Shakedown #87"
By: Patia Zoei, Chief Counselor, [PC]
Favor, Medic / Morale Officer, [PST]
Stardate: 58202.28 1700
=Ensign Zoie’s office=
The door chimed. Zoie glanced at the chronometer on her desk. 1700, it must be the MWR officer, reporting to her office for their introductory meeting.
Ensign Favor walked in, looking like ten miles of hard road. "What's up, Cookie?" she asked the Counselor. Favor's military bearing was lacking. Zoie sensed trouble with the captain down the road.
"Not at all, Toots,” Zoie returned in kind.
They both laughed.
"What's shakin', bacon?" Favor countered.
Zoie sensed this would be the beginning of a solid working relationship. Most people, upon meeting the counselor, were automatically on guard. Favor evidently didn't have that concern. As a matter of fact, Favor evidently didn't care.
"I can see why you were selected as the MWR officer, Ensign," Zoie stated, with a smile.
"Did you like my logo, Ensign? It looks like a butter flied radish being worn by a five-point star with his hands on his hips, getting ready to draw a weapon."
"What are you talking about, Ensign?" asked Zoie.
"I am talking about the logo that's next to my profile on the Ship Roster, of course," Favor replied. "Pretty cool, no?"
Favor tended to use negatives in the wrong place, so as to sound more worldly than she really was. She was trying to fake out the Counselor and make her think she was either Jewish or from Vulcan.
Zoie shook her head and chuckled. It was evident Ensign Favor was trying to impress the counselor, or maybe it was nerves she was trying to cover up. Zoie had read Favor's jacket earlier. She came from an unusual background and may be feeling slightly over her head as she begins her new duties on board the USS Zion
"Before we get started with the ship analysis, why don't you tell me about yourself and how you came to be on board with us," Zoie asked.
"Well, whoever said Earth Girls are easy, never met my mother," Favor replied.
"How do you feel about that, Ensign", Zoie asked.
"How would you feel if your mother was the town tramp, Counselor?" Favor replied. Favor threw back her head and laughed hysterically. "Just kidding, I loved my mother, even if she was a strumpet."
"Ah, that would be an interesting question to answer, Ensign, but let's focus on how you feel about that," Zoie replied
"I figured everyone already knew, since I only have a single name," Favor replied. "Since my parentage can't be verified, the government in Raisa (sp) classified me as part of the Ka-Leem." Favor twiddled her fingers. "You know, the Lesser Tribe. So I have no voting rights there. And I have no last name." Favor smiled at the Counselor.
"You know, Cookie, what they say."
"What is it that they say? Do tell." Zoie replied.
"They say that if you talk to a person about her, she'll listen all night long and think you're the most fascinating person she ever met."
"Is that how you feel about your mother?"
"No, that's what I'm saying about YOU, Counselor. You're asking me about myself, and I'm thinking you're the most fascinating person I ever met."
Zoie nodded and smiled. "You didn't remark upon my logo. The butter flied radish? The five point star that looks like a 19th century sheriff from the Western United States?"
“I think it matches mine, Ensign. Tell me, Ensign Favor, what brought you to the Marquis Alliance?” Zoie asked.
"You're the mind reader, Counselor. You tell me."
"Ensign, you are giving me credit that is not necessarily earned. It appears, however, that you are striving to improve yourself over your beginnings."
Favor sighed. Cookie was beginning to sound like a schoolteacher.
"Schoolteachers sometimes have value to share, Toots," Zoie winked as she spoke to Favor.
"Aha! I knew you could read my mind." Favor wore her heart on her sleeve, and her radish on her star.
"OK Counselor, enough of this jaunty banter," Favor said. Her face became quite serious.
"When I was a child, and I'm sure you know this already, I was not granted the same opportunities as the others."
"Yes, Ensign, go on," Favor encouraged.
"I did not have equal rights. I would never have been elevated beyond Bartender Third Class in the resort at Ming. However, a recruiter came one day, and gave a presentation. They were looking for people who wanted a way out of town by serving the Marquis Alliance. Honey, I caught the first train smoking out of town and never looked back. Everything I have, I owe to the Alliance. If it weren't for them, I'd be back on Raisa, working for an escort service. So that's why I'm here.
Zoie nodded her understanding. This was not the first time she had heard stories of the classes, and their treatment, on Raisa.
"So you got my memo, did you?"
"I did. It was nice to see someone who is going to bring a ray of sunshine to the ship at this desperate time. Since you work in sickbay, I need not tell you about the physical casualties already. I can tell you, the stress on board is tangible. I am looking forward to working with you on the morale of the crew" Zoie said.
"Yes, that Silvio is one hot piece of work, isn't it?" Favor leered at the Counselor. "Just kidding, I think shipboard romances border on the incestuous."
Zoie shook her head at Favor, smiling slightly.
"Sorry, Counselor, I guess that it's in my blood, quite literally, to respond to stress with jokes."
"You can take a person out of Raisa, but you cannot take Raisa out of the person," Zoie thought.
"I mean no disrespect to Lt. JG Silvio. He's hooked up to life support now. I have my robot assistant doing all the work since I have no clue how to run those machines."
"I understand," replied Zoie. "It is a quite natural response."
"You know, Counselor. There's no mystery to medicine any more," Favor said. "You just point a tool at someone and automatically, it will tell you what is wrong with them. No art of diagnostics these days, here let me show you."
"Do you find that beneficial? Or do you miss the challenge?” Zoie questioned
Favor unsnapped the velcro of her medical instrument. "Since I'm only 24 years old, Counselor, I don't miss much of anything," Favor laughed.
She pointed her tool at the Counselor. "Here, let me see what this has to say about you."
"It will tell you all is within normal limits, Ensign", Zoie answered.
"It says you need a beer, Counselor." Favor strapped the thing back to her hip. "Tell me, Counselor. What did you think of my memo?"
"That is quite the amazing instrument, Ensign Favor," Zoie replied, with a glint of humor in her eye.
"You had better not touch it either. It's booby trapped," Favor smiled. If the Counselor hadn't been a Betazid, she wouldn't have known whether or not Favor was joking.
"Ensign, I think it is wonderful you have been able to reach out to the entire crew. Do you have a plan for the upkeep of the morale on the ship?"
Favor steepled her fingers together and thought for a moment.
"Would you like something to drink, Ensign," Zoie asked?
As Favor contemplated her plan, Zoie crossed to the replicator.
Favor smelled the Counselor's perfume and lowered her head. She tasted the salt of two unexpected tears.
"Raspberry Ice tea, with two fresh raspberries", Zoie requested
"Thank you, Counselor," Favor said, and brushed her face with her hand. "The morale of the ship, yes, I did have rather a plan."
"Ensign," Zoie questioned. She felt a wave of emotion emanating from Ensign Zoie.
"Don't," Favor said. "Just don't."
Zoie respected the Ensign’s request. It was not the time to probe further.
"The morale of the ship, Counselor, I'd like to break the ice a bit first, and I hope that my current plan of a daily or thereabouts bit of fluff doesn't offend anyone. I'd like it to become interactive, though," Favor said. "I don't want this to be one-sided. I'd like the others to become involved in an exchange of sorts, in their off time."
Zoie crossed back to her desk and settled into her chair. She tucked her foot up under her leg and leaned in toward Ensign Favor. She cradled her glass in her hands. The ice clinked against the edge as she shifted forward.
"How do you propose to make it interactive, Ensign? Will you be sending out responsorial games? or what is your plan?" Zoie asked.
"I was thinking of silly things," Favor said, and suddenly felt shy. The Counselor seemed so much older, and Favor felt a little foolish, but she pressed on. "You know, I claim that I lobotomized the Ship Mascot," she said. "But of course we have no ship mascot. I was thinking I could offer a prize to the one who thinks up the best name for our poor, lobotomized Ship Mascot, who doesn't even exist."
"I think that would an interesting way to get the crew involved." Zoie answered, with a smile.
"And also, I think I'd like to write some poetry," Favor went on, "something to single out each crew member. I'd write something for each crew member. I think you'll be the first."
Zoie sipped from her glass. "That would be an interesting thought. Will you approach the crew member ahead of time? or surprise them"?
"Maybe that could be a special recognition program you could implement?” Zoie suggested.
Favor pondered the question. "I'm not sure," she said. "I'd hate to offend anyone. But that's part of the wackiness of it all, isn't it?" She winked at the Counselor
Zoie glanced at the chronometer. 1830 already, the time had flown by in this session. Her stomach rumbled. Dinner time had arrived.
“I think we have made significant progress for one evening, Ensign,” Zoie stated. “Let’s set up another time. I would like to work with your to incorporate some support groups for the crew. They will need extra assistance as the war progresses. Are you available tomorrow, at the same time?”
"Unless someone else staggers into my surgery," Favor said. She was fresh out of witty comebacks, and the haunting scent of the Counselor's perfume fogged her mind.
“Thank you for coming, Ensign. I will look forward to meeting again tomorrow. Do you have plans for supper? I was planning on going to Miranda’s for a bite to eat tonight. If you would like, you are welcome to join me,” Zoie invited.
Favor studied the Counselor's smile. She seemed so genuine, didn't she? So kind. You've been down this road before, Favor. Don't do this to yourself again.
Favor stepped back and shook her head. "No, I'm sorry. I'm suddenly not feeling well," she said. A weak smile wandered across her face. "I'll see you another time, Counselor." She hurried across the room and out the door, and then she broke into a run down the hallway.