10-21-2026, 05:33 PM
Sebastian listened to Amila's story in silence, his expression thoughtful. Hearing that someone as capable and experienced as Lieutenant Ra'an had once frozen under pressure helped put his own experience into perspective. It didn't erase the embarrassment he felt about the spacewalk, but it reminded him that a difficult first experience didn't have to define the rest of his career.
"Thank you, Lieutenant. I appreciate you sharing that with us. I suppose it's easier to be understanding when you're looking at someone else's experience rather than your own."
He gave a small, rueful smile, briefly looking down at his hands.
"I know I can't change what happened out there, and I intend to do the training necessary to make sure I'm better prepared next time. But I keep thinking about how much help I needed just to get through the spacewalk. Lieutenant Gath gave me a clear helmet, A'kilees helped me focus on my breathing, and Doctor O'Fee gave me exercises to work on afterward. I'm grateful to all of them, but part of me wishes I'd been able to handle it better on my own."
He looked back at Amila, his expression earnest rather than defeated.
"I want to be someone the crew can count on, especially when things go wrong. I know one bad experience doesn't make me incapable, but it's going to take some time before I stop second-guessing myself over it."
A'kilees's remark about saurian singing earned a genuine chuckle from Sebastian, easing some of the tension.
"Now you've made me curious, which I suspect was a tactical error on your part. I might have to insist on a demonstration at karaoke, just to see whether the universal translator really does have limits."
The amusement was still on his face when the briefing room doors opened and Acting Captain Ameen entered. Sebastian straightened instinctively, his attention shifting to the captain and the data-slate tucked beneath his arm. Whatever the purpose of the meeting, he had a feeling he was about to find out.
At Ameen's opening remarks, Sebastian managed a tentative smile. The reference to a Federation prison colony did little to settle his nerves until the captain's expression softened.
"Understood, Captain," he replied, maintaining his professional posture.
He listened as Ameen spoke about the crew, the ship, and the people who kept the Zephyr functioning under pressure. Sebastian took pride in what they had accomplished together. He had contributed to the technical challenges of the mission, and he knew his scientific and analytical work had value. Still, the memory of the spacewalk remained in the back of his mind, a reminder that there were areas in which he needed to improve.
Then Ameen stopped in front of him and A'kilees.
When the captain announced their promotions, Sebastian stared at him for a moment, the words taking a second to register.
"Lieutenant Junior Grade, sir?"
Surprise gave way to a mixture of pride and uncertainty. He glanced at A'kilees, sharing a moment of mutual disbelief with his friend, before looking back at Ameen.
"Thank you, Captain. I'm honored."
He accepted the offered handshake, returning it firmly, but hesitated before continuing.
"If I may be honest, sir, I know there are things I still need to work on. My performance during the EVA wasn't what I wanted it to be, and I don't intend to let that experience go unaddressed. I'll complete the additional training and keep working on managing my claustrophobia."
He paused, choosing his next words carefully.
"I want to live up to the confidence you're placing in me. I suppose I'm still learning to see that experience as something I can grow from rather than something that diminishes the work I did elsewhere."
He gave Ameen a respectful nod, accepting the promotion without further protest. He trusted the captain to make his own assessment, even if Sebastian would need time to reconcile that judgment with his own feelings about the mission.
As Ameen turned away following the brief exchange with Yeoman Jensen, Sebastian glanced down at the new insignia. The promotion was real. He was proud of it, even if a small part of him wondered whether he had quite earned it yet. Perhaps, he thought, that was all the more reason to take the responsibility seriously.
He turned toward A'kilees, a more relaxed smile finally appearing.
"Congratulations, Lieutenant. Looks like we're both going to have to get used to answering to a new rank."
He offered his friend a warm, genuine handshake.
"I'm glad we're doing this together. I think we'll both have plenty to learn, and I can't think of many people I'd rather have alongside me while we figure it out."
He glanced toward Amila, his smile turning a little more mischievous.
"And I believe this makes karaoke an official celebration rather than a disciplinary exercise. Though, after hearing A'kilees's warning, I think we should establish some safety protocols first."
His humor came more naturally now. He wasn't suddenly free of his doubts, but he was beginning to accept that he didn't have to be perfect to keep moving forward. He had earned a chance to prove himself at the next rank, and he intended to make the most of it.
== Tag All.==
"Thank you, Lieutenant. I appreciate you sharing that with us. I suppose it's easier to be understanding when you're looking at someone else's experience rather than your own."
He gave a small, rueful smile, briefly looking down at his hands.
"I know I can't change what happened out there, and I intend to do the training necessary to make sure I'm better prepared next time. But I keep thinking about how much help I needed just to get through the spacewalk. Lieutenant Gath gave me a clear helmet, A'kilees helped me focus on my breathing, and Doctor O'Fee gave me exercises to work on afterward. I'm grateful to all of them, but part of me wishes I'd been able to handle it better on my own."
He looked back at Amila, his expression earnest rather than defeated.
"I want to be someone the crew can count on, especially when things go wrong. I know one bad experience doesn't make me incapable, but it's going to take some time before I stop second-guessing myself over it."
A'kilees's remark about saurian singing earned a genuine chuckle from Sebastian, easing some of the tension.
"Now you've made me curious, which I suspect was a tactical error on your part. I might have to insist on a demonstration at karaoke, just to see whether the universal translator really does have limits."
The amusement was still on his face when the briefing room doors opened and Acting Captain Ameen entered. Sebastian straightened instinctively, his attention shifting to the captain and the data-slate tucked beneath his arm. Whatever the purpose of the meeting, he had a feeling he was about to find out.
At Ameen's opening remarks, Sebastian managed a tentative smile. The reference to a Federation prison colony did little to settle his nerves until the captain's expression softened.
"Understood, Captain," he replied, maintaining his professional posture.
He listened as Ameen spoke about the crew, the ship, and the people who kept the Zephyr functioning under pressure. Sebastian took pride in what they had accomplished together. He had contributed to the technical challenges of the mission, and he knew his scientific and analytical work had value. Still, the memory of the spacewalk remained in the back of his mind, a reminder that there were areas in which he needed to improve.
Then Ameen stopped in front of him and A'kilees.
When the captain announced their promotions, Sebastian stared at him for a moment, the words taking a second to register.
"Lieutenant Junior Grade, sir?"
Surprise gave way to a mixture of pride and uncertainty. He glanced at A'kilees, sharing a moment of mutual disbelief with his friend, before looking back at Ameen.
"Thank you, Captain. I'm honored."
He accepted the offered handshake, returning it firmly, but hesitated before continuing.
"If I may be honest, sir, I know there are things I still need to work on. My performance during the EVA wasn't what I wanted it to be, and I don't intend to let that experience go unaddressed. I'll complete the additional training and keep working on managing my claustrophobia."
He paused, choosing his next words carefully.
"I want to live up to the confidence you're placing in me. I suppose I'm still learning to see that experience as something I can grow from rather than something that diminishes the work I did elsewhere."
He gave Ameen a respectful nod, accepting the promotion without further protest. He trusted the captain to make his own assessment, even if Sebastian would need time to reconcile that judgment with his own feelings about the mission.
As Ameen turned away following the brief exchange with Yeoman Jensen, Sebastian glanced down at the new insignia. The promotion was real. He was proud of it, even if a small part of him wondered whether he had quite earned it yet. Perhaps, he thought, that was all the more reason to take the responsibility seriously.
He turned toward A'kilees, a more relaxed smile finally appearing.
"Congratulations, Lieutenant. Looks like we're both going to have to get used to answering to a new rank."
He offered his friend a warm, genuine handshake.
"I'm glad we're doing this together. I think we'll both have plenty to learn, and I can't think of many people I'd rather have alongside me while we figure it out."
He glanced toward Amila, his smile turning a little more mischievous.
"And I believe this makes karaoke an official celebration rather than a disciplinary exercise. Though, after hearing A'kilees's warning, I think we should establish some safety protocols first."
His humor came more naturally now. He wasn't suddenly free of his doubts, but he was beginning to accept that he didn't have to be perfect to keep moving forward. He had earned a chance to prove himself at the next rank, and he intended to make the most of it.
== Tag All.==