Ensign Sival: Balance
James Scott Schumann
(( Main Bridge, Deck 1, USS Juneau ))
Breathtaking. That was the word that came to mind when Sival glanced at the viewscreen. The colourful and abstract patterns of the nebula gasses. The infinitely varied geometric constructions of the asteroids. Yes, it was ‘aesthetically pleasing’, but it was more than that - it was beautiful.
Sival tried not to feel the beauty - the wonder - but he did, even if it was only the smallest and most remote of sensations. Curiously, Sival was not alarmed by the emotional experience; rather, he found himself reluctantly separating himself from the feeling and purging it from his mind.
Ever since his episode on Lightside Station, Sival had used techniques such as this to control his emotions. He ‘used them’, but he did not embrace them. There was a resistance, a push back from within. Of course, Sival won the struggle after a few seconds - score always to the Vulcan - but it hadn’t felt like victory. While it was clear that Sival was playing for the Vulcan team, he seemed to be rooting for the human one.
Yet, on the whole, those seconds-struggles were few and far between. Almost all of the rest of the time, Sival had thrown himself into a Vulcan lifestyle, mannerisms and all. Taking refuge in his Vulcan-half from whatever seemed to be afflicting him emotionally.
Sival had established an efficient work-life routine, filled with all he felt was necessary for the Vulcan moment - duty shifts, research, meditation, exercise and sleep. Social interaction was noticeably absent.
Sival kept his socialization to professional settings, with anything beyond that being deemed either inefficient or irrelevant.
Being introverted didn’t help. Sival was a person who could get so lost in his own world at times that a Q-like entity could snap everybody out of existence, and he wouldn’t even notice.
On an intellectual level, Sival knew social interaction was missing, and he needed this element in order to maintain a healthy way of life. That’s why he wanted to work on his conversational skills so he could at least keep up some modicum of social interactivity.
As long as it didn’t get too emotional.
Or emotional at all.
Another way to put it was that Sival knew that he couldn’t keep hiding in his introverted Vulcan-ness. He needed to find balance.
But he was starting to realize that ‘balance’ was not something Starfleet was very good at.
T’Lea: Thank you, Doctor. Sitting for prolonged periods has become routine lately, and probably not particularly healthy.
In fact, it had been known on Earth (of all places) since the late 20th-century that sitting for prolonged periods of time definitely was not healthy. Even sitting for a period of 60 minutes was known to have adverse effects on one’s health.
Yet Starfleet designed workspaces where officers sit for entire 8-hour shifts. Just as bad, other officers are forced to stand for the same amount of time.
Whoever designed Starships did not consult Starfleet Medical - at least not as much as they should have.
Thus Sival found him prescribing the balance that Starfleet takes out by design.
Sival: Then I would recommend changing your routine, Ma’am. Perhaps finding opportunities to work off the Bridge so you have chances to stand and walk around.
Balanced activities.
T’Lea: Unfortunately, the current climate requires me on the bridge more than not, and it doesn’t seem to be changing any time soon.
Helm: In position, Commander.
Sival: Perhaps you can build in some recreational activities when you are off duty. The holodecks, for example. They are an excellent way to get your body moving.
T’Lea: Good advice. My shift ends in ten minutes. And I fully intend to take advantage of a holodeck to get the circulation moving. ::curious frown:: You should join me.
Sival raised an eyebrow at the turn. It was much-needed advice for him as well, not for the physical exercise, but for the social contact that he had been missing.
Perhaps it would be an opportunity to get to know the Lieutenant Commander better.
Perhaps he could start to find balance.
Sival seized the opportunity.
Sival: I believe I shall, Ma’am. Thank you.
Sival noticed T’Lea’s attention shift to the two officers talking behind them.
Trovek: How long have you been here.. looking at.. this. I mean it’s pretty. It’s just not very interesting.
Kendrick: ::slightly annoyed:: Well, if you’re not interested perhaps you could look at something else?
T’Lea: What about you two? This shift ends soon. Interested in some time on the holodeck? We may be stuck out here for a while.
This bit of conversation reminded Sival that he had noticed how Ensign Trovek tends to speak quite freely, a quality that part of him admired. He was motivated to try a ‘free’ comment himself.
Sival: Moving bodies are happy bodies, after all.
Kendrick: Sounds like fun.
Sival was still mastering the art of irony, but something about how Lt. Kendrick said that indicated to him that he wasn’t completely excited about the prospect. Perhaps his mood would change once he started exercising.
oO Exercise is an efficient mood booster. Oo
Trovek: Response
Sival was suddenly curious about what he had just signed up for.
Sival: Did you have a specific program in mind, Commander?
T’Lea: Response
Kendrick / Trovek: Response
TAG / TBC
Ensign Sival
Medical Officer
USS Juneau, NX-99801
J239808S11