Someone Pin the Girl Down
Posted on Tue Feb 11th, 2025 @ 3:53pm by Lieutenant Teneca Quinn & Lieutenant Jayak Zek
Edited on on Thu Feb 13th, 2025 @ 12:00am
2,550 words; about a 13 minute read
Mission:
Back To Basics - Empok Nor Episode 3
Location: The Three Broomsticks - Promenade Upper Level - Empok Nor
Timeline: MD003 1430 hrs
Having heard that there was a new Counselor on the station, Teneca made her way to his office immediately. In the past Teneca was repeatedly late for school, but she had made a change after high school and now made sure she was early for everything.
Zek was not located in his office. The office was a place that he avoided like the plague. A note was on his door that simply said, "Wandering."
Teneca stared at the note for a moment, bemused, before tapping her comm. badge. "Quinn to Jayak."
Zek's commbadge went off and he wondered who this person might be. =^= This is Lieutenant Zek. What can I do for you? =^=
"Hi, I was wondering if I could make an appointment to speak with you." Teneca said.
=^= There is no better time to talk than the present. Why don't you meet me in The Three Broomsticks. I'm just having a butterbeer. =^=
"Okay, on my way." Teneca said pulling up the Station's civilian directory on a nearby wall console.
When the communication ended, Zek realized that he had no idea what Quinn looked like. From her voice, she sounded female. That was always a plus in his book. He decided to find a seat on the terrace. There was no better place for observing than there. Who knew what he might see?
As she made her way to the café, Teneca thought about how unorthodox this new counselor appeared to be. She checked his personnel record, so she knew what he looked like. This will be interesting. She thought to herself.
Upon arriving at The Three Broomsticks, she spotted him on the terrace and made a beeline for his table. "Hello, Counselor, I'm Lieutenant Teneca Quinn, Chief Science Officer of this Station," she said before asking, "May I sit?"
Hm. Redhead. They're always quite fun. I wonder what this one is like. He stroked the stubble of his beard. "I suppose that depends on where you want to sit?" Zek replied chuckling. "But any of the seats at the table are fine. It is nice to meet you. As you gathered, I'm Counselor Jayak. I would, though, recommend that you get a butterbeer. It is quite unique."
A wicked smile briefly crossed Teneca's lips. "Well, your lap does look comfortable, but for propriety's sake, I should probably take the chair opposite you," she said.
"Indeed," Zek admitted. Yep. Redhead. They're always a mess but always fun. "So, tell me, Miss Quinn, what is on your mind besides my lap?"
"Well, I thought I'd see if I could get my psych eval over and done with as soon as possible." Teneca said.
"You have not had that completed?" Zek asked curiously. "Are you new to Empok Nor, as well?"
"No, I've been here a while." Teneca said. "I'm a materials chemist, working with the Daystrom Institute on some projects, and to maintain my clearance, undergo regular psych evals to make sure I'm mentally stable."
"Are you due for one in a minute or two? Is that why you're so anxious to seek me out?" Zek asked with a small chuckle. It was extremely unusual for anyone to seek him out, so it did raise a lot of questions.
"No, but I thought it best to get it ASAP," Teneca said. "This situation stems from an incident that occurred shortly after I arrived here," he began. "I was working too hard and wasn't getting enough sleep, and every time I left my lab, I'd see a small light blue unicorn. It got so bad that I thought they were following me and got it into my head that they'd broken into my office and stole the chocolate cookies my mother had sent me."
A small smile crossed the red head's lips. "One day I saw them on the promenade, approached them, and accused them of stealing my cookies. Turns out she was the ambassador of the planet Ugo, and chocolate is poisonous to them." She placed her hand over her mouth to prevent herself from laughing at her own stupid story and then added. "This got back to Daystrom and they instigated the psych evals."
"So, you have a sweet tooth and need a lock on your cookie jar?" Zek offered with an amused smile.
"Yeah and learn to take breaks when I'm working." Teneca agreed.
"You're a workaholic?" Zek asked, his voice rising in surprise.
"When I get my teeth into a project, I find it hard to let go." Teneca said. "It's something I'm trying to work on."
Sliding slightly down in his chair and letting his legs stretch out across the table towards Teneca, Zek gave the redhead a knowing smile. "Well, then you've come to the right place to relax." Zek motioned a waiter to come over and said, "Would you mind getting my friend here a butterbeer? I think she needs to stay for awhile and this should help."
The waiter responded, "Certainly, sir. I'll be right back."
"That should take some of the edge off for the time being," he told Teneca. "And then you can tell me all the other things that you do to relax and have fun."
"I enjoy swimming and judo." Teneca said. "I like working with metals and creating new alloys."
"So, you like to get physical," Zek answered with a smirk, letting the innuendo sit in the air.
"Why? Don't you?" She asked back.
"Very much so," Zek returned with a mischievous grin. "Does all of that physical activity help you relax?"
"Yes, as I swim or train, I can let my mind wander, and shake off the daily stresses." Teneca said. "So, how do relax, Mr. Counselor?"
Zek giggled lightly at Teneca. She obviously missed all of the hints.
It was at this moment that the waiter put a butterbeer in front of Teneca. "Drink, Teneca. Put your mind at ease."
The counselor lounged further in his chair. "What relaxes me, you ask...." He smiled lazily at the redhead. "I like to be outside and get physical, as well."
Teneca took a sip of her butterbeer. She enjoyed the mixture of flavours.
"If you're trying to tell me something, don't make hints, just tell me. I like puzzles, but this just gets boring." Teneca said. "This butterbeer, is amazing by the way." She added taking another sip.
Zek sat up a bit straighter. That was not a fun comment. Granted, he was playing around and would never do anything during what was supposed to be a counseling session. He sighed, hoping that it sounded pleasant before he sipped his own butterbeer. "I'm glad you like it," he told her. He allowed his arms to go out wide, his butterbeer swishing as he pointed around. "Apparently all of this is based on some ancient Earth novel."
"Yeah, isn't a story about a young wizard, who is also good at pottery?" Teneca asked.
"I'm not entirely certain. I just read the description at the front of the place. I was not fortunate enough to have access to many books in my youth. Did you?"
"Some, but they were mostly Science and Engineering texts, with a few fiction books thrown in. No, Harry the Potter, though."
Zek shrugged. "I did not even have that. Growing up as a child during the Occupation is not a recommended lifestyle."
"I can't even begin to imagine what that was like." Teneca said. "During the Dominion War there were skirmishes inside my home system of Proxima Centauri, the Dominion were after the Proxima Maintenance Yards, but they never made it, that was the closest I come to an invasion. Do you carry any animosity towards the Cardassian People?" She asked.
"Do I harbor animosity for the Cardassians?" Zek looked upwards, considering his response. He then looked back at Teneca, "Maybe those particular ones or the ones that propagated the Occupation but not Cardassians in general. I think that's too narrow-minded. I cannot say that I would treat one that harmed my parents well, though."
"That's understandable." Teneca said. "Hatred in no way to live."
"Agreed," Zek answered. "I'm just curious as to how, when, and where that you learned that lesson. Most are not cognitive of that fact."
"My best friend, Bianca and I fell out over a boy, named Liam." Tenaca began. "I met him first and we went on a few dates, before I introduced him to her. Pretty soon both of them started canceling all social activities with me. I thought they'd just got busy with schoolwork; it was our final year after all. I went over to Bianca's one evening and found them together in her bed. I was angry and stormed out." Teneca took a sip of her butter beer, before continuing. "I had several thoughts of killing them both in the most painful and imaginative ways, but most of time I just felt miserable, so I said screw this, I'm not going to let them control my happiness, I contacted both of them told them I hated what they did to me, but I'm not going to wear my hatred like a millstone, I forgive them, but I never want to see them again."
"Killing seems a little extreme, so I am glad that you managed to work your way off of that. So how long ago was all of this?"
"Well, I am a redhead, we're known for our fiery tempers." Teneca said with crafty grin. "I was almost 14 years ago now."
"It isn't just fiery tempers that redheads are known for," Zek responded again with a satisfied smirk. "But, given that 14 years have passed, I would say that you're probably not a homicidal threat. Would you agree?"
"Yes, but if looks could kill..." Teneca said.
"Thankfully, only a few species have that ability," Zek answered while sipping some more of his butterbeer to avoid laughing.
"Then there's the Gorgons that just turn you to stone and then consume you." Teneca said.
"If I meet one and that should happen, I hope it gets indigestion," Zek replied with a short laugh and a lazy smile.
"Me too." Teneca said. "Luckily humanoids aren't their normal prey." She added. "So, have you met any interesting or unusual species in your time?"
"I was sheltered until I joined Starfleet," Zek admitted. "However, I have yet to meet any species other than those in the Federation. Counselors don't usually get to have such opportunities, though I cannot say that I have not tried. It is one of the many reasons that I'm usually on walkabout. I'm hoping that I will see something new and exciting."
"Growing up, I got to meet a lot of Federation Species, as Head of Engineering on the Proxima Maintenance Yards, he was always bringing COs and CEOs of the ships he was working on, home for dinner. I learnt tons from them about Starfeet." Teneca said. "Since I earned my degree before joining Starfleet, I went though the Officer Cadet School, I didn't encounter my first 'strange' species until joining the USS Portland."
"You say that like everyone encounters one. How long ago was that?"
"About 6 years ago. not counting the crew, who were all a little strange, were the Thun. They we humanoid-sized luminescent ameboid creatures, with 2 eyes on storks, a frilled mouth and the ability to form pseudo appendages from their cytoplasm." Teneca said. "They could also secrete a light weight high polymer with a high tensile and breaking strength, that the called thrak, which was of considerable interest to me."
"Sounds valuable. I wonder how the body can do that," Zek mused. "So, why were you particularly interested in it?"
"As a Materials Chemist, I was thinking of ways we could utilize it." Teneca replied.
"Makes sense. Still, I think that you should find ways to not think about work. All work and little play makes Teneca a dull woman."
"I do enjoy swimming, the feel of the water on my skin is wonderful." Teneca said.
"How often do you swim? Do you just do it in real water or on the holodeck, as well?"
"I swim everyday. I prefer real water, but until Empok Nor gets a real swimming pool, I have to use the holodeck." Teneca said.
Zek laughed. "Other than sleeping, do you ever stay still? I'm getting the impression that you don't."
"I probably move in my sleep too," she said giving him wink.
Interesting. Now she's being flirty? She did not want to play earlier. I will have to keep an eye on this one. "I'll have to make a note of that at some point." He gave her a mysterious smile and said, "Well, as far as I can tell, you seem fit enough. That said, a meditation or relaxation routine would likely be helpful for you."
"What type of relaxation?" Teneca asked.
"Something that does not involve you working or thinking about work. Something that relaxes your body and mind so that you can lower your heart rate, like meditation, as I was saying. Perhaps yoga? Swimming is alright, as well, but I'd like you to try and sit still or relatively so for a bit."
"I tried yoga once. I almost broke something." Teneca said. "Meditation, I'm not very good at blocking things out. Medical has a sensory deprivation tank, if I ask nicely, perhaps they'll let me use it."
"Just curious, Teneca, have you ever been evaluated for ADHD?"
"Not that I remember." Teneca said. "Do you think I might have it? If so, it would explain a lot."
"I think it is a possibility. We could run some tests, if you would like. Obviously it is not really impacting your life in a negative way, but sometimes it is nice to have information."
"Information is always good." Teneca said.
"Well, I suppose that means that I'll actually have to go to my office with you at some point." There was some resignation in his voice about going to the office. "When would you like to do that?"
"1745 hours, Tuesday." Teneca replied.
"That's an oddly specific time," Zek responded with a small chuckle. "Why that specific time?"
"It's as good any other." Teneca replied.
"Is it? Like I said, it is oddly specific. Most people would say something like 1730 or 1800, but not 1745, so I'm curious as to why you selected that specific time."
"I think precision is important." Teneca said. "I could chose another time, if you want."
"No, no. That's just fine," Zek replied with a small wave of his hand. I bet that this woman would even time her time of arousal. Geesh! There's a lot to unpack here.
"Okay, see you then." Teneca said. "Thanks for the beer and your time." She said standing up.
"See you at 1745, then." Zek thought about his office again and wondered what the inside might look like. He might have to make it presentable before Teneca arrived.
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Jayak Zek
Chief Counselor, Empok Nor
Lieutenant Teneca Quinn
Chief Science Officer, Empok Nor
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