Capt. Shayne: Heard It Through The Grapevine
Randal Shayne
((Deck 1, Captain’s Ready Room, USS Khitomer))
Things… those things not withstanding more specific classification… were returning to some semblance of normal. Outside, the workbees and traffic of Deep Space 33 were comforting, and he’d be lying if he said it didn’t feel good to be back where he belonged. But there was an unease about him, like the universe knew that changes, good and ill, were aligned for the crew to face in the coming days. Changes that themselves couldn’t be altered; only embraced, or survived.
He paused. The room was a spartan, almost personality-less void. He’d kept it this way, as he’d kept it about Arrow. The previous captain had enjoyed a pleasantly tame selection of personal accoutrements. They’d gone with them, and the new captain had never filled the void. He’d enjoyed keeping it bare. He’d enjoyed the lifelessness of it, an expression of control- one he could justify without hurting or inconveniencing others. Now, as he sought comfort for things he couldn’t control, he found nothing but barren bulkhead.
Maybe a vine wall. Or a picture. Maybe he’d take some of his patch collection from his quarters and move it here. Something, anything, to break up the monotony. Something to have faith in a happier future with.
The door chimed, and startled Shayne quite badly.
Shayne: AHeahcomeonin!
He swallowed hard as he attempted to compose himself- and who should his visitor be but…
Semara: Response
Shayne: Ensign. Thank you for stopping by. Coffee? Tea?
He turned to put some of the suppressed kinetic energy into something valuable before she’d even responded.
Semara: Response
He turned to her, uncomprehending, and then a lightbulb ignited only three or four seconds after it should have.
Shayne: Lieutenant! Of course, my apologies. I see Commander Hobart promoted you as I’d hoped.
Semara: Response
Tag/TBC…
Captain Randal Shayne
Commanding Officer
USS Khitomer
NCC 62400
G239202RS0