Second Chances - Part 1

Posted on Fri Mar 14th, 2025 @ 9:17pm by Captain Daegan Baas & Petty Officer 2nd Class Sizia Sh'velihr [Baas] & Devin Hadenbeer
Edited on on Fri Mar 14th, 2025 @ 9:18pm

2,044 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Sole Survivor
Location: SB 152 / USS Valkyrire
Timeline: MD 3 - 1135

[Starbase 152]

It was all Devin could do not to pace. Elle had passed along this job opportunity on the fly and it had taken her days to get here. Days by conventional, civilian means, which had not been easy considering the cargo she was carting along with her. In retrospect perhaps dragging a piano through deep space had not been the wisest of choices, but...

Well, it was the only part of home she had kept. And neither one of her brothers had wanted it, not really, since neither one could really play all that well.

Devin sighed and hoped the yeoman would not keep her waiting long.


[Valhalla Lounge]

Daegan was enjoying a hearty lunch as he waited for word on the arrival of their new runabout before they departed for to begin their mission of exploration. Taking another bite of his steak following it with a bite of the large potato that was loaded with butter, bacon, cheese, and chives. He knew Jules would chastise him for the potato but she had also coordinated things with Sizia before the staff meeting in the morning to make sure he had a healthy breakfast.

Smiling at his tasty revenge he took a sip from his sweet-tea before picking up his knife to cut his next bite.

Sizia walked into the lounge, padd in hand, and spotted the Captain right off. Not that he was hard too find, his broad shoulders and long white hair made his easy to spot. He was just putting a bite into his mouth as she neared his table. "You know she's gonna come down on me for that."

Looking up as he finished the bite, slowly savoring the herbs used in the steaks seasoning. As he gestured with his fork, "That's IF she finds out." Wiping his mouth with the napkin he set it to the side. "Our runabout aboard?"

Sizia grimaced slightly, knowing how much the Captain wanted to get under way. "No sir. There is a woman on the station that want to see you about joining the crew." Handing him the padd. "I pulled up her files...a former officer."

Daegan had grabbed his glass as he began to look over the file. His glass never made it to his lips and he returning it to the table. His hand went to his chin as his finger crossed over his lips. "Well, since we are still waiting on the runabout to arrive I guess there is no harm in hearing her out." Setting the padd aside, "Permission to board granted."

Sizia nodded. "Shall I bring her hear?"

"Sure."

With that Siza headed to the transporter room as the Captain return to his lunch.


[Transporter Room 3]

Sizia had let the station know that permission had been granted and she entered the transporter room; smiling at the operator. "Everything set?"

"We have her coordinates and station ops says she is standing by."

"Well, bring her over."

Turning towards the platform as the cycle began Sizia waiting for their guest to materialize.

Devin felt the achingly familiar tingle of the transporter as it swept her station side to Valhalla. She stood on the transporter deck...

And felt an instant pang of longing. This felt wrong, being here, out of uniform, staring at-

She forced that emotion down and without stepping off the pad asked formally, "Permission to come aboard?" It paid to be polite...

Sizia smile and nodded slightly. "Granted. I'm Petty Officer Sh'velihr, If you come with me the Captain is waiting."

As the stepped into the corridor Sizia kept a slow pace as she struck up a conversation. "So what made ya wanna get back on a starship?"

Devin glanced about the corridor with interest as she and the yeoman walked. She missed the old look; the bright lights and carpeting. She suspected a Cardassian was on the board of the Starship design bureau, "I discovered, much to my chagrin, that planets are nice places to visit but I cannot tolerate living upon one. It s a lovely ship; I was admiring her lines as she approached the station."

"Oh she a beauty that's for sure. There's only what two or three classes of ship ship being made now that still look sleek. Everything else being made now is so angular and boxy, uhhh yuck."

Devin smiled to herself, recalling Lionheart-B. The Chariot class seemed almost universally reviled but she had taken to it instantly, her ugly duckling, her pocket Galaxy. Still, everyone had their favorite class of vessel and saw a swan in even the ugliest duckling.

Stepping into a lift it was a quick trip to the next deck and even before the doors opened, Sizia was talking. "So what do you do for fun?"

It felt a little strange for someone the yeoman's rank to be speaking to her like she was, well, not in her chain of command. Strange, but not unwelcome, "I play piano," she replied, "I tried learning the cello, but, well, that did not work out. I was mostly doing it to be closer to my niece, any way. Let me ask you; have you identified Twentieth Century Guy on this ship?"

Sizia coughed as she laughed, having to stop in the corridor. "I'm sorry, that just caught me off guard. I was about to comment after you mentioned the piano, but then the way you phrased the question was just so perfect...." Completing the last few steps to the lounge the doors opened and she gestured to white hair man not too far away, "Your about to meet him."

Daegan leaned back as the steward took his plate. "Your usual sir?"

"Possibly, I am expecting an arrival for an interview so I will let you know."

"not to worry I will keep an eye out, so just give me a wave and I'll be back over."

"Thanks Tom."

His tea was almost to his lips when Sizia, with their guest in tow. Returning the glass to the table as he stood. "Ahh..."

Sizia made the introductions, "Captain, Devin Hadenbeer; Devin Hadenbeer, Captain 'Twentieth Century Guy' Baas"

His gaze was pure puzzlement, but hiss voice edged with a bit of humor. "What?"

Sizia smiled. "Ms. Hadenbeer had mention she played the piano before asking who was the 'Twentieth Century Guy' on the ship." she hoped she and assumed correctly and looked the Devin, "That was a musical reference wasn't it?"

Devin had expected to be brought to the Captain's ready room, but perhaps he did not want a civilian on the bridge. Honestly that made sense; she had not even gotten the job yet; last thing a captain would want is an unknown civilian getting a peek at things they had no business seeing. And if this was the lounge it was a good idea to get an idea of what she was getting into. She glanced about the place and wondered just how much latitude she had in redesigning it.

"It could be," Devin replied, smiling slightly as she returned her attention to the captain and yeoman, "In my experience every ship in Starfleet no matter the size of her crew compliment has a 'Twentieth Century Guy", that person obsessed with some aspect of that era. It could be music, or the fiction produced during that time, or the culture in general. You enjoy twentieth century music? You might enjoy talking to my brother Hereward; he is a musical historian.

Daegan nodded and grinned at the definition. "Well my Yeoman wasn't wrong. Thank you Sizia that'll be all for now."

Motioning the woman to the seat opposite him. "Please have a seat Ms. Hadenbeer. I had just finished lunch and was going to have a desert. Would you care to join me in a slice of real homemade cheesecake? My wife wants me to eat better but I have a few that the lounge staff keep in stasis for me."

Wife. Well...damn, Devin thought. For a moment-a very brief moment-she thought her potential new job might come with a side benefit. Ah, well. Perhaps it was for the best.

Still...

"I would love cheese cake," she replied as she gave the yeoman a polite nod in parting, then took a seat opposite the captain, "With a glass of skim milk, if possible. I enjoy the smell of coffee but never could quite warm to the flavor, regardless of what planet produces it."

With a glance up Daegan spotted Tom who, true to his word, was keep an eye out just in case. Waving him over he put in their order. "It'll be two slices this time and she'll have a glass of skim milk as well. Oh, any fresh berries from Hydroponics?"

"Absolutely. We have some strawberries, black berries, raspberries, blue berries. I could do a mixed berry puree topped with some whole pieces as well?"

Daegan was game but he gestured to his guest allowing her to go first.

"I never say 'no' to non-replicated food," Devin replied with a smile, "But just a few strawberries, I think. I do not want to get too spoiled," she cocked her head at the man, "I am Devin. Do you run the lounge or are you in charge of the mess?"

Glancing to the Captain and back to the woman sitting with him. "My names Tom, Thomas Guichon. Well sort of, but nothing official." Looking back to the Captain. "And for you sir?"

"Surprise me."

Returning the Captain's grin with one of his own. He knew he was being challenged so as he headed into the back he was planning his presentation.

"Shouldn't take him too long, I mean how many ways can you dress up a slice of cheesecake? So...I was told you wanted a position aboard the Valkyrie. Were you looking to reactivate your commission?"

"Ah," Devin looked away and the smile faded, "I am...afraid that ship has sailed for me, Captain," she turned back and regarded him, "I thought I could serve on a ship without being Captain of her. But, well, it..."

She shrugged, "You are a captain. You know nothing comes close to the feeling. Nothing. But if I were a passenger, an...employee rather than a subordinate, almost a tourist, running this lounge, for example. I think I could tolerate being on board a ship," the smile turned whimsical, "Besides, I hear your amenities are second to none. is it true you have a swimming pool? If so, is it open to civilians?"

Her not wanting any kind of departmental or uniformed position was a relief actually. Having reviewed her service record he really wouldn't have been comfortable with the idea. He wasn't about to simply let someone hitch a ride so they can just feel a deck beneath their feet again. Fortunately that wasn't going to be an issue either since she wanted to earn her keep. "Well, as you know we can't have a quote unquote passenger on a starship that isn't mission related. And a tourist is a definite no go. However we do have a civilian operation section on the Valkyrie and I do need a Lounge Manager....and yes we have a pool. Saunas too...available to all.

Kind of a big shift there though, going from command to overseeing and working the ships lounges."

"I do confess it is not as glamorous as being a starship captain, captain," Devin replied, "But it is most definitely a step up from being a 'guest' at a Federation penal facility, that much I can tell you. And it certainly beats sitting in a cottage behind my brother's home, feeling sorry for myself. I possess a phd in musical composition; if I wanted to be truly crass I could insist you call me 'doctor'. Do you know how much music I have actually written in the past two years while I have gone on my self pity cruise?"

She sighed, "I need to be...doing something. Meeting people, seeing places. But I also need a modicum of...structure. So, I would rather I had a job than play tourist," her smile was earnest, "I do hope I am not over qualified for the job."


TBC...

 

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