Wonderful! Counselor!
Originally posted to alt startrek creative in January 2007
Summary:
The new Ship's Counselor of the Enterprise-E has a problem.
Marrissa dropped her bag the moment she arrived in the Picard Family Quarters. The Stargazer was undergoing a small refit, so she'd taken the opportunity to visit her family on the Enterprise. Actually, the opportunity was closer to being orders, as Captain Washington had informed her that the Stargazer could stand a few days with out her First Officer. So she'd hitched a ride on the Natchez for a short visit. She'd meet up with the Stargazer in a week.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard was on the floor, watching his daughter Jackie crawl towards him when Marrissa entered, and his wife was trying to find a comfortable posture for her pregnant body in what Marrissa called the best chair in the quarters. They looked towards her as the satchel hit the floor next to the door. "Welcome back to the Enterprise, Marrissa," Jean-Luc said. "You're a little early. I didn't expect you until tomorrow morning, or I would have been there to greet you."
"Blame Counselor Troi's replacement," Marrissa said, bending down next to her crawling baby sister. "I think the crew of the Natchez wanted to get rid of him as soon as possible. There is something wrong with that man."
"Counselor Emmanuel Salvador's record is impeccable," Beverly said from her seat, sighing as she found the right position for now. "He graduated at the top of his class with honors, and has served with distinction about nine starships. He's adopted a set of orphaned triplets, and is by all accounts an ideal father. What could be possibly wrong with him?"
Marrissa sighed. "Try this on," she said sitting cross legged. "I got to the shuttle first, and his triplets proceeded him on to it, singing from Handel's Messiah, 'Wonderful! Counselor! All mighty God and Father!' And then here comes this impeccably dressed in starched dress white uniformed man without a hair out of place, with polished black boots. His triplets then bow to him, which he acknowledges with a wave." Marrissa paused, as Jackie had turned towards her and reached Marrissa's crossed legs. "He's got delusions of grander, divinity, and is blasphemous to boot!"
"Surely it was just his children joking with their father?" Beverly said, as Marrissa reached down and picked up Jackie, who had started to crawl into her lap. "That's about the only way that could happen. Star Fleet Officers just don't do that."
"They did again when Commander La Forge met the shuttle ... I won't be surprised if it happens when he reports in," Marrissa said, holding her little sister in her arms, as the door chimed.
"Come," Captain Picard said, and the Triplets entered, Handel on their lips. Their father followed as their proclamation ended.
"Lieutenant Commander Emmanuel Salvador, Ship's Counselor, reporting aboard, as ordered, sir," the man said in a booming voice that sounded like he intended for it to echo through the void of space.
Captain Jean-Luc took one look at the proffered PADD and made a decision. "Transfer denied."