Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in Side sim: Early Morning in the Lab

(snip)

Roman set the mouse down as soon as Rand’s hand was clear so Nibbles couldn’t latch back on. The cage was closed and latched, and as usual, Rand offered no excuse. “You’re right, it won’t. That is at least the second time, and you should show more care in your interactions with even something relatively harmless as the Atarivan mouse. For now, we’ll switch back to supervised visits only.” It was the lecture the lab was expecting, and had the side plus of meaning he’d have to be here at lunch, with her, so she could continue helping.

There was the lecture expected of the CSO. Scott had to turn back to her notebook to keep her smile hidden, at least it wasn’t her being lectured (this time). But that look, when Rand asked for help, that had to mean something, right? Right?! Scott hoped she was right.

~ Lt Cmdr Alden and NE Scott

It was no less and no more than what Rand had expected. She was torn between feeling guilty and wanting to laugh. Rand knew he was harsh because he cared, not just about her but everyone under his command. He had lectured her quite clearly when she’d first started about safety, and Rand also knew better with out that. She had allowed her attention to be split between Nibbles and her actual work. And there was the guilt, she did know better and she’d messed up. She could imagine how confused Scott was at the moment. Scott made no secret of the fact she thought Roman liked her, so know she was probably confused by his lack of favoritism. Roman cared to much to play favorites. He’d also ‘warned’ her he would find reasons to spend more time with her on duty, and now he had. Rand just nodded, “Yes Cmdr.” She was already contemplating how she was going to adjust her schedule to make a second visit when he was in the lab.

Very quietly she finished her notes, closed up the food container, replaced it in the cabinet and then sat down by the spare console to finish adding her own notes to the report. Wordlessly she set the final report on his desk and began working on the CO reports while she waited for him to finish. A couple of the lab techs tried to catch her eye to give her a sympathetic support, but the attention just made her feel awkward when she wasn’t worried about the lecture.

Yeoman Rand

Roman returned to his desk to finish his own reports, occasionally glancing up to make sure everyone was still doing their jobs. He could swear he felt like a high school teacher sometimes.

Scott finished her notes, just in time for the end of her shift, and left them silently on his desk on her way out. With a final sympathetic glance at Rand, she was gone for the day.

~ Lt Cmdr Alden and NE Scott

Rand walked over, took the notes and the final report back, Roman hadn’t gotten to it yet, with an irritated sigh. Scott could have been done. It wasn’t that Rand minded waiting till the end of the shift, if it was needed. But Scott had been busy trying to catch glanced of Rand after she got in trouble.

She swore she felt like she was back in high school and working as a TA again. The gamma shift had to stop the alpha shift and tell them all about Rand getting in trouble. Alpha shift was braver, working more closely with Alden. They had mind words for her, but also reminded her Alden was correct. A couple offered to speak to Alden about letting them supervise. Her continued work with the mouse was important but they knew she had a difficult schedule. Rand did roll her eyes once. She refused. One tech asked if she was I’ll because it wasn’t like her to forget protocol or safety regulations. Was she hurting from her injury or still on medication? The attention was sweet but made her feel slightly I’ll. Really it wasn’t a big deal. She assured them no on all accounts. She was behind from the week off and she had rushed. It was her fault.

Rand waited for Roman to finish and then with a quiet thank you and have a good morning, as always, she left the lab until late in the afternoon. She knew Roman wouldn’t be in the lab until the end of lunch so she moved things around to visit at 1400 when he would be there.

Rand

Roman waited for Rand to return the report to finish it off. He was sure Scott could do better, if she were just more focused. She was bright, with good memory and a lot of sense… When she wasn’t going spreading people’s personal lives around the ship.

He waited for Rand to come on lunch, working through his normal lunch time at his usual spot. His paperwork finished, he was doing actual science stuff. But by 1345, he could wait no longer. He left for lunch. He assumed she must’ve been busy. Sometimes she did end up taking a lunch later. But part of him warned he’d been too harsh earlier, that maybe he’d upset her. He hoped that wasn’t the case.

~ Lt Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

At 1400 Rand entered the lab. Nothing could seem to ruin her good mood that day. She started to head over to Alden’s desk to tell him she was there, but he wasn’t at his desk or in the lab. “He left 15 minutes ago, Rand. No idea where he went.” Well he was busy and had multiple responsibilities. She could wait. She took a stool and sat down by the cage, close enough to observe but not touch. The tech started to tell her she couldn’t work with Nibbles, but when she sat down to wait he nodded to himself.

Rand waited till 1500. She busied herself with taking notes as she watched Nibbles move around the cage. The lead lab tech fed the mouse, since it was a couple hours late, and she took notes. She also looked for the missing sleeve with no luck. She even went and peeked at the other labs to see if he was there, but never found him At 1500 she had to leave, and no Roman. She knew he was busy, but she worried she had really messed up. That he was more than slightly disappointed with her. And that ruined her good mood for the rest of the day.

Rand