Leo took a deep breath before Will Riker hit the door comlink.
"He won't bite, I promise," Commander Riker reassured her. "Though his bark is pretty impressive."
"Thanks, Commander. "
"Captain, I have our new officer to meet you."
"Thank you, Number One. Bring her in."
Will tipped Leo a wink and preceded her into the conference room after the door slid open.
"Captain Picard, Lieutenant Leora Eileen O'Reilly."
"Thank you, Commander, that will be all. Dismissed."
Rather than conduct their first meeting in his ready room, Counselor Troi had suggested the captain greet his new officer in the nearby conference room. "It will be a bit more neutral for you both, captain." She wasn't unaware of his territorial difficulties regarding the new crew member. "No matter what your personal feelings, sir, you have to remember she's doing her duty. It's what she studied for, and what she's trained for."
"Very well, Counselor, I will be on my best behavior I assure you."
Jean-Luc Picard paused for a moment to take in the woman who had approached the command end of the ready room table and stopped still some five feet away. She was considerably older than he had expected. For some reason the knowledge that she'd been 'imported' from another time had been trumped by the knowledge she was a cadet. As such, he'd expected a perky twenty-something set to storm the new Federation world. What he saw was a woman in her mid thirties, neither spectacularly attractive or unattractive, consciously respectful in her demeanor, waiting for cues before jumping in. The second thing he noticed was her uniform, a new color in the Starfleet hierarchy in keeping with the new functional designation, something between hunter green and a deep teal. He supposed he'd get used to it.
"Captain Picard, I know your name well of course and I'm very pleased to meet you." No statements regarding her hopes for a long happy career together, no gushing compliments. He gave her his best welcoming smile and took the hand she extended, noticing the firm handshake that argued with the hint of nerves he saw in her eyes.
"Thank you, lieutenant. Please, have a seat." He indicated the one at the corner nearest the command seat. Once she was settled he looked briefly at the viewscreen to refresh his memory.
"You come highly recommended by my second officer." Picard looked her in the eye again to gauge her response.
"Commander Data has been very helpful to me during my studies. He knows how hard I've worked, am still working, to assimilate into this century and contribute something useful."
"Yes, well I trust his word completely in any case."
They sat looking at one another for a moment.
"Permission to speak freely, sir?"
Already? "Granted."
"I'm aware that I've been foisted upon the flagship of the Federation without so much as a by-your-leave. Don't think I'm unaware that this isn't a welcome change for you as captain."
Picard tried not to shift in his seat. She was direct. "It has long been the habit of this ship and crew to be involved in breakthroughs of sorts, Lieutenant. I would just want to make clear at the outset that any hesitation you sense is not directed at you personally. You cannot be held responsible for your function. It's just that I've never felt the need for an assistant other than my first officer. Ship's operations are well-established and in no need of redesign."
"That's not my 'function', sir." She didn't much care for how he seemed to be characterizing things. "My responsibility at this time is to learn every aspect of your ship's operation as it exists under your command and crew. I am in no position to suggest even the most minor improvements until I've done so."
Improvements? "I was unaware of the need for any 'improvements', Lieutenant. Did Starfleet send suggestions along with you?"
Oh brother. Another territorial CEO, and she was trying so hard to appear neutral. "Not at all. As I said, sir, once I have a clear understanding of how things are, then we can consider what they might be."
"'We'?" Was he hearing her correctly? Was this time-jumping upstart presenting herself as an equal?
"Captain Picard, my second most important duty is to work with you, my learning and knowledge plus your expertise, to determine how best to shift the appropriate responsibilities from existing crew to myself in order to allow you to operate as efficiently as possible as captain of this vessel. As someone so obviously dedicated to the less 'functionary' responsibilities of command, unless I have read my tactical history wrong, you may define that as an 'improvement'. Others may become apparent, or not, in time." How was she going to deal with this man when he assumed she came as a usurper complete with attitude?
"I see. And what might you consider your primary duty if I may ask?" Lord, did he really sound that imperious, he wondered too late.
Leo's voice tightened just a hair, and the faintest chill entered her eyes, as she drew herself a fraction beyond the posture of attention she was already holding. Even back in her time her friends had informed her of "the look" that came over her, one she swore she had no control of, when one button too many had been pushed.
"To fulfill the commands and requirements of the commander of the USS Enterprise as he sees them." She paused just long enough for effect. "Sir."
There was just enough color in that final word to put Picard on notice that he was not dealing with some starry-eyed, overzealous functionary. The look in this lieutenant's eye coupled with the exquisitely tuned edge in her voice told him that while she knew her place in this new world and on his ship, she was not inclined to be shifted any lower than necessary by the unproven expectations of another. Not even a Starfleet ship's captain. Not even when she was clearly still "finding her feet" in an entirely new universe. Deanna had warned him against projecting his personal distaste for the situation.
"Lieutenant O'Reilly, I must apologize. I mean no offense and don't presume to either diminish the considerable effort you have already invested in your chosen path or insult your intentions regarding your post here. You're quite right, it feels as if Starfleet Command has thrust upon me a seismic shift in the way I have always fulfilled my duties as a starship commander." He paused, thought for a moment, and then slapped a hand down on the table, making Leo jump.
"Lieutenant, we are both setting out to navigate completely uncharted waters. The only way to do it without sinking is to do it together, not in opposition. I promise to try to take advantage of Starfleet's new direction, and your presence on my ship, to make everyone's job here easier."
Leo nearly expired with relief. "That's really what it's all about, sir. That's all it's about. Trust me, at this point if I wanted to undermine your authority I wouldn't even know where to begin."
"I'm told my second officer might be a good place to start, if you were so inclined."
Tightening up again, Leo countered, "That, sir, is not an issue appropriate to our professional interaction." She was amazed then to see him laugh, and he actually reached out and patted her arm (at the end of which was a clenched fist).
"That, Lieutenant Leora Eileen O'Reilly, is precisely the correct answer." He turned to consult the viewscreen again. "Why don't we give you a few days to get oriented. We can meet again in three days, at 0900 hours, to begin to thrash out what our next steps might be."
"I don't know if I'll be up to 'thrashing' just yet sir, can we just discuss it?"
"Of course, lieutenant."
"Please, call me Leo. After all we're going to be working pretty closely together."
"Very well, Leo. You'll forgive me, however, if I don't invite you to address me as 'Jean-Luc'."
"I wouldn't dream of it sir. Will there be anything else?"
"Not for now. Dismissed."
She rose and headed for the door, glad he couldn't see her eyes bugging out as if the room had suddenly decompressed.
"And Leo?" he stopped her, and she turned with a questioning expression. "Welcome aboard the Enterprise. I think you'll find it a fine place to build your new life. If there is anything I can do to make that easier, do let me know." He paused and cautioned with mock severity, "Within reason, of course."
"Of course. I'll keep it in mind. And thank you sir. I look forward to serving under your command."
Leo stepped smartly across the rear of the bridge and into the turbolift. Geordi rushed in after her, just in time to see her slide down the wall to the floor.
"'First contact' with the captain?" he asked casually.
"You know it."
"Any casualties to report to Dr. Crusher?"
"Not so far." She managed a weak laugh as Geordi helped her to her feet.
"Where to, Lieutenant?"
Laughing again, she confessed, "It's gonna take a while for me to get used to that title. Where are you headed?"
"Engineering."
"Sounds good to me. Computer, Engineering." The turbolift engaged. "It's a big ship, gotta start somewhere. I'll just explore a little if that's okay, I promise not to touch anything."
"Don't speak too soon," Geordi teased, "Data's down there reviewing some warp particle analyses." Leo promptly whacked him on the arm, hard.
"Ow! Hey, lieutenant, striking a superior officer is a criminal offense."
"'Superior', hah. Warn me again when I meet one."
Geordi shook his head and grinned, "You are gonna fit in here just fine."
