Putting the band back together

Posted on Fri Aug 15th, 2025 @ 6:36am by Lieutenant Commander Yy & Captain Rovak & Crewman Slar

664 words; about a 3 minute read

Mission: Shoreleave [3-4]
Location: Delta IV Orbital Starbase
Timeline: Evening - MD12

As she sat in the lounge of the Delta IV Starbase, Yy reflected for the umpteenth time that she was not finding a great deal of satisfaction with this assignment. She thought being home would be a joyous and refreshing experience, and while it was lovely to be so close to family and old friends, her work wasn't quite as stimulating as she'd expected.

Professionally she'd dealt with very few of her own people before, but on the station non-Deltans were surprisingly scarce. That meant she counseled the same few problems, over and over again. Too many sexual partners leading to egotism. Not enough sexual partners affecting self-worth. Ennui from having tried all the culinary and experiential pleasures of the four quadrants, with nothing left to try. Even after running every holonovel on file, they got bored before they ever got addicted. There was something to treat in addiction, at least.

She knew many thought of the Federation as hedonistic and decadent, if they were talking about the way things were on Delta, they were right on the money. She found she missed Vulcan self-restraint, Human unpredictability and Andorian passion. She'd even trade more than a few of her patients for quarrelsome Tellarites, in the interest of having something else to discuss beyond the crushing weight of there being no new pleasures to discover and achieve.

Still, this was the choice she made. Her professional ethics told her she couldn't just resign and ask for reassignment, especially given how many of the counseling department aboard were patients themselves.

Rovak had grown accustomed to the concerned stares of the Deltan crew, he was after all accompanied by Yeoman Slar, and Gorn were not a common sight in these parts, especially those in starfleet uniform. Entering the lounge, Rovak looked around for Yy, the station's computer had told them they would find her here.

Rovak declined the offer of service from one of the waitresses, and asked for a woman of Yy's description. The waitress pointed to where she sat by the window. Rovak and Slar crossed the room to her, but she was obviously focused elsewhere. "Excuse me Counsellor." He said once he was confident he was in earshot.

Yy knew the voice, but it wasn't familiar enough for her to immediately recognise. She turned to face him, and her face became a beaming smile as she saw who it was, even if she knew he wouldn't return the expression. "Commander, hello! Or should I say Captain. Congratulations, sir. What brings you to the Delta system?" She stood up to greet him, moving in for a hug.

Rovak accepted the hug with polite reciprocation. “To be direct about it Commander, you. I have been in command of Deep Space 13 in the Beta Quadrant for several months now. Our Chief Counsellor has just requested a transfer. It was my hope that you would consider replacing her.” Rovak said, not wishing to prevaricate.

Yy considered it for a moment before smiling, pleased by the coincidence of it all. "I think I've considered it all I need to, sir. This assignment lost its sheen some time ago. It's been nice being home, but I miss the uncertainty of the frontier. If station command will let me go, I'd be happy to join you."

"I would not worry too much about it, Commander. The Office of Personnel Management has been instructed by the C-in-C to prioritise any transfer requests. How long will you need?" Rovak asked.

"I can have my things together in an hour if I need to. If there's time I might head down to the surface to say some goodbyes." Yy calculated rapidly. There wasn't much she needed to do.

"Very well. We will return at around 1400 tomorrow. It is agreeable to see you again, Counsellor." Rovak said with a nod.

"And it is most agreeable to see you again, sir." Yy said with a beaming smile, hugging both of the men again before they departed.

RSS Feed