Tom Paris looked at the old man before him.
In all the years Admiral Leonard McCoy hadn't changed a bit. It wasn't surprising, the man was somewhere in his 140s or 150s.
Tom wondered what the other one wanted.
Leonard McCoy held the rank of an Admiral, but first and foremost he was a doctor. The grand old man of Starfleet Medical.
He didn't look like much but when McCoy wanted to talk to you, you came immediately and without questioning the reasons.
Sharp blue eyes focussed the pilot.
Tom felt like a child again. He remembered an episode when he was 7 years old and his father had had other fleeters over, McCoy included.
The man had a disagreement with a mazarite Captain who has known for her violent outbursts and aggressive personality. McCoy had quited her with one disapproving look.
„What did you decide on as a follow up assignment now that the Voyager is back, Tom."
„Test pilot for Utopia Planitia Shipyards, Sir."
McCoy just nodded. Tom could fly there but he would also be able to use his talents in design and holoprogramming.
"You didn't ask me to hear what I want to do, Sir. Why am I here?"
McCoy offered a little smile. The boy knew him too well.
"You are right. We are not here to talk about your next posting. We are here to talk about the Doctor."
The pilot sat there, waiting.
"I had a long chat with the doctor about his experiences as an MHN and a crewmember.
Decisions will be made regarding his status and I'm expected to give my assessment on him."
Tom didn't say anything but he was worried. Despite all their differences they were friends of sorts. He didn't want anything to happen to the cranky hologram.
"According to him you are a capable medic and have the potential to be a good doctor. I looked over the teaching plans you completed and think his assessment is correct."
Tom had to keep himself from fiddling. He didn't want to end up in medical...
"Admiral, as much as I'm ...pleased... to hear that, I'm a pilot. I need to fly."
A lifted eyebrow and the younger man was quiet again.
"On the Voyager your primary function was Conn Officer and medic was secondary. I don't see any reason against keeping this up. Complete your official tests and you could start as part-time medical officer."
Part-time medical officer. That was something Tom never heard of before. It wasn't that he didn't like working in sickbay, he just didn't want to do nothing else.
"There is also the possibility of specialising if you are interested in that. You don't like general medicine and surgery , then find something else."
Tom didn't really have to ask why McCoy told him all that. McCoy had to give an assessment of the MHN and it would be in the holograms favor if Tom as his student completed his tests. The rest was just McCoys way to sell him the idea.
Well, he would do this. He did invest so much time and energy in this, at least like this he got the recognation for it.
And to be honest everything medical was good for a pilot to have in their repertoire.