Star Trek: The Lower Decks.
Chapter Two.
The newly promoted Lieutenant Junior T'Lara, was beyond happy with the honour bestowed upon her by the Command staff of the Pride of the Federation and Starfleet, as she stood wearing her blue dress uniform, proudly displaying her new golden and black rank insignia by the side of the Captain of the ship to give a brief speech on how she had planned to form and run the new department specifically created as an experiment by Starfleet Command, I stood with pride in my choice to turn down the promotion after all, I am all rounder, not a science officer nor did I have the training and knowledge that my friend has. As the crowd dispersed to continue about their daily business, I stepped towards the crowded bar with a deep sense of satisfaction as I ordered myself a cup of what had become my usual drink. A strong and hot cup of tea. Within a matter of moments, the new Lieutenant T'Lara stepped to my side with a very large smile upon her face as she almost apologised for beating me to the nee position.
"Don't apologise Lara, the better applicant won out. We both knew that it would be either you or me, I'm happy that you won"
"Really? I thought you'd be upset. You wanted the promotion more than anyone"
"I do, but I came to realise that I went for the promotion, for all of the wrong reasons. I don't know as much as you do, about sciences. Congratulations, Lieutenant"
More than anything I wanted that promotion, well that's what I thought anyway until I chose to step away from the race and withdraw my application. But, what had later annoyed me? I was later told by the First Officer that I was the front contender for the position, or perhaps he was just having some fun at my expense, to be honest? I didn't really care much anyway as I had my eyes firmly set on another prize since I heard through the grapevine, that there would soon enough be a full time opening, in the Engineering department, rather than as I have become, a part-time engineer. I wanted that position, now more than anything. After the brief announcement and official promotion of Lara, life on the ship returned to normal, or as normal as it could be since as a part of her promotion, Lara had moved into much larger quarters, three decks above our formally shared quarters. Not only that, but the new department had to be set up, with staff from the several Divisions across the ship, interviewing for the few positions. I think that everyone had expected for myself to go for one of the many roles in the new department, more so as I had a certain amount of knowledge and training which could be useful for the small and experimental department.
I did however, have a lot to do with the department in the following weeks, by assisting the engineering teams to install and maintain the equipment and often I had volunteered for the odd duty shift when I was at a loose end, or help was needed. The only problem with being an All-Rounder, a Floater between departments was? When the position that I knew what about to appear, had finally opened up and I put my name and application forwards, I should have known what would happen. I should have seen it, when my application was rejected, by the First Officer, himself. I was furious when I heard, beyond angered to the point where I had stepped up to Commander Riker, as he sat at a table in the Bar and demanded to know why I had been overlooked.
"Your work on this ship, has been exemplary Ensign. You have knowledge and experience, from across the ship and there are few officers your age, with that experience. You're far too valuable, in your current posting than as a full time engineer. I'm sorry Ensign, but the decision has been made. Ensign Parker, will take the position"
"Parker? He's only been onboard for four weeks. I've been here for a year. I have twice his knowledge and four times his experience. Commander, you're making a huge mistake"
"And you're bordering on insubordination, Ensign Tate. Your service to this ship, will only take you so far"
"Commander Riker, I am urging you to reconsider your choice, please Sir?"
"The choice has been made. You are dismissed, Ensign Tate"
I had never been so angered in my life as I was at that moment, although I understood why I had been pushed aside? I had could not understand why I was pushed aside for someone with very little experience, someone that I had even been asked to train. Perhaps I should have done a bad job with his initial training when he first stepped aboard one month prior and directly from the Academy. I was so angry not with everyone around me, but with myself for allowing myself to be pushed into the position where I was at that time, I had thought about requesting a transfer to another ship, or even resigning my commission from the fleet. I had even written out both a transfer request and a letter or resignation, which had I had taken before the Captain in his ready room. It was the first time that I had ever been on the bridge of the ship, since I had been onboard, as I walked through to speak with the Captain.
"I heard about the incident in Ten Forward, with Commander Riker. I must say, I was shocked by what I heard Ensign"
"When I came to Enterprise, I thought that it would be the opportunity of a lifetime for advancement. I had no idea how wrong I would be, so you can either accept my transfer request, or my resignation from the fleet Captain. I don't want to be here, anymore knowing that I am stuck in a dead end position with no prospects of advancement beyond that of a Floater"
"Let me ask you something, Ensign Tate. Why did you really withdraw your application for the Promotion, several months ago?" The Captain asked politely, as I remained stood at attention before his desk.
"I came to realise, that it wasn't the Position that I had wanted. I enjoy being an Engineer, Captain Picard. I enjoy building and repairing things, as I had with Lieutenant T'Lara's new department. When I heard rumours of the spot opening up in Engineering? That's what I wanted, only to have that torn away from me, because I am good at what I do. That's why I have chosen to walk away, because there is no room for advancement on this vessel, for someone in my position."
To say that I was more than stunned by what I was told next, was the real understatement. I thought that I was being held back, simply because I was good at other jobs? It that I was so far beyond wrong about the situation, I was in a different quadrant of the galaxy. I was not being held back because I was good at what I was doing, but because that they had yet to fill a hole in the ship crew manifest. A rather small hole, which I fit the bill.
"Room for Advancement? Ensign, do you think that you have been held back? Far from it. You where the front runner, for the Experimental Department, that much is certain. Yet, you withdrew and I would like to know the Real reason why, before I continue"
"I pulled out, because of my friend Lara, Sir. T'Lara? She wanted it more than I did and she was and still is, the better candidate"
"Noble of you, Ensign. Now, if I may ask. What do you know about Transporter Operations?"
"A lot, actually. I've been filling in with the maintenance staff since I got here. Personnel, cargo and shuttles, I've worked on them all across the ship…"
"As your record states, Ensign. Over the past several months, we have been assessing you, Ensign Tate. How would you like to run, Transporter Operations?"
"Are you, are you serious?"
"It is only a small department of eighteen crewmembers and a part time job, so to speak. It would however leave you free to continue with…"
"Chief of Transporter Operations, me Sir? This is why I was not selected for the Engineering spot?"
"Exactly, Ensign Tate" Replied the Captain, with a slight smile.
Chief of Transporter Operations, a small sub-department of Engineering at one time run by one Chief Petty Officer Miles E. O'Brian before being transferred to Deep Space Nine shortly after I had arrived onboard. Now that, was a small department that I could work with as it dealt with not only the personnel transporters, but cargo and shuttlecraft transporters also and one of the most important pieces of equipment on the ship as used at one time or another by everyone onboard of every starship, outpost and starbase. It was one hell of an honour, which I had almost turned down actually, until I made one, little request of the Captain. Later that night, after T'Lara had finished her shift? I went to her quarters to speak with my closest friend on the ship and to show her something.
"Are you busy Lara?"
"Not at all, come in. Why are you smiling so much Jessie? The last I heard, you where thirty seconds away from hitting the nearest person and quitting"
"Notice anything, different about me?" I asked as I sat on the large sofa, facing the windows of her quarters.
"Other than your, huge smile nothing Oh My God! You've been promoted?"
"You're looking at the newest Lieutenant Junior on the Enterprise and more importantly? The new Chief, of Transporter Operations of the Enterprise and support vessels. Effective one hour ago!"
"Chief of… well, I guess I no longer outrank you, we have to celebrate"
Three weeks, I ran the Transporter Operations Sub-Division and during those hours when I was not? I continued with my other position by working in any department that could use an extra pair of hands. I had even put my name forward, for bridge duty. But, all good things come to an end and for myself, in the most painful and disastrous of ways. I was working maintenance on a gantry on one of the upper levels in the main shuttle bay, I had no idea what had happened next? But, I was told by the Doctors that I was hit by a power surge from a malfunctioning power conduit and thrown not only onto the lower level, but almost across the entire hanger before impacting on the hull of a shuttlecraft. All I remember, was awakening in sickbay after emergency surgery. I couldn't move at all, my neck had been broken as had my back in several places, ribs, both arms and legs.
"So, so what. What are you saying Doctor, please just tell me the truth. What is the prognosis?" I whispered as tears rolled down my face.
"Your injuries are severe, but treatable. For the moment, I don't want to risk further surgery until…"
"I'm strong enough, I got it. I always wanted to be a Doctor, I know that look in someone's eyes. Will I, will I be able to move, and walk again Doctor Crusher, just tell me that, please?"
"I can't risk the full surgery on you, for the moment. It may take repairing your injuries slowly, one at a time and it will take time"
"Days, weeks… Months?" I asked with tears, continuing to roll down my face.
"Depending on your recovery, after each surgery. You are young, and strong Lieutenant. Give it time…"
I had two different surgeries in two and a half weeks, I won't lie to you, it was rough, very rough. I had never felt pain like it before and I hope that I would never feel that kind of pain again. The first surgery, after the emergency surgery was to repair the damage to my neck and uppermost spine. At least I could move my head, but I was still in an enormous amount of pain, which not even the painkillers I was given, would help with, the only thing what had kept me going, was the constant visits by Lara, each day before and after her duty shift and even in between. After the third surgery, I was at least able to sit up slightly with the bed adjusted for short periods of time. Even though it had caused me extreme amounts of pain in my back and hips, I tried with everything that I had, not to show that weakness to those whom had visited me in sickbay, which had also included Guinan, seemingly everyone's friend from the Bar.
"Lara, you're early…"
"I'm off duty for the next several hours, I thought I'd stop by to see how you're doing"
"I guess I won't be doing the Limbo, any time soon…"
"Do you have to do that, every time Jessie. Do you have to make jokes? This is serious!"
"Lara, I am pumped so full of different types of drugs… joking about this, is all I have left. Have you spoken with my parents today?"
"They never stop calling, they're trying to get out here to see you. But, it's difficult at the moment for them at the moment"
"They gave up their ship, and… the last I heard, it's on the other side of the quadrant. Tell them, tell them that I understand. You've been a great friend to me Lara, I've been thinking about what to do. May I ask for you help, once again?"
"Name it!" She called out instantly, as she sat in the seat next to me.
"I have no one on the ship, to make decisions for me, in the event that I am… well? Out of it. I, I want to name you, as my next of kin. It's a simple thing to do, I just need your approval"
"Me, you want me to…" Lara called out, with surprise.
"I've already spoken with the Captain, but I'll need your agreement. It would only be a temporary measure until I am well, better. Lara, on record we would officially be recognised as married, with the Captain overseeing the ceremony. Once I am up and about again, the marriage will be annulled, hopefully within a month or two. I am so hyped up on different types of drugs, I can barely even think straight half of the time. I need someone that I can trust, to help me. I trust you, T'Lara"
Marriage, it was not the way that either of us had wanted to marry someone, but it was the only way that I could see to protect myself and have the right choice made for my care, during the seemingly endless list of surgeries. The ceremony, was performed at my bedside, while I was lucid and un-medicated to the limits where I could barely even think straight. It wasn't a wedding, but an arrangement between two good friends, and that is what was told to everyone around us, even though many thought that I was crazy to ask such a thing of a friend. Three more surgeries later, five weeks after my accident, I was finally permitted to leave the sickbay to live someplace more comfortable, with regular checkups by the medical staff. Although I was not permitted to move back into my own, cramped quarters, since my promotion, I had not moved out of the small, shared quarters. Instead, I had been moved into T'Lara's much larger quarters with a Bio-Bed installed, where I would sleep.
I guess that you could say, I had regained fifty percent movement in my upper body, from my waist up although I still could not walk, movement around the ship was via an old fashioned wheelchair, which T'Lara had replicated and constructed, which had been specifically modified for myself and my injuries. At first, I hated it. I felt like a prisoner in that chair as it was were I had spent the majority of my time. The one thing that I had learned and very quickly, was how attentive and protective T'Lara had been over me, I could barely even dress myself, to say nothing about showering. That was uncomfortable for the both of us as she had to bathe me, daily.
Two months after my devastating accident and injuries, I could no longer sit around and do nothing. I got tired of staring at the same walls of my temporary quarters and sickbay, I practically had to beg T'Lara to take me to Ten Forward, if only for an hour. The moment I entered that large room, for the first time in months, everyone turned in my direction, each person in the bar stood and began to applaud me, as if I was some kind of returning hero. I hated it, it was as if I had become some form of sideshow as everyone wanted to speak with me.
"Lara, can we go now, please?" I asked with tears forming in my eyes.
"Of course, I asked you not to come here Jess. I begged you…"
"I'm sorry, I just… I'm sorry"
"Never apologise, you don't need to. Not with me"
Personal Log.
Stardate, 47581.1 or is .4?
It's been over three months since the accident which had tried to cripple me, I have no idea of how many surgeries I have endured? Medical assessments have said, that I have regained close to eighty percent mobility, although I have to walk with the assistance of a cane, for the time being.
I have been told that I can return to duty, for a short time at least, four hours per day, after which I must report to Sickbay for further assessment. I have chosen not to return to duty for the moment, I don't feel ready, even though with daily meetings with Councillor Troi, she is convinced that I am ready. I don't think that I am.