Ensign Roxanne Queen & Lt. Cmdr. Katsim Peri - "Catching Up" (Part II)
Amanda Nordstrom
((Room 0113, Deck 14, USS Ronin))
Rox: So…I hear Wes is back? How’s he doing? ::mischievously:: Put a ring on it yet?
Peri blinked, and it took a minute for her to realise what the woman meant. Pink seeped through her grey skin and she shook her head. The topic of marriage hadn’t even come up. She wasn’t sure if it was something Wes even wanted.
Katsim: We haven’t discussed it. But he’s been deployed elsewhere again.
That was disappointing. Wes Greaves was a decent guy and in a Tsunkatse ring a clear winner. Rox often referred to him as “Major Muscles' ' even though he was a Lt. Colonel now. “Lt. Colonel Muscles” didn’t have quite the same ring. Colonel Chaos? Rox filed it away or later.
Rox: He’s quite the traveller lately. Any idea when he’s coming back?
Katsim: He’s hoping it’s temporary and he’ll be back in a few months but…
But who knew what would happen with Starfleet? They could simply send him away again, somewhere even further. Then again, he could very well become a captain of his own ship. Truthfully, no one could see to the future, but like him, she had her hopes.
Rox had clearly strayed into an unwelcome topic. Had she been with Peri she would have taken her for a drink or perhaps some food. She would have loved the night life on Ferenginar. Rox offered her the best assurance she could.
Rox: ::smiling:: Well Wes is like a bad penny. He’ll turn up again. ::pausing:: So still the same old gang from the Oumuamua?
Katsim: We’ve had a few newcomers. A new counsellor by the name of Karen Stendhal. Others are doing well.
Again, while Peri heard rumours about others, she wasn’t inclined to divulge them, especially to Rox who had a tendency to cling to those rumours. She wouldn’t have been surprised if some had been started by Rox in her day.
Ever since she’d arrived on the Ronin people had been coming and going and coming back again. Ship life seemed like it had a revolving door. It seemed it wasn’t just theRonin.
Katsim: But…I’d like to hear more about you. How are you doing with your studies?
Rox gave a hearty eye roll. Her studies. She’d never really been one for studying. Her grades in nursing school were passing at best.
Rox: Ugh my studies. Our XO, Commander Raga, is designing my curricula. I’m learning Federation languages, LCARs programming, History of the Federation and ::sneering:: Physics.
Katsim: Physics isn’t bad.
Physics was an enormous part of what she did. After all, it comprised of half the name of one of her specialities, and thus she was well acquainted with that area of science.
Rox and Physics did not mix well. She couldn’t tell force from acceleration and a vector sounded a lot like a sector. She was going to need a tutor.
Rox: ::sarcastically:: I also have V’Len’s new flame tossing me around the holodeck 3 times a week.
Peri blinked at that. Last she had heard, Kel and Nesre Salo were a couple - at least, that was what went around the rumour mill. There were other rumours too, that Kessler had been in love with Nesre, that he and Kel had started fighting because they were both in love with her, and that all three of them were an item, which wouldn’t have been so unusual considering Kel was half Andorian, even if Kessler was human and that wasn’t a usual part of their culture.
Katsim: You do?
Rox: Yeah our Tactical Officer, Major Carpenter, is trying to teach me self defense. I think we’re both learning that I’m no good in a fight, at least not a physical one.
oO I’m also discovering new places to bruise.Oo
The reality was that Carpenter was going easy on her and Rox had yet to “win” any of the various contests she’d arranged. On the upside Rox was doing some cardio work and she’d started jogging. At least she’d be able to run away from a fight.
Despite the admittance, Peri couldn’t help but smile. No, Rox wasn’t the sort to get really physical, not in that way. The Bardassian was sure she could probably wrangle a patient when push came to shove, but she wasn’t the type to go into security, or marines. No, definitely not marines.
Katsim: I guess that eliminates at least two duty posts.
Rox: I don’t know. I like to run my mouth. Maybe I should look into diplomacy. ::chortle::
That actually got a soft giggle out of Peri. Of all the things Rox wasn’t suited for, diplomacy would be on the top of the list.
Katsim: I’m not so sure that’s your calling.
Rox: I’m pretty good at bossing people around and getting them to comply.
That was a key aspect of nursing and Rox also knew that on Grus Beta 3 she’d seen to the evacuation of the colonists and had convinced Mahya, a local woman, to help her locate Scuttles’ downed Valkyrie. That wasn’t nothing.
Katsim: What about medicine? You’re a good nurse. This could be your chance to expand your education in the field.
Honestly, medical would hurt if Rox wasn’t available. She was smart, and she really cared about her patients. She might not be the most mature, but the woman was loyal and was always willing to help others.
Rox: Technically I’m still posted to medical, but I do NOT want to be a doctor.
Katsim: You could even get your doctorate in nursing if you don’t want to become a medical doctor.
Rox: Ugh. I haven't decided yet. For now I should just focus on getting my first year coursework done.
Katsim: That’s probably a good idea.
Yes, they were getting a little bit ahead of themselves. Or maybe it was just Peri who was thinking too much about the future. Regardless, she wanted to see her friend succeed, and she knew Rox had a lot of potential, she just needed the opportunity to build herself up and show the universe what Peri saw.
Rox: Still when I close my eyes and think about it. I see myself on the bridge of a starship. How cool would that be?
Peri blinked, then relaxed into a smile. Captain hadn’t really been something she would consider for herself, but for Rox? Maybe. Just maybe she *was* cut out to be a commanding offier. She was right - Rox was good at bossing people around.
Katsim: Actually…I can see it.
Maybe not now. Rox needed not only more experience, but some more growing up, but if anything, the initiative she showed had proven that process was already in motion.
Rox felt a wave of shock run through her. She’d mostly put down the Captain thing to wishful thinking, but if Peri thought she was capable, why not try.
Rox: Well, now I feel like I’ve been issued a challenge. ::laughing:: Hold my Squale.
Katsim: That’s a yeoman’s job.
Peri pointed out with a soft laugh.
Rox let out a hearty chuckle and slapped her knee. Peri was always so funny it made her miss her all the more. She thought she better go before she broke down and cried. It was about that time. And time waited for no one, not even for two friends trying to catch up.
Rox: Yeah I should get back to Federation History. This report on Gary Mitchell’s not going to write itself.
Katsim: Oh. Yes. I should let you go.
She paused, then inquired a little further.
Katsim: Gary Mitchell?
The name was familiar, and a second later, the information came to her. He had been a friend of James T. Kirk, one of the most famous Captains in Starfleet, and he had died during a mission.
Rox: Yeah we had to pick someone from the 22nd century. Gary Mitchell seems really down to Earth.
She gave her friend a knowing smile and wink.
It wasn’t very funny, but Peri nodded. Rox had a sense of humour that she didn’t quite understand at times, but that was just part of who she was, and Peri loved her for it, even if she didn’t get it.
Katsim: I see. Well, I hope
Rox: I will talk to you soon and I promise it will not be as long next time.
She hoped not. Peri missed her friend terribly, but she also knew that this service aboard the Ronin was a good opportunity for her. Simply the fact she’d taken the initiative and started working on her career proved that the move had done her good.
Katsim: I hope not. I’ll talk to you soon.
The screen went blank and Peri sighed. She was happy for her friend, but at the same time, she almost wished she hadn’t gone. It wasn’t a wish she would share, however, for Rox didn’t deserve to be made to feel guilty. At least technology made it possible to talk over long distances, even as far as the Gamma Quadrant, and maybe some shore leave they could see each other in person again.
The screen went blank and a tiny tear began to form in the corner of one eye, then the other. The more she tried to blink it away, the more watery her eyes became. She decided she needed to move. Maybe one more jog around the deck would clear her head.
[End]
================
Ensign Roxanne Queen
Nurse
USS Ronin NCC-34523
T239811VK2
&
Lt. Cmdr. Katsim Peri
Chief Science Officer
USS Octavia E. Butler
M239008AD0
