic figures that couldn’t be thinking about anything except glory. This was Picard here, or Janeway, or that one with the beeping chair. She gulped and straightened.
Nis: Hello, Captain. We’re Jania . . . uh . . . you just said my name, so you know that already. :: clearing her throat ::
The captain glanced at the metal she’d given Jania earlier. Jania smiled awkwardly and covered it with her hand. She’d cut it in half to give half to Nurse Miash, without permission, but the nurse deserved an award as much as she did. Still, she hoped the captain wouldn’t notice. But the cut hadn’t been all that smooth, so it was pretty obvious.
Rouiancet: I wanted to congratulate you on that ribbon. (nodding to it) How are you settling in so far?
Little sleep. Desperate circumstances. It had all come so fast. Almost being depressurized in the nacelle. Treating the Dow’s crew, whose smallest problem was the fact that many were still experiencing phase issues. The away team with radiation poisoning. That guy that got bit by a clam.
Nis: Oh, it’s been so amazing. :: smiling :: We’ve only been here a few weeks, and we’ve helped so many people. It’s just like what we thought Starfleet would be like.
That wasn’t entirely true--most of Nis’s previous hosts had skeptical memories of Starfleet, and none had been directly involved. It was only Jania who had the rose-tinted glasses.
Rouiancet: Response
Nis: What about you, sir? You just got a promotion--are you excited?
Rouiancet: Response
Nis: We hadn’t looked at it like that. :: beat :: We’re happy to be on board.
Lia finally seemed to notice the cut ribbon, because she motioned to it.
Rouiancet: Response.
Nis: Huh? Oh. … We … uh … cut it in half. Nothing against it. Great metal. We just thought maybe Nurse Miash deserved one, too. She did a lot in the nacelle. We wouldn’t be here without her.
Rouiancet: Response
Jania straightened and smiled at Rouiancet’s response. It was great to hear from her superior, and she grinned happily as they said goodbye. She was so happy she whistled softly to herself.
Rouiancet: Response
Nis: Oh, it’s a Vic Fontaine original. We’re a big fan. :: Suddenly remembering the prank Eli, Miash and her had played on the captain. :: Okay, well, bye, it was really nice to meet you!
She hurried away from Rouiancet, still grinning, but now the grin was an awkward coverup for embarrassment. This was, perhaps, the fastest Jania had ever moved in a situation that wasn’t a medical emergency.
(End Scene for Jania)
Ensign Jania Nis
Medical Officer
USS Octavia E. Butler NCC-82850
O240108JN2