Hidden Talents

Posted on 07 Oct 2021 @ 9:01pm by Lieutenant Ileyana Haistro & Lieutenant Commander Aidan Datari

Mission: Picking up the pieces
Location: Chief Science Officer's Office
1738 words - 3.5 OF Standard Post Measure

Short on trained staff, and definitely short on a good assistant, Aidan had been poring over the ship's personnel for a few hours now. He was exhausted, not even having come around to reducing his hours as agreed with the first officer. Juggling things on his own was starting to take its toll on the young Trill science chief and he was in desperate need for help.

Browsing through anyone listed Ensign and above, and eligible for promotion, his eyes finally fell on a Betazoid woman, who apparently had come from a science-minded family. Sighing in soft relief, he tapped his comm badge. "Ensign Haistro, this is Commander Datari, please report to my office at your earliest convenience."

"On my way sir!" came the clipped reply.

Aidan arched a single eyebrow as he caught the clipped tone. He rubbed his eyes and got up to walk to the replicator. "Coffee, black," he ordered, stiffling a yawn as he got his drink and returned to his desk. His eyes traveled to the holophoto on his desk, showing Emme and Saeri. It was taken only days before Emme had decided to leave and go back to Earth. He sighed, realizing he probably needed to change that to just one of his child.

The door chimed a while Aidan was in his thoughts but on the other side of the door was a slightly nervous young woman wondering why she had been called to a meeting by the ships second officer. Had she done something wrong she started to ponder. She smoothed her uniform down, its form fitting shape clinging to her perfectly leaving no creases to be seen but still she smoothed out her uniform with one hand.

"Come in," Aidan called out, before taking a sip of his coffee.

The doors parted as ordered and she stepped through, clasping her hands behind her back and standing at attention before the Lieutenant Commanders desk. Falling on formality that she had started to adopt ever since her brother had risen so rapidly through the ranks to Captain.
"You wanted to see me sir?"

"At ease ensign," the Trill smiled, gesturing to a seat, "before you sprain anything. Tell me a little about yourself ensign, and why you are wasting your talents in security."

"Sir!" the question caught her off-guard and for the briefest of moments she considered allowing herself to touch his mind but ultimately thought better of it. She was better than that. "I'm not sure what you mean sir?"

She dropped down into the chair he had indicated but still kept her back straight, still trying to maintain what she thought people would expect of her given her brothers status. She knew she wasn't the only one in the family that felt like this, her other Brother, Osil also felt the same even if he didn't admit it to himself. They both had a great deal to live up to.

"Why did you go into security?" He could sense her confusion, probably as easily as she could sense his genuine curiosity. "And please... relax already before you give yourself a bad sprain. I don't bite. My companion might, if he chooses to drop in, and if he gets angered, but I assure you, I don't."

"Oh... Yes sir!" she forced her shoulders to relax as she sat back in the chair a little wondering how she had not known the man before her was gay. She was convinced others had said he had been married but she had always assumed it had been to a female. Obviously she had been mistaken.
"I joined Security because it seemed the best fit sir. I am well trained in hand to hand combat and highly proficient in hand weapons. Tactical systems and specifically the science behind the shielding technology are my speciality!"

"So you have a tendency to lean towards the science aspect of things?" Aidan asked curiously.

"That is pretty much a given sir. My brother was the Science Officer on the Copernicus... He's now the Captain of that ship... It puts a lot of pressure on Osil and I, my other brother, to live up to the legend that is Keiben Haistro!"
She loved her brother dearly for who he is and what he had achieved and even she was a little surprised at the hint of venom in her tone as she spoke.

Aidan nodded in understanding, though as a trained linguist he did catch the venomous undertone. "Though I don't understand your tone, I do understand being in the shadow of someone you care about. However, I do admit that I actually don't know your brother...." He paused, sipping his coffee again. "Anyway... with my wife leaving for Earth, I'm hands short in my department, and with your history....perhaps you may unlock some hidden talents here. What do you think?"

"I must admit, I don't find Security as rewarding as I thought I would... Possibly why I've not received a promotion... But at the same time would I be held to the same standard as Keiben if I moved to the Sciences?" she looked at Aiden directly, knowing he would likely be looking up Keiben but also trying to get a read on the man without actually reading him telepathically.

"Why would I hold you to a standard of someone I don't know?" Aidan asked in return, "I'll hold you to the same standards as anyone else in my department. I trust you to know what you're doing and when you don't I trust you to ask for the assistance you need. Such is the task of an assistant science chief, isn't it? Right now I need all the help I can get." He gave her an encouraging smile. "Science isn't my general area of study either, I'm a linguist by trade, so I too have to learn as I go, and trust on those that are experts in their field."

"Wait, Assistant Chief Science Officer?"
Her concerns about being held to the same standard as her brother forgotten, if only for a moment by the surprise announcement from the Trill.

"Yes, assistant chief. I need someone to rely on, and someone not afraid to tell me if I'm about to make a mistake." He arched a single eyebrow at her. "Are you that person?" He smiled at her. "Oh...and you're not afraid of dragons, are you?"

"If you'd met my mother you would know that Dragons are the least of my worries or fears Commander.... Although Osil and Kei do often say I'm turning into her. As for telling you straight, I have no issue with that either and you can call that a trait of the Betazoid female!"
Had she just accepted a new position? She had to stop herself and consider for a moment, but she assumed that she may have already said yes without really thinking about the prospect. Still, a change is a good as a rest as the Humans would say.

Grinning at the brief rush of wind, Aidan simply pointed up to where Sherlock was now hovering just a few centimeters above Ileyana's head. "He's harmless," he finally said, as the mini-dragon swooped down and settled on the Trill's arm. The blue's eyes were calm and a speckled blue and green as they seemed to focus on the black-eyed woman. "He likes his eyes ridges stroked," Aidan encouraged.

"Indeed, but back to the... I'm assuming this is a job offer?"
The dragon looked impressive and she could already sense the gentle nature of the beast but as with most Betazoids, Ileyana had no affection for animals because it was too easy for her species to be swept up with the more primal and basic emotional range that most animals had. She had no ill will to them, they just made her feel uncomfortable. "Could I assume that it would be an immediate start?"

"Preferably yesterday," the Trill chuckled, his hair getting ruffled as Sherlock took off and disappeared. "Don't worry, he's gone either to the arboretum, or back home. He's loyal, and very protective, of everyone I care about to be honest."

"Honestly Commander, Betazoids don't care much for pets... We get entangled in their emotions far too easily... As for the job, I think I would be interested!"
Attempting to steer the conversation away from Animals as they really were not her cup of tea in a familiar objective. Work wise and from a scientific perspective then yes, very interested.

"Good." Aidan's smile widened. "And that's fine, just don't be too offended if he does get a bit nosy. Just send him off, and he'll go somewhere else. He just wants to be useful, that's all." He gestured around the area. "Well then lieutenant, I suggest you familiarize yourself with the area, and if you've any questions let me know. Or better yet, bug what little staff we have. And feel free to pick up any project that strikes your fancy, or specialize in any area you like."

"Yes sir.... I suppose I should go and replicate myself the correct uniform as well!"
She tugged at the yellow gold collar she currently had on and started to get a little excited and wanted to call Keiben to speak to him, make sure he thought she was doing the right thing even if she did still feel under his shadow.

"Well yes... you're a bit of a sore thumb in the crowd now." Sensing her doubt, he reached out and touched her arm. "Don't worry... you'll do just fine," he promised, "don't make a liar out of me....I've never told a lie in my entire life, and I'm not about to start."

"Don't go laying the pressure on me now!"
She teased before laughing a little which did twist into a nervous laughter realising that she was genuinely nervous about switching but in the same token if she stayed in Security would she not have been held to the same standard as her other Brother Osil. "Well, if you will excuse me sir, I had best go change!"

"Go on!" Aidan waved her off. "Dismissed."

"Wait..." something finally dawning on her. "Lieutenant?"

"Obviously," the Trill answered lightly. "Can't have my assistant be outranked by anyone other than me, now can I?

END

Lt. Commander Aidan Datari
Chief Science Officer

Lieutenant Ileyana Haistro
Assistant Chief Science Officer