A Time for Poseidon

Posted on 04/18/2024 @ 11:36am by Lieutenant Jayak Zek

1,045 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Pages...
Location: Deep Space 12
Timeline: MD13 1800

The Time of Cleansing was not a difficult period of time for Zek. He grew up with nothing and thus abstaining from worldly pleasures was not unusual for him. Even now, he did not have a great deal of personal effects. His room, which he barely inhabited for sleep, contained only a holo of him and his parents, a vase with some flowers, and his family earring, which, more often than not, sat in his nightstand’s drawer.

However, tonight the Time of Cleansing was at an end, and he planned to make the most of it. He had a date with a mocha skinned human woman named Aisha Nambago. He had arranged for several hours of time in holosuite 3. He had it all planned out: a picnic by the Holana River in a field of wildflowers. He could not think of anything more peaceful and pleasant.

In his hand, he carried to the holosuite a picnic basket full of personally made hasperat, some alvas harvested from hydroponics, and some springwine that he managed to acquire on his last trip to Bajor. However, his thoughts of relaxation and pleasure were interrupted by a call on his comm. Apologetically, the operations officer said, =^= Lieutenant Jayak, there is an Admiral Victor Burke that is calling for you specifically. =^=

An admiral? For me? What would an admiral want with me? I doubt that this is a call that I can refuse. That thought alone made Zek cringe lightly. Admirals always had a bigger view of the universe and now he was likely his pawn. The resistance inside of him started to build. =^= Alright, put him through on a viewscreen here. =^=

The grid of the holodeck changed into a viewscreen where a man in his fifties with a mostly balding head but grey tufts of hair appeared on his side. His eyes looked tired and worn. In a baritone voice he addressed Zek. “Lieutenant Jayak, I am calling to personally inform you of your immediate transfer to Poseidon Station.”

The words rose from his mouth before he had a chance to bite them back. “Why me? Why Poseidon Station?”

“If you want the answers to some of those questions, we will have to switch to a secure channel and you will have to lock your doors to the holosuite you are in.”

Curiosity won over his reluctance to be trapped alone in what was obviously an enclosed space. “Computer, lock holodeck suite until communications with the Admiral are concluded.” The computer acknowledged as the Admiral’s channel blurred for a moment as the encryption took hold on the viewscreen.

Zek becoming more irritated at being locked in a room alone with a mystery on his hands, allowed a slight bit of irritation enter his otherwise calm demeanor. “Alright, Admiral, you’re secured and I’m alone in a bare holosuite with doors locked. Why me and why Poseidon Station?”

The Admiral’s eyes became serious, more exhaustion showing. “The short facts are that the former Chief Counselor is now going to be the Captain and the Station needs a new Chief Counselor.”

“But that’s not the full story, is it? After all, why me? I’m an Assistant Chief here. Certainly, you could transfer Chief Counselor Albas and I take the position here.”

“You are insightful, Lieutenant Jayak, just like your dossier indicated.” The Admiral sighed and looking more weary continued. “Captain Harrington, who previously ran Poseidon Station was off station and killed in action. Cara Lestul, the former Chief Counselor was next in the command structure. She has been promoted to the Captain. Given the shock to those at the Station, the Admiralty felt that it would be best if the Chief Counselor was replaced with someone that the crew would find familiar, or at least similar to Captain Lestul. Based upon all of the available data, you were selected as the least likely to cause a disruption in station activities and most similar to Captain Lestul in style. As an Assistant Chief, you also were in line in the near future for a Chief Counselor position. Your reviews have been solid, and nobody has forgotten how you handled that matter on Deep Space 3 with Bruce Franklin. Starfleet is no place for the abuse of power.”

That last phrase caused Zek to visibly relax and allayed most of his suspicion. “I see. What if I chose to stay here?”

“Then you would stay on Deep Space 12 and we would move to the next best candidate,” the Admiral answered simply. “However, these positions do not come around every day, Lieutenant Jayak and passing up promotions never looks good on a record. However, you would have the opportunity to help heal an entire station from an enormous shock. I would think that you would find that opportunity somewhat irresistible.”

Zek nodded. “I will do all the I can to ease their suffering and improve morale again.”

“So, you accept, then?”

“I do,” he answered simply. “When do I leave?”

“There will be a shuttle for you in five hours. Congratulations Lieutenant Jayak.”

The viewscreen went blank and Zek ordered the computer, “Unlock holosuite.” Aisha was waiting at the door, her pearly whites showing brightly in the dim light. Whatever may have been, no longer had a chance of becoming. With a sad smile, he informed Aisha, “My dear, I apologize that the program has not started running. I was ever so rudely interrupted, and we have less time together than I would have imagined.”

Aisha looked blankly at Zek, her smile starting to fade.

Zek did not let it phase him as he said, “Computer, run Zek program Holana 3.” He held out his right hand to Aisha who took it and entered the holosuite with him. A field of wildflowers was before them, the picnic basket still in his left arm. He led them towards the river. “Aisha, it seems we will not only be celebrating the end of the Time of Cleansing but also my promotion.”

“That’s wonderful!” Aisha glowed. “Those are definitely reasons for celebration.”

“Indeed, they are.” He led Aisha to the picnic area, knowing that after they enjoyed this date, that he would have to end things with her. Poseidon Station awaited.

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