The Student Becomes the Teacher

Posted on Sat Feb 20th, 2010 @ 12:53pm by Vice Admiral Iluvar & Commander Michael Evans M.D.

Mission: Episode 1.1 - "Now Boarding"
Location: 2XO's Office, USS Pandora
Timeline: MD03, 1800

ON: [[2XO's Office, USS Pandora, MD03, 1800]]

Lieutenant Commander Evans sat back in his chair, eyes closed, humming faintly with the music lilting from the comm. He'd finally settled into the 2XO's office aboard the Pandora, and he was enjoying his well-ordered environs. The table by the portal had been adjusted just so with a vase a daffodils arranged in its center. His desk had been organized with everything having a place. The small alcove on the other side of the door across from his desk looked inviting with a small couch and a wing-backed chair. And he'd been careful to find two chairs that looked just right facing the front of his desk.

He'd gotten used to the familiar displays and somewhat aseptic feel of medical offices, but this felt good too. He'd arranged for a couple of the panels to display status reports and medical information so he could keep an eye on the sickbays, but it was nice to add a little more of his personality to the decor. A swatch of his family's tartan was draped across the back of his chair and a few rocks, minerals, and interesting bits of wood he'd picked up from home were arranged decoratively on and around various surfaces. Besides the framed commendations, awards, and certificates on the wall hung a portrait of an old man, a middle-aged woman, and an adolescent boy with pointed ears.

He was just twitching his finger in time with the lively Allegro Vivace movement of Beethoven's 4th symphony when the door chimed. He paused the music, sat up straight, and said, "Enter."

Outside, Jesse (NPC) heard the call to enter. He'd been waiting for this moment ever since they'd announced the assignments at the Academy. To serve aboard the flagship of a task force, especially out on the front lines with the Elyshan Empire was certainly a privilege. It was certainly better than some of the more routine assignments his friends had been assigned to. The doors hissed open and the cadet stepped confidently across the threshold of the office. He was surprised to see a lieutenant commander in medical/sciences teal seated behind the desk. Confused, Jesse glanced at the PADD in his hand and frowned slightly, then glanced back at Evans.

Michael was a little surprised to see a young man in a cadet's uniform walk through his door. "What can I do for you, Cadet," Evans asked formally, but not unkindly.

"I'm sorry, sir," Jesse said slowly, checking his PADD again, "I'm looking for Lieutenant Commander Evans." He read the name directly from the PADD, as if he wasn't quite sure that he was in the right spot.

"Well, you've found him, Cadet," Michael replied. "What can he do for you?"

Jesse quirked an eyebrow at the strange use of the third person. It had been bad enough that he had not been able to meet the admiral upon his arrival. Ever since receiving the assignment, he had been looking forward to serving with and learning from a man who had been slowly gaining a reputation at the Academy. The stories of action along the Elyshan border had already begun to circulate amongst cadets, making an assignment in the 8th Fleet one of the most prestigious postings for a cadet, second only to Voyager or the Enterprise. Now here he was, pawned off onto the ship's second officer and chief medical officer. Maybe this wasn't going to be as interesting as he thought.

Slowly, Jesse lowered the PADD to the man's desk and slid it toward him. Maybe there was still time to request a transfer.

Michael scrolled through the text, including the appended orders for both Mr. Eckles and himself. He frowned. Odd that Iluvar (or Earlond at the least) hadn't informed him of the cadet's assignment to him. He wouldn't have believed it except that there, on the PADD in his hand, was the order from Admiral Iluvar with the verified codes.

Though he wasn't reading he continued looking at the PADD as though he were, stalling while he thought. A cadet assigned to him? Why not someone else? Why not Iluvar? Why not Earlond? Or Awen? Or Keloas? Or anyone wearing red at least? 'Then again,' he supposed, 'I am the Second Officer.' He could see the logic... sort of... but somehow it didn't make him feel that much better.

Maybe it was only temporary? Though it didn't feel quite right, he figured he'd better play the part... at least until he could confirm this with the admiral. He looked up at the cadet, who was looking back at him as though he wasn't quite sure of the orders himself. "I see," Evans said, hoping he didn't sound disappointed or anything.

"Very well then," he slid the PADD back at the cadet, "please report to me in Main Sickbay tomorrow morning at oh-six-hundred hours. And when you do so, Mr. Eckles, be sure to bring your salute with you. You seem to have forgotten it this trip." He almost let a jocular smile tug a corner of his mouth, but decided against it. It was against his nature to enforce military tradition on those with whom he worked, but something told him it might be better to do so with this cadet. At least at first.

"Aye, sir," Jess replied, standing a little straighter before the desk.

"Unless there's anything further, you are dismissed, Cadet," Evans said.

Turning on his heel, Jesse stalked out of the office. The doctor had seemed just as surprised as he had been about the assignment, which meant that it probably hadn't been expected at all. Passing a few people in the corridor, he set off in search of his quarters. With his luck, he'd probably be assigned to a broom closet somewhere in the bowels of the ship.

Michael watched the young man leave his office. They'd only exchanged a few sentences, but there was more to communicating than words. Something wasn't quite as it seemed with the cadet; he seemed confident enough, comfortable enough, polished... He shrugged and turned to one of the medical display panels to check in with the sickbays. "Computer: Resume music."

OFF

A JP by

Lieutenant Commander Michael Evans
Second Officer/Chief Medical Officer
USS Pandora

and

Cadet Jesse Eckles (NPC)
Command Cadet
USS Pandora
Played by: RAdm Iluvar