I do not own Star Trek: TNG (at least not on paper or in the eyes of the law, but in my heart...)
Kirkian Legacy
Counselor Troi had taken the graduates on a brief and tense tour of the Enterprise's vital zones, sick bay, Ten Forward, and engineering. Then they were taken to her office to wait in a small lounge as she interviewed them one-by-one. In this interview, she would assign uniforms, living quarters, initial work schedules, and integration counseling schedules. Once that was completed the graduates had until 1800 hours to report to Ten Forward for formal post introductions.
Jacob DuChene was the first to meet with the counselor. The others sat quietly, not speaking and trying not to stare. As they each had different specialties, they hadn't crossed paths often while at the academy. Trillion felt distinctly uncomfortable in the company of the other female, noticing her rank and strange outfit. Julian and his brother had taken bets as to which one could get the leggy blonde to agree to a date first. As such, Julian was trying very hard to appear cool, aloof and desirable. Lieutenant Kirk was lost in her thoughts, looking out the view port and desperately trying to think of how she could make a more suitable impression at the formal post introductions – she still didn't know whether she would be in engineering or bridge crew.
She had hoped that the exceptions made on her records would help her superiors on the Enterprise be able to evaluate her without prejudice. It had been extremely distressing to see that as a whole they had been completely oblivious to her 'unique' attributes. So it had been a day of trying to ignore the psychically yelled emotions of her future shipmates and so far two of the ships high ranking officers. Just her luck that she couldn't even get off world without being seen and 'reviewed' by the first officer, Commander Riker. The waves of thoughts and heat that emanated from him had made her stand stiffly in the transporter queue keeping her movements to a minimum as he garnered entirely too much joy from her slightest movement.
Lieutenant Kirk wondered: What's wrong with my clothes anyway? Her shirt was a modestly fitted pullover that ended just above the middle of her abdomen. The neckline resting nicely along her collarbone. Her pants fit well but were not tight and revealing, it was not her fault that her bottom caught looks no matter what she wore. She remembered the cadet that had walked into wall while staring at her in her dress apparel, skirt made from a light, gauzy material that floated across her curves and billowed with a life of its own.
Her thoughts were interrupted as Julian, finally felt ready to 'impress' her with his charms. "Hi," he started. "I'm Julian, Julian DuChene," and he flashed her is most dazzling smile. "Would you be interested in joining a fellow newbie for a drink after we finish post introductions?"
Lieutenant Kirk, managed to not laugh hysterically in his face and reply politely, "I'm Shawnay, Shawnay Kirk. Thanks for the invitation, but its been a whirlwind of a day. I don't know which shift I'll be given so I was planning on going back to my quarters, unpacking and getting some rest." To be kind, she added, "Can I maybe take a rain check?"
Not wanting to be shot down, Julian pressed on hoping to wear her down, "Which department will you be joining?"
At the same time his twin brother Jacob exited Counselor Troi's office and Trillion was called in. Jacob, not wanting to be outdone by his twin, walked straight towards his brother and joined the conversation, brightly asking, "Have I missed anything?"
Lieutenant Kirk struggled to keep he face straight as Jacob launched into his introductions.
"I see you've met my baby brother, I'm Jacob, the original, Julian's 6 minutes younger and really just a poor imitation of me." At least he had confidence – plenty of confidence.
Lieutenant Kirk decided to take control of the situation quickly, "Hello Jacob, I'm Shawnay Kirk, and I just explained to your brother that I'll be calling it an early night to be ready for tomorrow. But I am truly flattered by the invitations.
And just like his brother, he couldn't take a nice friendly hint. He smoothly changed the subject in an attempt to hold her hostage to their attentions.
"Kirk, too bad with that name you not a descendant of Captain James T. Kirk? I mean everyone knows he never had kids, but with a famous name like that you'd make captain in not time." Julian joked.
"Actually, I am related to him, I'm his daughter. But I don't use my name to gain favor, I'd rather my achievements be based on my own talent." Lieutenant Kirk responded so calmly that it took a second for the weight of her words to register, but she got no small amount of joy out of their looks as it sunk in.
Having shoved the entirety of his foot in his mouth Julian backed quietly away to wait for his turn with Counselor Troi. Jacob excused himself to head to his new quarters. Lieutenant Kirk sighed softly and was thankful for the peace and quiet, and returned to staring out the port hole.
An hour after, Counselor Troi, released Julian, she called the lieutenant into her office. Lieutenant Kirk was instantly aware of how hard Counselor Troi was trying maintain a shield from her superior gifts. As she sat down, the counselor passed her a PADD.
"You will spend the next 60 days split between the bridge crew and engineering, until we can determine where your skills are most beneficial. Starting tomorrow and for the next week, report to the bridge at 0800, your bridge supervisor will be Commander Riker. Next week you will report to Lieutenant Commander La Forge for the 0800 shift. We will meet every Friday at 1800 here in my office for integration counseling. Do you have any questions?"
"No Ma'am."
"After speaking with you earlier and reviewing your file, I'd like to apologize, it was wrong of me to assume you needed correction. From your file it is easy to see that you were a model cadet. Your instructors also assured me that you showed yourself very capable. But there is still the matter of your psi abilities – we have a responsibility to protect the privacy of all of the crew. I am more than a little concerned how we can ensure this seeing as your tests confirm your abilities but you have no formal training."
"So you're concerned about me possibly misusing my abilities?"
"Yes, you were reading me today, and I have to wonder how many other minds you walked through just because you have the ability. For that reason, I will be assigning you quarters in a the transient guest areas. This will give you some separation from the other crew and their thoughts."
Lieutenant Kirk mentally offered the Counselor her congratulations, for the first time that day, Troi caught her off guard.
Shawnay found her way to her new home. The brochure didn't do the place justice, she thought. When Counselor Troi said she would be separated from the rest of the crew, she wasn't kidding. Her quarters were in the belly of the saucer, deck fifteen, section J. She'd have to come up three levels just to see another person.
The room was part of the emergency lodging, usually reserved for refuge transport – strictly short term occupancy. The room was ten feet deep by fifteen feet long. The bath room if you could call it a 'room' was a six foot by three foot closet existing of a doorless shower and toilet. A sink could be extended from the wall over the toilet. The sparse furnishings were a bedside table and a wall mounted cot to the far left of the door and small table and single chair to the right of the door.
Basically it would take redecoration and remodeling to bring the space up to gloomy status. There was no hope that it could ever be comfortable or homey.
Shawnay sighed and decided focusing on the post introduction in 90 minutes was more pressing than worrying about her living arrangements at the moment. She need to replicate a dress uniform for her introduction. That's when she found another shortcoming of the living space: because of the intended short term use of the cabin, it did not feature a replicator or cooking apparatus. How was she to get her uniform now? How would she eat?
Think Shawnay, what do you have to work with? Lieutenant Kirk thought as she absently tapped her fingers on her new PADD and it glowed to life like the proverbial light bulb. Just that quickly a plan began to develop.
She quickly pulled up a schematic of the common-use replicators nearest to her current location. When the the device returned a list of answers, she located one that was both nearby and private – she wouldn't have time to return to the small room to change. Then she showered and brushed her hair until it was shiny and smooth, it was not fancy, but would do.
Once her hair was ready, she left the cabin heading for Cargo Bay 5, taking off at a full run. Because she was in a rarely occupied area, she didn't have to worry about running anyone over.
Lieutenant Junior Grade Shawnay Kirk glided into Ten Forward with two minutes to spare before the post introductions were scheduled to begin. Taking her place in line with her fellow graduates awaiting the formal introductions to the senior staff and officers.
Fifteen minutes into introductions, Shawnay had shook hands with at least twenty people, been leered at by eleven men (two of which were brave enough to invite her out for drinks later) and slipped a written invitation by a hopeful female officer. This is like a crazy cross of a wedding reception and speed dating: greet – change partners, greet – change partners...
"Psst, Shawnay, any chance you changed your mind?" Jacob leaned over and whispered just as Commander Riker walked up to greet Lieutenant Kirk.
With a roguish glint in his smile, Riker asked with deep voice, "Am I interrupting anything? I can come back." At the sound of Riker's voice interrupting his overtures, Jacob quietly slunk away.
Lieutenant Kirk fought to not roll her eyes, Just what I need my supervisor thinks I'm getting dates while duty. "Hello commander, it is a pleasure to meet you." she responded, deciding that it was best to ignore both the commander and Jacob's questions.
"Welcome aboard Lieutenant Kirk, we've heard quite a lot about you. You seem to specialize in creating a stir."
She looked at him with a quizzical look. Talk about a loaded question! With her 'unique' heritage and abilities that statement could have several interpretations.
"Yes, dual specialties are very rare and make it a little challenging to find the best position for a new graduate. I hope the split schedule won't be too hard on you. Do you have a preference?
Shawnay released a mental sigh, he was only referring to her posting challenge. Duh, that's what this whole event is about Shawnay! That's why it's called post introductions. "Yes Commander I would pre-
"Hold that thought for just a minute," Riker interrupted when he saw Counselor Troi enter the room. "There's some important business I need to discuss with Counselor Troi."
Then he walked away, leaving Lieutenant Kirk standing in the introduction line alone, but only for a second. She had really hoped for a moment of peace to quickly grab an appetizer as the tray passed her. She had not eaten since breakfast and her stomach was starting to complain every time she saw the canape tray pass, then someone cleared their throat at her side.
She turned to find herself facing Captain Jean-Luc Picard, his hand extended in greeting. She was instantly enveloped in a smooth, rich accent as he said, "Hello you must be Lieutenant Kirk, welcome aboard the Enterprise. I am Captain Picard."
"Hello and thank you, sir." She smiled at the notion that he thought he had to introduce himself to her. Captain Picard was quite possibly the most highly regarded Captain that Starfleet currently had. Only two others could possibly be more renown, her father, Captain James Kirk and his predecessor Captain Christopher Pike.
Accepting his hand, Lieutenant Kirk could feel the fine line of his hand and recognized immediately the presence of controlled strength. His easy demeanor was quite refreshing as most males immediately try to make an impression with her, vain attempts to make themselves more interesting. But somehow, in less than two seconds, Captain Picard was much more than interesting.
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