Posted by Ensign Dradvia (Medical Officer) in Side sim: New Talents, Old Problems

Posted by Civilian Sisnil Zoi (Intelligence Consultant) in Side sim: New Talents, Old Problems

Posted by Ensign Dradvia (Medical Officer) in Side sim: New Talents, Old Problems
Posted by… suppressed (61) by the Post Ghost! 👻
A week had passed since Sisnil’s surgery. He was up and about and his brain and mind were adjusting well to the prosthetics. Able to see, he was much more willing to move around on his own and that was accelerating his physical recovery.

Except for when he overdid it. Now that he could, he was restless and didn’t want to wait. Dee had already caught him doing more than he should be.

Dradvia had caught him and given him a hard time. Mostly because she was required to nag him. She was happy to see him back to normal.

But that wasn’t always the case. He had programming to do, news to catch up on, things to check. Looking at screens was interesting with his new eyes, they had to be adjusted to accommodate the expanded visual range of even the lowest setting. But he was getting used to that, too. Still, he was bored with little to do as he wasn’t trained in anything useful to a Fleet starship.

That was what led him down to Engineering. If he could just learn more about the hardware side of things, and let that teach him mechanics and engineering, then that would be a useful skill to have.

And so he was in engineering that day, with his PaDD, reading the basics of engineering he’d pulled from the computer’s database. There was no better learning material than Starfleet Academy course material. He sat on the floor near an access panel with his PaDD, reading from one thing, then writing, then reading some more.

~ Zoi

A familiar abrasive presence scratched across his awareness before a pair of scuffed boots stopped right in vision. “What do you think you’re doing?”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

His new eyes were interesting, especially when paired with his telepathy. There were details he’d never have seen before. In the shoes, but also in the face of the man now standing over him. “Learning.” He answered, looking up briefly before looking back down at the PaDD. “Got a problem?”

~ Zoi

Stevens’ lip curled, “This is a restricted area. You can’t be here. Leave.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil shook his head. “Ask Morris. The only place restricted to me is the main computer core. And we both know that’s just security theater.” He said. “Besides, you’re what? An ensign? Lieutenant at best? Find someone with some real authority.”

~ Zoi

Sisnil’s eyes could see the flush of heat that raced through Stevens. It was white followed by red as his body temp rose. His eyes also caught the stiffening of his posture at the mention of Morris. His lip curled in disgust. “I am authority. I am an officer of Star Fleet. You,” he scoffed, “you are nothing. Move away from the panel. Or I will have you forcibly removed.” His hands flexed like he was looking forward to doing that himself.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil made absolutely zero indication he was planning on moving. He could tell more easily, with all his new eyes saw, that he was riling Stevens. “I don’t really give a damn who you are.” He looked up and smirked, “Besides, you’re not capable of removing me forcibly.”

~ Zoi

Stevens leaned forward and his hand flexed like he was going to prove Sisnil wrong. Movement caught his eye. “Cmdr P’vik a moment.” The Vulcan woman stopped and looked at Stevens and then at Sisnil. “Yes Stevens?”

“This…” He couldn’t hide the sneer, “man is tampering with our systems. He refuses to leave.”

P’vik was the shift lead. “He can’t tamper, Stevens. This conduit has been set to tutorial mode. Mr. Zoi is working in his engineering certifications. Quite a logical course to pursue given his other expertise.” Stevens drew himself up, becoming even hotter, “Cmdr you can’t allow this. Cmdr Morris is an idi…”

“Stevens I suggest you return to work. I do not have time for such displays. You are needed in cargo bay 1. We have a malfunctioning anti grav sled. Cmdr Morris has approved this. Report to the Cargo Bay.” She waited just long enough to make sure Stevens left. He was hot headed and a problem. Very illogical. When he was gone she left without a word to Sisnil.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil had no problem with that. He could tell, empathically and by what she’d said, that she approved of his course of action. And with Stevens gone, he could focus. Sisnil was a fast study. It would go faster with a real teacher, but he’d taught himself code, he could teach himself this.

~ Zoi

It was hours later when P’vik stopped beside him. “Mr. Zoi, I commend your learning ethic, but your time is up for today. Shift change is soon, and they will need access to this panel. I am willing to accommodate you again tomorrow as we will have panels you may learn with then.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil stood and stretched. “Okay then, I have a holoprogram to work on.” He winked, “You might like it, P’vik.” He said, and then with a few taps, tutorial mode was turned off and Sisnil headed towards his own quarters.

~ Zoi

P’vik nodded. “I shall endeavor to engage with your efforts Mr. Zoi. Good afternoon,” she said in dismissal and walked back towards the main bay of engineering. It was a quiet walk out of engineering except for the angry thought daggers of Stevens temper.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil had to chuckle to himself about the thought daggers. The man couldn’t let things go. It amused Sisnil.

The next day he was back in the same place, as P’vik had said. Sisnil had no love of the Fleet, but he wasn’t there to bother anyone, so he didn’t mind staying out of their way. He still caught the stray thought of disdain for him. But he could tune that out, so long as they kept their thoughts in their heads.

~ Zoi

Sisnil wasn’t bothered much that day. An occasional engineer needing to access a nearby panel or a sled with parts came through. Stevens was nowhere nearby. He was still in the cargo bay because P’vik thought it was a calm place for the hot head to find focus.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil was able to work in peace. He was focused hard when P’vik came to tell him to leave that day.

~ Zoi

The next day was much the same. He was allowed to work undisturbed. P’vik stopped by early. As shift lead, everything he did showed up on her console. She had a few constructive comments on improving his work. Things learned from years of experience and not just a textbook.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil seemed surprised she wanted to help, but infinitely grateful for her input. He had a digital notepad full of his notes and work, and he was working his way through an early academy engineering textbook.

~ Zoi

“You will learn more of this as you progress, but I can see from the changes you are attempting that you can already see past the basics. You will make a fair Engineer if you choose.”

“Now, time is up for the day. You may return tomorrow.” And she left.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil stood and left. He took the long way through engineering and headed toward the holodeck.

It was the same each day Dee was working. Sisnil would study and work while she was on duty. By the time P’vik would kick him out of engineering, Dee would be nearly off duty.

~ Zoi

Dee was a bit later getting back to her quarters. Sisnil could feel how uncomfortable she was. She was antsy, jittery. She just wanted to be somewhere safe. She wasn’t sure what was causing the feeling, but it was there. She turned toward his door rather than her own and pressed the chime.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

The door opened immediately and Sisnil grabbed her and and tugged her gently inside. “What’s wrong, Dee?”

~ Zoi

His eyes picked up the slight tremor in her hands and the way her skin pulsed with her racing heart. All that eased the moment he tugged her toward him and the door closed. Her arms went around him, holding into him for safety. She shook her head. “I don’t know. I just…I feel… watched. I don’t know.” It made her feel like things were crawling all over her. She felt like this when Lokhar’s enforcers watched them from the cameras. She didn’t know why she felt that way though.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil hugged her. “I’m here, Dee. It’ll be okay,” he said gently. “No one can get you now.”

~ Zoi

Dradvia nodded. “I know.” She blew out a breath. “I’m just being paranoid. I’m sorry.” The thing was though, Dradvia’s instincts were accurate. If she felt off then there was something.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil could check for himself. Breaching the ship’s security system… Well, wouldn’t that be a fun challenge? “No, it’s alright,” Sisnil said gently. “Sit in here with me for a while. As long as you want.”

~ Zoi

“Thanks.” Her voice was muffled in his shirt. She couldn’t shake the feeling. Nothing had happened, but it was like the air was charged with warning. She shook her head against him. “What did you do today?”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“I was in engineering. That Vulcan commander, P’vik, doesn’t seem to mind my being there,” Sisnil said with a shrug. “I’m working on a holoprogram.”

~ Zoi

“Oh?” She looked up at him, excitement and curiosity filling her. “Will you tell me?”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“Remember how we were going to make one for Simon?” Sisnil smiled. “It’s going to be like the garden one, so the crew can enjoy it, but the functions for Simon will be better built in.”

~ Zoi

“Aww, Simon will love that.” Dradvia took a half step back and looked around, “Where is he?”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

The cat stretched on the bed and mewed at Dradvia as if he knew he was being talked about. Sisnil smiled. “Sleeping.”

~ Zoi

“Hmmmm, food prepared for him, his own holodeck programs, sleep whenever he wants, I think I’m jealous.” Dradvia a laughed. It was slightly forced from nerves, but genuine.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil laughed too. “Me too, honestly.” He said. “I saw Stevens in engineering the other day. Seems he has a problem letting things go.” He shrugged, “He’s not much of a bother, though.”

~ Zoi

A cold chill raced down Dradvia’s spine at the man’s name. “He’s awful. You should hear what he says about the noncommissioned officers. He likes to feel like he has power.” Stevens had issues and she wasn’t sure why no one had noticed. She went out of her way to make sure she avoided him. “Cmdr. Morris asked me if I wanted him transferred, but I don’t want to owe him for a favor that big.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil nodded. “He’s too big of a coward to mess with me directly.” He said. “Especially after I made him involve his shift lead.” In reality, that had embarrassed Stevens, and made him angry. Sisnil just assumed he wouldn’t do anything about it.

~ Zoi

“I think he only bothers you because of me. I’m sorry.” She sighed heavily, guilt, and confusion swirling together. She never spoke to him except once in the mess to say excuse me. She sighed again.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil shook his head. “Oh don’t worry, he hates me on principle just as much.”

~ Zoi

Dradvia shook her head. “How? He has none.” She laid her head on his chest. Was that why she felt off? Was Stevens hanging around again? She hadn’t seen him.

“How did your PT go today? I didn’t get a chance to check the progress report, yet.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“Well, it’s suggesting actual exercises, so I must be doing good,” Sisnil replied. “I definitely don’t feel 100% back to normal, but I can at least do most things without help.”

~ Zoi

Dradvia nodded, “You’ll get there in no time. Honestly, considering the damage and the illness, I would have expected you to still be in a chair most of the time.” She looked up at him, “How are your eyes?”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil shrugged. What he wasn’t telling her was he was in pain quite often, but he’d been making himself work without support so he wouldn’t look as vulnerable and weak. “Still causing overwhelm headaches but not as often.” Sisnil said. “They feel like they’re made right and everything.”

~ Zoi

“Okay. If you ever need anything for the headaches or muscle strain, you can ask me. I’m glad things are starting to settle with the input though.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil smiled. “Of course. I’m okay,” he said. “I think I’m adjusting to it,” he added with a shrug. “Once I can manage the lower setting I’d like to see what else they can do.”

~ Zoi

Dradvia grinned. “I’m surprised you haven’t already.” She stepped back, letting him go suddenly like her fear instinct finally won over her need for comfort. She walked over to Simon and ran a hand over his fur and teasing his paws gently.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“I don’t want a splitting headache,” Sisnil said sheepishly. Simon swatted at her hands playfully.

~ Zoi

Dradvia looked over her shoulder at him, her look was teasing. “Really? The best pirate ever, Captain Sisnil Zoi, is admitting that he isn’t quite immune to everything?” She wiggled her fingers over Simon’s paws letting him play.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil smiled, but also sighed. “Hard to pretend that when we’re talking about my fake eyes, Dee,” he said.

~ Zoi

Dradvia stopped playing with Simon and turned to look at him. “They are real eyes. There is nothing fake about them, but I understand what you mean.”She reached out to grab his hand, and then stopped, uncertain. “I’m sorry I couldn’t do more.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil took her hand and squeezed it. “It’s not your fault, Dee. No one could have done more. Not the best doctor there is.”

~ Zoi

“I don’t know about that. I’m still pretty young for a doctor.” That wasn’t modesty, just the truth. “I’m glad you can see again though.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil smiled. “You said it yourself. Anyone else wouldn’t have recognized the poison.”

~ Zoi

“True, but someone else might have been able to treat you better, or save your eyes.” It was what it was though. Dradvia had seen what was left of his eyes. He was lucky they had worked at all. There was no known way to repair that extensive of damage.

“What else are you planning to do today?”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“Work on my holoprogram.” He smiled up at her, “See you.”

~ Zoi

It was amazing the colors that flashed across her skin. This was more pink and high in her cheeks. She was shy but delighted. She sat down beside Simon and wiggled her fingers over him again. She wasn’t sure what to say to that. It wasn’t like spending time with her was super exciting. She was quiet, preferred to stay away from people, she’d rather get lost in a book. Books were safer. None of the people in the stories could show up and hurt her. If something in the book made her uncomfortable she could just close it and stop reading. She didn’t have to explain to anyone why she wanted to leave or got quiet. No one grilled her about things she didn’t want to share and they they couldn’t handle. “How much work do you still have to do on your program?”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“The environment itself is done, I’m adding structures.” Sisnil said. “Then I have to add people and things.”

~ Zoi

Dradvia shook her head, “I never really thought about all the details that go in to a holoprogram. I would get overwhelmed I think. You just act like it’s as easy as writing your name.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil laughed. “Well, it’s a computer, Dee, aside limited AI, it has to be told exactly what you want. That’s all coding is, telling the computer exactly what you want it to do.”

~ Zoi

“Well, yeah, but… just all the details. Most people don’t consider the little things when you ask what they want. It’s a big picture type of thing.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil smiled. “I could just tell the computer to make me a program, but where would the fun in that be?”

~ Zoi

Dradvia laughed. “Why do you like programming? I never asked.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil shrugged. “I guess… Everything just makes sense. You say it in a way the computer ‘understands’ and it does it. Everything is intentional, if you’re doing it right. Maybe in a chaotic world the logic of it attracted me.”

~ Zoi

Dradvia nodded, “That makes sense. When are you going to try your training programs again?”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“As soon as I think you won’t yell at me for hurting myself,” Sinsil said and grinned at her.

~ Zoi

“I stipulated a week. If I had known you would listen so well, I would have said longer.” Dradvia grinned back at him; she couldn’t help it.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil smiled. “Well then I’ll be back at it right away, I need to be in top shape,” he said.

~ Zoi