“Sapper. Actually, Eric. Sapper means ‘Combat Engineer’,” Eric awkwardly introduced himself, taking the sweaty hand, then resisting the urge to wipe it off on his gold tunic. “New”, he confirmed, answering her pseudo-asked question. “Well, new to this ship anyways, Xandra. This is my....sixth starship posting”, he had taken a moment to remember each posting over the past few decades-since his graduation from the Academy a very long time ago. His hair had started to streak with grey, and he felt even older now talking to the younger woman. “But age is just a number”, he murmured just above a whisper, almost as if he were talking to himself, and needed to hear that cliche from time to time. He didn’t relish starting over a Star Fleet career at this age, but he wasn’t going to squander the opportunity. In stark comparison to her eyes, Sapper’s looked as if they’ve seen too much to be bright again.

“Deck Lieutenant?”, Sapper asked. While Xandra wasn’t wearing her uniform or insignia, Sapper had made it a point to getting to know all the major players aboard, especially the pilots of the squadron ships he was going to be maintaining.

-Sapper

Laughing she shook her head. “Busted, huh? Well, Sapper,” she inclined her head and smiled. “If we are using nicknames, call me ‘Sehlat’. Basically, it means ‘minx’.” She laughed. “I’m a pilot and apparently have a knack for getting into trouble. Welcome aboard. Something tells me you have some great stories with that many ships in your shadow.” The comment was light hearted and hinted that she was curious about what they might be. When he asked what deck, she blushed. “Sorry, you were going somewhere… Deck 10 for me. Sickbay. Over did it working out last week. Doc wants to make sure I’m not killing myself.” She rolled her eyes slightly and shook her head as if to say everyone worried too much about her.

Xandra
Pilot

“Quite a few stories”, Sapper said, offering the first signs of amusement in his voice, as a smile pulled at his lips, “and not all of them bad. I should tell you about the time I made my wife my XO. That was some serious red-tape”. His mirth was short lived, however, and whatever pleasantries he had been thinking about seemed to be quickly overshadowed by some darker memory. “Appologies, Sehlat. Even my fondest stories bring up some painful memories,” Sapper lamented.

“Deck 10: Sickbay,” Sapper spoke to the turbolift, which obediently resumed its course. “I’m heading there as well; boarding physical”, he clarified. “I guess they want to make sure none of us are killing themselves. After that, I was heading to the hangar bay. I would love to see your fighter, if you wouldn’t mind providing the tour. After you’ve had a chance to change into uniform, of course”.

-Sapper

She gave him a moment with his thoughts before leaning sideways and nudging he shoulder against his with a grin. “It happens… so long as the dark memories occasionally make you remember good one’s, it evens out.” She laughed and nodded. “Recent dark memory for me was an away flight mission that left me addle brained for a day. Nothing like being in a shuttle and talking the CAG sitting beside you like you’re in a fighter. ” She laughed but this time the shine dulled slightly in her eyes remembering how badly it had gone.

It was gone and the shine back quick enough that he would miss it if it he hadn’t been looking. “And you have good memories, so that’s what counts, most.” At his comment about the hanger, she nodded. “Sure, I’m not due anywhere today. I’ll meet you down there in about an hour or so.” She stepped from the lift and led the way to medical. “I’m sure Doc won’t keep you long. Well, unless you have an arm sticking out of your back or a heartbeat coming from your kidney.”

Xandra

Sapper smiled at her humor, if only out of politeness. He hoped she appreciated the gesture. “Very well, ma’am”, Sapper said, as the turbolift door opened and the stylized Caduceus emblem was seen etched on the frosted glass pane of the double doors directly ahead. “I’ll meet up with you in the hangar at about 1100 hours”, he said, allowing the senior officer to exit first, then following her into Sickbay.

Sapper hated sickbays. Not an uncommon feeling for most people, but he had seen more than his fair share of sickbays, infirmaries, clinics, hospitals, etc. in his lifetime to associate these places with death, not necessarily healing. While he had great respect for those that studied life sciences to become doctors, he just didn’t care for the places they gathered to work.

Still, Starfleet regulations had to be followed: ‘Newly transferred personnel must report to Sickbay for a physical’. So Sapper stood next to the door, looking over the mix of blue uniforms, subtlety trying to get someone’s attention.

-Sapper