Empty lockers to fill with thoughts

Posted on Wed Aug 21st, 2019 @ 6:44am by Lieutenant Commander S'hib & Lieutenant Commander Turak

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Security office
1146 words - 2.3 OF Standard Post Measure

It had been several minutes since S'hib had entered the security office, aside from the initial formal greetings between him and another yellow collared office the room had been awkwardly silent.

It was only after he started to adjust to the silence, and hear the hum of the lighting grid above him did he pull his head out from within his locker.

"Is it usually this quiet?" S'hib said trying to spark up a conversation as he folded a spare uniform.

Turak responded, "It is a little on the quiet side today, but trust me, it is a more than welcomed silence. We've had too much action around here lately, it's just nice to not have to carry around a phase rifle everywhere I go for once!"

Jason walked into the room and headed towards the Chief Security office and stopped before he went inside. He turned around and walked over towards his desk and sat down. He looked up around the office and looked at Turak and S'hib. "Lieutenant, Ensign, may I speak to you both for a minute."

"Of course." S'hib replied, hastily closing his locker and walking over. "Is something wrong sir?" He added, unsure about the informality of the request from his superior.

Turak said a quick "Yes, Sir" and waited for what came next.

"Gentlemen, please take a seat. I'd like to talk to you both about your feelings about your posts and the happenings you have noticed." Jason said gesturing to them.

Raising what could be considered an eyebrow for his people S’hib did as was requested and gently sat down on a seat in front of the desk. “Well, I haven't really had much interaction with our department head since coming aboard, but that's to be expected with everything that recently happened.” S’hib said as he adjusted his seat for his height. “But the rest of the crew has been rather approachable even if I do try to keep myself to myself.” He added, trying to give a neutral response, unsure of the formality of this sudden meeting.

Turak responded, "Sir, I have felt welcomed by my department since coming aboard as well. I will say that I wasn't expecting there to be so much action so quickly when I joined the crew, but I suppose that there is no such a thing as a 'Normal Day' in Star Fleet. As far as job satisfaction, I am proud to serve in the capacity that I do and would like to continue doing so for the
duration of my career."

"That is good to hear, I would like you to know the others a bit more though S'hib, in case you two haven't noticed we are the senior officers in security, no one outranks us here. That means we are who everyone will turn to." Jason said looking between them. "So that being said, I am happy neither of you are unsatisfied with your stations, if you do have any issues please let me know and I will help you to fix them." Jason said.

"I regrettably have not had the time to meet with a majority of the staff, but I will make sure I do so sir." He said, pausing as if thinking about how to phrase his next few words carefully. "There is however one thing that I am having an issue with." S'hib added, his left ear twitching nervously.

Jason looked at S'hib."Yes, Ensign?"

"I'm urghh... Not sleeping very well, sir." He said with a deep sigh. "My shifts conflict with my natural sleeping cycle." He added, his anxiety starting to flicker in the back of his mind.

"With everything that's happened recently I didn't want to bother anyone with more paperwork." He said apologetically while nervously gripping the handles of his chair.

Turak spoke up, "Ensign, if you would like, I can switch shifts with you. We are normally on opposite shifts...."

"That would be acceptable if you would like Ensign, or we can just change your shift for now. Just know that you will eventually get shifts that interfere with you in some way and you must work around them as best as possible, if not now then later in your career." Jason said looking at the tablet in hand.

"I understand that sir but I can't sleep as you can, It's not biologically possible for my species to sleep for such extended periods." S'hib said feeling defeated, He'd taken his doctors advice to seek help and it had fallen flat. "If I could have shorter shift rotations I'd be able to maintain a healthier balance and could work more shifts as a result." He added sternly, trying to mask his anxiety.

With a hint of annoyance, Turak responded, "Ensign, this is Star Fleet - what did you expect? Sometimes accommodations can be made for you, but this isn't always the case. I hope you didn't join up thinking you would always be on the same shift or that shifts would be shortened for you...."

Snapping his head to face Turak S'hib let out an involuntary snort at him. "Thank you for your concern Lieutenant, But I was well aware of the commitments before I joined." He said, feeling his chest growing tighter by the second.

Turak then responded, "Don't take my comments personally, Ensign, the way you explained your condition you made it sound like you were expecting to have regular shifts."

"Enough." Jason said sternly. "There will not be any type of fighting in this department." Jason said standing up after he placed his PADD on the desk. "Has your shift been causing you health issues?" he asked.

"It's starting to affect me negatively, yes." S'hib said with a heavy sigh, pausing briefly before continuing. "I'm not asking to work less than anyone else." He said glancing over at Turak. "I could actually work more shifts than I'm doing now." S'hib added enthusiastically, looking back at Jason. "But I require sleep in shorter more frequent episodes throughout the day, whereas you don't." he finished, feeling his throat becoming stiffer with each word.

"I will schedule a full medical exam for you ASAP." Jason nodded, "Until then you are to remain on your current shifts, if it becomes a problem in any way that effects your work report to sickbay immediately then notify me." he said. "Is there anything else I need to know from either of you."

"Understood sir, and no. Nothing else comes to mind." S'hib replied quietly, barely controlling his breathing as he eyed the door.

Turak responded, "I have nothing else to report, Sir."

"Very well, thank you for your time dismissed." Jason said walking away from his desk leaving the two and heading towards Commander Holmes office.

OFF:

Lieutenant Jason Morris
Assistant Chief Security

Lieutenant JG Turak
Security Officer

Ensign S'hib
Security Officer

USS Elysium