Lt. Cmdr. Lhandon Nilsen, Lt. Cmdr. Toxin Arlill, & Cmdr. Katsim Peri - "Reflections In The Mirror" (Part II)
Toxin Arlill
(Botanical Arboretum, Lower, Deck 9, USS Octavia E Butler)
This was a solemn event, one that Toxin appreciated for its antiquity and the enduring sense of meaning it offered in an age of fleeting distractions. Even Toxin, who preferred silent revelry, appreciated what this event meant to so many junior and senior officers alike. As they walked Toxin toyed with the small ornate box he was given to hold the special recognitions of the evening.
As his small group rounded the first bend, bathed in the arboretum's beauty, Toxin consciously stepped over a stone and came to a halt. Kimonzi came to a stop on the flat stone behind him. A soft beam of light illuminated her being as she became the evening’s first recipient of accolades.
Arlill: Junior Lieutenant Kimonzi Lahl, we serve and act as one ship, one crew, and one purpose when we depart the safety of familiar space for the unknown. It is in these moments that our dedication, perseverance, and fortitude shine brightest. Your actions during our visit to an unknown place were calculated, professional, and thoughtful. If it wasn’t for your knowledge and service, we may not have returned home, and many of us may still be stranded in a place alien to us all. Is for these reasons that I recognize you with the Intelligence Star, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, and Scientific Discovery Ribbon–which, you being an engineer, I’m honored to award you.
Toxin chose to carry a small satchel with multiple ornate boxes, each designed with unique characteristics and different types of wood to vary their colors. Toxin took out the first of these ornate boxes which carried the symbol of a wrench beautifully carved into the top. He handed the open box to Lahl.
Lahl: Response
Arlill: Thank you Lieutenant.
With that Toxin turned in his place and continued down the path. Stepping over another stone he came to rest a few steps beyond, estimating the distance it would take for the next recipient to activate a stone. None of this was a game, but rather a serious event, however, Toxin not being one for pomp and circumstance, could appreciate this event more than others. He also took some joy in the surprise of who stopped next. Turning to find out, and to his delight, he saw the soft light now being cast upon Vala–he smiled.
Arlill: Ensign Vala Morton ::beat:: You came to our aid mid-mission, thrown into the thick of it alongside senior officers, expected to serve as the resident expert—despite not having a specialized focus in the area of interest. Correct me if I'm wrong, but astrophysics isn’t exactly your specialty? ::beat, waving his hand to dismiss the question:: You were thrown into an unfamiliar team and went right to work solving the problem at hand. For giving a deeper understanding in the crystal life form that connected our realties, I recognize you with the Scientific Discovery Ribbon–congratulations.
Morton: Response
Toxin took one step closer to Vala offering his hand to shake. He reached into his box once more and pulled out a smaller box with a crystal design on the top. As he placed it’s contents onto the officer’s uniform.
Arlill: ::in a quiet tone:: And between you and me, and your permanent record, ensign. ::stepping back and resuming his previous level:: you performed admirably. You were ::beat:: rather we all were, out of our comfort zones, and while many might have shrunk, you stood tall and provided uncompromising support.
Morton: Response
Toxin nodded his head towards the ensign and smiled. oO This is more fun than I anticipated. Oo He turned and continued down the path a few more meters before stopping just past the next stone. He turned, but there was no light cast. Jania stood before him just short of the next stone. Toxin tilted his head inquisitively if the young doctor was testing him or simply unaware–he smiled, lifted his foot, and tapped the stone. The soft glow now cast its attention onto Jania.
Arlill: Lieutenant Jania Nis ::beat:: Jania. We’ve not worked closely together on missions many times, but I can say you’ve always treated me physically and emotionally with respect and care. You are one of the few doctors I truly believe will place their patient before everything else. On this mission, your patient wasn’t quite the same you were used to, but rather the entire ship and it’s crew, both onboard and away. Your focus and attention to detail gave us the invaluable details we needed to ensure the safe return of our wayward crewmembers and the necessary details to identify our foes and safely accomplish our goals. It’s for all these reasons, and more, that I bestow upon you the Excellence In Adaptability Ribbon, Intelligence Star, and Joint Meritorious Unit Award.
Nis: Response
Toxin smiled, knowing more was to come. Reaching down he pulled out this deep purple wood box with the caduceus engrained on it. He opened the box and handed it to the junior lieutenant. While she held it he attached each of the new ribbons and ribbon stars.
Arlill: ::beginning to turn, or act like he was turning to continue:: Oh Lieutenant, do not think your work has gone unnoticed ::turning to fully face Nis:: It’s definitely been noticed. You have strived to excel at everything you do since joining the OEB. For your efforts and dedication I no longer refer to you as Junior Lieutenant. From henceforth, until you go further, I hereby awarded the rank of full Lieutenant, congratulations.
He took a pip from the small box he carried all the awards in and removed Dr. Nis’s hollow pip, replacing it with a new solid pip, the two pips now indicating her new rank.
With that, the commander turned and continued down the path, the sweet aromas of the many plants teased him with the pleasant smells of planetside exploration…he sneezed. oO Damn allergies. Oo
Nis: Response
As they rounded one final corner, Toxin could almost make out the almost indistinguishable click of the stone as a foot came to rest upon it. As he turned, it was obvious that Gwen’ora was picking up on the purpose of the stones and respecting the ceremony’s unique operations–this made Toxin smile.
Arlill: Junior Lieutenant Gwen’ora Tasen, you haven’t been on OEB for long but you’ve established an honorable reputation for your knowledge and abilities. Your fellow department officers and crew members speak highly of you, and your dedication to the sciences is unwavering. Your services during this last mission have not gone unnoticed. The mission bridge team asked me to recognize you with a special award, one not often given, for its unique reason. They informed me that you were asked to the bridge, into an unknown scenario with unknown data and information and ::looking at his PADD:: “tackled the situation with little to no context.” ::looking back at the Lieutenant:: I can tell you, personally, I’ve spent a lot of time on the bridge of two different starships, and seen many young officers thrown into the fire, so to speak, and smolder, but I’ve not seen or heard of an officer that stood up to the challenge in the manner you did on this last mission. It’s for this reason I bestow upon you the Spliced Mainbrace Distinction Award, reserved for officers who ::looking at his PADD to get this right:: think critically and problem-solve skillfully under the most adverse circumstances, demonstrating exceptional competence in your field, and capacity to adapt and innovate for a solution. ::putting his PADD back by his side and reaching his hand out to shake::. Congratulations Lieutenant.
In all his time in Starfleet Toxin couldn’t recount when this award had ever been given, it was a very unique award and it’s recipients earned it well. He pulled another box out of his case, this one deep reds of Earth Oak with an atom engrained on the top. He wasn’t sure what to put on this case, since he hadn’t know Gwen for long.
Tasen: Response
The five of them continued on the path until they came to a wide open space where the other groups were convening. Turning he faced his group and a large smile crossed his face. This was his first awards ceremony where he wasn’t the immediate recipient but rather the awarder of accolades and recognitions. For a moment he thought of his mom and how far he’d come, how proud she’d be.
TBC
Lieutenant Commander Toxin Arlill
Chief of Operations
USS Octavia E Buttler NCC-82850
Writer ID.: O239910TA4