The Return

Posted on Wed Feb 20th, 2013 @ 3:44pm by Captain Benjamin Byrne & Lieutenant JG Nessa Jenarian

Mission: Klingons on the Starboard Bow
Location: USS Endeavour - In orbit over Cestus III
Timeline: Day 7

"Energizing," was the last thing she heard before everything blurred in front of her gaze and she was suddenly looking at the interior of the Endeavour's transporter room. Almost instantly, she snapped to attention and locked her gaze on the captain whom she hadn't seen in almost two years. "Good to see you again, captain," she said in a soft voice, her sense of discipline having slacked a bit during her time spent with scientists studying xenobiology. Nessa Jenarian hadn't worn her Starfleet uniform in what seemed like ages, and like the first time she had ever put it on, it seemed a bit constricting now, but it was something to deal with as a mild discomfort and nothing more.

"Likewise, Lieutenant," Benjamin said, his manner friendly as he welcomed an old crew member back onboard. The last mission she had served with him on had turned into a rather harrowing ordeal, and he was still surprised that she had put in a request to return to the ship after she had finished her studies. "Welcome back to the Endeavour."

Nessa stepped off the transporter, a slight limp in her stride as she made her way over to the captain's position. "It's good to be back, captain. No place really felt much like home ever since that one day. It's surprising how a scary encounter and a fight to protect something can make it feel comfortable despite the negative emotions one associates with it at times," she whispered, her gaze shifting to the transporter operator for a moment before making contact with the captain's once more.

"Well, I can assure you that we've not had any incidents like that since," Ben replied, gesturing for her to follow him out of the transporter room so that they could stroll the ship. "I'll be honest though, after you transferred off, I was quite surprised to see a request to transfer back."

She gave a simple shrug of her shoulders. "I just needed some time is all. It was never about what happened or didn't happen. I guess I kind of grew up in too short a period of time, so I needed to think about it and put everything into perspective," she said, moving in step with the captain as they walked down familiar corridors. "Truth be told, I still have... dreams now and then... about those creatures we faced and a lot of what ifs seem to spark, but I doubt there is a better place to deal with it than on board the Endeavour, sir."

"I couldn't agree more," he answered. "We still don't have a counselling staff aboard, but if you feel the need, my door is always open, should you want to talk."

Nessa shook her head slightly in response, taking a deep breath before explaining, "I think I've had quite enough of counselors, actually. What I think I need is to reconnect with people, something that tends to be a lot more complicated than one might think at a research station. Hopefully, I'll get the chance to do that here as well, but I do appreciate the offer."

"Well, there are plenty of people around," Ben said, as they stepped into the turbolift and it began moving upwards. "But the offer is always open if you need it."

As the doors opened to eject them onto the bridge, Ben decided to take a slight detour from the route to his ready room, where he had automatically been heading, and instead moved towards the centre of the bridge. Stopping in front of the command chairs, he indicated the one to the left of his. "Your new chair," he said, with a mischievous grin.

Nessa looked confused for a moment as she was fairly certain that her time off the ship didn't really warrant a promotion, but then remembered the way the bridge was organized, realizing what the new spot meant. "Thank you, Sir. I'll make sure to complain about how uncomfortable it is in comparison with yours any chance I get," she said with a grin of her own as she moved in to take a seat, if only for just a couple of seconds before standing back up and taking a look around her, trying to stop her grin and avoid looking like someone too young to be in her position to the rest of the bridge crew.

Indicating that they should continue their walk towards the ready room, Ben replied "At least we haven't been refitted with those ones with the seatbelts yet," - only half in jest. As they entered his ready room and moved to take a seat behind his desk, he indicated that she should take the one opposite him. "I've seen to it that you've been given full access to the ship's cultural and diplomatic databases, and you'll also be attending any senior staff meeting in your capacity as contact specialist," he said, the conversation turning towards the necessary business details now. "Is there anything else that you think you'll need?"

Biting her lower lip, Nessa paused to consider for a few moments before shaking her head, "Nothing that comes to mind, sir. Pretty much everything else relies on people sometimes following orders that might seem strange or unorthodox, but I'll try and avoid sticking my nose in matters that are beyond my level of expertise." She gave a shrug of her shoulders as she leaned forward in the offered chair, resting her elbows on the desk between her and the captain.

"Alright, well I'm afraid you can't have your old quarters back - they're taken," Ben grinned. "But you're fortunate enough that being contact specialist means you don't have to share. Your new home's on deck four, section twelve and I believe Chief Bellawa has already moved all of your things in for you."

She let out a cough, a slight flush forming on her features. "Well, finding someone to room with me might be complicated either way, Sir. My condition is a bit specific, making it difficult to share quarters with others, as you might recall," she whispered, giving a slight shrug of her shoulders before relaxing and adding, "Still, there really wasn't much of a need for people to move my things... I could've handled it myself... will have to make sure to thank the chief."

"I'm sure she'll appreciate that," Ben answered, truthfully only now recalling the lieutenant's condition. After the initial special requirements of accommodations had been taken care of, he didn't recall any incident in particular relating to it, and he silently berated himself for the lapse in memory of such a specific detail. "Is there anything else you need? We'll be leaving orbit tomorrow, so now is your last chance to get anything from the planet."

"I think I'll be fine, Sir. Should have all I need with my supplies, so to speak. I am not certain how long it takes between my periods, but here's to hoping it works much the same way as a Vulcan's situation would. Still, I'd warn the medical officer of the situation, just in case," she said, a flush forming on her cheeks and she looked away to the side, trying her best to avoid remembering the craze she had entered into during the last mission she actually took part in.

"Understood," Ben answered warmly. "Well, I'll leave you to get settled in. Welcome back."

"It's good to be back, Captain," Nessa said with a slight smile before standing up and heading out the door toward her quarters, already suspecting she'd need to brush up on for the Endeavour's next mission.