SNIP

He sighed deeply and ran a hand over his newly trimmed breard. “Look. Id rather not have her here at all. Its not my mother that is the issue its the other one that comes with her. Now if you are happy to acknowledge her and thats it ive fufiled my duty as a son and introduced her to my commanding officer. That way she will see i am well adjusted, working, perfectly fine and then go away and leave me to get on with my life.”

He looked at her. “Understand?” He said looked at her almost imploringly if Ryley did such a thing.

Ryley
MD

Leaning forward Kelly scrutinized Ryley heavily. “Are we speaking in riddles? It’s not my mother that is the issue it’s the other one that comes with her” she repeated Ryley’s words as if contemplating a serious question. “Oh oh-oh your mother is a Trill,” Kelly said excitedly as if she were on a game show snapping her fingers. “Is that what you are trying to tell me. Your mother is a Trill and her symbiote doesn’t like you so at times your mom is like “I love Ryley.”

“But her symbiote is like “Ryley needs to wear a uniform,” Kelly changed the tone of her voice deepening it so the Ryley knew she was talking as someone else.

“No he doesn’t he needs to be comfortable, Kelly said in the first higher pitched tone.

“There is no casual Fridays in Starfleet,” Kelly said in her deeper tone.

It was then she looked at Ryley hit her forehead with the palm of her hand. “Wait wait no that is me talking to my self every morning about why you are not in uniform,” she said dryly taking a sip of her coffee.

Captain Kelly Shultz

IC: Ryley stared at her as she had gone mad, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly. “My father you idiot. I’m talking about my father. But I guess your analogy is as good as any. She’s the good one and he’s the symbiote that hates me if we go with your metaphor.”

Kelly tried not to smirk. She did. It find the tension in the familial relationship between father and son funny. What she was amused by was a memory of her command 101 class. As a freshman she sat eager waiting for slivers of knowledge. What she got one afternoon was a tirade between the two professors that taught the class. They were married. One had been an XO. The other the CO of the same ship. The lesson had devolved into “what to do when your CO (husband) assigns his XO ( wife ) with a dignitary party (the in laws). The verbal ping pong match lasted for an hour but both professors agreed that any commanding officer that did not rally the troops when parents came to town was not fit for command.

Kelly had paper scissors rocked Dante enough in thier time together with the same situation.

He did grin this time and gestured at himself, “I’m in uniform, what more do you want? All you said is wear the uniform you didn’t say where or when. Now is it my fault that you don’t see me put it on at night half an hour before I go to bed or every third Thursday while I’m off duty?”

Ryley
MD

“Okay,” Kelly leaned forward as if in negotiations with a serious face. “I am offering a tour of the bridge and a cup of coffee for 15 minutes in my ready room but then I am cut loose. I mean you did wear a uniform. Good boys get rewards,” she winked at him.

Captains Kelly Shultz

“Done deal.” Ryley replied just as seriously. Poker faced in fact. “How about in return I consider taking the investigation into your bout of Klingon herpes off your medical records.” He asked with a mischievous smirk.

Ryley
MD

“Excellent. I will see you and your parents on the bridge,” Kelly said leaning back in her seat wondering how big of a mistake did she make.

Captian Kelly Shultz