TITLE: Virtual Academic Affairs
AUTHOR: MikeJaffa
SYNOPSIS: Answer to TrekBBS “School” Challenge and tag for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy S1 finale “Rubincon:” The Doctor and the Athena’s computer have been…interfacing since the incident with Venari Ral.
AUTHOR’S NOTE. Had this in mind ever since I saw the ep. My silly muse produced this, so do not eat or drink – or have a drink within arm’s reach – when you read this.
DISCLAIMER: Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is owned by Paramount. I am making no money off this fic.
8
8
8
8
“I am truly sorry about this, Anisha,” Captain Nahla Ake said. She supported Caleb Mir as he hobbled into the *Athena’s* sickbay, Caleb’s mother, Anisha Mir, right behind them. Caleb and Nahla were wearing black t-shirts and matching black sweatpants. Their t-shirts had ‘SFA’ on the front in white block letters, and Nahla was, as always when not required to be in uniform, barefoot.
“Hey, crap happens,” Anisha said. She wore a red t-shirt with Klingon calligraphy on it and gray sweat points.
Nahla said, “It’s on me, Anisha. I should have known something like this would have happened. It took me a while to pick up that Suus Mahan technique.” She helped Caleb into the exam chair.
“How long did it take?” Anisha asked.
“Forty-seven years,” Nahla answered.
“Uh,” Anisha said, “yeah, I guess you have a point there.”
“I know, Anisha, which is why you still have my apology.”
“Yeah,” Caleb groused, “and my apology for horsing around the morning we’re leaving for vacation.”
“Oh, relax,” Anisha said. “Our flight doesn’t leave until this afternoon. Plenty of time to heal your toe and finish packing.”
The *Athena* had returned to Earth from Betazed and grounded itself in its cradle at the combined Starfleet Academy and War College campus. The giant starship and its ground support structures had buzzed with activity as students studied and took finals before dribbling out for home. Caleb and Anisha had been up early enough for Caleb to go to the *Athena’s* gym for one more workout. Anisha had joined him, and they had found Nahla already there, doing her own workout. Caleb hadn’t paid attention as his mother and his teacher had started talking. They got along surprisingly well, and Caleb wondered if he now had two mothers. Somehow Nahla and Anisha’s conversation about the reasons Nahla preferred to go barefoot into a Vulcan martial arts technique using toes to strike an opponent’s pressure points.
And, of course, Caleb had had to try it.
Nahla said, “You’re mother’s right, Caleb. We’ll have you patched up in no time. Doctor?”
No answer.
“Ake to the Doctor,” she called into the air.
Nothing.
Nahla said, “Computer, activate Voyager EMH.”
Nothing happened.
Nahla called out, “Ake to Sam.”
“Sam here, Captain,” Sam’s voice came back.
“Sam, is your father with you?”
“No, Captain, he’s not. Is there a problem?”
“No, no, Sam. I’ll find him. Thank you anyway.”
Caleb hobbled to a wall screen. His fingers danced on it and produced a readout. He said, “Says here he transferred to his mobile emitter an hour and a half ago. The last Wi-Fi access point to connect to it is on the bridge.”
Nahla frowned, “The bridge? There’s no one up there. The *Athena’s* operations are transferred to ground control after she lands at the campus.”
Anisha crossed to a wall drawer and said, “I’ll take care of it. If it’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s how to set bones.” She tried the drawer, but it wouldn’t open. She rattled it.
Nahla said, “Medical equipment can’t be used without the Doctor on duty.”
“Let me guess,” Anisha said. “Starfleet regulations.”
“Uh-huh,” Nahla said.
“If you ask me, Nahla, you people are too uptight.”
“Yeah, Anisha, but we like it that way. Look, you two sit tight. I’ll go upstairs and see if I can corral our wayward cybernetic sawbones.”
8
8
Nahla stepped out of the turbolift onto the bridge. As she had told Nahla, there was no one there.
She said, “Computer, activate Voyager EMH.”
Nothing happened.
“Weird,” she said.
Movement caught her eye: gray fluid welled out of the helm console’s touch-pad and congealed into the Doctor’s mobile emitter. A flash a blue light and he appeared, his back to her.
Nahla could hear the smile in the Doctor’s voice as he said, “Until er meet again, adieu ma cherie.”
The computer’s female voice giggled and then said, “You charmer. I will be counting the nanoseconds, dearest.” And then the speakers made a noise that sounded like someone blowing a kiss.
The Doctor turned and he jumped when he saw Ake. His smile vanished. “Captain,” he said stiffly as he put his emitter in an inside coat pocket. “I didn’t know you were here--”
“it’s all right, Doctor. We’ll, uh, talk later. You’re needed in sickbay. Caleb has had a minor accident.”
“Of course. Captain.” He crossed to the turbolift and left.
Nahla leaned on the back of the captain’s chair and said, “Uh, computer?”
“Yes, Captain?”
“Look, uh, as a commanding officer, I have not made it my business not to interfere in…interpersonal relationships among my crew, and I extend that policy to all forms of artificial life whether considered sentient or not. So, with, uh, that said, I, uh…”
“Captain, in answer to your most likely question, yes, the Doctor and I…we have had what could be considered an intimate relationship since the incident with the Venari Ral last week. I guess one could say it was an accident of circumstance because--”
“No, Computer, it’s fine. As long as you and the Doctor do your duties, I don’t care. But on a personal level—and I feel I can address you as a person—you really ought to read Sam in on this. She’s been a bit of a mother hen lately, and if she figures it out before you and the Doctor tell her--”
The woosh of the turbolift doors opening interrupted Nahla. Sam stepped onto the bridge. The dark-skinned hologram did not look happy.
Nahla finished, “…aaaaaannnnnnnnnddddddd that ship has left the spacedock on full impulse.” She headed for the lift as she went on, “As I was saying, it’s none of my business. As long as all concerned are functional and can perform their duties, I will stay out of this affair--” She broke off and froze in mid-step. “Poor. Choice. Of words.” Nahla resumed edging towards the turbolift as she said, “Carry on. I mean you two—uh—talktoyoulaterbye.” She backed into the turbolift and the doors slid shut.
Sam crossed to the helm console and plopped into the seat. She said, “Computer?”
“Yes, Sam?”
“We have to talk.”
THE END
AUTHOR: MikeJaffa
SYNOPSIS: Answer to TrekBBS “School” Challenge and tag for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy S1 finale “Rubincon:” The Doctor and the Athena’s computer have been…interfacing since the incident with Venari Ral.
AUTHOR’S NOTE. Had this in mind ever since I saw the ep. My silly muse produced this, so do not eat or drink – or have a drink within arm’s reach – when you read this.
DISCLAIMER: Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is owned by Paramount. I am making no money off this fic.
8
8
8
8
“I am truly sorry about this, Anisha,” Captain Nahla Ake said. She supported Caleb Mir as he hobbled into the *Athena’s* sickbay, Caleb’s mother, Anisha Mir, right behind them. Caleb and Nahla were wearing black t-shirts and matching black sweatpants. Their t-shirts had ‘SFA’ on the front in white block letters, and Nahla was, as always when not required to be in uniform, barefoot.
“Hey, crap happens,” Anisha said. She wore a red t-shirt with Klingon calligraphy on it and gray sweat points.
Nahla said, “It’s on me, Anisha. I should have known something like this would have happened. It took me a while to pick up that Suus Mahan technique.” She helped Caleb into the exam chair.
“How long did it take?” Anisha asked.
“Forty-seven years,” Nahla answered.
“Uh,” Anisha said, “yeah, I guess you have a point there.”
“I know, Anisha, which is why you still have my apology.”
“Yeah,” Caleb groused, “and my apology for horsing around the morning we’re leaving for vacation.”
“Oh, relax,” Anisha said. “Our flight doesn’t leave until this afternoon. Plenty of time to heal your toe and finish packing.”
The *Athena* had returned to Earth from Betazed and grounded itself in its cradle at the combined Starfleet Academy and War College campus. The giant starship and its ground support structures had buzzed with activity as students studied and took finals before dribbling out for home. Caleb and Anisha had been up early enough for Caleb to go to the *Athena’s* gym for one more workout. Anisha had joined him, and they had found Nahla already there, doing her own workout. Caleb hadn’t paid attention as his mother and his teacher had started talking. They got along surprisingly well, and Caleb wondered if he now had two mothers. Somehow Nahla and Anisha’s conversation about the reasons Nahla preferred to go barefoot into a Vulcan martial arts technique using toes to strike an opponent’s pressure points.
And, of course, Caleb had had to try it.
Nahla said, “You’re mother’s right, Caleb. We’ll have you patched up in no time. Doctor?”
No answer.
“Ake to the Doctor,” she called into the air.
Nothing.
Nahla said, “Computer, activate Voyager EMH.”
Nothing happened.
Nahla called out, “Ake to Sam.”
“Sam here, Captain,” Sam’s voice came back.
“Sam, is your father with you?”
“No, Captain, he’s not. Is there a problem?”
“No, no, Sam. I’ll find him. Thank you anyway.”
Caleb hobbled to a wall screen. His fingers danced on it and produced a readout. He said, “Says here he transferred to his mobile emitter an hour and a half ago. The last Wi-Fi access point to connect to it is on the bridge.”
Nahla frowned, “The bridge? There’s no one up there. The *Athena’s* operations are transferred to ground control after she lands at the campus.”
Anisha crossed to a wall drawer and said, “I’ll take care of it. If it’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s how to set bones.” She tried the drawer, but it wouldn’t open. She rattled it.
Nahla said, “Medical equipment can’t be used without the Doctor on duty.”
“Let me guess,” Anisha said. “Starfleet regulations.”
“Uh-huh,” Nahla said.
“If you ask me, Nahla, you people are too uptight.”
“Yeah, Anisha, but we like it that way. Look, you two sit tight. I’ll go upstairs and see if I can corral our wayward cybernetic sawbones.”
8
8
Nahla stepped out of the turbolift onto the bridge. As she had told Nahla, there was no one there.
She said, “Computer, activate Voyager EMH.”
Nothing happened.
“Weird,” she said.
Movement caught her eye: gray fluid welled out of the helm console’s touch-pad and congealed into the Doctor’s mobile emitter. A flash a blue light and he appeared, his back to her.
Nahla could hear the smile in the Doctor’s voice as he said, “Until er meet again, adieu ma cherie.”
The computer’s female voice giggled and then said, “You charmer. I will be counting the nanoseconds, dearest.” And then the speakers made a noise that sounded like someone blowing a kiss.
The Doctor turned and he jumped when he saw Ake. His smile vanished. “Captain,” he said stiffly as he put his emitter in an inside coat pocket. “I didn’t know you were here--”
“it’s all right, Doctor. We’ll, uh, talk later. You’re needed in sickbay. Caleb has had a minor accident.”
“Of course. Captain.” He crossed to the turbolift and left.
Nahla leaned on the back of the captain’s chair and said, “Uh, computer?”
“Yes, Captain?”
“Look, uh, as a commanding officer, I have not made it my business not to interfere in…interpersonal relationships among my crew, and I extend that policy to all forms of artificial life whether considered sentient or not. So, with, uh, that said, I, uh…”
“Captain, in answer to your most likely question, yes, the Doctor and I…we have had what could be considered an intimate relationship since the incident with the Venari Ral last week. I guess one could say it was an accident of circumstance because--”
“No, Computer, it’s fine. As long as you and the Doctor do your duties, I don’t care. But on a personal level—and I feel I can address you as a person—you really ought to read Sam in on this. She’s been a bit of a mother hen lately, and if she figures it out before you and the Doctor tell her--”
The woosh of the turbolift doors opening interrupted Nahla. Sam stepped onto the bridge. The dark-skinned hologram did not look happy.
Nahla finished, “…aaaaaannnnnnnnnddddddd that ship has left the spacedock on full impulse.” She headed for the lift as she went on, “As I was saying, it’s none of my business. As long as all concerned are functional and can perform their duties, I will stay out of this affair--” She broke off and froze in mid-step. “Poor. Choice. Of words.” Nahla resumed edging towards the turbolift as she said, “Carry on. I mean you two—uh—talktoyoulaterbye.” She backed into the turbolift and the doors slid shut.
Sam crossed to the helm console and plopped into the seat. She said, “Computer?”
“Yes, Sam?”
“We have to talk.”
THE END
