Lt. Cmdr. Zi Nijal: Station Depths

[Tony Colella]

(( Skylink Car 183, Deep Space 14 ))

As the Skylink car departed the mid-Promenade stops, Zi considered:

Nijal: You know, I should've realized you'd just graduated. I haven't even seen your name on the schedule roster yet. Were you assigned to helm on the bridge?

If she had been, then she was definitely a good pilot. Zi had an inkling that she had been, but while she swore that she looked through all the personnel files of all the incoming officers, talking with Nadia was making her realize just how little she retained of what she read. Still, it was better to get that information directly from the source, she thought. Zi was, conversation by conversation, forcing herself to become a people person. She already thought the best of people -- what the humans called, navel-gazingly, a "humanist" -- but putting that theory into practice wasn't always the easiest thing to do.

N.Forsyth: I believe so, probably on the beta shift, as I assume you already have a main helmsman.

They did, and for a moment Zi grinned at the expression that Lieutenant Qatt, the Regina's famously crotchety Bolian chief of helm, would no doubt turn on Zi if she found out that Zi had given a newly-graduated ensign permission to pilot during alpha shift.

Nijal: Ah, we do. Lieutenant Qatt. You haven't met her yet. A piece of advice? Bring her a rezena cake when you do meet her. (beat; satisfied sigh) I've found you can get on nearly everyone's good side by giving them whatever dessert they like best.

N.Forsyth: Oh, I did not know that.

Nijal: (a wink) All part of officer training on the Regina.

Zi was only partially joking, since that legitimately would have been a helpful tip for when she was younger. She'd made friends fine on her first assignment, to the 'Oumuamua, and had hit it off with her chief, Lieutenant Corelli. But, still, it helped to have something with which to break the ice, and what was better than dessert?

The Skylink left the Promenade entirely and, after a brief, dark section, they passed into the station's vast arboretum.

N.Forsyth: Cool, Is this the arboretum?

Nijal: Sure is. And it's very large, as you can see.

The Skylink also curved and looped through the arboretum, the better to show off the different areas, floras, and worlds it represented. It was the largest arboretum that Zi had ever visited, but then DS14 was a large station. It had to be, since it was the home base for the entire Expeditionary Task Force.

N.Forsyth: Response

Nijal: Sure, if you'd like to. Wherever you want.

They could always explore a little and get back on to ride elsewhere, after all.

N.Forsyth: Response

Nijal: Is there anywhere you'd like to see? 

Zi wasn't sure how much research would've been reasonable for Nadia to have done prior to her assignment, especially since DS14 wasn't where she'd be spending most of her time. Zi certainly had a few favorites, and would willingly show them off if asked -- but this wasn't about her.

N.Forsyth: Response

Tags! and TBC!

--

Lieutenant Commander Zimedia Nijal

Executive Officer, USS Regina

V238208LV0

she/her/hers (this character)