The Shadowmaster

Posted on 11 Jul 2021 @ 7:35pm by Cadet Freshman Grade Eden Corwin & Commodore Harvey Geisler & Master Chief Petty Officer Mila Rasputin

1,547 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Extinction
Location: Administration
Timeline: Mission Day 22 at 0800

It was bright and early in the morning, and Captain Geisler held his typical cup of Wilkins coffee as he stood next to Eden in the turbolift. As a token of goodwill, he had brought an extra cup of the dark roast for his wife's cousin to enjoy on what could be the first morning of the rest of her life. "Are you ready?" he asked her as they took the turbolift to the Administrative Complex.

Eden, who had thanked Harvey more than once for the coffee, stood next to him and took a sip. She'd been quiet for a minute or so, contemplating what a huge step something like this would be for her. "I'm nervous," the young woman answered honestly. "I have never made a decision this big before."

Harvey grunted and smirked. "Technically, you haven't made any decisions yet. You're just testing the waters." He sipped his coffee. He had to remind himself that he was more than twice her age, and lived through one war, the loss of a wife, and multiple career changes. Eden hadn't seen anything yet. "Besides, life is full of decisions big and small. They never get easier over time, you just get wiser."

He was right, of course. She wasn't making any major decisions yet, but it was still quite intimidating. Hell, Eden was just getting to a point where she didn't feel the need to run in the other direction when he entered a room, which made her wonder... could she survive life if Starfleet? "I'll keep that in mind. Thank you for doing this for me. Do people get to shadow departments often?"

"It happens often enough," Harvey stated as the turbolift came to a stop. "Usually it's teenagers, members of a family aboard a starship or starbase." The doors opened, allowing both to exit. "But not everyone that young. I've known several that didn't enlist until they were in their mid-twenties or thirties or older."

"That makes sense," the young woman mused out loud as she walked with him. Eden wondered for a brief moment of they were close to any areas she shouldn't be in for fear another drone might appear and transport her to the brig again. "I don't think I could wait that long. Not that there's anything wrong with that. For me... I think I would rather start my career at an earlier age."

"Good," Harvey said with a smile as they stopped outside the door to administration. "See, you just made a decision. You just told me what you don't want to do later in life. That's great."

"I did," Eden agreed with a bright smile. It felt good to make a decision regarding her life, and gave her hope for the future. "I can definitely do this, though, I think the hardest choice to make will be which department to go into. Any suggestions on that?"

"Try as many as you can," Harvey stated, triggering the door. "You never know what you might wind up enjoying."

"That's what I hope to do. I just don't know if many of your crew will appreciate having me around," his cousin by marriage said.

"You do realize that many of them once stood where you are standing now, right?" Harvey pointed out. "Well, not in that exact position right here in Administration, but figuring out what they want to do? Sometimes it just takes some trial and error."

In her office, Mila could be seen leaning over her desk and her mouth was moving, but the soundproof room kept whatever she was saying to a young Yeoman couldn't be heard. The expression on her face and the cringing look of the Yeoman made it clear that whatever was being said, the Captain's Yeoman wasn't happy about it.

Eden saw Mila talking to the unfortunate soul, then looked back to Harvey. "Regardless of what department I may or may not choose, I want to thank you for even opening this door for me. I appreciate it."

"You're welcome," Harvey replied, though it was more of a mutter. He watched Mila and the other yeoman from through the glass, and he couldn't help but wonder what had happened. Even as Captain, it was not his place to interrupt meetings like these lest it unknowingly usurp Mila's authority.

With a final gesture from Mila, the young Yeoman bobbed his head and nearly ran out of her office and over to another station with his head down. Mila watched him go, then turned her head and saw the Captain; she froze for a second, then straightened up and gave a warm smile before she came out of her tiny office.

"Captain, Miss Corwin," she said. "I am welcoming you to Administration. What can I be doing to be helping you today?"

"Senior Chief," Harvey greeted with a smile. "Do you mind if the three of us talk in private?"

"I am not minding at all," the Yeoman said with a smile as she gestured towards a nearby conference room and headed that way. "Please, this way."

Harvey gestured for Eden to follow Mila first, leaving him to form up the line at the end.

Eden followed behind Mila with a smile. "Thank you, Senior Chief Rasputin."

Once in the conference room, Mila turned to the side to allow them entrance. "How am I to be helping you today?" she asked.

"Eden here," Harvey said, gesturing to his wife's cousin, "is interesting in shadowing a few departments. If all works out, she's considering enlisting in Starfleet."

The Captain's Yeoman gave Eden a bright smile as if she hadn't just gotten done tearing someone apart verbally a minute before. "What departments are most having your interest, Miss Corwin?" she asked. "I am hearing Harvey may be retiring in year or two to raise family. We could be putting you in command in say, twelve to fifteen with good service record."
..
Eden couldn't look more surprised if Mila told her the Gorn wore pink tutus and danced the dance of the Sugarplum Fairy on a regular basis. She looked toward Harvey. "Really? I had no idea you were retiring."

Harvey's face had flushed itself paler than ever before. "I'm not retiring," he defensively said, obviously embarrassed. "I'm only in my early forties, and I still have the best years in front of me. Mila's just... just making a joke."

Mila watched the expressions and complexion with a stoic face, then laughed. "Da, da. Is being joke. Come, how am I to be helping you, Eden?"

"Well," the young woman began. "like Harvey said, I'm interested in shadowing a few departments. I just don't know which departments to shadow. I was hoping one of you might have a few suggestions."

"Well, it is really depending what you are liking," the Yeoman said. However, I would suggest you follow me for a few days and I could be showing you life in Administration and what to expect from Command and other departments. We are interacting with all of them daily."

"I definitely don't mind starting here. When would be a good time for you?" The young woman asked.

"Is being no time like present," Mila said. "Please be telling Captain Geisler that he is having four correspondence request from the FNN from Gamma Command, none of which are being important."

Eden looked toward her cousin-in-law. "Did you happen to catch all of that?"

"Hmm?" Harvey asked. It was only when he was directly spoken to that he realized that his mind had wandered in just a few seconds' time. "FNN? Any idea what they want?"

"Is being standard requests for interviews from low on the pole reporters," his Yeoman said. "I am turning down such requests as standard operation. You are being too important to be asked what you are thinking of being Captain of Black Hawk and other trivial matters."

Harvey shook his head, then sighed. "Amazing to think there's so many low-level reporters out here. Almost as if no one considers the Gamma Quadrant important anymore."

"Begging your pardon, Sir, but we are being in Gamma Quadrant," Mila pointed out. "And is reason you are not getting these requests." She turned to Eden. "Number one job is making sure Captain does not have million unnecessary things to be reading."

Eden nodded. She'd made another decision in that moment. Administration was definitely off of her list of possible areas of interest. "Noted."

"Are you being ready to be starting your day?" Mila asked Eden.

The young woman nodded again, then looked toward Harvey. "Looks like I'm jumping in head first."

The Captain smiled. "Excellent. Mila will keep me apprised of your progress, and I equally expect your honesty at the end of this. In the meantime, learn all you can."

"I will," Eden assured him before she looked toward Mila. "Looks like I'm being left in your capable hands."

Mila smiled. "Then let us be off," she said with a smile. "There are being Yeomen to terrify."

Eden gave Harvey a smile and a wave. She felt bad for starting so soon leaving him and Joey without someone to watch the twins for the day, but she certainly couldn't turn down an opportunity like this. "Lead the way."

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