Reflection

Posted on Fri Jan 8th, 2021 @ 4:54am by Lieutenant JG Damien Blackford
Edited on on Fri Jan 8th, 2021 @ 6:18am

Mission: Season 4: Episode 3: Guided by Starlight
Location: USS Elysium - Damien's Quarters
Timeline: Current
Tags: Roll Call
811 words - 1.6 OF Standard Post Measure

Damien let out a small sigh as he entered his quarters, the door closing quietly behind him, the lights coming on automatically. As he walked across the silent room, he said, "Computer, dim lights to 65%." There was a few seconds before the computer complied, and the lights dimmed down. "Ahh. Much better." He said as he dropped into the nearby chair, leaning back, closing his eyes for a brief second, running a hand through his hair, before reopening them and loosening the top two buttons on his uniform.

“Computer.” He said, “Play La Vie En Rose.” There were a couple of seconds as the Computer processed his request before the soft music started filling his quarters. He smiled softly, and let out a gentle sigh. This piece of music always kept him calm. His mother used to sing it to him when he was younger, and he had always used it whenever it was time to cram for an exam at the Academy.

As the soft voice filled his room, he pulled a piece of paper and a pen towards him. Whilst he always backed his logs up by computer, there was also something cathartic about putting pen to paper, and expressing his feelings in an old fashioned way, as his ancestors would once have to have done.

He stared out the window of his cabin, taking in the sight of the stars before him, allowing himself to be transfixed by the beauty of the vast Cosmos, before he looked back down at the paper in front of him, and started to write.

As he wrote, he let his mind start to wonder. He’d been on this ship for a few days now, and started falling into a comfortable routine. He woke up, showered, and had his breakfast. His shift didn’t start until the afternoon, so he normally had a few hours to spare before he needed to head to the brig. At the moment this was normally either spent in his quarters or refining his skills. He had yet to properly meet any of his fellow crewmates, except for a few words spoken in passing, or handing reports to the officer he was taking over from.

Life on a starship was at both times exactly what he had expected, and nothing like what he was expecting. Whilst he’d already spent time on a Starship, thanks to his cadet cruise, this was different. People almost expected you to get things wrong when you were a Cadet. It was part of the description. But now that he was an Officer, there were higher expectations. And there was always that small part of him that was worried he didn’t belong. That he was going to screw something up and end up getting discharged.

Of course, he knew that that actually happening was extremely unlikely. But still. He couldn’t help but have that niggling worry in the back of his mind every time he took over.

Damien sighed, putting the pen down, looking over the piece of paper. It was a letter to his father, detailing what had happened in his first week on the Elysium. He’d promised to keep his parents appraised on what was going on. And, providing he didn’t reveal anything confidential, he’d promised to never keep any secrets from them.

As he leaned back in his chair, staring back out the window, he thought back to his meeting with S’hib. The Assistant Chief who he’d met on his first day onboard. Although he’d looked over the crew roster prior to coming on board, so was fully aware of the alien nature that awaited him, actually coming face-to-face with the Sequus had been an eye-opening experience. But, that was one of the reasons he’d wanted to join Starfleet in the first place. To get out there. Explore, and meet new peoples and races.

And the Assistant Chief seemed like a nice enough person. He’d encouraged Damien to do away with the formal title, and call him by name. Which would be difficult enough, but he’d do his best. And just hope that he didn’t accidentally do it to someone else. God-forbid he do it to someone like the Captain. He’d probably just die from embarrassment there and then.

Reading back over the letter, he nodded. It seemed good so far. He’d finish it off later, then transcribe it into the computer, and send it off. But for now, he was in need of a shower, a drink, and a hot meal. Standing up, he said, “Computer, stop playback.” There was a soft chime, before the music came to a halt, leaving the cabin in a state of quiet once more. He took one more glance around his new home, before heading into the bathroom.